Roberto Negro
Data, artificial intelligence, and a lot to teach and to tell.
I’ve spent more than 35 years working on data architectures and data models, helping complex organizations govern the quality of their data and use it to improve their customers’ experiences. I spent almost thirty of those years at Oracle, serving some of the world’s best-known brands and traveling to more than 60 countries. Over the last six years I have also worked on artificial intelligence and on developing AI agents and agentic applications. Now a new chapter is opening, and I’m certain it will be the most creative one yet.
About me
I was born and still live in Milan, with a degree in Computer Science and a curiosity that has never switched off. I started in 1985, writing software during my military service. In recent years I was part of the product management team of a global Customer Data Platform, covering the EMEA region and the platform’s verticalization for different industries.
In between came thousands of colleagues, hundreds of organizations, airports on three continents and one simple idea: technology is worth it when it solves a real problem.
Curiosity, courage, integrity, humor.
The technologist
More than 35 years in data and technology: 1,300 organizations, over 60 countries and 60 industries, across EMEA and APAC. The question is always the same: what business problem are we solving, which data can we trust, and how will we know we have delivered value?
- 2026 – present
Independent
Advisor, trainer and author · Enterprise Data & AI
Senior advisory, professional training and technical publications on Master Data Management, Data Governance, Customer Data Platforms and artificial intelligence.
The story → - 2022 – 2026
Oracle Global Services
Product Strategy Architect and Senior Principal Product Manager · Oracle Unity CDP
On the Oracle Unity product management team: outbound for the EMEA region, working on customer and partner needs, industry demos and sponsorship of key projects; inbound for the industry verticalization strategy (Unity Industry Optimization). From 2024 at IC6, the highest individual contributor level. Designing AI agents and agentic applications with Oracle Fusion AI Agent Studio.
The story → - 2015 – 2022
Oracle EMEA
Regional Solution Lead · WE CX Center of Excellence
Regional lead and community leader for CX Data Management and Governance, Customer Data Platforms and GDPR. Contributor to the roadmap and go-to-market of Oracle CDM and Oracle Unity.
The story → - 2006 – 2015
Oracle EMEA
EMEA Master Principal Solution Consultant · MDM, Data Quality, Data Governance and DaaS
Launched and grew Oracle MDM in EMEA: more than 700 opportunities, over 600 customers, 20+ industries, 40+ countries. MDM go-to-market proposition for 26+ industries, business cases and ROI models. Leader of the EMEA EBS MDM and WW CDM Cloud communities.
The story → - 2002 – 2006
Oracle Italy
Customer Success Manager and eBusiness Suite Partners Program Manager
Created the Customer Success role, later adopted across EMEA and worldwide. Designed the Applications Partners Lab Program and brought 14 projects to success, some of which started as critical and became references.
The story → - 1996 – 2002
Oracle Italy
Senior Sales Consultants Manager and Application Technology Product Manager
Built and led the technical presales team for Oracle Applications: more than 500 opportunities, over 300 customers. Helped the US development team define Rapid Install and served on the Global Application Technology Steering Committee.
The story → - 1994 – 1996
Telesoft S.p.A.
Team Lead, System & Network Engineers, and Senior Analyst
OSS software for telecom network management, technical support, manuals and training for users and administrators. Telesoft later merged into Telecom Italia, today TIM.
The story → - 1985 – 1994
Military service and freelance work
Programmer and freelance consultant
Programmer during military service, then consultant: software architecture, data integration and markup languages (SGML, HTML) in a European research project, DBA work, teaching Oracle RDBMS at the University of Milan, articles for technical magazines.
The story →
Awards
Oracle Innovator. Oracle Mission Red Award, Idea of the Quarter (Q2 FY17). EMEA Idea of the Quarter.
Publications
MDM for wells and PPDM entities in the digital oilfield. Master Data Governance for justice and public safety. Mastering for the public sector: tax authorities.
Certifications and languages
PMC Level I, II and III. Python 3. Italian (native), English (full professional), French and Spanish.
The speaker
I bring more than 25 years of real projects to the stage. At conferences, corporate events, industry forums and universities I talk about data and artificial intelligence starting from what actually works: concrete examples, no slogans.
I started at Oracle, between international events, about 100 partner training events and preparing sales teams across Europe, and before that with my classes at the University of Milan.
Topics
Customer Data Platforms and customer experience
From the unified customer profile to activation: how to choose, design and get value from a CDP.
Master Data Management and data governance
Trusted data as the foundation: roles, rules, quality and industry data models.
Artificial intelligence and agents
AI agents and agentic applications in the enterprise: what it really takes for them to work.
Business case and value
Measuring the return of data and AI projects, before and after.
Formats
Keynotes, panels and roundtables, hands-on workshops, webinars and training sessions for corporate teams. In Italian and English.
The author
I write for two different reasons that grow from the same curiosity: to put in order what I have learned in more than 35 years of data and technology, and to tell the story of Italy to those discovering it from abroad.
Technical books
Coming in December
A series born from more than 35 years in the field, across data and artificial intelligence. Details in December.
Discover the technical books →Guides for globetrotters
The Italy I know best
Guides for people who want to understand a place, not just see it, and discover the beauty, food and culture of Italy.
The globetrotter
As a boy, my map had three coordinates: Liguria, Val Tidone and my grandparents’ Salento. Then work stretched it to more than 60 countries.
Traveling this much also changes how you see home. That’s why I started writing about it.
First volume
Handy Guide to Visit Salento
2 languages, 3 formats, on Amazon in 17 countries.
The creative
Alongside data there has always been another side of me: the one that designs, photographs and tells stories.
Websites
I design and look after a portfolio of multilingual websites, from structure to content.
Photography and social media
I created the Bell’Italia Facebook page, devoted to the beauty of Italy, and I run Wonderful World, devoted to the natural wonders of the planet.
Presentations and video
Presentations and videos that tell complex ideas in a simple, engaging way.
Company logos
Logos and visual identities for companies and new ventures, from first idea to final mark.
New creative projects are on the way: I’ll present them soon.
Contact
For projects, consulting, interviews or simply a good conversation.
Long Live and Prosper.