Technologist
Samuel Bowles
About

Samuel
Bowles

I'm a technology generalist with deep skills across design, product, and engineering. I'm increasingly focused on helping organizations figure out how to actually harness AI to transform their businesses.

Twenty-plus years in the industry. I've designed mobile apps, led hundred-person delivery teams, shipped FDA-regulated software, worked with the US military, and helped companies from scrappy startups to Fortune 50s figure out what to build next and how to build it well.

I refuse to pick a lane. Twenty-five years in, I've decided this is a feature, not a bug. You can call me designer, product manager, or engineer. If you're nice I might even let you call me Sam.

What I Do
All of the above & below
AI Strategy & Transformation
Helping organizations move beyond the hype and actually deploy AI to change how they work.
Product Strategy
Connecting business goals to what gets built. Aligning vision, prioritization, and execution.
Human-Centered Design
Twenty-plus years of designing things people actually want to use.
Software Engineering
Enough engineering depth to lead technical teams and bridge design/code.
Agile & Lean Delivery
Building high-performing teams and delivery organizations at scale.
Executive Coaching
Working with leaders to remove blockers and turn vision into execution.
Partial Client List
25+ years of name-dropping
Enterprise & Finance
American Express
Chevron
GE
Intel
Fiserv
X-Rite
Consumer & Retail
Apple
The Gap
Toro
Dematic
Health & Government
Pear Therapeutics
American Red Cross
The World Bank
US Air Force / Kessel Run
Technology
Meta
Pivotal (VMware)
Slalom Build
Multiple Early-Stage Startups
+ many others across logistics, media, nonprofit, and education sectors. Client confidentiality limits what can be listed publicly.
Experience
2026 Edition
Oct 2023 – Present
Balance & Co.
Senior Director AI Consulting

Executive coaching and strategic advisory across industries. Help leaders align vision with execution, strengthen product-market fit, and actually ship things that matter. Specializing in AI strategy and transformation.

Nov 2019 – Dec 2023
Slalom Build — Northern California
Senior Director Software Engineering & Location Lead

Led software engineering and product teams across four Northern California offices. Managed $30M+ in operations. Co-led the creation of a career development framework for 1,000+ technologists. Oversaw delivery of enterprise-scale software used by millions worldwide.

Feb 2011 – Sep 2018
Pivotal Labs
Director, SF Labs

Managed key client accounts for American Express, The Gap, Chevron, GE, Intel, and others. Led a delivery team of 100+ managers and contributors. Presented to business leaders from 12+ countries in 160+ Executive Briefings.

Aug 2011 – Feb 2016
Mutually Human
Vice President

Managed accounts for Apple, Toro, Dematic, American Red Cross. Systematized sales processes → 50% bookings increase. Grew both revenue lines by 100%. Managed team through 150% growth. (Yes, those numbers are real.)

Aug 2009 – Mar 2011
Atomic Object
Director of User Experience

Built the design team at this engineering-led company. Consulted X-Rite, Fiserv, The World Bank. Established best practices for integrating User-Centered Design and Agile — back when that was still a controversial idea.

Jan 2009 – Aug 2009
Six Voices
Director of User Experience

Launched 30+ iPhone applications with 4+ star reviews. Built and managed a team of ten international designers. Designed the full brand identity and mobile platform. (This was the early days — we were all figuring it out.)

Feb 2001 – Aug 2009
Duovox
Owner, Interaction Designer

Ran a profitable small business for eight years. Provided business and product strategy for national and international clients across diverse industries. Made payroll every month — which is harder than it sounds.

+ Greymatter Group (Production Artist, 1997–1998) · The Image Group (Information Architect, 1998–2001)
Service & Community
Board MemberBoard of Advisors, Human Practice, Inc.
Former Local LeaderIxDA Grand Rapids
Former Co-ChairMidwest UX 2013
Former Board MemberAcademy of Business, Leadership & Entrepreneurship (GRPS Innovation Central)
Former Committee MemberGrand Rapids Community College CIS Program
Former Adjunct InstructorKendall College of Art & Design; WMCAT
etc.
The honest version

I've spent 25 years being the person in the room who understands both the business problem and how the code works. That's a genuinely useful thing to be — even when it means nobody's quite sure what box to put you in.

What I'm focused on now

AI is doing to software what software did to business in the 90s. Most organizations are in the "we should probably do something about this" phase. I help them get to the "we're actually doing something about this" phase — without the embarrassing detours.