Ted Souder is a global authority on Modern Business Transformation, digital strategy, and AI-first leadership.
A former Google executive and one of the company’s earliest employees, Ted spent over two decades helping lead Google’s evolution from a scrappy startup to one of the most consequential businesses in history. Working in both Chicago and Paris, he led high-performing teams across the U.S., Southern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, driving billions in revenue and shaping digital strategies for some of the world’s most iconic brands.
At Google, Ted founded the Google CFO Forum—an exclusive platform connecting Fortune 500 CFOs to the future of technology—and served as Head of Industry for the Retail sector, where he helped legacy organizations embrace digital transformation at scale.
Today, Ted is a sought-after global speaker, advisor, and board director. He’s delivered actionable keynotes and moderated C-level conversations on stages from New York to Riyadh to Singapore, helping leaders navigate the promise and pressure of AI and digital disruption. Through his proprietary THRIVE framework, Ted guides organizations in building future-ready cultures, unlocking growth through technology, and leading with urgency and clarity in a world defined by change.
Ted’s governance experience includes board roles at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, 1871, and the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, where he served as Vice-Chair. He also advises early-stage startups and growth-stage companies on how to scale with purpose, and he teaches AI strategy on Section, a global business education platform.
Beyond the boardroom, Ted brings a global perspective shaped by a career at the intersection of innovation, economics, and society. He lives in Chicago with his wife Lori, founder of HTAT Journeys, a conservation-focused safari business operating in Eastern and Southern Africa.
