Nick Kokologiannakis
Board & Advisory Leader — IT | AI | Digital Transformation
Enabling AI governance and technology strategy that drive business impact.
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About Nick
About Nick
Nick Kokologiannakis is a board-level technology executive and AI thought leader with more than two decades of experience transforming IT into a strategic growth engine. He has led technology, infrastructure, and AI initiatives across public, VC-backed, and PE-owned organizations — bridging innovation, governance, and measurable business outcomes.
Recognized for aligning technology investments with enterprise strategy, Nick enables AI governance frameworks that strengthen trust, transparency, and decision-making. His leadership spans digital transformation, automation, data modernization, and AI enablement — all focused on delivering tangible business value and resilience.
Based in the Nashville area, Nick is available for advisory and board engagements with organizations seeking to operationalize AI, elevate IT governance, and accelerate transformation with strategic oversight.
Strategic Focus Areas
Strategic Focus Areas
AI & Digital
Strategy
AI & Digital
Strategy
Guiding enterprises to integrate AI into business strategy with structure, accountability, and governance—ensuring innovation drives measurable outcomes rather than isolated experiments.
Cyber & Risk Oversight
Cyber & Risk Oversight
Championing secure innovation by aligning AI and IT investments with enterprise risk, compliance, and resilience frameworks.
Data & Platform Clarity
Data & Platform Clarity
Building scalable, governed data platforms and architectures that enable transparency, agility, and trustworthy AI insights.
Operator’s
Lens
Operator’s
Lens
Combining hands-on IT leadership with board-level perspective to ensure technology decisions align with business priorities and financial realities.
Proven Across Ownership Models
Proven Across Ownership Models
Public Companies
Public Companies
Navigated complex governance, compliance, and reporting structures while driving modernization in highly regulated environments.
VC-Backed
VC-Backed
Scaled global infrastructure and data capabilities during rapid growth, enabling investor confidence and operational maturity.
PE-Owned
PE-Owned
Led post-acquisition IT transformation and cost optimization, aligning technology portfolios to new ownership objectives.
Impact That Moves the Business
Impact That Moves the Business
Enterprise Transformation
Enterprise Transformation
Modernized Global IT into a Strategic Business Enabler
Modernized Global IT into a Strategic Business Enabler
Delivered multi-year transformation programs across security, infrastructure, data, and business systems—reducing friction, increasing visibility, and aligning technology outcomes directly to revenue and operational objectives.
✔ Example results: 70% reduction in manual workload, 20%+ OpEx savings, unified identity governance.
AI & Automation Enablement
AI & Automation Enablement
Accelerated AI Adoption With Governance & Guardrails
Accelerated AI Adoption With Governance & Guardrails
Enabled responsible enterprise AI usage by embedding governance frameworks, secure workflows, and automation capabilities across business functions—improving productivity, decision-making, and cycle times.
✔ Example results: AI-driven workflow automation, safer enterprise-wide adoption, improved employee output and accuracy.
Cybersecurity & Compliance Maturity
Cybersecurity & Compliance Maturity
Strengthened Security Posture Across Regulated Environments
Strengthened Security Posture Across Regulated Environments
Built unified security frameworks and compliance programs that scale across public, VC-backed, and PE-owned organizations—reducing risk exposure and improving audit readiness.
✔ Example results: Achieved ISO 27001, SOC 2/3, PCI, and CSA STAR; reduced incidents by 30%+.
Scalable Growth Across Ownership Models
Scalable Growth Across Ownership Models
Enabled High-Growth Scaling and Post-Acquisition Stability
Enabled High-Growth Scaling and Post-Acquisition Stability
Led technology strategy through rapid expansion, acquisitions, and funding cycles—ensuring stability, operational rigor, and investor confidence.
✔ Example results: Cloud modernization, global scaling, unified platforms, significant cost optimizations.
AI Thought Leadership
AI Thought Leadership
I publish frequent insights to help executives and boards understand AI enablement, governance, and organizational readiness — focusing on clarity, risk, and the practical realities of driving measurable business value.
Topics I Write About
Topics I Write About
Governance & Board Oversight
Enterprise AI Enablement
Shadow AI & Vendor Transparency
Reach & Engagement
Reach & Engagement
40+ AI leadership posts
2,000+ professional followers
Strong engagement from CIOs, CISOs & Founders
Why AI risk, model transparency, and organizational governance can no longer sit siloed in IT — and why boards must elevate AI oversight in 2025 and beyond.
Employees adopt AI faster than policies are written. Here’s how leaders can build governance that enables innovation rather than restricting it.
Most companies stall their AI progress by confusing “guardrails” with roadblocks. Here’s how to create a model where governance accelerates value instead of slowing it down.
Advisory Fit & Engagement
Advisory Fit & Engagement
I support CEOs, boards, and leadership teams as a strategic partner on technology, AI governance, cybersecurity, and scalable operating models — bringing a practical operator’s viewpoint that elevates decision-making without adding complexity.
My experience spans public companies, VC-backed high-growth environments, and PE-owned operational turnarounds, giving me a balanced perspective on execution, governance, and the financial realities of modern organizations.
Areas Where I Engage
Areas Where I Engage
AI Governance & Risk Oversight
Ensuring boards have visibility into AI risk, model transparency, vendor behavior, and organizational readiness.
Technology Strategy & Modernization
Guiding leadership on modernization paths, cloud strategy, operational simplification, and scalable infrastructure.
Cybersecurity & Compliance Alignment
Helping boards navigate security maturity, regulatory expectations, and executive-level risk posturing.
Operational Scalability & Value Creation
Supporting CEOs and investors with pragmatic guidance that aligns tech decisions to growth, efficiency, and P&L impact.
Engagement Models
Engagement Models
Board Advisor (AI, Technology, Cybersecurity)
Providing guidance to boards and committees on governance, readiness, transparency, and technology posture.
Strategic Advisor to CEOs / Founders
Helping leadership teams make smarter technology and operational decisions aligned with business goals.
Investor / PE / VC Portfolio Support
Serving as an advisor across portfolio companies on AI readiness, governance, modernization, and tech due diligence.
Fractional Executive Advisory
Offering hands-on executive perspective without the overhead of a full-time role.
Why Organizations Work With Me
Why Organizations Work With Me
Operator + Board Perspective
I’ve spent 20+ years inside organizations executing — not theorizing — which means my guidance is grounded, realistic, and financially aligned.
Cross-Ownership Model Versatility
I bring experience across public, VC, and PE structures, giving me the ability to understand different governance expectations, investment cycles, and operational pressures.
AI Forward, Pragmatic Approach
I help leaders adopt AI safely and intelligently — not through hype, but through governance, enablement, and measurable outcomes.
If you’re exploring advisory board roles, portfolio support, or strategic guidance in AI, technology, or operations, I’d welcome a conversation.
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