Coworking: Kelsey Carvell helps integrate emerging tech

Coworking is a weekly segment where we spotlight Tech Brew readers who work with emerging technologies.

How would you describe your job to someone who doesn’t work in tech?

First, I think it’s important to acknowledge that the definitions of technology and tech jobs are rapidly evolving. The classical tech and non-tech worlds are blurring at increasing speed and being driven by technology.

Fifteen years ago, I was inside the industry working with lean principles to create a more efficient and resilient supply chain, and today I do that same thing, but the impact and scale have completely changed. The ability to obtain, store, compute, and use data to drive decisions intelligently is now available and relevant to every business and every industry.

Fundamentally, my role as a leader in Deloitte’s Supply Chain and Operations practice is to help people who don’t have a classical tech background integrate the best technology into their day-to-day.

One of the ways I help companies build new solutions and strategies is by bringing them to Deloitte’s Smart Manufacturing experience center, The Smart Factory @ Wichita, where they can view these solutions firsthand to understand in real time how emerging technology can benefit their organization. Our overall goal is to help them engineer advantage by delivering immediate business outcomes while building long-term organizational capabilities.

What’s the most compelling tech project you’ve worked on, and why?

One of the most exciting projects I’ve recently tackled is at the intersection of technology, manufacturing, and sustainability. We’re working with a client to use next-generation energy technology solutions in conjunction with artificial intelligence to help them monitor emissions, reduce emissions, and create differentiated plant layouts to drive energy efficiency.

Manufacturing facilities account for the majority of most companies’ emissions—if organizations are not focused on reducing energy use, they won’t be able to move the needle on regulatory requirements, reduce their footprint, and meet their customers’ expectations for sustainable goods.

What technologies are you most optimistic about? Least? And why?

It would be hard not to mention generative AI. There has been such a breakthrough in this space, and many companies are wrestling with what investments to make, which processes need to change, how to govern/what protections need to be in place, and all sorts of other follow-on considerations. I am optimistic about this technology being effective, especially for maintenance engineers, as they are providing a service—to have generative AI in their ear, scraping a 1,000-plus page instruction manual will save time, money, and keep people safer in the process.

But also, there is an answer that includes, “I don’t know.” The velocity of emerging tech is so fast that the way we think about opportunities and solutions changes every six months. Part of what I do, while acknowledging the potential of something like generative AI, is taking a broad view and trying to focus on why something emerging may be of value to our clients.

What’s the best piece of tech-related media you’ve read/watched/listened to?

I have subscribed to AI Magazine since 2010, and—considering the advancements in AI over the past year—I have been finding several new outlets as well as podcasts to keep me current on how organizations and innovators are using the technology. I like The Verge for more on-demand content about how different companies are investing in AI.

What’s something about you we can’t guess from your LinkedIn profile?

I’ve always enjoyed being active. I was a three-sport collegiate athlete; I played NCAA soccer, club rugby, and ran track, and I think it’s a big part of why I prefer working in teams and probably also where I get my competitive spirit.

I also love to experience what the world has to offer—I spent time living and working abroad in Dubai, India, and China, where I had the opportunity to diversify my own thinking and work style. It shaped how I approach working on global teams and personally made a huge impact on the person I am today.

What do you think about when you’re not thinking about tech?

I don’t think about tech itself often, or ever. Technology for technology’s sake hasn’t led to impactful outcomes. I like to think about the big problems we are trying to solve as a society and then how we apply technology to find solutions.