Chicago Data Night: Neal Sample (Walgreens Boots Alliance)

Please join us for our monthly Chicago Data Night, cohosted by Drive Capital, ChiData and the DSI. Practitioners, academics, and aficionados within the Chicago area are all invited to be part of a community at the intersection of industry and academia, brought together by a mutual interest in data. Each month, guest speakers will cover a specific data-related topic.

Hors d’oeuvres and drinks will be provided. Admission is free, and we strongly encourage an RSVP to attend. Please note our new event location at Drive Capital!

Meeting Location
Drive Capital, Fulton East Building
215 N Peoria St
Chicago, IL 60607

Abstract:  Why Asking the Right Questions Matters More Than Having All the Answers.

We’re often fixated on answers – whether it’s getting to them first or ensuring they’re right. In this keynote, Neal is flipping the script and revealing why asking the right question is the true game-changer. We’ll dive into real-world scenarios in technology where the power of inquiry has led to unparalleled breakthroughs, unlocked new possibilities, and reshaped the tech landscape. Forget the race to solutions – join us as we explore how the questions you ask can become the catalyst for overcoming limitations and navigating complexity.

Bio: Neal Sample, Chief Information Officer, Walgreens Boots Alliance

Neal Sample is a forward-thinking technologist, strategic operations leader and innovative product developer who delivers a unique perspective on “what’s possible” and leverages technology and digital solutions to “bring the new” to large companies – creating faster businesses, nimble operations, cutting edge products, efficient processes, and connected customers. He brings more than 20 years of deep experience across highly regulated industries including healthcare, financial services and consumer internet, and has worked at start-ups and legacy Fortune 100 companies. Dedicated to optimizing his position in leadership for positive impact, Neal pairs his inherent global mindset with extensive experience to foster cultural sensitivity and global competence among teams and has led the development of organizational programs focused on expanding and promoting diversity at all levels and functions. He is passionate about building talent pipelines, paving progressive career paths and positively impacting communities.

Neal currently serves as the Chief Information Officer (CIO) of Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA), where he is a member of the Executive Committee and serves on the IT Governance Committee. In his role, he leads the strategy for WBA’s IT function and the implementation of its technology and digital innovation, with an emphasis on improving the digital experience for customers and patients.

He was previously the CIO for Northwestern Mutual, where he rebuilt, optimized and centralized the technology function for the company. During this time, he was able to attract and develop world-class leaders in security, data, engineering and infrastructure, raise internal and external technology metrics, and implement several automated and self-service capabilities for clients. Prior, he served as Chief Operating Officer and CIO of Express Scripts, where he streamlined operations, accelerated growth, improved key operating metrics, launched a new product line, led the architecture and platform delivery of complex information systems for nearly 30,000 employees and 80 million patients nationwide, retired legacy mainframe applications and transitioned the organization to the cloud. He also held several roles within the Enterprise Growth Business at American Express including EVP, Chief Marketing Technologist, and CIO, before being named President. While there, he pioneered product launches focused on digital banking alternatives for lower-income individuals, improved EBITDA, led spin-off and wind-down of non-core businesses, transformed a waterfall product development organization to Agile, updated and moved mainframe application suite to the cloud and launched major new digital co-branded products with key industry players. Sample previously held roles at eBay, Yahoo! Inc. and RightOrder, Inc. He currently serves as Chairman of the Board at Wellfield Technologies, Inc., as well as the Chair of the Board of Trustees for the University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis, Missouri.

Sample is a thought leader in information technology, holding more than a dozen patents as the author of various published works. He earned his Doctorate and Master of Science in Computer Science from Stanford University and his Master of Science and Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from the University of Wyoming.