Matt's impressive career spans nearly two decades in corporate technology, primarily focused on Research & Development and Innovation at a leading Fortune 25 company. His expertise has been pivotal in scaling AI and Machine Learning solutions across diverse business domains such as Pharmacy, Retail Operations, Supply Chain, Merchandising, Marketing, Asset Protection, Manufacturing, and Logistics.

Known for his adept collaboration skills, Matt has successfully navigated complex organizational structures, managing competing priorities, and integrating siloed data. His ability to effectively engage with a wide range of stakeholders — from Executives and Business Partners to Technology Leaders, Customers, and Vendors — has been a hallmark of his career.

RJ Sargent serves as the Executive Director of Partner Success and Learning Services for the Office of Innovation at the University of Cincinnati. The Partner Success team acts as the front door for industry to access resources at the University of Cincinnati and provides a hands-on concierge service to meet the innovation needs of 1819 Corporate Partners, including Kroger, Microsoft, and P&G. In January 2023, RJ created the 1819 Learning Lab, a think tank for the art and science of learning. The Learning Lab provides partner companies with a competitive advantage through learning at speed and scale by developing innovation thought leaders, deepening cultures of innovation, and delivering breakthrough solutions to the market. RJ has an enduring passion for innovation and loves helping turn possibility into reality. 

Prior to joining UC, he spent 17 years in global innovation roles at Procter & Gamble, launching new products to the market and helping build innovation capability across the company. RJ is on the Board of Directors of ArtWorks Cincinnati and is the President of the Bourbon Crusaders, a Louisville-based 501(c)(3) that has raised nearly $7,000,000 for people in need across Kentucky.

Speaker. Teacher. Author. Innovator.

Drew Boyd is a global leader in creativity and innovation, international public speaker, award-winning author and innovation blogger, and university professor. He teaches teams, businesses, and governments how to solve tough problems to create a culture of innovation and a flowing pipeline.

Drew reframes the innovation process in a way that makes people more—not less—creative. Drew’s experience is more than academic. As director of Marketing Mastery at Johnson & Johnson, he created and led an internal marketing university that taught executives the skills of innovation, strategy, and persuasion.