Member since January 2026
Theresa M. Szczurek, Ph.D. is an award-winning technology, innovation, and growth strategist and speaker with a proven track record of leading transformational change in organizations, in both the private and public sector. She is known as the catalyst for extraordinary results. Drawing from her extensive real-world experience, Theresa shares compelling case studies and actionable lessons learned as the former Chief Information Officer of the $33 billion State of Colorado, a 3x technology entrepreneur, certified corporate director (NACD.DC), author, and fractional C-level executive.
As a Certified Management Consultant (CMC®), accomplished speaker, and executive coach, Theresa has guided hundreds of public and private sector organizations to new heights in profitability, productivity, and passion. Her purpose-driven approach fosters thriving organizations with deeply engaged teams. Theresa specializes in helping firms apply IT, cybersecurity, and AI to reduce risks, grow revenues and build customer satisfaction, and scale through innovation and digital transformation.
Theresa is the author of the Amazon-bestseller Pursuit of Passionate Purpose (Wiley), which outlines her proven step-by-step success formula. Her groundbreaking research, Champions of Technological Change, empowers companies to innovate successfully. Through her entrepreneurial ventures, she disrupted the $400 billion call center industry by introducing patented visual and voice technologies that leverage AI and robotic process automation (RPA) to significantly enhance customer service, reduce frustration, and increase efficiency. She started as a Member of Technical Staff at Bell Laboratories and Product Line Manager for AT&T, first designing, optimizing, and then driving global revenue for business communications systems.
Theresa's engaging presence, captivating stories, actionable insights, humor, and diverse experiences have earned her top speaker and consultant rankings at numerous conferences and events. As one meeting planner remarked, "Of all the keynoters I've worked with, Theresa is among the best." She is an exceptional facilitator, emcee, and communicator, frequently receiving standing ovations. Theresa and her firms have been featured in The Wall Street Journal, ABC World News This Morning, Fox News, NBC, Bloomberg Radio, NPR, Fortune, and hundreds of other media outlets.
AI, Cybersecurity, Digital Transformation, IT, emerging technology, and innovation
Pursuit of Passionate Purpose -- helping people and organizations find and succeed on the journey
Customer delight
Strategic sales and marketing
Leadership
Performance including producing results, profits, productivity, and passion
Success Strategies
To The Top: Life and business lessons learned from climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro.
The summit at 19,340 ft was in sight now. After completing the last hour of persistent climbing, I breathlessly whispered, "Yes! Here is the summit of Kilimanjaro, the highest point in Africa." Indeed, the Pursuit of Passionate Purpose formula helped me succeed on that six-day arduous trek, just as it had in other parts of my life. Fierce winds blew on Kili, showing how adversity surrounds us. That climb brought me insights on how to succeed in both my personal and professional life....
My best story revolves around taking my first entrepreneurial tech venture from $0 to over $40M in less than six years.
A first-generation college graduate, I worked my way from humble beginnings in a blue-collar family in the suburbs of Chicago to become a Colorado-based AT&T Bell Labs engineer. My mantra became, 'if it's to be, its up to me."
To The Top: Life and business lessons learned from climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro.
The summit at 19,340 ft was in sight now. After completing the last hour of persistent climbing, I breathlessly whispered, "Yes! Here is the summit of Kilimanjaro, the highest point in Africa." Indeed, the Pursuit of Passionate Purpose formula helped me succeed on that six-day arduous trek, just as it had in other parts of my life. Fierce winds blew on Kili, showing how adversity surrounds us. That climb brought me insights on how to succeed in both my personal and professional life....
My best story revolves around taking my first entrepreneurial tech venture from $0 to over $40M in less than six years.
A first-generation college graduate, I worked my way from humble beginnings in a blue-collar family in the suburbs of Chicago to become a Colorado-based AT&T Bell Labs engineer. My mantra became, 'if it's to be, its up to me."
