From practice into teaching
I started in practice: eCommerce and finance in Silicon Valley. Then I taught that same practice at Berkeley and Boğaziçi. With organizations the order stays the same — I clarify the problem first, then we choose the right solution set and put it to work.
Experience and collaborations
Corporate leadership experience
Academic institutions
Program and advisory collaborations
Application first: Silicon Valley and enterprise experience
I shaped my 25+ years in eCommerce and finance inside analytics, growth, customer, and operating decisions.
Aug 2016 - Jun 2024
Head of Business Strategy and Analytics
Walmart eCommerce · San Bruno, California
I led business intelligence, performance measurement, and AI-enabled insight across Walmart eCommerce business lines.
- I led the online pickup and delivery program as the business grew from $100 million to $25 billion.
- I ran weekly C-suite KPI reporting and machine-learning-supported customer acquisition work.
Feb 2012 - Jul 2016
Head of North America Small Business Segment
PayPal · San Jose, California
I used machine learning and scenario analysis to guide acquisition, retention, investment, and growth decisions.
- I managed a $1.1 billion small-business top line while delivering double-digit year-over-year revenue growth.
- I connected propensity and churn models to business-development and investment priorities.
Feb 2009 - Jan 2012
Founder
SPrimeData · San Francisco, California
I founded a data company serving unbanked and underbanked populations and sold it to Infogroup, now Data Axle.
Jun 2000 - Jan 2009
Head of Business Analytics
JPMorgan Chase · San Francisco, California
I led customer acquisition, retention, fraud, product-development, and profitability analytics.
- I launched the PayPal Visa cobranded credit card.
- I added $300 million in balances through a high-line customer program.
Sep 1996 - Jul 1998
Project Manager
Koç Holding · Automotive Group · Istanbul
I analyzed production and sales performance across automotive companies and prepared input-price analysis for central purchasing decisions.
Bringing application into academia
In my teaching I connect quantitative methods and artificial intelligence to real business decisions; I address ways of thinking before tools.
Aug 2008 - present
Adjunct Professor — Haas School of Business
U.C. Berkeley · Haas School of Business
I teach quantitative methods connected to real business decisions, with a strong bias for practical industry application.
- Data and Decisions
- Artificial Intelligence in Business
- Probability Theory and Statistics
Sep 2024 - present
Adjunct Professor — Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences
Boğaziçi University · Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences
I teach artificial intelligence, data, and decision-making as practice-led programs for students and executives.
- Artificial Intelligence in Business
- Data and Decisions
- Vibe Coding
How I work today
Technology matters when it improves a real problem.
Start with the problem
I do not choose a tool until the business problem is clear.
Solution set
From the toolbox, I propose the solution set that fits that problem.
Implementation
I put the chosen solution into a real process with ownership and measures.
See how I work
On the Work page, see how education, advisory, and implementation come together in enterprise AI transformation.