Alan Hurt Jr.

Father, Designer, Engineer, Entrepreneur, Mentor, Speaker, Woodworker, Digital Nomad

Alan in a box

My career has been a rich tapestry of experiences, starting in the culinary world and evolving into a leader in design and technology. Here's how it unfolded:

→ I kicked off in the hospitality industry, crafting culinary delights as a sous chef and mixing drinks for people like George Clooney and Dave Matthews Band. This was where I honed the art of precision and creativity.

→ Shifting from kitchens to global communities, I joined Engineers Without Borders. There, I led cross-functional, multi-disciplinary teams across Africa and Mexico, designing and implementing solar lighting and water filtration systems, blending design and engineering with social innovation.

→ My entrepreneurial drive then sparked Light Up Africa. In this venture, I was invited to join The Impact Engine. There, I navigated the complexities of social innovation, guided by insights from seasoned mentors like Chuck Templeton of OpenTable and Sam Yagan of OkCupid.

→ The urge to create positive change led me to Co-found The Simple Good, a nonprofit in Chicago, and Injii, a tech company focused on blockchain technology to amplify global impact.

→ Before diving into AI/ML, I founded a boutique design consultancy where I:

• Achieved an annual recurring revenue (ARR) in the high six figures and successfully managed a team of 5-10.
• Designed brands for pro-golfers, MLB Players Association and LPGA.
• Created meaningful experiences for individuals with terminal illnesses.
• Helped startups across various industries raise $75M+ in debt and equity financing (from seed to series B).
• Led design of cybersecurity and machine learning products, alongside leading a health-focused startup to develop patient support systems.

→ Joining McKinsey & Company marked a significant shift. There, my role involved:

• Drove AI/ML projects in employee experience, healthcare, transportation and logistics enhancing user outcomes and efficiency
• Guided teams across B2B, B2C, and B2E platforms, regularly coaching and mentoring junior designers
• Managed high-impact projects, delivering solutions that substantially improved user experience and client value
• Regularly presented to senior/executive stakeholders

→ Today, my professional focus entails:

• Developing visionary product strategies and roadmaps
• Guiding products from initial conception to successful market launches
• Aligning executive leadership with innovative design processes
• Leading agile, multi-faceted teams through the dynamic landscape of product design

Let’s connect and explore how we can collaborate on future projects

Education

Georgia Institute of Technology

Master of Science in Computer Science (Human-Computer Interaction and Artificial Intelligence)

Northern Illinois University

Bachelor of Science in Engineering

Recommendations

Jad H.

EM @ Mckinsey & Co.

Alan is a skilled design leader who can quickly understand and map user journeys, identify value pools, and help design products and solutions with unique value propositions.

Jad H.

EM @ Mckinsey & Co.

Alan is a skilled design leader who can quickly understand and map user journeys, identify value pools, and help design products and solutions with unique value propositions.

Horace T.

Partner @ Mckinsey & Co.

Alan was effective at working with clients to describe relevant artifacts of the design and influence the client to head in specific directions that were research-based and valuable.

Horace T.

Partner @ Mckinsey & Co.

Alan was effective at working with clients to describe relevant artifacts of the design and influence the client to head in specific directions that were research-based and valuable.

Kalyan V.

Director Data-to-AI Lab @ MIT

There's something uniquely remarkable about Alan. It's challenging to pinpoint precisely what it is, but his talent is undeniable and his perspective is refreshingly distinct from the norm.

Kalyan V.

Director Data-to-AI Lab @ MIT

There's something uniquely remarkable about Alan. It's challenging to pinpoint precisely what it is, but his talent is undeniable and his perspective is refreshingly distinct from the norm.

Lily H.

EM @ Mckinsey & Co.

Alan has clearly shown that he is a leader in design. He is able to do remarkable work with an impressive timeline, and communicates his designs in a clear and persuasive way.

Lily H.

EM @ Mckinsey & Co.

Alan has clearly shown that he is a leader in design. He is able to do remarkable work with an impressive timeline, and communicates his designs in a clear and persuasive way.

David M.

Chairman @ Bitvore

Alan is hands down brilliant. He's really my secret weapon on all things design / analytical / conceptual. Part of me is hesitating to let anyone else know about him, so I can keep him all to myself!

David M.

Chairman @ Bitvore

Alan is hands down brilliant. He's really my secret weapon on all things design / analytical / conceptual. Part of me is hesitating to let anyone else know about him, so I can keep him all to myself!

Jeff C.

CEO @ Pearly

Alan is terrific. He adds value to any project and can take an idea from theory and analysis into a market launch. Highly recommended.

Jeff C.

CEO @ Pearly

Alan is terrific. He adds value to any project and can take an idea from theory and analysis into a market launch. Highly recommended.

Carter C.

Partner @ Mckinsey & Co.

Alan is a self-starter who not only moves projects along swiftly but also has a knack for bringing people together to collectively push the envelope and drive progress.

Carter C.

Partner @ Mckinsey & Co.

Alan is a self-starter who not only moves projects along swiftly but also has a knack for bringing people together to collectively push the envelope and drive progress.

Nate L.

EM @ Mckinsey & Co.

Not only does Alan deliver impact on studies, he also frequently raises his hand to support practice initiatives.

Nate L.

EM @ Mckinsey & Co.

Not only does Alan deliver impact on studies, he also frequently raises his hand to support practice initiatives.

Colleen B.

Partner @ Mckinsey & Co.

Alan's contributions have been significant. His insights often guide our clients forward, and his role has been a key part in our collective success.

Colleen B.

Partner @ Mckinsey & Co.

Alan's contributions have been significant. His insights often guide our clients forward, and his role has been a key part in our collective success.

Jad H.

EM @ McKinsey

Alan is a skilled design leader who can quickly understand and map user journeys, identify value pools, and help design products and solutions with unique value propositions.

Jad H.

EM @ McKinsey

Alan is a skilled design leader who can quickly understand and map user journeys, identify value pools, and help design products and solutions with unique value propositions.

Horace T.

Partner @ McKinsey

Alan was effective at working with clients to describe relevant artifacts of the design and influence the client to head in specific directions that were research-based and valuable.

Horace T.

Partner @ McKinsey

Alan was effective at working with clients to describe relevant artifacts of the design and influence the client to head in specific directions that were research-based and valuable.

Kalyan V.

Director @ MIT

There's something uniquely remarkable about Alan. It's challenging to pinpoint precisely what it is, but his talent is undeniable and his perspective is refreshingly distinct from the norm.

Kalyan V.

Director @ MIT

There's something uniquely remarkable about Alan. It's challenging to pinpoint precisely what it is, but his talent is undeniable and his perspective is refreshingly distinct from the norm.

Lily H.

EM @ McKinsey

Alan has clearly shown that he is a leader in design. He is able to do remarkable work with an impressive timeline, and communicates his designs in a clear and persuasive way.

Lily H.

EM @ McKinsey

Alan has clearly shown that he is a leader in design. He is able to do remarkable work with an impressive timeline, and communicates his designs in a clear and persuasive way.

David M.

Chairman @ Bitvore

Alan is hands down brilliant. He's really my secret weapon on all things design / analytical / conceptual. Part of me is hesitating to let anyone else know about him, so I can keep him all to myself!

David M.

Chairman @ Bitvore

Alan is hands down brilliant. He's really my secret weapon on all things design / analytical / conceptual. Part of me is hesitating to let anyone else know about him, so I can keep him all to myself!

Jeff C.

CEO @ Pearly

Alan is terrific. He adds value to any project and can take an idea from theory and analysis into a market launch. Highly recommended.

Jeff C.

CEO @ Pearly

Alan is terrific. He adds value to any project and can take an idea from theory and analysis into a market launch. Highly recommended.

Carter C.

Partner @ McKinsey

Alan is a self-starter who not only moves projects along swiftly but also has a knack for bringing people together to collectively push the envelope and drive progress.

Carter C.

Partner @ McKinsey

Alan is a self-starter who not only moves projects along swiftly but also has a knack for bringing people together to collectively push the envelope and drive progress.

Nate L.

EM @ McKinsey and Co.

Not only does Alan deliver impact on studies, he also frequently raises his hand to support practice initiatives.

Nate L.

EM @ McKinsey and Co.

Not only does Alan deliver impact on studies, he also frequently raises his hand to support practice initiatives.

Colleen B.

Partner @ McKinsey

Alan's contributions have been significant. His insights often guide our clients forward, and his role has been a key part in our collective success.

Colleen B.

Partner @ McKinsey

Alan's contributions have been significant. His insights often guide our clients forward, and his role has been a key part in our collective success.

Jad H.

EM @ McKinsey

Alan is a skilled design leader who can quickly understand and map user journeys, identify value pools, and help design products and solutions with unique value propositions.

Jad H.

EM @ McKinsey

Alan is a skilled design leader who can quickly understand and map user journeys, identify value pools, and help design products and solutions with unique value propositions.

Horace T.

Partner @ McKinsey

Alan was effective at working with clients to describe relevant artifacts of the design and influence the client to head in specific directions that were research-based and valuable.

Horace T.

Partner @ McKinsey

Alan was effective at working with clients to describe relevant artifacts of the design and influence the client to head in specific directions that were research-based and valuable.

Kalyan V.

Director @ MIT

There's something uniquely remarkable about Alan. It's challenging to pinpoint precisely what it is, but his talent is undeniable and his perspective is refreshingly distinct from the norm.

Kalyan V.

Director @ MIT

There's something uniquely remarkable about Alan. It's challenging to pinpoint precisely what it is, but his talent is undeniable and his perspective is refreshingly distinct from the norm.

Lily H.

EM @ McKinsey

Alan has clearly shown that he is a leader in design. He is able to do remarkable work with an impressive timeline, and communicates his designs in a clear and persuasive way.

Lily H.

EM @ McKinsey

Alan has clearly shown that he is a leader in design. He is able to do remarkable work with an impressive timeline, and communicates his designs in a clear and persuasive way.

David M.

Chairman @ Bitvore

Alan is hands down brilliant. He's really my secret weapon on all things design / analytical / conceptual. Part of me is hesitating to let anyone else know about him, so I can keep him all to myself!

David M.

Chairman @ Bitvore

Alan is hands down brilliant. He's really my secret weapon on all things design / analytical / conceptual. Part of me is hesitating to let anyone else know about him, so I can keep him all to myself!

Jeff C.

CEO @ Pearly

Alan is terrific. He adds value to any project and can take an idea from theory and analysis into a market launch. Highly recommended.

Jeff C.

CEO @ Pearly

Alan is terrific. He adds value to any project and can take an idea from theory and analysis into a market launch. Highly recommended.

Carter C.

Partner @ McKinsey

Alan is a self-starter who not only moves projects along swiftly but also has a knack for bringing people together to collectively push the envelope and drive progress.

Carter C.

Partner @ McKinsey

Alan is a self-starter who not only moves projects along swiftly but also has a knack for bringing people together to collectively push the envelope and drive progress.

Nate L.

EM @ McKinsey and Co.

Not only does Alan deliver impact on studies, he also frequently raises his hand to support practice initiatives.

Nate L.

EM @ McKinsey and Co.

Not only does Alan deliver impact on studies, he also frequently raises his hand to support practice initiatives.

Colleen B.

Partner @ McKinsey

Alan's contributions have been significant. His insights often guide our clients forward, and his role has been a key part in our collective success.

Colleen B.

Partner @ McKinsey

Alan's contributions have been significant. His insights often guide our clients forward, and his role has been a key part in our collective success.