Robert Hoyle Brown is a member of the Center for the Future of Work, a global think tank with a charter from Cognizant Technology Solutions to examine how work is changing, and will change, in response to the emergence of the Age of Algorithms, Automation and AI.

His research emphasis has been on the topics of robotics, automation, privacy and augmented reality and their impact on business processes.

Since joining Cognizant in 2014, he has worked extensively with its Digital Operations practice as head of strategy, as well as Cognizant’s Business Accelerator leadership to drive the development of its intelligent automation strategy, messaging and go-to-market outreach.

He was the lead author on the Center for the Future of Work whitepapers “The Robot and I: How New Digital Technologies Are Making Smart People and Businesses Smarter by Automating Rote Work” (2015), “Every Move You Make: The Future of Privacy in the Age of the Algorithm” (2018), “Augmenting the Reality of Everything” (2017), and “The 2nd Half of the Chessboard: The Work Ahead in Media & Entertainment” (2018). He was also a co-author of “21 Jobs of the Future and 21 More Jobs of the Future: A Guide to Getting – and Staying – Employed Over the Next 10 Years”, as well as Cognizant’s Jobs of the Future Index (2018).  He is also a frequent blogger at www.futureofwork.com.

Prior to joining Cognizant, Robert served as a Managing Vice President at Gartner, Inc. both in the US and London. In addition to his career as a strategist and research analyst, his work experience has included positions at Hewlett-Packard as well as the British House of Commons.

Robert is a fellow at the Fisher Center for Business Analytics at the Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley.  He also currently belongs to the Leadership Council of DisruptHR SF, and sits on the board of directors for Big Skills, Tiny Homes, a nonprofit tiny homes vocational initiative in local high schools.

He holds a BA in History from the University of California at Berkeley and, prior to his graduation, attended the London School of Economics as a Hansard Scholar. He resides in Marin County, California.

Desmond Dickerson is a Manager in Cognizant’s Center for the Future of Work. Leveraging his experience in digital transformation and marketing, Desmond consults clients on optimizing digital strategies that prioritize user experience and engagement. His research with the CFoW focuses on the human impact of business decisions related to technology development and deployment.

Since joining Cognizant in 2015, he has worked with the Retail practice to help clients modernize their ecommerce platforms and strategies. Desmond co-founded Cognizant’s African American and Latino Affinity Group (AALG). This organizations seeks to strengthen Cognizant’s efforts in recruiting and retaining top talent from underrepresented groups and invites members to take an active part in shaping the future of Cognizant.

Desmond was the lead author on the Center for the Future of Work whitepaper “No Hands: The Autonomous Future of Trucking” (2018) and co-editor of “Making Room: Reflections on Diversity & Inclusion in the Future of Work” (2018). He is also a frequent blogger at www.futureofwork.com.

He has an MBA (Data Analytics) from Georgia Institute of Technology and an undergraduate degree in marketing from Georgia State University.