Steven Wolfe Pereira on Dominican Roots, Fulbright Scholar, and His Big Pivot from Wall Street to tech CMO and AI Leader
In this electrifying episode of No Boxes: Just Verses, we sit down with AI governance expert and founder, Steven Wolfe Pereira. Are you a leader trying to navigate the complex world of AI transformation or looking to make a bold career pivot? Steven's journey is a powerful testament to servant leadership, calculated risk-taking, and why AI literacy is the new financial literacy. From his Dominican immigrant roots in Mount Vernon to cutting his teeth on Wall Street and pioneering data-driven marketing, this conversation provides the playbook for leading in the age of intelligence.
Steven Wolfe Pereira, founder of Alpha, addresses the lack of AI governance frameworks for boards. With 25+ years in tech, he led over $5 billion in strategic transactions at AI-first companies like Datalogix (acquired by Oracle, $1.2B) and Neustar (acquired by Golden Gate Capital, $3B). His experience includes executive roles at Publicis Groupe, TelevisaUnivision, Quantcast, and co-founding Encantos. A board director for the Latino Community Foundation, Save the Children, and Whalar, Steven combines operator and boardroom insights. A Fulbright Scholar with degrees from Tufts, MIT Sloan, and Stanford, his AI, data, and tech expertise has been featured in Bloomberg, Fortune, Fast Company, and Forbes. He started his career at Blackstone Group and Akamai Technologies.
Watch on YouTube:
Key Takeaways:
Servant Leadership is Foundational: Learn how Steven's immigrant upbringing and military school experience instilled the lifelong question, "How can I help?"—the core philosophy of a servant leader who puts the team and community first.
The Power of the Calculated Pivot: Discover why leaving a big banking bonus for an engineering role at a startup (Akamai) was the greatest calculated risk he took, proving that sometimes you must take a financial step backward to leap forward in your career .
A Breakdown Leads to a Breakthrough: Hear the crucial zero-to-one builder mindset: a breakdown (like the world shutting down during his startup's capital raise) must be treated as a moment that drives the breakthrough to success.
AI Literacy is the New Bar: Find out why we are at a monumental moment—the AI era—where every leader, regardless of industry, must become a "qualified technology expert" and understand AI from a strategic and business lens.
We are living at the birth of the age of intelligence, and the bar for leadership is being raised. How are you investing in your AI literacy this week? Follow Steven Wolfe Pereira's work on LinkedIn and embrace the future that is already here!
Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, please follow, rate, and review the podcast!
CONNECT WITH STEVEN WOLFE PEREIRA:
CONNECT WITH SHANNON:
LinkedIn Shannon | LinkedIn NBJV
Theme Song: Pedal to the Medal by Martin Luther (Spotify | Apple Music)
How to Lead the AI Revolution: A Playbook for the Unboxed Leader
Have you ever looked at a major moment of change—like the birth of the internet or the rise of AI—and felt completely lost? It’s easy to think that only the people in the "tech space" can understand what's coming next. But what if your background in finance, media, or any other field is exactly what you need to lead the next revolution? The biggest challenge facing leaders today is AI literacy and the need to govern a technology that is accelerating faster than we can imagine.
In an interview on the No Boxes: Just Verses podcast, AI governance expert Steven Wolfe Pereira shared his unboxed playbook for not just surviving the AI era, but leading it. His journey from an immigrant background to a top executive at companies like Blackstone, Univision, and Oracle proves that resilience, relationships, and a commitment to being a "learn it all" are the keys to success. This article is for you if you're ready to get past the jargon, learn the language of AI, and lead with purpose in a world where the rules are still being written.
Are you ready to become a qualified technology expert? This content is for you if you are willing to let go of the idea that only engineers can understand AI. All you need is a sense of passion and curiosity and a commitment to investing in your mental fitness.
Step 1: Commit to Being a "Learn It All," Not a "Know It All"
A common mistake leaders make when facing a huge technological shift is pretending they already know the answers or getting paralyzed by their own fear. Steven’s journey shows us a better way: trade in the "know it all" attitude for a "learn it all" mindset. Early in his career, he left a comfortable job with a big bonus on Wall Street for an engineering role at a startup because he wanted to build and learn the technology from the inside out. He learned that being passionately curious and willing to humble yourself to gain new skills—even if it means a pay cut—is essential for long-term growth.
Conclusion:
In a rapidly changing world, curiosity and a commitment to learning new skills are more valuable than a fixed title.
Be willing to take a calculated risk to gain technical skills and experience.
Prioritize learning and growth over holding onto a high salary or title.
Be the hardest working person in the room and commit to out-hustle everyone.
Remember that a financial step backward can often lead to a breakthrough in your career.
Step 2: Master the Soft Skill of Relationships
Many people think success in the corporate world is just about technical skill and individual performance. However, Steven’s career proves that relationships are the true currency of leadership. He shared that the question his parents always instilled in him was, "How can I help?" This focus on servant leadership—putting the team and community first—allowed him to build a network of titans who mentored him and created opportunities. He learned that betting on people and being non-transactional are what make your network count when you need them most.
Conclusion:
A leader’s greatest asset is a strong, non-transactional network built on service and trust.
Commit to a philosophy of servant leadership by always asking, "How can I help?"
Understand that your job is to empower and create more leaders, not just yourself.
Be the kind of person people know they can count on and who will give 150%.
Remember that you stand on the shoulders of giants who will lift you up if you serve.
Step 3: Train Your Mental Mindset for the "Zero to One" Challenge
Building anything from scratch—especially a company—is an emotional rollercoaster. A common mistake entrepreneurs make is not training their mental health and mental mindset to handle the severe highs and lows. Steven described his experience raising capital for his ed tech company during COVID as a time where he had to be mentally fit and undaunted. He learned that a breakdown is often what leads to a breakthrough, and that you must prepare your mind to handle the inevitable hardships.
Conclusion:
Mental fitness and a strong mindset are just as vital as physical fitness for any leader or entrepreneur.
Treat your mental mindset like going to the gym; you must train it to be strong.
Understand that a breakdown is an essential part of the process that leads to a breakthrough.
Don't take a "no" from someone who cannot give you a "yes"—focus on the decision-makers.
Remember that you must be mentally fit to handle the compounded stress of being a father, spouse, and leader.
Step 4: Become an AI-Literate "Qualified Technology Expert"
The biggest challenge facing every industry today is AI literacy. The mistake is thinking that AI is just a passing trend. Steven warns that the AI era is bigger than the internet, and that intelligence will be free and ubiquitous, like electricity. He calls for all leaders to become a "qualified technology expert"—not by knowing how to code, but by understanding AI from a strategic and business lens to govern something that is accelerating exponentially. This new skill is the bar for entry into leadership.
Conclusion:
AI literacy is the new bar for entry, and every leader must become a strategic expert in technology.
Commit to becoming AI literate and a qualified technology expert.
Focus on understanding AI from a strategic and business perspective, not just the operational side.
Learn what questions to ask to govern and deploy AI ethically and effectively in your industry.
Remember that this is not hype; it is the operating system for society unfolding now.
Article Conclusion
You've learned that a life of purpose and leadership is built on an unwavering commitment to learning, serving, and mental strength. Steven Wolfe Pereira’s story proves that whether you are an operator or an advisor, your authentic background is the perfect foundation for the next great thing you build. The big idea is that you must stay mentally fit and AI literate to lead in a world where the streets literally have "no name."
Now it’s time to integrate these ideas into your life:
Final Steps to Take:
Invest in your curiosity: What is one article or book about AI you will read this week?
Commit to service: Who is one person you will ask, "How can I help?" this week, with no expectation of return?
Identify your next pivot: What financial or career step backward might be needed to achieve a huge breakthrough?
Schedule mental fitness: What will you do this week to strengthen your mental mindset for the challenges ahead?