Eric J. Humphrey, PhD

About Me

I build the teams, technology, and strategy that fuel growth. My career has spanned the spectrum: a researcher at Google alongside AI pioneers, a leader for Spotify's highest-stakes personalization projects, an instructor at MIT, and the founding tech lead for a Sequoia-backed startup.

This unique background lets me operate at any altitude: I can architect a company's AI strategy, rebuild a culture to be inclusive and high-performing, and still ship the code for a product's first iteration. At heart, I’m a founder-first leader who thrives on turning ambitious ideas into tangible revenue, whether that's sparking a viral PLG loop or unlocking a new enterprise market.

My career began in music, a path that led me to my dream job at Spotify shaping next-generation AI. I then pivoted to ed-tech and health, seeking to apply my skills to more mission-driven work. Looking forward, I believe climate is the defining challenge of our time, and my ambition is to look back on my career and know I made a material contribution to the health of our planet. I'm not yet sure how to bend my AI/ML experience toward that goal, but it continues to grow as a huge passion of mine. In particular, I have a huge interest in Direct Air Capture (DAC) and Carbon Capture and Utilization (CCU). While I'm aware of the current challenges and limitations, I’m not fazed by skepticism around DAC; I’ve seen first-hand how promising (and yet unproven) ideas like deep learning can reshape the world when creative, persistent individuals keep at it! I see immense potential in using captured CO₂ as a feedstock for new fuels and materials, a hopeful vision I’m passionate about sharing with anyone who will listen.

I’m an avid runner (my favorite way to explore a new place) and a curious language learner (French, Norwegian, Spanish), forever fascinated by how words carry human history, and an occasional homebrewer (ahem beer scientist). I’m also a one-person rock band (guitar, drums, bass, sax, keys in a pinch) with a knack for songwriting and storytelling.