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Photo of Shahid Ahmed

Shahid Ahmed

COO and Co-Founder at EQITII; Digital, IoT, and Technology Advisor

Shahid is COO and Co-Founder at EQITII, an independent, distributed and open marketplace for data rights leveraging Blockchain and Distributed Ledgerbased technologies. Shahid is also currently an advisor to several early-stage firms focused on the wireless, IoT and digital sectors helping entrepreneurs turn innovative ideas into world class companies. Additionally, he is helping telecom operators transform into Digital companies.

Between October 2016 and January 2017, Shahid was a Partner at PwC responsible for several digital practices including Emerging Technologies, IoT, Data & Analytics, PwC’s Emerging Technologies Lab, and PwC’s Center for Technology and Innovation.  As the practice leader, Shahid’s goal was to transform PwC Consulting into a digital business.  Shahid was also the New Ventures Lead helping PwC launch innovative new businesses in the consulting marketplace.

Prior to joining PwC, Shahid was a Managing Director with Accenture, where he was responsible for Accenture’s North America Communications $1B+ business.  In this role, Shahid helped telecommunications clients build new capabilities, operate more efficiently and drive new growth.  He was also responsible for the Network Practice in North America.  During his 20-year tenure at Accenture, Shahid was involved in creating many practices including the formation of the wireless practice, the Accenture Cisco Business Group and the Accenture Alcatel-Lucent (now Accenture Nokia) Business Group.

Before Accenture, between 1992-96, Shahid held several management positions at Sprint where he spent four years expanding Sprint’s wireless services in North America.  Shahid was also responsible for rolling out the first cellular digital packet data (CDPD) network in the US.

Affiliations

Shahid is an active member of several industry groups. He currently serves on multiple advisory boards such as the Smart Network Council, Cellular Telecommunication and Internet Association (CTIA), Northwestern University Masters in Engineering Management (MEM) program and The Coral Group.  Shahid was also a board member of Chicago Sinfonietta -- a symphony founded in 1987 to promote diversity, inclusion and innovation in classical music.

In February 2011, Shahid was appointed as an Advisor to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) advising on technology issues facing the United States.  Shahid has worked on several policy issues and currently serves as the chair for IoT and cyber-security working groups.

Shahid was also a commencement speaker at Northwestern University’s McCormick Engineering School in June 2015.

Education

BS Computer Science, Elmhurst College
Masters of Engineering Management, Northwestern University