Bill Akins Email and Phone Number
Honors Professor and Program Architect, Applied AI and Marketing Innovation at
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University of Arkansas - Sam M. Walton College of Business
Fayetteville, AR, US
Bill Akins's Location
Bentonville, Arkansas, United States, United States
Bill Akins's Contact Details
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About Bill Akins
Bill's journey in the tech and digital data space began as an undergraduate intern with Apple in San Francisco while attending California State University. Over the past 25+ years, he has continually driven innovation in the digital/physical retail world, holding numerous leadership positions within Consumer Packaged Goods technology and manufacturing companies, transforming outdated business models.Currently serving as Executive Director/General Manager, Bill is also an aspiring Operator for Chick-fil-A. He joined Walmart’s Global Tech team after leading agile teams as the CCO of VMLY&R/Rockfish, and supporting major suppliers like General Mills, Pfizer, and Nielsen.Bill is a graduate of the Stanford Graduate School of Business corporate innovation program (LEAD), where he developed a cutting-edge AI-driven eCommerce analytics platform now implemented by multiple flagship supplier and retail broker organizations. He also completed MIT’s Entrepreneurship and Blockchain programs while earning an MBA focused on retail tech from the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas. His academic journey began with a Bachelor of Science in digital marketing from California State.In 2024, Bill was invited to join the Forbes Technology Council. He is an AMA Professional Certified Marketer (PCM) in Digital Marketing. Bill played a pivotal role in founding the NWA Tech Summit, now the premier annual Midwest digital innovation event for over 2,000 attendees. He has been recognized by the NWA Business Journal as one of the 2022 C-Suite Leaders and "40 Under 40," listed in "Who’s Who" in Shopper Marketing, is a faculty member at the Path to Purchase Institute, named to the "Arkansas 200 Executives" Hall of Fame, and teaches undergraduate and MBA-level courses in AI, digital marketing, consumer behavior, and shopper insights.Bill was a 2023 cohort mentor for Fuel, an accelerator matching growth-stage AI and ML startups with key enterprise partners to accelerate technology adoption. With two successful exits, he continues to develop applications within the Web3/AI space and sits on numerous AI steering committees.Outside of his professional life, Bill is an avid mountain biker and motorcyclist, enjoying the Ozark Mountains with his wife, Karen, and their two sons, Henry and Oliver. His first anthology, "Pivotal Leadership," released in 2024, landed at #1 on Amazon's Business Operations new releases, and achieved US National Bestseller and International Bestseller status in six months with a "production grade" podcast set to follow soon.
Bill Akins's Current Company Details
University Of Arkansas - Sam M. Walton College Of Business
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Honors Professor and Program Architect, Applied AI and Marketing Innovation
Fayetteville, AR, US
Bill Akins Work Experience Details
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Honors Professor And Program Architect, Applied Ai And Marketing InnovationUniversity Of Arkansas - Sam M. Walton College Of BusinessFayetteville, Ar, Us
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Executive Director / General ManagerChick-Fil-A Franchise Jan 2023 - Present1) Leadership and Strategy: Drive strategic alignment of organizational goals with Chick-fil-A’s mission, vision, and values. Lead a high-impact team of 170 members, fostering a culture of excellence and innovation that enhances guest experiences and drives growth. Develop strategies that increase operational efficiency and team productivity by 20% annually.2) Talent Acquisition and Management: Lead the recruitment, selection, and onboarding of top-tier talent, enhancing team capabilities. Implement comprehensive training programs that improve employee retention rates by 15%.3) AI Initiatives and Technology Programs: Spearhead cutting-edge pilot programs, including AI Camera Vision for AI-driven drive-thru efficiency, Central Avenue for team engagement, Workplace Candidate Tracking to streamline talent acquisition, and eBike rollout to innovate delivery solutions. These initiatives set the standard for a future rollout to over 2,500 franchise locations.4) Training and Development: Design and implement comprehensive training programs that promote continuous learning and skill development. Facilitate leadership development initiatives that empower team members, resulting in a 40% increase in promotions within the organization.5) Culture and Engagement: Cultivate a positive and inclusive workplace culture aligned with Chick-fil-A’s core values. Implement engagement strategies that boost employee satisfaction scores by 35% and reduce turnover rates by 20%.6) Food Safety and Quality Assurance: Implement the Food Safety Management System to ensure the highest standards of quality and safety across all operations, achieving a 99% compliance rate in safety audits.7) Recruitment Marketing and Employer Branding: Develop and execute innovative recruitment marketing strategies that elevate Chick-fil-A’s brand. Leverage digital and traditional channels to showcase the organization's unique culture and career opportunities, increasing the applicant pool by 50%.
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Honors Marketing Professor / Ai Instructor Mba & Emba / Uark Startup Village EntrepreneurUniversity Of Arkansas - Sam M. Walton College Of Business Dec 2022 - PresentFayetteville, Arkansas, Us1) Develop and teach AI and honors marketing courses at the globally-ranked Walton College of Business within the University of Arkansas through a commitment to student-centered pedagogy, experiential learning, and continuous improvement.2) Foster an innovative and collaborative learning environment that encourages critical thinking, creativity, and applying bleeding-edge innovations (such as Responsible AI, Digital Ethics, Hyperautomation, Tokenization, and Neuromorphic Computing) to modern-day business projects in nearly every industry.3) Provide leadership and guidance to MBA and marketing students in the development of applicable projects for real-world clients by engaging with industry partners to develop case studies, consulting projects, and Exec Ed programs. Collaborate with agencies, startups, and corporations in various sectors.4) Conduct research and publish scholarly articles in industry trade journals with an emphasis on AI marketing implications and developing future marketing leaders in the academic environment who are analytical and data-driven with statistical analysis and qualitative/quantitative data visualization.5) Mentor and advise students on academic and career-related matters. Consistently ranks at >95% in overall student evaluation scores.6) Advise and serve on university committees to support the advancement of the institution, including UARK AI task force.7) Lead and participate in professional development programs and initiatives for faculty members.8) Develop and implement AI-driven marketing campaigns and initiatives to enhance the visibility and reputation of the Walton College of Business.9) Collaborate with industry partners to provide students with opportunities for experiential learning and industry engagement.10) Selected for the highly-competitive Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) program for educational innovation that involves cross-border collaboration with UK-based academic programs. -
Co-Founder/Half Of BiologyHenry & Oliver'S Dad Aug 2008 - PresentIn August '08, my wife and I had our first son, Henry...a true miracle given a grim diagnosis of infertility as a couple. Then, in May '13, we had another unexpected blessing with our second son, Oliver. They both are the single greatest thing that I will ever be a part of in my life. What I realized is that even though LinkedIn does a fantastic job of capturing my "experience" in one context, it ignores the "context" of my experience.These boys, and the joy that they bring in their own unique way, are the context for everything I do, how I do it, and why.
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Chief Operating Officer (Coo)James+James (Flagship Shopify Affiliate) Sep 2021 - Jan 20231) Responsible for overseeing all daily operations of James + James’ global production, including finance, operations, logistics, HR, IT, change management, and process improvement that support the passion and purpose of the company – creating sustainable jobs and building + delivering beautiful, custom furniture that exceeds our customer’s expectations as a leader in the furniture omnichannel eComm space. Recognized by NWA Business Journal as Top Ten C-Suite Leaders for 2022-23.2) Works closely with the Chief Executive Officer and Board on all matters related to the business, with emphasis on developing and implementing strategies, procedures and business plans needed to enhance company growth. Directly oversees and manages staff and contractors in areas of operations/facilities, HR, finance, and IT.3) Establishes policies and procedures that promote organizational vision and culture while supporting business growth and minimizing risk. Leads supervisors in overseeing employee productivity and building a highly inclusive and engaged work environment that fosters multiple levels of apprenticeship opportunities for rising talent within the organization.4) Translates strategies across all areas of Operations into measurable and achievable goals (4X revenue and staff growth over the past 18 months - including designation of making the Inc. 5000 and top 5 within the industry and state).5) Leads digital transformation and implements complex data management, governance, and metric/KPI tracking systems while managing business relationships with company partners and staff by providing ultimate stewardship over company financial, digital, analytical, and physical assets through successful exit upon acquisition.
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Data Maturity Acceleration Lead At Walmart Global TechnologyWalmart Global Tech Oct 2018 - Sep 2021Bentonville, Arkansas, Us1) Data Maturity Acceleration execution leader of Data Ventures’ Luminate data commercialization product rollout to business and internal/external clientele, empowering merchants to make better, faster decisions. Change management, training and communications (CTC) process manager as new products launch, including internal messaging development, business adoption, and serving as the liaison between Data Commercialization and DMA/Customer Success team(s).2) Selected to lead the DMA functions of the Data Security Protocols portion of Data Ventures’ DSS+ commercialization project for the next gen Retail Link, requiring the innate ability to influence, collaborate, and synthesize disparate leadership perspectives on the future DSS+ product.3) Assembled and led the winning Reimagine “Ideathon” (Global Tech) wildcard category team, requiring strong influence, coordination and leadership among multiple roles across numerous departments, building trusting relationships at senior levels of the enterprise quickly. Served as the liaison between winning team and Associate Digital Experience + Materials Management senior leadership to build out the minimal viable product for Global Tech.4) Digitally create, standardize, promote, and implement the Data Associate Portal resource portal as a single source for Data Strategy & Insights Associates, defining and documenting DSI data messaging standards and processes in a self-serve environment while reinforcing DSI's commitment to reducing email across the organization (resulting in an 80% reduction).5) Develop DSI's broader branding and identity campaign, consistently aligning message/tone/brand across all DMA CBEC campaigns while supporting strategic data initiatives rollout (Cloud Migration, Data Asset Development, Data Maturity, BI Tools, and DSI Identity). Over 200% user engagement growth on DSI digital channels as a result. -
Stanford Graduate School Of Business Lead ExecutiveStanford University Graduate School Of Business Oct 2017 - Oct 2018Stanford, Ca, Us1) Highly competitive and academically rigorous year-long program focused on corporate innovation from an intrapreneurship and entrepreneurship standpoint that acquires business tools and techniques to implement and accelerate digital change in organizations – ranging from financing innovation to innovation playbook construction and customer experience design (neuroscience perspective). Throughout the program, participants exchange ideas and engage with Silicon Valley leaders for industry applicability.2) Concurrent with the intensive learning model, was brought on by Atlas Technology Group (Advantage Sales & Marketing) to serve as EVP of Technology building out their eCommerce platform on full scholarship during the duration of the program. Immediate applicability of Stanford’s world-renowned Design Thinking fundamentals injected into development team of ten to launch the Canopy eCommerce Solution platform with Mondelez, Welch's, Bayer, Tyson, Morton, Ocean Spray, Church & Dwight, and many other household brands:- Product page audit/centralization/organization of content health, pricing (regional/global), customer sentiment, Online Grocery Pickup gap analysis, and “sales transfer” modeling of in-store to online- Usage of actionable insights fueled by machine learning to optimize product content for improved discovery & sales, product page performance/SEO adaptive management, and Buy Box monitoring/MAP compliance - Product Information Management (PIM) and Digital Asset Management (DAM) architected by game-changing network of millions of AI-enabled smartbots and revolving proxies that enable real-time eCommerce analytics- Introduction of Commerce Captain retail leadership model to the CPG/Retail world where the ability to create eComm planograms from “screen share” on Amazon.com and its competitors is an industry first: as evidenced by receiving top-ranking score for TED Talk style presentation at the Category Management Association’s 2018 annual conference -
Chief Client Officer/Svp Business Innovation, Vmly&R/RockfishWpp Feb 2010 - Dec 2017London, London, Gb1) Organizational leadership of $70MM flagship digital partnerships for the entire global-based Business Innovation teams building “anywhere commerce” interactive solutions directly for Fortune 500 WPP Digital clientele: Walmart, Ford, Unilever, Colgate, General Mills, P&G, Kimberly-Clark, Mars Inc., Pfizer, T-Mobile, J&J, and Southwest Airlines. Consistently recognized as fostering a culture of innovation and success as exemplified in retail by earning designation as the Digital, Loyalty, and Mobile Agency of Record for Sam’s Club (2,000,000+ mobile visitors daily) as well as many other primary technology and CPG accounts. 200% sales growth on Walmart/Sam’s Club portfolio alone during tenure.2) Executive and field-based strategy guidance for models designed to drive business growth and create new revenue streams through omnichannel ecosystem audits, eCommerce content strategy, digital shopper journey development, portfolio strategy (pricing, pack, and assortment), retail media strategy, subscription device planning, analytics/measurement/ROI, voice commerce, and applying machine learning/artificial intelligence to predictive and contextual analytics (Google Cloud ML, Microsoft Azure ML, and Amazon AWS ML).3) Onsite digital strategy management and shopper marketing leadership with General Mills (Cheerios, Pillsbury, Betty Crocker, Yoplait brands among other work) through omnichannel, pure play, and direct-to-consumer components, while also ensuring digital readiness/innovation. Led the shopper marketing portion of headquarters-based immersive learning/ecosystem delivery.4) Pioneer of the strategic vision and ongoing management of the technical development team for Walmart’s “Supplier Portal” SPARC that accelerates retail coverage and instock auditing for the world’s largest retailer. Major success resulted with 70,000 supplier company subscriptions around the world, and hundreds of millions ($) in recognized revenue from improved on-shelf availability (OSA). -
Group Manager, Category DevelopmentHamilton Beach Brands Inc. Jan 2009 - Jan 2010Glen Allen, Va, Us1) Direction of the daily activities of the Category Team and mentor for Category Advisors with roles using data to develop growth plans within Department 15 at Walmart for both kitchen appliance and home categories by providing accurate and timely reporting with actionable insights.2) Management of the category Demand Signal Repository (database) infrastructure, item attributing, creative linkage of disparate data sources, and automation of the weekly reporting process.3) Supervision of the entire shopper insights and category modular/planogram processes from inception through store compliance ; 1) Pre-planning with buyer; 2) Post-line review of sku rationalization; 3) Modular creation, traiting, and execution; 4) Rolling audits of store set compliance and EOS logic; 5) Digital imaging and product library management of all skus.4) Disseminator of recommendations to senior Walmart/Sam’s Club Merchandising associates based on fact-based analysis, changes around distribution, merchandising, pricing, promotion, and modular placement. -
Vice President Of Sales And Market DevelopmentShiloh Technologies Jul 2005 - Jan 2009Rogers, Ar, Us1) Development of the data lake strategy, processes, and tools that enable the ShilohNext client service organization to deliver a world-class customer experience for 175+ Walmart CPG vendors with existing and future product offerings. Experience in managing relationships and consultation with “Billion Dollar Supplier” Team Leads, IT Directors, CEO’s, National Account Managers, Category Development Directors, Space Managers, Replenishment Managers, and Retail Analysts.2) Management of the development and execution of category management and sales strategy across current and future markets to manage all day-to-day issues relating to the Sales Team including strategies that promote usage, compliance, and retention.3) Product Manager for Trait Master product suite and pioneer of statistical science behind it known as "Store Genetics” to tap into one of the most untapped marketing insight databases in the world available through Retail Link.4) Charged with opening the retail supplier market in China as well as inclusion on keynote speaker/advisory panel for the Working With Walmart Worldwide series in Guangdong, China. -
Global Category Development ManagerU.S. Cotton May 2000 - Jul 2005Cary, North Carolina, Us1) Efficient assortment analysis, promotion evaluation, space management, and micromarketing strategy/implementation to fuel rapid growth of the Equate private-label global product assortment at all Walmart formats (120% annual average).2) National account development and information management of worldwide retail, shopper insight, and syndicated census data in the United States, Canada, and United Kingdom.3) Field and headquarter-based supervision of national broker, retail-level sales force, and data consultant personnel.4) Collaborative Planning, Forecasting, and Replenishment (CPFR) manager and category advisor for largest cosmetic volume-producing product line in Walmart’s Department 46: the $100,000,000 global holiday import program. -
Category Development AnalystPfizer Jun 1999 - May 2000New York, New York, Us1) Accountability for Walmart Customer Development Team’s category analysis of analgesic business (Advil).2) Direction of initiatives involving the evolving Walmart category benchmarks through constant interaction with buyers.3) Management of nutritional (Centrum, Caltrate) modular clustering from conception through implementation.4) Integration of Retail Link data with third party information in category captaincy role to develop optimum clustering solutions, capture ethnic consumption through targeting, and to create the “Store of the Community." -
Senior Client Service Manager, Spectra MarketingThe Nielsen Company Jun 1997 - Jun 1999New York, Ny, Us1) On-site client management running 3M’s micromarketing system reporting to five consumer product divisions.2) Development of targeted marketing programs concentrating on consumer and trade promotion strategies.3) Field sales and category project directives internally and off-site with mass, grocery, drug, and alternative trade channels.4) Analysis and integration of point-of-sale, syndicated, demographic, media, and consumer loyalty data sources.5) Training & service of 3M’s corporate/field-based sales staff through key account reviews and classroom instruction. -
National Account Manager, Intactix InternationalJda Software Jul 1996 - Jun 1997Scottsdale, Az, Us1) Consultation of existing client base and prospects in merchandising process improvement through space analysis.2) Direct sales and client support for Midwest Region, including on-site project implementation and management.3) “Merchandising Services” project manager completely digitizing store layouts and schematics: Walt Disney Merchandising, Unilever, CVS Health, Coty Consumer Beauty.4) Sales, marketing, and HTML programming of first online distribution module (WebShelf) for planogram creation, editing, and viewing.
Bill Akins Skills
Customer Insight
Strategy
Management
Shopper Marketing
Marketing Management
Marketing
Marketing Research
Forecasting
Crm
Marketing Strategy
Leadership
Digital Marketing
Sales
Business Development
Consumer Products
Fmcg
Brand Management
Cross Functional Team Leadership
Product Development
Mobile Devices
Retail
Integrated Marketing
Competitive Analysis
Merchandising
Brand Development
Market Research
Pricing
Product Marketing
Mobile Marketing
Social Media Marketing
Team Leadership
Analysis
Strategic Partnerships
Sales Operations
Data Integration
Demand
Digital Strategy
Analytics
Market Analysis
Market Planning
Consumer Insight
Repository
Nielsen
Solomo
Segmentation
Category Management
Demand Side Management
Holistic Digital Solutions
Demand Signal Repositories
Digital Ecosystem Development
Bill Akins Education Details
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Stanford University Graduate School Of BusinessManagement Information Systems And Services -
Georgia Institute Of TechnologyArtificial Intelligence
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Emory UniversityArtificial Intelligence
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Cornell UniversityBusiness And Data Analytics Certification Program
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Cornell UniversityCorporate Change Management Certification Program
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Massachusetts Institute Of TechnologyAnd Technology Track: Entrepreneurship Bootcamp
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Massachusetts Institute Of TechnologyBlockchain Technologies: Business Innovation & Application Program - Mit Sloan School Of Management
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University Of ArkansasStrategic Retail Alliances & Innovation
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United States Navy Officer Candidate SchoolSupply Corps
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California State UniversityBusiness (Marketing)
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Sprayberry High School - Atlanta, GaAp College Prep Track
Frequently Asked Questions about Bill Akins
What company does Bill Akins work for?
Bill Akins works for University Of Arkansas - Sam M. Walton College Of Business
What is Bill Akins's role at the current company?
Bill Akins's current role is Honors Professor and Program Architect, Applied AI and Marketing Innovation.
What is Bill Akins's email address?
Bill Akins's email address is bi****@****ound.us
What is Bill Akins's direct phone number?
Bill Akins's direct phone number is +147979*****
What schools did Bill Akins attend?
Bill Akins attended Stanford University Graduate School Of Business, Georgia Institute Of Technology, Emory University, Cornell University, Cornell University, Massachusetts Institute Of Technology, Massachusetts Institute Of Technology, University Of Arkansas, United States Navy Officer Candidate School, California State University, Sprayberry High School - Atlanta, Ga.
What are some of Bill Akins's interests?
Bill Akins has interest in Marketing Management, Data Integration, Content Management Systems (Cms), Walmart Labs, Cpg And Technology Sales, Walmartlabs, Mobile Marketing, Financial Peace University (Fpu), Qr Codes, Holistic Digital Solutions.
What skills is Bill Akins known for?
Bill Akins has skills like Customer Insight, Strategy, Management, Shopper Marketing, Marketing Management, Marketing, Marketing Research, Forecasting, Crm, Marketing Strategy, Leadership, Digital Marketing.
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