Enterprise AI, Platform & Transformation Leader
I help organizations turn complex technology change into adopted, measurable business outcomes.
I'm Elyse Dequiña, a technology and transformation executive based in Chicago. My career took a non-traditional path — starting in music, designing flyers and building websites for bands (including my own), then moving through graphic design, web development, software engineering, and engineering management into enterprise leadership.
Off the clock, I stay rooted in hands-on creative crafts: shooting Polaroid photography, painting, and working on (and riding) vintage motorcycles.
Chicago, IL — Rider and Photography
Photodarium 2026 Calendar
Seltmann Publishers · Daily tear-off
My triple-exposure instant film self portrait was selected for October 5th in the Photodarium 2026 daily photography calendar.
View calendar featureHow I lead transformation
Four principles guide how I build teams, make decisions, and deliver lasting change.
Outcomes over output
Every initiative is anchored to a measurable business result — not activity for its own sake.
Pragmatic innovation
Adopt emerging technology where it earns its place, with governance and value front and center.
Trust and accountability
High-performing teams thrive on clarity, psychological safety, and shared ownership of results.
Lead with the why
Transformation sticks when people understand the purpose and see themselves in the future state.
A professional timeline
Two decades of progressive leadership across consulting, engineering, and enterprise transformation.
- 2026 — Present
Fractional CTO & Technology & AI Enablement Advisor
Advisory · Remote
Advise an early-stage venture on technology strategy, AI-enabled product direction, architecture, and MVP development.
- 2021 — 2026
Senior Director of Technology — Client Journey + Workforce Management
ABM Industries
Led AI-enabled workflow automation, Salesforce ecosystem modernization, and workforce management transformation across 100k+ employee operations — including a 7-site Webflow migration and a $11.3M/12.3x ROI MarTech strategy.
- 2020 — 2026
Technical Advisor — Board Member
The Difference Engine
Advise technology strategy and platform architecture across engineering, operations, and finance — mentoring 10+ developers into mid-level and senior roles.
- 2019 — 2021
Head of Enterprise Architecture · SFDC
Gorilla Group | Wunderman Thompson
Led one of the firm's early Salesforce B2B Commerce Cloud engagements for Skechers, directing architecture strategy across a distributed US and Spain team of 7–10 developers.
- 2016 — 2019
Director of Technology
Brady Corp
Directed Salesforce B2B Commerce Cloud modernization with a 10+ developer team, drove CI/CD adoption, and contributed to a 20.7% increase in EBIT supporting $37M in quarterly performance.
- 2015 — 2016
Engineering Manager
Brady Corp
Led migration from legacy systems to Salesforce B2B Commerce Cloud (CloudCraze) and reduced deployment cycles by 30% through technical debt reduction and process optimization.