Speaker Profile

Karim Kassam is the Vice President of Product at Teamworks, the leading software platform revolutionizing high-performance operations in sports, military, and public safety sectors. Kassam joined Teamworks as part of its 2024 acquisition of Zelus Analytics, a premier sports intelligence platform. At Teamworks, Kassam is dedicated to integrating Zelus’ cutting-edge analytics into collegiate football organizations, leveraging his extensive expertise in data science and analytics to drive innovation and deliver transformative solutions. His role underscores Teamworks’ commitment to empowering organizations with unparalleled insights and tools to achieve peak performance.

Kassam’s career is marked by a deep focus on applying advanced analytics to solve complex problems across the sports world. He established and led the research group at the Pittsburgh Steelers, pioneering data-driven initiatives to enhance football operations. His influence extended to other major organizations, including the Minnesota Twins and the Jacksonville Jaguars, where he guided data science strategies that redefined decision-making processes.

Before transitioning to the private sector, Kassam was a professor at Carnegie Mellon University, where he merged academic rigor with practical applications of data science. His academic work focused on decision processes and the role of emotion,  establishing his reputation as a thought leader in data-driven strategy. Kassam’s academic achievements include earning a Ph.D. from Harvard University in 2010, a foundation that has informed his innovative approaches throughout his career.