The Team
A Global Wave of Human-Centered AI
The Leadership Team
People are why we build it.
Christine Duque
두케 세린
CEO & Managing Partner
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Q: What's your superpower?
A: Seeing the whole system. Where others see strategy, technology, people, and capital as separate conversations, I see one. Then I help leaders turn that complexity into clear, responsible action.Q: What's your street cred – what are you best known for?
A: I'm CEO and Managing Partner of Alonsera, a global AI and strategic transformation firm. For more than three decades, I've worked alongside leaders at Fortune 50, 100, and 500 companies, institutions, and emerging markets across the Americas and Asia-Pacific at the moment an ambitious idea has to become real. That work has delivered more than $8B in measurable outcomes through award-winning AI and digital initiatives. What I'm known for is the hard part in between: getting from vision all the way to deployment.Q: What kind of impact do you help clients create?
A: Most organizations don't need more AI pilots. They need the confidence to build something that lasts. I help leaders get there by:Designing AI strategy, governance, and operating models they can trust
Connecting technology, talent, research, and ventures so good ideas can scale
Turning complex opportunities into practical solutions with real ROI, plus capability that stays after we leave
Keeping people at the center as intelligent systems reshape how we work and compete
Q: Outside of work, what are you passionate about?
A: The Philippines, the United States, Australia: I've called all three home, and my career has always crossed borders. That makes me a global citizen, and each place taught me something about what it takes to build. Having come home to the Philippines, my commitment is personal. I want to help the Asia-Pacific region grow its own talent, its own ventures, and its own voice in how AI shapes the world. That includes championing women in technology and the leaders who don't always get the first invitation. I wrote about my own path in the Amazon best-seller Walking in My Shoes: Shattering Glass Ceilings in Corporate America. I also serve on UC Irvine's Graduate Division Dean's Leadership Council and Oxford University's Kellogg College Commission on Sustainability.Q: Fun fact – what might surprise people about you?
A: Depending on who you ask in the Philippines, I'm either an AI CEO or "wait, isn't that the actress and singer?" Both are true. I started as a child actress, trained as an operatic soprano at Oberlin College and Conservatory of Music, and made my debut at Carnegie Hall. These days my biggest stage is the boardroom, and honestly, the drama is about the same.
Nikos Acuña
Chief AI & Technology Officer
Head of Global AI CoE & Venture Studio
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Q: What’s your superpower?
A: Connecting the dots between frontier AI research, systems engineering, and real-world business value—then building the platforms that make it all work at scale.Q: What’s your street cred – what are you best known for?
A: I’m a pioneering AI researcher, technologist, and founder with over two decades of experience in AI/ML/NLP platform development, business transformation, and systems engineering. As CEO and Co‑Founder of Aion Labs, I’ve built and operationalized AI R&D innovation labs with blue‑chip tech companies like Rocket Fuel, Sizmek/Amazon, and Domo, and deployed AI data products that have generated more than $300M in revenue worldwide.Q: What kind of impact do you help clients create?
A: I help brands and enterprises harness the next wave of AI by:Designing and deploying machine-augmented systems that scale globally
Advancing data sovereignty and planetary-scale computation strategies
Merging computer vision, systems engineering, and generative diffusion models to unlock new frontiers of growth and operational excellence
Q: Outside of work, what are you passionate about?
A: I’m passionate about the future of intelligence—human, artificial, and everything in between—and how design, ethics, and systems thinking can shape more resilient economies and cultures.
Q: Fun fact – what might surprise people about you?
A: I spend as much time thinking about the philosophy of intelligence and creativity as I do about the code—my happy place is where science fiction, systems theory, and emerging tech intersect.
Tophe Enerio
Managing Partner
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Q: What’s your superpower?
A: Translating complex digital transformation into coordinated execution—aligning business, product, engineering, and data teams so strategy turns into measurable outcomes at scale.
Q: What’s your street cred – what are you best known for?
A: I’m known for leading enterprise transformation across GTM systems, MarTech, SalesTech, customer platforms, and revenue ecosystems—bringing strategy, technology, and execution together to deliver measurable business impact. I’ve built and scaled global marketing, CRM, and GTM capabilities, modernized operating models, and driven growth across retail, technology, payments, and pharma. My edge is combining deep Salesforce and MarTech expertise with strong product and portfolio leadership—turning complex ecosystems into connected, high-performing platforms that elevate customer experience and accelerate revenue.
Q: What kind of impact do you help clients create?
A: I help organizations move from fragmented capabilities to connected, customer-centric platforms that drive real business results. I lead end-to-end transformation across MarTech, loyalty, and customer data platforms, modernize CRM and marketing ecosystems, and design unified omnichannel engagement strategies. By aligning teams, processes, and technology into scalable operating models, I deliver measurable growth—improving acquisition, retention, and customer lifetime value.Q: Outside of work, what are you passionate about?
A: I’m passionate about building and giving back—whether that’s mentoring teams, helping others grow their careers, or teaching practical skills like couponing to help foster families and underserve communities stretch their dollars. I enjoy bringing people together around shared goals and creating impact beyond the workplace.
Q: Fun fact – what might surprise people about you?
A: I’m equally comfortable in discussing vision all the way into the weeds—whether it’s whiteboarding a transformation strategy or diving deep into the architecture and integrations that make it real. The best part is seeing it all come together when the team delivers.
Lilit Davtyan
Co-Founder | Partner
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Q: What’s your superpower?
A: Bringing clarity and confidence to complex financial and operational decisions—especially in fast‑growing, high‑stakes environments.
Q: What’s your street cred – what are you best known for?
A: I’m a former CEO and CFO with deep experience across private startup and seasoned businesses. I’m best known for guiding fast‑growing private companies through transformation and scale, earning industry recognition as both “CEO of the Year” and “CFO of the Year.” I hold a B.B.A. from Woodbury University and a Master’s from USC Marshall School of Business.
Q: What kind of impact do you help clients create?
A: I help leaders turn growth ambitions into sustainable business models by:Designing financial and operational strategies that support scale
Strengthening governance, risk management, and performance discipline
Acting as a trusted advisor through major inflection points and transformations
Q: Outside of work, what are you passionate about?
A: I’m passionate about appreciating the little things in life, offering a helping hand, enjoying time with family, working out and spending time in the sun.
Q: Fun fact – what might surprise people about you?
A: I’m just as energized by mentoring over coffee as I am by boardroom strategy sessions—nothing makes me happier than watching a founder’s financial story finally “click.”
Partner
Strategy and Innovation
Practice Lead
DuWayne Milner
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Q: What’s your superpower?
A: Turning bold, complex growth ideas into clear strategies and measurable results.
Q: What’s your street cred – what are you best known for?
A: I’m a strategist and growth architect with over three decades of experience guiding Fortune 500 and mid‑market firms through transformative change. At Equifax, I led strategy and innovation for Workforce Solutions, helping it grow from the smallest to the largest and fastest‑growing business unit, and I was a founding member of the AI Governance Council. Earlier at American Express Incentive Services, I led a complex multi‑platform migration across global development centers—under budget, with zero client churn—and earned patents for scalable, customer‑centric innovation.
Q: What kind of impact do you help clients create?
A: I help leaders:Shape strategy that actually translates into growth
Launch differentiated products grounded in value‑chain innovation
Embed responsible AI into core business models
Q: Outside of work, what are you passionate about?
A: I’m passionate about the intersection of strategy, innovation, technology, and finance—and about helping teams move from conceptual thinking to actionable, sustainable growth.
Q: Fun fact – what might surprise people about you?
A: I’m a CPA who loves both a clean balance sheet and a messy whiteboard session—my favorite days include a bit of each.
Our Strategic Partners
Community is how we build it.
David Lin
Principal
Cybersecurity Practice Lead
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Q: What’s your superpower?
A: Building security programs that are both practical and robust—protecting what matters while enabling the business to move fast.
Q: What’s your street cred – what are you best known for?
A: I’m a senior technology and information security leader experienced in orchestrating global InfoSec programs with strong governance, empowered security cultures, and high‑performing teams. I serve on the board of the National Technology Security Coalition (NTSC), a non‑partisan organization advocating for the CISO community with federal and state representatives and uniting public and private leaders around cybersecurity policy.
Q: What kind of impact do you help clients create?
A: I help organizations:Design and operationalize effective cybersecurity governance
Navigate elevated risk profiles in fast‑changing environments
Align security strategy with business priorities and regulatory realities
Q: Outside of work, what are you passionate about?
A: I’m passionate about growing the cybersecurity community and expanding career pathways. I co‑founded ISSA SoCal and advise several nonprofit security organizations to connect practitioners, share knowledge, and create advancement opportunities.
Q: Fun fact – what might surprise people about you?
A: I love connecting people just as much as protecting systems—some of my favorite “security wins” start as simple community conversations.
Partner
Organizational Intelligence &
AI Enablement
Global AI Center of Excellence
Betsy Grozman
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Q: What’s your superpower?
A: I build organizations that fit their business.Q: What’s your street cred – what are you best known for?
A: Making human capital data edible.Q: What kind of impact do you help clients create?
A: Data driven human capital and organization structure decision making.Q: Outside of work, what are you passionate about?
A: Empowering people to find their bliss.Q: Fun fact – what might surprise people about you?
A: I’m an introvert.
Pang Randolph
Digital Transformation &
Marketing Strategy Leader
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Q: What’s your superpower?
A: I bring together marketing, communications, and digital technology delivery to turn complex business needs into clear, data-driven strategies that create personalized digital experiences and meaningful impact.Q: What’s your street cred – what are you best known for?
A: I’m a communications, marketing technology and digital strategy leader with experience across martech implementation, brand strategy, marketing operations and cross-functional project management. I’m best known for leading digital transformation work that brings business, technology and creative teams together to modernize systems, improve platform adoption and deliver stronger customer experiences.The most memorable project was leading a global digital transformation work that supported the rebrand of a global company, unifying its digital tech stack, improving workflows across global teams and helping to deliver more personalized digital experiences that connected strategy, systems and audience engagement.
Q: What kind of impact do you help clients create?
A: I help businesses connect business needs with technical strategy and delivery, translating complex goals into digital solutions that improve customer experience, strengthen operations and drive measurable results.I help identify gaps in digital experiences, marketing workflows and customer journeys, then translate those gaps into clearer requirements, priorities and measurable business objectives.
I connect digital ecosystems across CRM, CMS, ERPs, marketing automation and data reporting platforms to create more personalized, consistent and measurable customer experiences.
I improve platform adoption and operational efficiency by developing workflows, governance, training and reporting structures that make digital tools easier for teams to use and sustain.
I bridge the gap between executive stakeholders, marketing teams, creative partners, vendors, and technical delivery teams so complex projects stay aligned and moving forward.
Q: Outside of work, what are you passionate about?
A: I’m passionate about community impact, racial equity, mental health and the power of storytelling to help people feel seen, heard and connected to resources. I care deeply about work that supports under-resourced communities and advances racial equity and access by using communications, partnerships and digital tools to elevate community voices and strengthen trust. I’ve served on multiple nonprofit boards to help expand resource access for underserved populations, and developed programs that provide youth with access, exposure and opportunities to grow their careers across science and technology.Q: Fun fact – what might surprise people about you?
A: I’m a neo-soul karaoke singing, former boxing trainee, and mental health advocate who appreciates anything that feels grounding, healing and good for the soul.
Strategic Partner - 3A Ventures
Chairman - ASEAN Economic Forum
Executive Director- OpenGOV Asia
Global AI Center of Excellence
Cyrus Daruwala
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Q: What’s your superpower?
A: Connecting regulators, financial institutions, and innovators to move entire markets toward modern, inclusive financial systems.Q: What’s your street cred – what are you best known for?
A: I’m a leading authority in financial services, digital transformation, and fintech across Asia‑Pacific. As Partner, Asia at 3AVentures, I advise global financial institutions on banking modernization, hybrid cloud, AI, analytics, and fintech ecosystems. I serve as Executive Director of the ASEAN Economic Forum and Chairperson of the Asia Pacific Financial Services Congress, championing financial inclusion for ASEAN’s 670 million people. Previously, I spent 20 years as Managing Director for IDC’s Global Financial Services practice and held senior FX and bullion trading roles at Wells and HSBC in Asia.
Q: What kind of impact do you help clients create?
A: I help stakeholders:Modernize banking and financial infrastructure
Navigate regulation while deploying AI, cloud, and analytics at scale
Build ecosystems across payments, fintech, and insuretech that drive inclusion
Q: Outside of work, what are you passionate about?
A: I’m passionate about financial inclusion, regulatory collaboration, and nurturing the next wave of fintech innovators across Singapore, India, Dubai, and beyond.
Q: Fun fact – what might surprise people about you?
A: I’ve worked across the UK, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, Australia, and Singapore—so I tend to think of “home” as wherever good coffee, good markets, and good conversations about the future of finance collide.
Global Learning Practice Lead
Global AI Center of Excellence
Minsan (Kevin) Park
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Q: What’s your superpower?
A: Designing learning experiences that actually change behavior—scaling skills, confidence, and leadership across entire organizations.
Q: What’s your street cred – what are you best known for?
A: I’m a seasoned learning and development professional with extensive experience designing and implementing innovative training programs. I’ve worked with multinational corporations like POSCO Group, Daewoo International Corporation, and TikTok, building a deep understanding of human capital development across industries and global markets.
Q: What kind of impact do you help clients create?
A: I help organizations:Build high‑impact learning strategies tied directly to business outcomes
Improve sales performance, team agility, and leadership capability
Design data‑informed, AI‑powered learning initiatives that deliver measurable performance improvements
Q: Outside of work, what are you passionate about?
A: I’m passionate about helping people unlock their potential—especially through thoughtful, scalable learning ecosystems that support continuous growth.
Q: Fun fact – what might surprise people about you?
A: I love translating complex skill maps into simple, engaging learning journeys—my favorite compliment is when a team says, “That was actually fun and useful.”
Public/Gov Program Director
Global Learning & Dialogues
Global AI Center of Excellence
Mazi Zarrehparvar
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Q: What’s your superpower?
A: Translating complex AI, data-governance, and sustainability challenges into practical training and programs that enable public-sector leaders to adopt responsible, auditable solutions.
Q: What’s your street cred – what are you best known for?
A: I’m Strategic Partner and AI Education & Enablement Public Sector Program Director at Alonsera, where I design and run large-scale AI training and enablement programs for governments and institutions. I’m best known for driving responsible AI adoption, data governance, and digital transformation across public-sector ministries and investor ecosystems. I’ve led 30+ years of investment and project leadership at organizations including Morgan Stanley and Hensel Phelps, directed international project development for state and defense projects, and currently direct the Korean AI Training Program at Oxford.
Q: What kind of impact do you help clients create?
A: I help leaders/clients:Move from AI concepts to operational training programs that build internal capability and accountability
Establish transparent, auditable ESG and data-governance standards that investors and regulators can trust
Align policy, technology, and practitioner training to scale sustainable digital transformation across ministries and regions
Q: Outside of work, what are you passionate about?
A: I’m passionate about responsible AI, sustainability, data transparency, and capacity building in government. I teach and run AI training programs (e.g., Oxford’s Korean AI Training Program), lead the Finance Working Group at the Oxford Commission on Sustainability Data, and collaborate with institutional investors and major software companies on standards.
Q: Fun fact – what might surprise people about you?
A: I’ve worked across finance, defense, and international development over a 30‑year career, and I hold degrees from UC Berkeley (BA), University of Chicago (MBA), and Oxford (MSc).
C-Suite & Elite Team Strategist
AI Leadership & Culture
Global AI Center of Excellence
Dr. Anita Polite-Wilson
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Q: What’s your superpower?
A: Transforming C‑Suites into elite teams by shifting high performance from “harder and faster” to “smarter and more human.”
Q: What’s your street cred – what are you best known for?
A: I’m a founder, CEO, and scholar‑practitioner with over 20 years of experience in human and organizational systems. I help executive teams across corporate, government, and nonprofit sectors move from passive “check‑the‑box initiatives” to proactive “change‑the‑culture behaviors.” I hold a Ph.D. and M.A. in Human and Organizational Systems from Fielding Graduate University, an M.A. in Organizational Leadership from Biola University, and a B.S. in Management from Pepperdine University. I’m also a certified Psychological S.A.F.E.T.Y. Practitioner, Gallup Certified Strengths Coach, and iPEC Certified Professional Coach.
Q: What kind of impact do you help clients create?
A: I help leaders and teams:Align people, roles, culture, and organizational dynamics for sustained success
Build agile, inclusive teams that thrive in today’s diverse workforce
Reframe performance and culture in ways that actually stick
Q: Outside of work, what are you passionate about?
A: I’m passionate about helping leaders show up differently—creating workplaces where people can bring their strengths, be seen, and contribute at their highest level.
Q: Fun fact – what might surprise people about you?
A: I love seeing the lightbulb go on in a room full of executives—when they realize culture isn’t a side project, it’s their most strategic advantage.
Identity & Performance Coach
Global AI Center of Excellence
Judy Tsuei
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Q: What’s your superpower?
A: I help high-capacity leaders identify the unconscious patterns running their decisions, relationships, and behavior under pressure, and rewire them at the identity level. Not mindset. Not motivation. The actual internal code.Q: What’s your street cred – what are you best known for?
A: I'm an award-winning identity and performance coach and published author with Simon & Schuster, working with founders, executives, and high-capacity leaders who are hitting invisible ceilings around money, visibility, and self-trust. I'm a Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses alumna and speaker, a Tory Burch Foundation Fellow, and recognized by San Diego Magazine as a Pioneer in Media and Marketing. I also facilitate professional development programming for the New York Public Library. My clients include directors and leaders at global organizations. I'm the creator of the Inner Blueprint Assessment, a proprietary diagnostic that maps the unconscious patterns shaping how a leader operates, decides, and grows.Q: What kind of impact do you help clients create?
A: My clients learn to:
Identify and dismantle unconscious patterns of over-giving, over-functioning, and self-erasure that have been running quietly for years.Recalibrate identity, not just mindset, so their behavior under pressure actually changes instead of reverting.
Build the kind of confidence, presence, and capacity for visibility that holds when it's tested.
Q: Outside of work, what are you passionate about?
A: Surfing, raising my daughter, and finding the best outdoor adventures in whatever city I land in. I also host a podcast (with an expletive in the name!), which means I am probably always in the middle of at least three paradigm-shifting conversations, one of them recorded.
Q: Fun fact – what might surprise people about you?
A: I'm a card-carrying introvert who somehow ended up on stages and podcast — which I incidentally love. I practice Transcendental Meditation and lift weights. Spending time in nature is non-negotiable.
James JK Jang
장종근
Business Development Advisor - APAC Region
Global AI Center of Excellence
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Q: What’s your superpower?
A: Making complex cross‑border deals feel simple—connecting the right people, capital, and opportunities across Asia‑Pacific.
Q: What’s your street cred – what are you best known for?
A: I’m Alonsera’s APAC Business Development Advisor, with extensive experience in cross‑border M&A, private equity, secondary transactions, and fundraising. I also work with Hanwha Investment & Securities, leveraging deep industry knowledge to build strategic partnerships and unlock value for clients in highly competitive markets.
Q: What kind of impact do you help clients create?
A: I help organizations:Navigate cross‑border M&A and complex financial transactions
Build strategic partnerships that accelerate growth in APAC
Translate regional market dynamics into actionable deal strategies
Q: Outside of work, what are you passionate about?
A: I’m passionate about shaping the next wave of growth in APAC—especially through thoughtful investment, collaboration, and long‑term relationship building.Q: Fun fact – what might surprise people about you?
A: I enjoy the art of a good deal as much as the numbers behind it—some of my best work starts over a simple conversation and a shared meal.
Kim Pham
Information Security &
Privacy Officer
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Q: What’s your superpower?
A: Creating impact by translating complex ideas into actionable strategies — and building the people, programs, and infrastructure that actually hold up at scale.Q: What’s your street cred – what are you best known for?
A: I've built award-winning security teams and initiatives from the ground up across 30+ countries, with honors from the European Parliament and the National Endowment for Democracy. As a CISSP-certified practitioner with 15+ years of experience, I bring deep expertise across risk management, governance, and security for healthcare, government, and professional services — and I've done it at every level, from hands-on program builds to board-level advisory.Q: What kind of impact do you help clients create?
A: I help organizations turn complexity into clarity — and clarity into action:Translate technical challenges into language boards and executives can act on
Build the teams and infrastructure that sustain high performance over time
Design security and risk programs that are practical and built to last
Q: Outside of work, what are you passionate about?
A: I'm passionate about mental health and resilience for mission-critical teams. High performance isn't just about talent and execution — it's about building the human infrastructure that lets people show up fully, consistently, and sustainably.Q: Fun fact – what might surprise people about you?
A: My dog, Lil Man, is an award‑winning surf dog—and I like to say if I can teach a dog to surf, I can pretty much do anything.
Leila Pflager
B2B Marketing Consultant
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Q: What’s your superpower?
A: I help high-growth startups and global enterprises bring their stories to market.Q: What’s your street cred – what are you best known for?
A: I’m a strategic, commercially-driven B2B marketing leader who has worked across SaaS, Adtech, and Martech companies such as Salesforce and Google as well as high-growth startups leading to acquisitions. I build scalable marketing programs, events, and communications that elevate brands, deepen engagement, and influence growth and revenue.Q: What kind of impact do you help clients create?
A: I help leaders/clients drive visibility, growth and revenue.I design scalable marketing programs that deliver business results
For Salesforce, I built partner marketing programs that drove 60% year-over-year increase in partner-influence ACV
I led marketing initiatives for an adtech startup, leading to a Google acquisition
Q: Outside of work, what are you passionate about?
A: I’m passionate about advancing women’s leadership, having served as both mentor and mentee. Outside of work, I love to travel, read and cook.Q: Fun fact – what might surprise people about you?
A: I love building strong partnerships that lead to great work. Some of my best work has come to life from casual conversations that turn into actionable plans.
Delivery Excellence
AI is what we build.
Business Analyst
Brian Lin
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Q: What’s your superpower?
A: Blending creativity and analysis—using research, structure, and storytelling to help teams make smarter, more human‑centered decisions.
Q: What’s your street cred – what are you best known for?
A: I’m a Business Analyst at Alonsera, supporting strategic decision‑making through research, process evaluation, and cross‑functional collaboration. I contribute to project management, operational analysis, and client‑facing initiatives that drive growth and efficiency. Born in Southern California and raised in Taiwan, I studied at a German Waldorf School and later at the Orange County School of the Arts as a cellist. I’m currently a Music major with a Business minor at UC Irvine, combining artistic training with business thinking. My experience spans social media advertising, accounting, and consulting, including roles at a social media advertising firm and Experience for Mankind Advertising Agency.
Q: What kind of impact do you help clients create?
A: I help organizations:Turn qualitative and quantitative insights into clear recommendations
Analyze processes and operations to find opportunities for improvement
Bridge creative, technical, and business perspectives on projects
Q: Outside of work, what are you passionate about?
A: I’m passionate about entrepreneurship, data‑driven problem‑solving, and building thoughtful, scalable systems—shaped by growing up in a business‑oriented family and being immersed in the arts.
Q: Fun fact – what might surprise people about you?
A: I bring a cellist’s mindset to consulting—balancing structure, precision, and creativity in everything from slide decks to strategy discussions.
Connor Ruffalo
Business Analyst
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Q: What’s your superpower?
A: Translating AI and data into clear, practical actions that help growing companies move from ideas to measurable results.
Q: What’s your street cred – what are you best known for?
A: I support client management, growth marketing, and business strategy for AI-driven transformation projects. I'm best known for bridging the gap between data, technology, and real business outcomes for middle-market and emerging clients. I recently graduated from UC Irvine with a degree in Business Economics and a Management minor in just two years, and I'm a SIEML full-tuition MBA scholar. I led brand marketing for UCI's Rocket Project Liquids Team, one of the most cutting-edge programs in collegiate rocketry, producing content around Methalox propulsion testing and launch. I also served on the executive board of Manifest, UCI's undergraduate entrepreneurship club, where I helped support early-stage startups and bolster the entrepreneurship community on campus. I additionally built a social commerce venture on TikTok Shop.
Q: What kind of impact do you help clients create?
A: I help teams:Turn AI‑centric strategies into concrete campaigns and workflows
Connect brand, operations, and technical teams around shared growth goals
Use experimentation and data to drive conversations on improvement
Q: Outside of work, what are you passionate about?
A: Rooted in my Latino heritage, I’m passionate about expanding economic opportunity for underrepresented communities and first‑generation students.
Q: Fun fact – what might surprise people about you?
A: I spent nine years as an orchestral violinist, and if there's one thing the stage teaches you, it's that the show must go on.
Katherine Verrando
Intern