In June 2025, the Orbition Group, a talent consulting and advisory firm focused on building skills in Data, Analytics, and Artificial Intelligence (AI), highlighted an inspiring woman.

Katia Walsh, Ph.D., was recognized as a technologist in "Driven by Data, Women to Watch" because of her ability to make brands indispensable through the strategic application of digital, data, and AI capabilities.

Walsh was credited with transforming companies into customer-centric powerhouses, solving high-value problems that enhance customer experiences, drive efficiencies, unlock new revenue streams, and deliver meaningful societal impact.

This is not the first industry recognition for this trailblazing executive.

In February 2023, the native Bulgarian announced her pride in representing the United States and Bulgaria as a Global AI Ambassador, a recognition by Swiss Cognitive, a leading AI network.

Over four years, Walsh had led groundbreaking digital, data, and AI changes at the legendary brand of Levi Strauss & Co. in San Francisco.

Swiss Cognitive named Walsh as an "AI Global Ambassador for 2023, capping a year of extraordinary achievements.

Since January 2025, Walsh has served as the AI lead at Apollo Portfolio Performance Solutions, a subsidiary of Apollo Global Management, Inc

Before this role, she was the chief digital officer at Harvard Business School and the chief global strategy and AI officer for Levi Strauss & Co

During her tenure at Levi Strauss, she famously stated that every company, regardless of industry, is becoming digital, data-driven, and AI-focused.

In May 2021, under her leadership, the company accelerated its efforts to transform through digital technology, data, and AI.

They announced the establishment of a Digital Enterprise Office to advance this agenda and scaled the use of digital tools and machine learning throughout the organization.

This included leveraging AI to optimize e-commerce promotions and enhance the consumer experience on Levi.com, among other initiatives.

To support these efforts, Levi Strauss implemented a digital upskilling initiative, described as a first of its kind in the apparel industry.

This program features an in-house curriculum that includes AI literacy courses for merchandise planners, hands-on coding education, and other coursework designed to help employees develop new skills in machine learning, design thinking, and product management.

A pivotal part of this initiative is the Machine Learning Bootcamp. This program aims to invest in employees by providing immersive training in coding, machine learning, and agile working methods, fully funded by the company.

The inaugural cohort of the Machine Learning Bootcamp comprised 40 employees selected from over 350 applications worldwide.

Remarkably, 63% of the participants were women, with a median tenure of 2.5 years, representing 14 different locations, including corporate offices, retail stores, distribution centers, and data centers.

Upon graduation, some participants were expected to join the growing Strategy and AI team, while others would return to their previous roles equipped with new skills.

One participant, a computer operator at Levi Strauss with 20 years of experience in the information technology field, expressed excitement about deepening their understanding of data science.

They looked forward to discovering ways to solve business challenges and create innovations benefiting the broader organization.

During an MIT Sloan Management Review webinar in March 2022, titled "How AI Spurs Employee Engagement and Innovation at Levi Strauss & Co.," Walsh discussed how the company's AI boot camps have transformed employees' attitudes toward AI.

The Artificial Intelligence and Business Strategy initiative revealed that both tech and non-tech workers at Levi Strauss learn about AI through these corporate boot camps, which have led to new initiatives in product design, operations, and customer engagement.

In December 2023, a case study on Toolify.ai noted that graduates of the machine learning boot camp have become champions of digital innovation and transformation within the company.

This positive outcome has prompted Levi Strauss & Co. to offer additional digital upskilling opportunities for its employees.

So proud to represent the #UnitedStates and my native #Bulgaria as a #2023GlobalAI Ambassador, a recognition by SwissCognitive, World-Leading AI Network. This is both an honor and a responsibility to foster the #economic and #social #impact of #Digital, #…https://t.co/0siVo81Qrq

— Katia Walsh (@KatiaWalsh) February 24, 2023

Here is a personified example of the #DigitalTransformaton taking place at Levi Strauss & Co. Austen Lowitz had the courage to apply for the pioneering cohort of our industry-first #MachineLearning bootcamp in December 2020. He completed it in May 2021 an…https://t.co/EiJYhJixLQ

— Katia Walsh (@KatiaWalsh) October 24, 2022

Yesterday was a day that celebrated support for women in #DigitalAndEmergingTechnology. Many thanks to Chief for the flowers in recognition my new role as the Harvard Business School inaugural #ChiefDigitalOfficer - it's worth relocating from another coas…https://t.co/1U4XBIXdUw

— Katia Walsh (@KatiaWalsh) June 6, 2023