Title: Chief Executive Officer and Chairwoman
Company: Bast AI
Location: Denver, Colorado, United States
Beth Rudden, chief executive officer and chairwoman at Bast AI, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Engineers for dedication, achievements, and leadership in artificial intelligence.
With two and a half decades of experience, Ms. Rudden has built a successful career in artificial intelligence and cognitive science. She currently serves as chief executive officer of Bast AI, a role she has held since 2022. Bast AI, a software company, focuses on providing trusted AI solutions to enhance human capability. In 2023, the company launched eight pilot programs aimed at developing AI tools that support hands-on professionals—such as medics, nurses, construction workers, and manufacturers—by delivering clear, practical guidance. Her experience includes leadership roles at IBM, where she served as cognitive science and trusted AI leader from 2020 to 2022, chief data officer from 2018 to 2020, and distinguished engineer from 2016 to 2022. Additionally, she has co-authored ‘AI for the Rest of Us,” presented at IBM’s Insight2015, and holds a patent for file access control granted in 2014.
Ms. Rudden is an active contributor to numerous organizations, including The Open Group, Women in Technology, the IBM Academy of Technology, the Center for Advancing Safety of Machine Intelligence, and the Board of Trustees at Maryville University. She also serves on the technical advisory board of the Future World Alliance, supports P-Tech Advisory for St. Vrain, and volunteers with organizations such as Girls Who Code, The Blue Bench, and Army Spouses. In light of her impressive undertakings, she has been honored among the 100 Most Brilliant Leaders in AI Ethics and received a Lifetime Achievement Award, as well as accolades from the IBM Academy of Technology. She laid a solid educational foundation, earning a Bachelor of Arts in classical archaeology from Florida State University in 1996 and a Master of Arts in anthropology from the University of Denver in 1998. She holds multiple professional certifications, including Level 3 data scientist from The Open Group, IBM’s Level 3 thought leader in data science, and master certified solution architect from The Open Group.
Reflecting on her path, Ms. Rudden takes great pride in establishing a global standard for data science through an accredited certification with The Open Group, now with over 10,000 certified data scientists across 175 countries. She also played a vital role in IBM’s transformation into Kyndryl, a $20 billion company, by leading initiatives that reskilled 23,000 employees in 16 months, boosting billable rates from $17 to $250 per hour and driving substantial business growth. She attributes her success to her unwavering authenticity, her talent for building meaningful relationships, and her insatiable curiosity, which fuels her continual learning and growth. In the coming years, she aims to expand Bast AI, with a vision to reshape perceptions of artificial intelligence by showcasing its positive impacts. Her ultimate goal is to elevate Bast AI to billion-dollar status while inspiring the creation of eight more billion-dollar companies.
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