Tom Erickson

Tom Erickson is an accomplished leader with extensive experience in academia and venture capital. Currently serving as the Academic Lead for Creative Destruction Lab Wisconsin and the Founding Director of the School of Computer, Data & Information Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Tom is recognized for driving educational innovation in computing and data science. As a co-founder of Pillar VC, Tom supports seed-stage companies with mentorship and guidance. Additionally, Tom holds board director positions at GoodData and KNIME, contributing to advancements in analytics and data-driven innovation. Tom previously served as the founding board director and CEO of Acquia, steering the company to significant revenue growth and industry recognition, and has held various leadership roles in multiple organizations throughout a distinguished career. Tom earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical & Computer Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.