AI Retail Revolution: Unveiling Microsoft’s Game-Changing Innovations

Kristin is a seasoned leader with an 18-year tenure in the technology industry, including a decade of experience driving digital transformation with some of Canada’s largest retailers. She’s held various software and sales leadership roles at IBM including a focus in data and analytics.  Since 2017, Kristin has served as a Retail Client Executive at Microsoft leading key retailer partnerships across grocery, pharmacy, and home improvement segments. Most recently Kristin has been immersed in helping her clients unlock new ways of working and better serving their customers in the era of Generative AI.

Kristin is an advocate for women’s empowerment as active mentor and a community leader for the Women Rising Program at Microsoft.  Outside of work, she finds joy spending time with her two young sons, alongside reading, golf and hikes. Inspired by Jane Fonda, some of her key philosophies are to “stay curious, keep learning and keep growing” and to be “more interested than interesting.”

Kais Makhlouf is Vice President, Digital Solutions at Thinkmax, responsible for fostering and leading the practice with a mission to provide clients with technological and creative ideas and solutions to help them achieve their business digital transformation. Prior to joining Thinkmax, Kais held the position of VP, Strategic Partnerships at Nurun (a global full service interactive agency) and Orckestra (Commerce Cloud Software), where he led and managed major multi-million dollar international accounts in the travel, retail, distribution, media, manufacturing and CPG (Consumer Packaged Goods) sectors. In these positions, Kais has also developed new offers and established long standing partnerships and alliances with world class technology organisations such Microsoft, IBM, SAP, Sitecore, Optimizely and many others.

Patrick Guedj is a founding partner of Thinkmax Consulting and the firm’s current AI practice lead. Having moved on from leading Microsoft Dynamics implementations at a global “Big Four” consulting firm to help found Thinkmax, he brings nearly 20 years of experience in Management Consulting and IT to major projects with a unique focus on digital transformation for retailers, incorporating the latest technologies to provide deep insights and improve global customer experience. With a unique focus on the impact of AI across all levels of corporate function, he helps Thinkmax’s largest clients envision a compellingly connected future which becomes more of a reality with each passing day.