Dr. Jen Anderson

Engineering Leader | AI Strategist | Builder of High-Performing Teams

I design platforms, systems, and cultures that connect technology, product, and business outcomes. My work spans AI, software engineering, and organizational transformation—always with a focus on clarity, accountability, and velocity.

Speaking engagements

Discover new ways to elevate the future of technology, leadership, and work.

I speak on the intersection of technology, psychology, AI, and leadership—helping audiences rethink how we build, lead, and innovate. My talks are designed to spark new perspectives, provide actionable insights, and inspire meaningful change.

Agentic AI & The Future of Context
Personal Project Showcase

April 2025 — This talk highlighted my experiments with building an Agentic AI—a system designed to retain context and memory beyond the stateless limits of traditional LLMs. Using LLaMA 3, ChromaDB, and custom rules, I demonstrated how an AI agent can not only recall past interactions but also reason with them, applying embedded identity and accumulated history. I then previewed my next project: an Insight Agent built on Model Context Protocol (MCP), designed to sit in front of engineering metrics, flag drift, and suggest strategic actions in plain language. It’s a vision for how AI can evolve from passive tool to active partner in decision-making.

Coming soon to ask-jentic.ai, my innovative AI Lab!


The Future of Software Engineering & The Rise of the CPTO
Mastermind Dinner, Chicago

August 2025 — At this curated leadership dinner, we explored how software engineering is evolving over the next 3–5 years. My remarks focused on the emergence of the Chief Product & Technology Officer (CPTO) role, which brings product and engineering under one strategic umbrella. We discussed how CPTOs can provide a well-calibrated roadmap—balancing clarity and autonomy—so teams stay focused on valuable work without stifling innovation. One theme that resonated was that AI can write code, but the uniquely human skill is still leading people through trust, feedback, and alignment.

AI & Engineering InsightOps
Women in Tech Dinner, Chicago

June 2025 — This session centered on building cross-department collaboration through AI. I shared the journey of launching InsightOps, a lightweight initiative where a small team used AI exclusively to extract insights from engineering metrics and dashboards. In just weeks, the group delivered what would normally take months, demonstrating the power of AI as an amplifier when paired with clarity and leadership. The conversation emphasized that AI doesn’t replace thinking—it requires it. Done right, it builds trust, momentum, and measurable progress.

The Power of Statistics in Performance Monitoring
Windy City DevFest

August 2023 — At DevFest 2023, I spoke about the critical role of statistics in uncovering insights hidden in system performance. We explored how clusters, normalization, and deviation-from-baseline analysis can surface anomalies that simple monitoring might miss. I drew parallels to my PhD work in neuroscience—showing how the same statistical methods used to study the brain can be applied to operational monitoring of black-box services. It was a powerful reminder that data and scientific rigor are just as essential in engineering as they are in research.

Projects

Exploring how data, design, and leadership converge to create the future of technology.

Ask-Jentic is an AI innovation lab building practical tools and experiments that drive measurable business impact. From AI-powered SEO and CRO platforms to intelligent content workflows and developer-centric analytics, Ask-Jentic focuses on turning complex data into clear insights. The goal: create AI partners that surface opportunities, flag patterns, and guide leaders toward what truly moves the needle — faster and smarter.

Writing & Publications

A collection of lessons, ideas, and experiments from my journey in technology, leadership, and AI.

Explore My Journey

I’ve spent my career building at the intersection of engineering, AI, and leadership.

  • I started in academic research, studying complex systems and the intersection of visual neuroscience and computer science.
  • I transitioned into engineering leadership, where I built and scaled high-performing teams, delivering platforms and systems used across enterprises.
  • Along the way, I’ve led through pivots and ambiguity, translating vision into strategy and strategy into execution.
  • Today, my focus is on AI-driven engineering excellence: harnessing data, systems thinking, and human leadership to create clarity, velocity, and impact.

Each chapter has deepened my belief that technology is only as strong as the people behind it.

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