Ann Marie Sastry

Founder & CEO Amesite

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Biography

Dr. Sastry is President and CEO of Amesite. Dr. Sastry was previously President, CEO, Board Director and co-Founder of Sakti3, recognized as one of MIT’s 50 Smartest Companies (2015), and as a Crain’s Detroit Business Cool Places to Work winner (2017). Backed by a global team of venture capitalists, the company was acquired by Dyson in 2015 for $90M. Sastry was invited to the White House in 2015 to be recognized for her technology entrepreneurship and meet with President Barack Obama. Read More >

Her technology and business work have been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Fortune, Forbes, the Economist, USA Today, the New York Times and on the cover of Inc. Prior to starting her companies, she was Professor of Mechanical, Biomedical and Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Michigan, which is ranked among the top 5 public universities in the nation. She was named an Arthur F. Thurnau Professor (UM’s highest teaching honor) in 2008.

Tenured and promoted early, Sastry was recognized with some of the highest honors in her scientific fields over her 17-year academic career, including the ASME Frank Kreith Energy Award (2011) and NSF's Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (1997). She founded two academic research centers in intracellular signaling (Keck Foundation) and advanced automotive batteries (GM / Department of Energy), and a global graduate program in Energy Systems Engineering. She has co-authored over 100 publications and 100 patents and filings and has delivered over 100 invited lectures and seminars globally on a range of scientific and technology topics, spanning mathematics, physics, bioscience and battery technology. Sastry is active in philanthropy and business mentorship, with a focus on education and poverty alleviation. She holds PhD and MS degrees from Cornell University, and a BS from the University of Delaware, all in mechanical engineering. Read Less ^

Speaker Videos

How Companies Can Stay Ahead as AI Disrupts the Workforce | CNBC

TEDx: Energy Storage Reimagines Humans as Superheroes

Amesite, Tech Talk 2018

Interview at TiEcon Detroit 2018

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Speech Topics

Leading Transformation to a Digital Culture: Leveraging AI for Competitiveness

We all know of examples of algorithms that can spot errors, trends and opportunities – and make decisions. But how do organizations truly leverage AI? The reality is that all businesses must adopt a digital culture – one in which there is an understanding of the collection, structuring and application of algorithms – from the front lines to the C Suite. Through industry-wide studies and specific cases, Dr. Sastry describes how awareness, respect and desire to leverage data and AI are instilled in top organizations. She provides guidance on building agile, successful infrastructures and processes for sourcing the AI tools that are required for competitiveness. 

Creating an Authentic & Success-Oriented Culture Through Leadership

Is your company really a family? No, it isn't. We commonly use metaphors that are comfortable, but misleading to ourselves as leaders, and to our workforces, in attempting to show qualities that really are important. Dr. Sastry, the founder of two successful tech companies that were recognized for workplace excellence, discusses the process for creating the principles that drive your unique business - and putting them into action. Through examples and case studies, she shows how culture is an outcome of function, and how leading companies create authentic, high performance cultures suited to their missions and sectors.

Everyone is Welcome: Leading Creation of Environments that Leverage Talent from All

Are you struggling to achieve greater representation? Are you concerned about the risks to your organization – in reduced competitiveness, and liability, in not becoming a welcoming environment? Dr. Sastry talks about the experience of being the "first" or "only," in the context of leaders and organizational cues that made her accomplishments possible. She describes the transformation of biases into positive action, in organizations that she has led. She also discusses leadership habits and traits that enable people of disparate backgrounds and values to work together, professionally. From workshops, signals and signage, to company-making and breaking decisions, Dr. Sastry shares some of her own experiences that created workplaces that welcomed everyone.