SIGN UP FOR FREE | SIGN IN
Thinkers360
Interested in getting your own thought leader profile? Get Started Today.

Fern Halper, Ph.D.

New York, United States

Fern Halper, PhD, is a nationally recognized expert on data and artificial intelligence whose work helps business and technology leaders understand what it really takes to succeed with data and AI in practice. She brings a rare combination of hands-on practitioner experience, academic teaching, and industry thought leadership. Over more than 25 years, Dr. Halper has been published hundreds of times on data mining, analytics, machine learning, and artificial intelligence, and she is co-author of several Wiley-published titles in cloud computing, big data, and analytics.

Halper is widely recognized as a leading voice in the data and AI community. She is a frequent speaker and educator at national conferences and events, where she helps executives and practitioners cut through hype to build AI literacy, develop governance and risk understanding, and design practical roadmaps for enterprise AI adoption. Her research and commentary are cited across the industry, and she continues to shape how organizations think about the intersection of data, analytics, and emerging AI technologies.

Halper holds a BA from Colgate University and a Ph.D. from Texas A&M University. She has been a lead analyst at Bell Laboratories, a partner at Hurwitz & Associates, and has taught at both Colgate University and Bentley University. She is currently the VP of Research at TDWI and Founder of AI Foundations Group.

Fern Halper, Ph.D. Points
Academic 0
Author 130
Influencer 0
Speaker 0
Entrepreneur 0
Total 130

Points based upon Thinkers360 patent-pending algorithm.

Thought Leader Profile

Portfolio Mix

Company Information

Areas of Expertise

Agentic AI 32.67
AI 31.68
AI Governance 49.72
Analytics 32.66
Big Data 30.95
Cloud
Digital Transformation
Emerging Technology 30.46
Generative AI 30.37
Predictive Analytics

Industry Experience

Publications & Experience

10 Article/Blogs
A Tale of Two AIs: From Consumer Tools to the Agentic Enterprise
Import from wordpress feed
October 07, 2025
Artificial intelligence is reshaping how we work — but not in one single, unified way. Beneath the surface of the current hype, two very different AI waves are unfolding. The first is visible and noisy. It is filled with influencers, prompt guides, and off-the-shelf tools promising instant product

See publication

Tags: AI, Emerging Technology, Generative AI

What’s Ahead in AI for 2025?
Import from wordpress feed
January 05, 2025
As we enter 2025, artificial intelligence (AI) will continue to be a major theme. From foundational readiness to advanced applications, organizations are both excited by and challenged with integrating AI into their operations. Based on our research at TDWI, here are four trends that I see shaping t

See publication

Tags: AI, Emerging Technology, Generative AI

Organizational Readiness for AI: Are We There Yet?
Import from wordpress feed
September 15, 2024
AI enters the mainstream AI is on the mind of many organizations, and for good reason. It can provide a lot of value in terms of cost efficiencies and innovation. Generative AI has certainly added visibility to AI work that has been going on for decades. In a 2024 TDWI survey, for instance, generati

See publication

Tags: AI, Emerging Technology, Generative AI

Seven considerations for unstructured data
Import from wordpress feed
March 03, 2023
As organizations compete with analytics, more often they realize that structured data alone isn’t enough. Unstructured data — i.e., data sets that have not been structured in a pre-defined manner — such as text data, audio data, image data, and video data can provide a lot of value

See publication

Tags: AI, Emerging Technology, Generative AI

Cloud data stacks vs. Data fabrics: what is right for your organization?
Import from wordpress feed
February 13, 2023
At TDWI, we’re seeing that organizations are dealing with complex data environments.  In our surveys we see that more than half of the respondents are already managing 10s or 100s of TB of data.  Of that group, 15% are already managing petabytes of data. That data includes legacy data and prima

See publication

Tags: AI, Emerging Technology, Generative AI

Responsible Data and Analytics
Import from wordpress feed
February 04, 2023
It’s been a while since I’ve posted here. I plan to do that more regularly. So, stay tuned! Recently, TDWI published one of our Best Practices Reports on Responsible Data and Analytics. These are primary research reports that examine important topics in data and analytics. Responsible da

See publication

Tags: AI, Emerging Technology, Generative AI

How mature is your advanced analytics program?
Import from wordpress feed
June 20, 2018
Advanced analytics is being deployed in a range of use cases across business units and industries, especially as data types and volume increase. One of the top use cases for advanced analytics we see at TDWI is predictive analytics to understand customer or operational behavior. Statistical as well

See publication

Tags: AI, Emerging Technology, Generative AI

5 Best Practices for Building a program to become data-driven
Import from wordpress feed
June 18, 2018
There are organizational and technology components critical for a business to succeed in becoming data-driven. On the organizational side, a key component to succeeding with data and analytics is to create a culture that supports these efforts. Companies that succeed are typically goal-driven, trans

See publication

Tags: AI, Emerging Technology, Generative AI

The Predictive Analytics Conundrum
Import from wordpress feed
June 12, 2018
  TDWI research indicates that if users stuck to their plans around predictive analytics, adoption would be at 75–80% versus the 35–40% we currently see.   Predictive analytics is on the cusp of widespread adoption. Many organizations are excited to make use of the power of predictive

See publication

Tags: AI, Emerging Technology, Generative AI

You guessed it – women still earn less in IT than men
Import from wordpress feed
June 11, 2018
Since joining TDWI about six years ago, I have been following and reporting on our salary survey. The report quantifies and interprets the compensation, roles, responsibilities, skills, and experience of individual BI and IT professionals. It also provides detailed profiles of the 10 most common BI

See publication

Tags: AI, Emerging Technology, Generative AI

2 Books
Data Makes the World Go 'Round: The Data, Tech, and Trust Behind AI Success 1st Edition
Wiley
March 30, 2026
A soup to nuts strategy guide for business leaders interested in implementing artificial intelligence in their organizations in a way that drives real-world results, Data Makes the World Go ‘Round: The Data, Tech, and Trust Behind AI Success combines specific, actionable advice for technical and business leaders on issues like data management, data architectures, AI tools, AI operationalization, and AI governance. Veteran technology and business analyst, researcher, and leader, Fern Halper, walks you through the organizational and technical factors that determine success in data, analytics, and AI.

This book brings together the insights, case studies, and leader interviews that set out exactly what you need to succeed as you incorporate artificial intelligence throughout your organization. It covers the latest trends in data and AI (and how they’re relevant to your top- and bottom-lines), data products, data fabric, and AI responsibility, risk mitigation, and ethics.

Inside the book:

Specific steps to building the robust internal data foundation you’ll need for artificial intelligence implementation
How to democratize business intelligence so data analysts are free to conduct deeper analyses and perform more sophisticated analytical roles
Informed advice for building AI models, applications, and innovations, and explanations of best practices for model building aligned with your organization’s strategies
Perfect for business and technology leaders working towards a comprehensive data and AI strategy, Data Makes the World Go ‘Round: The Data, Tech, and Trust Behind AI Success is a deeply informed, up-to-date, and practical exploration of the foundations of every successful AI transformation – and how you can build them in your own organization.

See publication

Tags: Agentic AI, AI, AI Governance

Big Data For Dummies
Wiley
December 27, 2025
Find the right big data solution for your business or organization

Big data management is one of the major challenges facing business, industry, and not-for-profit organizations. Data sets such as customer transactions for a mega-retailer, weather patterns monitored by meteorologists, or social network activity can quickly outpace the capacity of traditional data management tools. If you need to develop or manage big data solutions, you'll appreciate how these four experts define, explain, and guide you through this new and often confusing concept. You'll learn what it is, why it matters, and how to choose and implement solutions that work.

Effectively managing big data is an issue of growing importance to businesses, not-for-profit organizations, government, and IT professionals
Authors are experts in information management, big data, and a variety of solutions
Explains big data in detail and discusses how to select and implement a solution, security concerns to consider, data storage and presentation issues, analytics, and much more
Provides essential information in a no-nonsense, easy-to-understand style that is empowering
Big Data For Dummies cuts through the confusion and helps you take charge of big data solutions for your organization.

See publication

Tags: AI, Analytics, Big Data

Thinkers360 Credentials

4 Badges

Blog

Opportunities

Events

Add to Shortlist View Shortlist »

Contact Fern Halper, Ph.D.

Book a Video Meeting

Media Kit

Share Profile

Contact Info

  Profile

Fern Halper, Ph.D.

Latest Activity

Search
How do I climb the Thinkers360 thought leadership leaderboards?
What enterprise services are offered by Thinkers360?
How can I run a B2B Influencer Marketing campaign on Thinkers360?