Silicon Valley Trailblazer & Veteran CDO Atif Rafiq on his New Book "Decision Sprint"

Meet Silicon Valley trailblazer Atif Rafiq, who shares his extensive background and insights gleaned from a comprehensive and pioneering experience at Amazon, Volvo, and McDonald, the distinction of being the first Chief Digital Officer in the history of the Fortune 500. We're together to discuss his new book, Decision Sprint: The New Way to Innovate into the Unknown and Move from Strategy to Action.  

About Atif

Atif has blazed trails in Silicon Valley and the Fortune 500 for over 25 years. 

After rising through digital native companies like Amazon, Yahoo!, and AOL, Atif held C-suite roles at McDonald’s, Volvo, and MGM Resorts. He oversaw thousands of employees as a global P&L, transformation, and innovation leader. 

Rafiq was the first Chief Digital Officer in the history of the Fortune 500, a pioneering role he held at McDonalds, and he rose to the president level in the Fortune 300. 

While leading business units, teams, and growth for companies, Atif has built a large following as one of today’s top management thinkers. Over 500,000 people follow his ideas about management and leadership on LinkedIn, where he is a Top Voice, and his newsletter Re:wire has over 100,000 subscribers.

Atif is passionate about helping companies push boldly into the future. He accomplishes this through Ritual, a software app revolutionizing how teams innovate and problem-solve, and through his work as keynote speaker, Board member, and CEO advisor.

o Big ideas meet big execution 

o Tech innovator who's reached the President level in the Fortune 300.

o Product & business savvy

o P&L ownership as a General Manager for many years; including most senior commercial leader for a Fortune 300

o Founder and CEO of venture backed firm, raising $10mm+ in the content mgmt sector (2000-2005)

o Active public speaker across 25+ tech events (Google I/O, Cannes, Fortune, SXSW, CES). Quoted in WSJ, Fast Company, Fortune Magazine, TechCrunch, Forbes, Mashable, & ABC News.

o Advisor and investor to 25+ startups (Headspace, SpaceX, 23&Me, Liquid Death, etc.)

Boards include public companies: Flutter / Fanduel [PDYPF], KINS [KINZU] and fast growing $1bn private companies: ClearCover, betMGM

About Michael

Michael is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc. and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada and the Bank of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, Today's Shopping Choice and Pandora Jewellery.   

Michael has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. He has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions with C-level executives and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels. ReThink Retail has added Michael to their prestigious Top Global Retail Influencers list for 2023 for the third year in a row.

Michael is also the president of Maven Media, producing a network of leading trade podcasts, including Canada's top retail industry podcast_,_ The Voice of Retail. He produces and co-hosts Remarkable Retail with best-selling author Steve Dennis, now ranked one of the top retail podcast