Max Michaels is a technology leader with unique perspectives on corporate management and globalization based on executive roles at companies such as IBM, Cisco Systems and AT&T. As IBM Network Services global general manager Max Michaels oversaw a team of 3,000 engineers and managers with cross-functional capacities spanning security, cloud, networks, and Watson. He provided leadership in the emerging software-defined infrastructure, with a focus on providing large enterprise customers with secure cloud network solutions.

Since his time at IBM, Mr. Michaels has taken an impactful role as the chief investment officer with a fintech startup and has been a driving force in raising significant capital commitments and venture funding. He has also held a board advisory role with the Sequoia-funded software-defined wide area networks enterprise, Versa Networks. Known for investment diligence, he has advised fourteen tech startups throughout his career and co-founded two social good companies.

Max Michaels has received several awards and recognition throughout his career. Besides earning the VMware Innovation Award as Global Systems Outsourcer while with IBM, he has also spoken in a number of public venues, including as keynote speaker at the Cognitive Computing Conference in Sweden.