Technology Executive & Educator

Alan Yates

Building transformative technology and shaping a future where people — and our education systems — adapt and thrive in the age of artificial intelligence.

View Experience Essays & Ideas
PC to AI
From the PC Era to the AI Era
MS · Startups
Technology Leadership
AI-EDU
Education & Future of Work
GTM
Enterprise · Consumer · Emerging

About

A career at the edge of what’s next

I am a senior technology executive with a track record spanning foundational roles at Microsoft, executive leadership in venture-backed companies, and board and advisory positions across AI, SaaS, tablets, thin-clients, media, education, IoT, and VR/AR.

My expertise lives at the intersection of strategy, product, and commercial execution — turning breakthrough ideas into growing businesses. I have led go-to-market strategy, global business development, and strategic partnerships across enterprise, consumer, and emerging markets.

Today, there is nothing more important to me than working to shape a positive future for people — especially by transforming our education systems to meet the new realities of artificial intelligence.

Go-to-Market Strategy
SaaS
AI Software
IoT & ITV
Global Business Dev.
Immersive Tech (VR/AR)
Corporate Development
Cloud Computing
Executive Advisory
Strategic Partnerships
Product Management
Channel Development
Enterprise Software
Acquisition & Exit
At this point in my journey, there is nothing more important to me than working to shape a positive future for people — especially by transforming our education systems.
— Alan Yates, 2026

Career

Decades of building what’s next

Docugami
2018 — Present
Chief Business Officer
Leads go-to-market strategy, sales, marketing, corporate development, partnerships, and commercialization for a native AI-powered document intelligence platform. Defined and positioned a breakthrough approach to transform complex business documents into structured, actionable data for enterprise use.
Freefly Systems
2014 — 2019
VP, Business Development
Spearheaded business development and strategic growth for a market-leading innovator in professional cinema and drone camera motion systems, driving rapid expansion into new channels and markets worldwide.
VRstudios
2015 — 2018
Board Member
Contributed as a board member for a pioneering company delivering commercial-grade, immersive virtual reality experiences. Facilitated strategic growth leading to acquisition.
TinMan Systems
2018 — 2021
Advisor
Guided business launch, product positioning, and go-to-market strategy with early customers for an Industrial IoT diagnostics company.
Numera Health
2011 — 2012
VP, Business Development
Developed a new online wellness product and led initial business development for the early digital health venture, resulting in an early acquisition.
NComputing
2010 — 2011
Strategic Business Development
Created strategic initiatives and grew EMEA region sales during rapid international expansion of thin client computing. Served as Acting VP of the EMEA Region, growing it by 40%.
Microsoft
Corporation
1990 — 2009
GM, Worldwide Education · 2006–2009
Led global sales and marketing of Microsoft’s product portfolio and philanthropic efforts in Education, transforming a stagnant business into one of the company’s fastest-growing, essential segments.
GM, Business Strategy — MS Office · 2003–2006
Developed growth and competitive strategies for the Microsoft Office franchise, including expansion to the cloud, worldwide standardization of OpenXML document formats, and competitive strategy vs. Google Docs and OpenOffice.
GM / VP, Microsoft TV, WebTV, Windows CE · 1996–2002
Led Microsoft’s expansion beyond the PC into consumer devices and television software. Managed Windows CE, supported global broadband internet and interactive TV partnerships, and led the acquisition and rollout of WebTV.
Channel Marketing Manager · 1990–1996
Invented and founded Microsoft’s Worldwide Partner Program, transitioning the company from retail consumer products to Enterprise products. Helped launch Windows NT and Microsoft’s server business, rapidly growing what became the world’s largest Partner ecosystem.
Earlier Career
Oklahoma State Senate — Staff Director, Head of Staff
Began as Analyst for the Appropriations Committee developing the state budget; promoted to head of staff for all legislation, legal work, and budget development in a bipartisan role.
Mayor’s Office, Los Angeles — Energy Policy Analyst
Developed the Comprehensive Energy Management Plan for the City of Los Angeles as a policy guide for energy conservation and solar initiatives.
Crossroads School, Santa Monica — High School Teacher
Taught 9–12 grade Mathematics and English; coached Basketball and Track & Field. Recipient of the Outstanding Teacher award.

Essays & Ideas

Writing on what matters

I write on the topics I care most about — the collision of artificial intelligence with human potential, the power and evolution of software, and how we must reimagine education for the world that is arriving.

Published · 2026

Education in the Age of AI

A blueprint for helping every school, college, and workforce program in America rise to meet the most significant shift in learning since the printing press. 5 pillars. 20 concrete actions.
Published · 2026

R.I.P. or Rebirth? The Future of SaaS

The SaaS industry isn’t dead — but the era of passive “systems of record” is over. A strategic roadmap for how software firms must evolve in the age of AI.
Published · 2026

Turning Technology Shifts Into Human Advances

From the PC revolution to the internet, mobile, cloud, and now AI — a career shaped by using each new wave of technology to help people do more, learn more, and build what comes next.
Published · 2026

The Creative Destruction Strategy

In the AI era, the response window has collapsed from years to quarters. A strategic roadmap for software leaders navigating velocity, convergence, and the new frontier of value creation.
Published · 2026

A Collaborative Framework for Trusted AI in Education

A call to action for accreditors, institutions, faculty, students, policymakers, and technologists — proposing a federated AI in Education Council with four interlocking principles and four steps to collective action.
Published · 2026

An Early-Stage GTM Growth Playbook

Hard-won guidance for revenue growth leaders at the earliest stages — from ICP and outbound to inbound engines, tech stack discipline, and the outsourced expert advantage.
Published · 2026

More Than Vibing

I built a real app without writing a single line of code. Not vibe coding — something more rigorous. What happens when a business executive applies decades of product thinking to AI-assisted development.
Published · 2026

The Educational Content Pivot

A practical path through the AI revolution for educational publishers and institutions — five strategic pillars for complementing rather than competing with frontier AI, and an honest account of what could go wrong.

Get in Touch

Let’s build something meaningful

I’m open to advisory roles, board positions, executive partnerships, and conversations about the future of education and AI.

Email
[email protected]
Phone
425-785-2633
Location
Woodinville, WA · Greater Seattle Area
Website
alancyates.com

Education

Master of Business Administration
Stanford University Graduate School of Business
Master of Arts — Education
Stanford University
Bachelor of Arts — English Literature
Harvard University