Background

Allison Sagraves is a recognized authority on data and analytics strategy and advises start-ups, companies, and leaders on data monetization, AI and strategy.

As an early enterprise chief data officer in industry, Allison helped define the role and has achieved international recognition, named to 2024 Outstanding Women in AI and three-time Global Data Power Women. Allison is a founding faculty member for the Carnegie Mellon University Chief Data and AI Officer Program, where she is now both a faculty member and advisor. Allison has worked with more than 200 executives from organizations around the world on how to develop, implement, and measure progress on enterprise data strategy.

After serving as the founding Chief Data Officer of M&T Bank, a Top 20 U.S. Bank, Allison formed her own consulting firm and serves a growing portfolio of global clients such as the American Bankers Association, DataOps.live, and Ultranauts. Allison is a popular speaker at top conferences such as CES 2024, where she spoke on Banking in the Age of AI and her data and AI thought leadership has been published in the Harvard Business Review.

Allison graduated from Harvard Business School, serves on the Board of the Western New York Harvard Business School Club and teaches in the Management Development Program for Rising Leaders. Allison serves as Chair of the Strategic Planning Committee for the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens, is Secretary of The Wilmers Integrity Prize, and has served on numerous non-profit boards in arts and education. Allison is an honors graduate of Smith College, where she majored in Economics and Government.

Prior to attending Harvard Business School, Allison served on the White House Staff, and worked for The Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, International Paper, Barclays Bank, and Deloitte. Allison lives in Western New York with her husband, D. Gregory Connors, a former member of The Buffalo News Editorial Board. They have three grown children. Allison is a beekeeper and steward of a forest, and has launched her life and business philosophy under her brand Applied Serendipity® and Allison Sagraves, LLC.