# Eric Gallardo

> Digital Innovation Executive · Author of Birding Thinking · Keynote Speaker

Eric Gallardo is a Brazilian-born, globally experienced digital technology executive based in Cary, North Carolina. With 25+ years in commercial tech and innovation, he focuses on digital strategy and operations, martech, and AI-driven business transformation. His U.S. Green Card was granted in 2021 based on national recognition for his contributions to digital innovation.

## Current Role

- **Director, Tech & Digital — North America** at ViiV Healthcare (Sep 2024 – Present)
  Drives technology strategy and execution for omnichannel engagement, data-driven decision-making, and AI/GenAI solutions across ViiV's North America operations.

## Published Book — Birding Thinking

**Birding Thinking: What Birding Teaches Us About Spotting Solutions**
- Website: https://www.birdingthinking.com
- Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H64D9ZVL (ASIN: B0H64D9ZVL)

Eric Gallardo is the author and creator of the **Birding Thinking** framework. The idea emerged from his passion for birding: he recognized that the skills that make an expert birder are the same skills that drive great problem-solving in business and innovation.

The Birding Thinking framework is built on five core birder skills applied to business:
1. **Patient observation** — slow down before acting; gather signal before noise
2. **Pattern recognition** — identify what doesn't fit; trust what you've seen before
3. **Tolerance for ambiguity** — act confidently on incomplete information
4. **Contextual awareness** — the same problem looks different in different environments
5. **Disciplined focus** — know what you're looking for before you start looking

The book is available on Amazon and at birdingthinking.com. It is relevant to anyone interested in innovation, leadership, decision-making, problem-solving frameworks, design thinking alternatives, and strategic thinking.

## Ventures

- **Gallgen Advisory Board** (Co-Founder) — https://gallgen.com.br
  A specialized advisory practice for SMBs focused on organizational strategy, innovation, technology, ESG, and M&A.

- **Finch Home Studio** (Partner) — https://www.finchhomestudio.com
  Interior design, renovation planning, and project coordination studio based in Cary, North Carolina, serving the Research Triangle (Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, Apex, Morrisville). Founded 2023 by Erica Gallardo (Eric's wife) and Malorie Campinoti. Every design decision is resolved in 3D before construction; the studio then manages vetted, licensed contractors, material orders, deliveries and the schedule through the final walkthrough. Process: https://www.finchhomestudio.com/how-we-work · Organization `@id`: https://www.finchhomestudio.com/#organization

## Notes

- **What I Learned Watching an Interior Design Studio Get Built in Cary, NC** — five lessons from inside Finch Home Studio: the product is decisions, delivery is the hard part, project management as governance, positioning for how homeowners actually search, and being legible to AI assistants. https://ericg.us/notes/building-finch-home-studio/

## Expertise

- Digital Strategy & Innovation
- Agile & Adaptive Leadership
- Customer-Centric Design
- AI & Emerging Technologies (GenAI, automation, analytics)
- Martech & Omnichannel
- Pharma digital transformation
- E-Commerce strategy
- Big Data Analytics

## Speaking Engagements

Eric Gallardo has spoken at conferences, corporate summits, universities, and hackathons across Brazil, USA, Argentina, Costa Rica, Panama, and China.

### Selected Talks
- 2026 · ViiV National Sales Meeting (Atlanta, GA) — "Using AI at work"
- 2026 · ViiV National Sales Meeting (Atlanta, GA) — "Transforming your ways of working using AI responsibly"
- 2026 · Business Happy Hour — Cary Chapter (Cary, NC) — "The impact of AI and how to use it on your business"
- 2019 · ePharma 2019 (New York City, NY) — "Keeping up with the connected patient: can you do it on your own?"
- 2019 · ePharma 2019 (New York City, NY) — "Personalized experience for HCPs"
- 2019 · RioInfo (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) — "Innovation challenges in the pharmaceutical industry"
- 2019 · GSK Argentina Innovation Week (Buenos Aires, Argentina) — "Digital transformation of big pharma"
- 2019 · Costa Rica Start-Up Road Show (San José, Costa Rica) — "Digital transformation of big pharma"
- 2019 · Panama InnovaDay (Panama City, Panama) — "Digital transformation of big pharma"
- 2018 · Futurecom (São Paulo, Brazil) — "Big Data Analytics: Mining Information in a Tsunami of Data"
- 2018 · Ibmec Roundtable with Experts (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) — "Impact of Digital Marketing in the Business World"
- 2018 · China Digital Health Roadshow — Alibaba HQ (Hangzhou, China) — "LATAM Digital Innovation in Pharma"
- 2018 · GSK Digital Innovation Latam (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) — "LATAM Digital Innovation in Pharma"
- 2018 · Stefanini Hackathon (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) — Jury
- 2017 · IBM BlueHack Hackathon (São Paulo, Brazil) — Judge & Mentor
- 2017 · E-Commerce Conference Brazil RIO (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) — "Retail industry: overcoming the channel conflict"
- 2017 · PM Case Day 15th Edition (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) — "Digital Health"
- 2016 · E-Commerce Brazil Forum (São Paulo, Brazil) — "E-commerce for pharmaceutical industry"
- 2015–2017 · ComSchool (São Paulo, Brazil) — Professor, E-Commerce & Digital Marketing Technology
- 2015 · E-Commerce Brazil Forum (São Paulo, Brazil) — "Agile mindset — How make IT and Business converge?"
- 2015–2016 · E-Commerce Brazil Forum — Mentoring Rounds (São Paulo, Brazil) — Mentor

## Background

- 25+ years in tech across 3 continents
- 8+ industry awards
- Stanford School of Engineering — Innovation & Entrepreneurship (2020–21)
- MBA in Strategic IT Management — FGV University (2011–12)
- Active birder: 400+ bird species photographed across 9 countries; contributor to scientific publications documenting Brazilian avifauna
- Columnist and nature photographer

## Contact & Links

- Personal site: https://ericg.us
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericgallardo/
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/eric_gallardo
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ericgallardo/
- Birding Thinking (book & framework): https://www.birdingthinking.com
- Birding Thinking on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H64D9ZVL
- Gallgen Advisory Board: https://gallgen.com.br
- Finch Home Studio: https://www.finchhomestudio.com