'Big Data' presentation to highlight executive-in-residence schedule for Accenture's Mosher

Patrick Mosher, chief scientist for sales and marketing talent solutions at Accenture Strategy, will consult with various student groups, classes and the Purdue community as executive-in-residence for University Residences the week of April 3.

Mosher's weeklong stay will include visits to classes in communication, engineering, management and dance, as well as project consultation with Honors College students and several informal events with Residential Life groups, such as a racquetball tournament with Cary Quad residents. Mosher also will be part of three events open to the Purdue community:

* Mosher will present "The Impact of 'Big Data' on our Daily Lives" at 7:30 p.m. Monday (April 4) at Third Street Suites, Room 159.

* "Lunch and Learn: Making and Creating Your Brand" with Mosher at noon-1:30 p.m. Wednesday (April 6) in Earhart Dining Court.

* A reception honoring Mosher will be held 4-5 p.m. Thursday (April 7) at the Vawter Hall Living Room.

Mosher is the first returning executive-in-residence, previously serving last spring.

"This is a great opportunity for me to get to know the future leaders in this world. These are people who are going to shape our future," Mosher says.

Mosher earned a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering (1983) and master's degrees in organizational communication (1987) and human resources (1988), all from Purdue. His campus involvement included stints as a counselor and staff resident in Cary Quad, a student senator in Terry Courts, and president of Shreve Club. He also danced for Purdue Repertory Dance Company and performed in Purdue Theatre musicals.

"People say 'you haven't done any chemical engineering' and I haven't, but my work is kind of the same. With chemical engineers, you have a problem to solve, and you apply an algorithm to that situation. I'm doing that every day in my career, but the components I'm dealing with aren't chemicals, they're people," Mosher says. "I left Purdue as an unfinished PhD student, and I feel like I'm still doing research for my PhD 28 years later."

Mosher has worked for Accenture, one of the world's largest consulting firms, for 27 years and currently consults with clients across many industries to optimize large-scale sale and marketing organization, culture and processes. He has traveled across the globe for Accenture, working with clients such as Best Buy, Cisco, Dell, DuPont, Hershey, Medtronic, Microsoft and Pepsi.

Writer: Matt Watson, watso101@purdue.edu