Portrait of Michael Podgortsev

Michael Podgortsev

Director of Data & AI · Author · Passionate about innovation

About me

I work at the intersection of data, AI, and the decisions that actually matter to a business.

Most data systems are built around assumptions about how people behave — averages, patterns, models. I'm interested in where those assumptions break, and what it costs when they do.

Over 15 years I've built data functions from scratch, fixed ones that weren't working, and helped organizations figure out what they actually need from their data — before spending money on the wrong infrastructure. My background spans architecture, strategy, and leadership. I've worked inside companies and as an external advisor. I've been a founder. I know what it looks like when data creates real value, and I know what it looks like when it doesn't.

The technical side comes naturally to me. But the work I find most useful is the part that sits between the system and the decision — where data meets people, and where most of the real problems live.

I advise, mentor, and occasionally write about what I see. My first book is coming out in 2026.