Hamilton Mann is the Group Vice President of Digital Marketing and Digital Transformation of Thales. He’s also a Senior Lecturer at INSEAD, HEC Paris and EDHEC Business School. His work has been featured in a variety of media including Forbes, Stanford Social Innovation Review, Knowledge at Wharton and The European Business Review. Furthermore, he’s a mentor at the MIT Priscilla King Gray (PKG) Center and the Host of the podcast, The Hamilton Mann Conversation. He was inducted into the Thinkers50 Radar in 2024 as one of the 30 most prominent rising business thinkers globally. He’s the author of the book Artificial Integrity (Wiley, 2024).
Recently, in an exclusive interview with Digital First Magazine, Hamilton shared his professional trajectory, insights on how he stays updated on emerging technologies and trends, the secret mantra behind his success, personal hobbies and interests, future plans, and much more. The following excerpts are taken from the interview.
Hi Hamilton. Please tell us about your career path. What experiences have brought you here?
Thank you for having me. My career journey has been fulfilling one so far, shaped by a passion for technology and a commitment to leveraging it for the greater good.
I currently serve as the Group Vice President of Digital Marketing and Digital Transformation at Thales, a global leader in Aerospace, Space, Cybersecurity, and Defence.
Thales is renowned for its investments in digital and “deep tech” innovations, including artificial intelligence, big data, connectivity, cybersecurity, and quantum technologies. My role involves leading group-wide digital and AI initiatives, which align with Thales’ purpose and enhance our business operations. These transformational achievements have been recognized and featured on platforms such as the MIT Blog and as a case study by IMD Business School.
Prior to joining Thales, I was Director at Capgemini Invent working on Strategy and Digital Transformation assignments for CAC 40 and Fortune 500 companies.
Previously, I co-founded, Mann & Miller, enjoying an entrepreneur experience delivering global marketing strategy for top-ranking luxury companies.
As part of the experience that brought me here, beyond my various roles in large companies, there is also my passion for authorship.
I am writing regularly for Forbes and contributing articles about AI and its societal implications to prestigious academic and business outlets like the Stanford Social Innovation Review (SSIR), Knowledge@Wharton, Dialogue Duke Corporate Education, INSEAD Knowledge, INSEAD TECH TALK X, I by IMD, the Harvard Business Review France and the European Business Review.
I’ve had the privilege of contributing to the book “Driving Sustainable Innovation” (Brightline Project Management Institute and Thinkers50, 2024) alongside other Thinkers50 thought leaders, like Terence Mauri, Richard Straub, Mark Esposito, and many others. I am also a co-author, along with a collective of Thinkers50 members, of the upcoming book “Human Touch” (Thinkers50, Wiley), scheduled for release in November. And my book, “Artificial Integrity,” (Wiley) currently available for pre-order on Amazon, is set to be released at the end of October.
Also, among the experiences that have brought me here, there is my passion for the transmission of knowledge.
I have always been a firm believer in the importance of a growth mindset.
In addition to my writing, I host “The Hamilton Mann Conversation,” a podcast dedicated to democratizing knowledge about how digital technology, including AI, can be harnessed for societal good.
I share my expertise as a Senior Lecturer at INSEAD, HEC Paris, and EDHEC Business School, and as a Mentor at the MIT Priscilla King Gray (PKG) Center. Furthermore, I serve as the President of the Digital Transformation Club of the INSEAD Alumni Association France.
I am also conducting doctoral research at l’Ecole des Ponts et Chaussées on how AI can be designed not just for intelligent task completion but to uphold human values through frameworks and mechanisms that artificially guide integrity in its outcomes.
My journey, marked by continuous learning and collaboration, has brought me to where I am today, driven by a vision of integrating technology and human values for a better future.
What do you love the most about your current roles?
What I love the most about my role in Thales is the unique opportunity to lead digital and AI initiatives that have a profound impact on both our organization and society at large. At Thales, I’m at the forefront of technological innovation, working with cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence, big data, cybersecurity, and quantum technologies.
This position allows me to not only drive digital transformation within a global leader in Aerospace, Space, Cybersecurity, and Defense but also to influence how these advancements can be used to create a safer, more inclusive, and sustainable world. Also, one of the most rewarding aspects is the ability to blend strategic vision with practical implementation. I enjoy the challenge of aligning our digital strategies with Thales’ overarching purpose and business goals, ensuring that our innovations are not only technologically advanced but also ethically sound and socially responsible.
Furthermore, my role provides a platform to collaborate with an incredibly talented and diverse team. The collective expertise and passion of my colleagues inspire me daily, and together, we push the boundaries of what technology can achieve.
This collaborative spirit extends beyond Thales, as I engage with thought leaders, academics, and industry experts through various initiatives, including my role as a podcast host of “The Hamilton Mann Conversation.”
Lastly, I cherish continuous learning and personal growth, whether it’s through my other roles, conducting doctoral research, writing articles, or teaching at esteemed institutions like INSEAD, HEC Paris, and EDHEC Business School. I am constantly evolving and gaining new insights.
This relentless pursuit of knowledge fuels my passion for driving positive change and reinforces my commitment to leveraging digital technology for the greater good.
In essence, what I love most about my current roles is the perfect blend of innovation, impact, collaboration, and continuous learning. It’s a dynamic and fulfilling journey that allows me to contribute to a better future, both within Thales and in the broader technological landscape.
How do you stay informed about emerging technologies and trends, and how do you determine which ones have the greatest potential to drive positive change in the social sector?
I employ a multifaceted approach to ensure I am always up-to-date and can identify technologies with the greatest potential for driving positive change in society.
Firstly, I actively engage with a wide network of industry experts, thought leaders, and academics through conferences, webinars, and forums.
Being part of communities like Thinkers50 and participating in events organized by institutions such as the World Economic Forum, the Global Peter Drucker Forum, the Web Summit, the MIT Platform Strategy Summit and others, provides me with invaluable insights into the latest developments and future directions in technology.
Secondly, I dedicate time to continuous learning by reading extensively. I regularly peruse academic journals, industry reports, and thought leadership articles. This helps me stay abreast of the latest research and innovative practices.
Thirdly, as a host of “The Hamilton Mann Conversation” podcast, I engage in dialogues with pioneers in the field of digital transformation and artificial intelligence. These conversations often reveal emerging trends and real-world applications that might not yet be widely recognized.
In determining which technologies have the greatest potential to drive positive change in society, it is essential to first acknowledge that technology, even when created with the best intentions for the greater good, is not inherently immune from producing adverse effects in society. Technology itself is not inherently sustainable or positive. A comprehensive understanding of ‘Digital for Good’ starts by thinking against oneself, especially as a technologist, with the acknowledgment of some critical paradoxes, paving the way for a more mindful and responsible approach to technological development in society. It is about acknowledging the current and long-term impact of paradoxes posed by technology to address its unsustainable nature or implications for the well-being of society.
It implies to harness its benefits responsibly while maintaining a balanced and nuanced perspective about the potential negative externalities that might arise from its advancement.
As we harness the power of digital technology, it is our collective responsibility to ensure that it serves not only as a tool for innovation and efficiency but also as a catalyst for a more sustainable, equitable, and ethical future benefiting humanity.
Please tell us about your podcast, ‘The Hamilton Mann Conversation’ and its mission.
We are in the era of advanced technological intelligence that represent new opportunities while changing our relationship with the world: our way of being, working, having fun, making decisions, creating, producing, educating, forming society—in short, our way of life. The rapid advancements of AI in areas such as robotics, the Internet of Things (IoT), autonomous vehicles, additive manufacturing (3D printing), nanotechnology, biotechnology, energy storage, quantum computing, deep tech, and others further expand the scope of this potential.
Many questions remain open and there is still much to explore.
AI, for example, offers major advances in healthcare and solving complex problems, but how far are we willing to go in delegating our decisions to machines?
Robots, which can enhance our productivity and take on dangerous tasks, also raise the crucial question of the future of employment and human skills. With the IoT, our daily lives become more connected and convenient, but at what cost to our privacy and security?
Autonomous vehicles promise safer and more efficient mobility, but who will be responsible in the event of an accident involving these autonomous technologies? In the field of additive manufacturing, the possibilities and benefits in production and logistics are undeniable, but what about the dilemmas surrounding intellectual property and environmental impact?
Nanotechnology and biotechnology open incredible avenues for disease treatment and modifying living organisms, but where do we draw the red line in human genome modification?
Energy storage and quantum computing could solve large-scale global problems, but what will be the impacts on current geopolitical and economic balances?
These questions, among many others, raise fundamental aspects about the role and responsibility of humans in a world shaped by increasingly advanced intelligent technologies. The development of machine intelligence requires anticipating the conditions for their autonomy, protecting digital identities, redefining work, and many other elements.
How can we, as a society, make informed choices to guide this (r)evolution, ensuring that the benefits of these technologies are shared equitably and that their development is guided by principles of integrity?
To attempt to answer the many complex questions posed by the advancement of digital intelligence technologies and the transformations they underpin, there is not one but many experts, each bringing knowledge that only collective intelligence can fully exploit.
It is with this premise that I launched the ‘Digital for Good’ conversations in 2021 with the idea of creating a platform for diverse perspectives—from academics, corporate leaders, entrepreneurs, consultants, association leaders, and international and public institutions—on as many opportunities as challenges brought by technological intelligence. The goal is to understand and learn how technologies can help build a better future for society.
By bringing together leaders who play a crucial role in the design and integration of these new technologies into society, from various sectors, to discuss the economic, social, and societal implications of these technologies, the idea is to promote the democratization of access to knowledge and experience of these technologies, in service of society’s well-being.
Among many others, guests have included academic figures such as Didier Bonnet (IMD), Tom Davenport (Babson College/Oxford), David Edelman (Harvard Business School), Renée Richardson Gosline (MIT Sloan), Geoff Parker (Dartmouth College), Warren Powell (Princeton), Sam Ransbotham (Boston College), Marshall Van Alstyne (Boston University), Kevin Werbach (Wharton), and George Westerman (MIT Sloan).
These exchanges, which also highlight concrete examples of ‘Digital for Good’, aim to help decision-makers and leaders consider action paths that take into account both the opportunities and risks associated with these technologies.
Ultimately, these ‘conversations’ are a collective step toward a future where advanced technological intelligence is used responsibly.
The enhancement of our intelligence by that of the machine will always, and increasingly in the future, be confronted with the existential question of the human cause we assign to this intelligence to serve.
This year, you were inducted into the Thinkers50 radar as one of the 30 most prominent rising business thinkers in the world for pioneering “Digital for Good”. You were also recognized as one of the Most Influential People of African Descent (MIPAD) in the “Global Top 100 Futurists and Innovators” Class of 2024 alongside distinguished individuals like Dr. Joy Buolamwini and Will.I.am, among numerous prolific awards & recognitions over the years. Our readers would love to know the secret mantra behind your success.
I believe that the recognitions and other accolades I have had the honor to receive primarily underscore the importance of the Digital for Good approach.
So I humbly take these acknowledgments as a representative, among many others, who work daily to ensure that technology serves positive advancements for society.
What I find most important is that it reflects a growing awareness of the potential impact of advanced technologies, not only in the science of management for the business world but also in the non-profit sector and, more broadly, on society as a whole. These recognitions also highlight a global trend towards a deeper appreciation of technological intelligence as a tool for social, economic, and sustainable progress.
Like cholesterol, which has both ‘good’ and ‘bad’ forms, technologies also have positive and negative aspects. It is therefore essential to ensure that the benefits they bring do not come at the cost of destabilizing important aspects of our society and environment.
Take the example of virtual and augmented reality. These technologies offer revolutionary possibilities in education and training, enabling immersive and interactive learning experiences. However, they also raise questions about the effects of prolonged immersion in virtual worlds on mental and social health and the distinction between real and virtual.
Another example is Smart Cities. They use data and technological intelligence to optimize urban services, improve quality of life, and reduce the environmental footprint. However, data collection poses significant challenges regarding privacy rights and individual freedoms. It is thus imperative to find a balance between the advantages offered by the development of smart cities and the protection of citizens’ rights.
Finally, the example of platforms with intelligent recommendation systems also presents a dilemma: these systems use complex algorithms to analyze usage behaviors based on past experiences and preferences. Ultimately, these recommendations can help users discover products they like, but they can also create “filter bubbles” where users are mainly exposed to products or information that reinforce their existing preferences or opinions, potentially limiting exposure to a diversity of choices and subtly influencing decisions to the point of compromising their free will.
It is essential to address these challenges by developing technological intelligence grounded in and guided by ‘Artificial Integrity,’ a concept that I explore in my upcoming book to be published in October.
If you could have a one-hour meeting with someone famous who is alive or dead, who would it be and why?
Warren Buffett once said, ‘In looking for people to hire, look for three qualities: integrity, intelligence, and energy. And if they don’t have the first, the other two will kill you.’
This wisdom begs the question: as we begin to ‘hire’ powerful intelligent machines to perform tasks traditionally done by humans, how do we ensure they possess something akin to what we call integrity?
So if I could have a one-hour meeting with someone famous, I would choose Alan Turing. Turing’s groundbreaking work in computing and artificial intelligence laid the foundation for much of the technology we use today. His insights into the nature of intelligence and his pioneering efforts in developing early computers and cryptographic methods during World War II were transformative.
I would be eager to discuss with him his thoughts on how his early theories have evolved and how he would view the advancements in artificial intelligence and computing in the modern world. In particular, I would be interested in exploring his views on Artificial Integrity, a concept I am developing which focuses on guiding AI to not just perform tasks efficiently but also to uphold human values standards to deliver integrity-led outcomes.
I would want to understand how he would approach the challenge of ensuring that AI systems are designed Integrity over Intelligence to address dilemmas we face today, such as bias, privacy, and accountability.
His perspective on integrating these principles into AI development would offer profound insights into how we can build technology that truly serves the common good. This approach would not only honor the foundational ideas of intelligence that he helped shape but also ensure that AI is developed with a strong commitment to integrity standards, rather than simply pursuing intelligence for its own sake.
What does the term “authentic leadership” mean to you?
Authentic leadership, to me, is defined by a commitment to personal integrity and a steadfast adherence to one’s values, beliefs, and principles, even amidst external pressures or shifting circumstances.
This form of leadership encompasses a profound self-awareness, including a clear understanding of one’s strengths, weaknesses, and values. It involves continuous reflection on one’s actions and decisions, with a focus on personal growth and alignment with core principles.
Authentic leaders also prioritize transparency, fostering trust and credibility with teams and stakeholders, and creating an environment where individuals feel valued and understood.
They remain unwavering in their values, resisting the temptation to compromise for short-term gains, and consistently uphold ethical practices and integrity.
A genuine concern for others’ well-being and development is I think also central to authentic leadership.
It is about facing challenges with a strong sense of purpose and resilience, maintaining their integrity even under adversity, and inspiring others through their example.
It is about being guided by a clear vision that aligns with both personal values and the greater good.
It’s not about wielding personal power but about inspiring and guiding others toward shared goals and positive outcomes.
These traits are particularly crucial when developing AI for Artificial Integrity.
What are some of your passions outside of work? What do you like to do in your time off?
One of my greatest passions is exploring the intersection of technology and the arts. I enjoy attending art exhibitions, performances, and exploring how technological advancements can reflect and influence new creative expression.
For example, I have a particular admiration for the artwork of Sougwen 愫君 Chung. Chung is the founder and artistic director of SCILICET, a studio dedicated to exploring collaboration between humans and machines. She is recognized as a pioneer in the field of human-machine collaboration, examining the interplay between hand-made and machine-made marks to better understand the dynamics between humans and systems.
I also admire the talent of Merritt Moore, a physicist and ballet dancer who blends science and art using robots and dance. She is exploring the future of AI and machine learning, specifically with dance, and welcomes all forms of collaboration that fuse dance, physics, and technology. She emphasizes that arts and sciences should not be mutually exclusive.
Another artist I appreciate in this field is Refik Anadol. Anadol’s innovative approach leverages data and AI as primary elements, transforming them into dynamic visualizations that challenge our perceptions of architecture and the human form in motion. Through site-specific AI data sculptures, live audio-visual performances, and immersive installations, Anadol not only alters how we interact with the physical world but also deepens our understanding of its temporal and spatial dimensions.
I am also an avid reader and enjoy diving into books on a wide range of topics, from philosophy to history. Reading not only expands my knowledge but also offers new perspectives and insights that I can apply to both my personal and professional life.
I am passionate about mentoring and engaging with young professionals and students. I find it incredibly rewarding to share my experiences and support the next generation as they navigate their own career paths.
And I must also say that I am the biggest fan of my son Alexandre Mann’s work. I’ve often been asked: it’s one of his paintings that is in my background during each session of The Hamilton Mann Conversation.
What is your biggest goal? Where do you see yourself in 5 years from now?
My biggest goal is to contribute meaningfully to the development of AI, which I prefer to call technological intelligence, so that it can embody artificial integrity and better serve the greater good.
Ultimately, I hope to help create a future where technology not only advances human capabilities but also upholds the highest standards of responsibility, contributing to a more equitable and sustainable world.
I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible on this journey—so see you at work!