At a Glance
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Thought Leader Interview
Thinkers360 interviews profile prominent members of the Thinkers360 community who embody the power of ideas in their work. In this edition, we speak with Anthony J. Rhem, CEO, A.J.Rhem & Associates, Inc. Dr. Anthony J. Rhem is an Information Systems professional with over thirty (30) years of experience. Since 1990, Dr. Rhem has served as President/Principal Consultant of A.J. Rhem & Associates, a knowledge management and system integration consulting, training & research firm located in Chicago, Illinois. As a consultant, strategist and advisor, Dr. Rhem has worked with U.S. fortune 500 corporations in retail, communications, financial, insurance, legal, logistics, education, healthcare, US government and the military. He was recently featured in the Thinkers360 article Top 50 Thought Leaders & Influencers on Emerging Technology (April 2020).
Thinkers360: Tell us a bit about your background
AR: My background is primarily in Knowledge Management, Information Architecture and Artificial Intelligence. Since 1990, I have served as CEO/Principal Consultant of A.J. Rhem & Associates, a privately held system integration consulting, training & research firm specializing in Knowledge Management (KM) and Artificial Intelligence (AI). The consulting assignments I’ve had range from Sr. Technology Advisor, Strategist and Systems Engineer/Architect, at Fortune 500 corporations as well as government institutions and the military. I have been successful through out my career in implementing KM Systems, KM Methods and Strategies, Artificial Intelligence (Machine Learning, Expert Systems and Neural Networks), Big Data, and Cognitive Computing Solutions.
Thinkers360: What are your current responsibilities and what’s a typical day look like?
AR: My current responsibilities consist of responding to the needs of current clients, while working to secure more business. Since my firm focuses on Consulting, Training and Research I’m engaged with our partners in those areas understanding what we currently have going on as well as looking to future business. I also, do a lot of planning in regards to books and articles both current and future as well as looking at conferences that I may be speaking at and/or attending.
My typical day consist of working with current clients and talking with perspective clients about technology initiatives and providing guidance on those initiatives. These initiatives range from developing strategies, innovation trends and future direction to implementing software systems in the areas of Knowledge Management, Artificial Intelligence (machine Learning, Intelligent Assistants, Intelligent automation), Digital Workplace, Data/Information Architecture.
Thinkers360: What’s the favorite part of your current role?
AR: My favorite part of my role is meeting with and talking to clients (current & future) about their business and how they would like technology to support their business (employees, customers and vendors). Understanding their vision and assisting them on their journey to implement technology solutions that are innovative. This is such an exciting time for what I do and the opportunity to bring innovative ideas to the forefront and ideate with clients around that innovating is a rush! The art of the possible is what I bring as an individual and as a firm.
Thinkers360: How do you utilize Thinkers360?
AR: Thinkers360 provides the unique opportunity to have the work in my areas of expertise highlighted and ranked with my peers in those areas. The visibility and recognition of my work is enhanced through the Thinkers360 platform and marketing. The increased visibility and recognition has been great for me individually and for my firm. What I try to do is take advantage of what Thinkers360 offers in terms of highlighting my blog, books, conferences and speaking engagements in business and technology topics they focus on.
Editor’s Note: See Tony’s Thinkers360 In-Depth Profile & Portfolio.
Thinkers360: How do you like to work with brands who wish to engage you as a thought leader?
AR: A brand/client would usually contact myself or my firm through a referral, previous meeting at an event/conference or through my firm’s website (www.ajrhem.com). How I engage with brands from there is to first get an understanding of what the needs are to determine if my firm (and/or myself) is the best fit to deliver on what is expected. After both parties have determine that there is a fit, my next thought is to determine the team and expertise of the team that is needed to deliver and the expected timeline. My philosophy is to deliver solutions in an iterative manner with an agile mindset, so I work with my team to product a price estimate and roadmap based on this. I would then engage with the brand (client) to work out the details.
Thinkers360: What’s your main advice for upcoming thought leaders?
AR: My advice for future thought leaders are to work on being a part of the conversation and having a share of the ‘voice’ in your field and in your area(s) of expertise. The way you do this is by attending conferences networking with others in your industry; submitting papers to be published (in conference proceedings and other outlets), submitting for opportunities to speak/present at conferences, starting a blog and/or contributing to blogs; writing thought pieces on platforms like Thinkers360, LinkedIn, journals, etc.; and engaging with other thought leaders on platforms like Thinkers360, LinkedIn, Twitter, etc. It all comes down to networking, writing, and speaking!
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