Carlos Pignataro (He/Him/His) is Founder and Principal at Blue Fern Consulting. Drawing from his experience as Chief Technology Officer (CTO) and Head of Sustainability Technology and Data, he brings multidisciplinary executive expertise in both technology and sustainability. He also holds the roles of Mentor in Residence (MIR) with Duke University New Ventures, Program Director of the AI Executives Council at The Conference Board, Adjunct Faculty at NC State University, and serves as Board chair at Code the Dream, Board member at the NC Council for Entrepreneurial Development (CED), and advisor to various ventures. Carlos has built a 25+ year career driven by a passion and curiosity for innovation, strategic thinking, and tech-for-good, and brings his experience and expertise in growing technology businesses.

Carlos has held various technology and executive roles at Cisco and worked for a more diverse and inclusive workforce. Most recently, he was Head of Technology and Data for Cisco’s Engineering Sustainability, embedding sustainability into the engineering roadmap, as well as leveraging the portfolio to drive sustainability outcomes. He previously held roles of Distinguished Engineer and Chief Technology Officer (CTO) for the multi-billion-dollar Services Global Service Provider and Customer Experience businesses, and was the lead architect for conservation technology.

An engaging speaker, Carlos keynotes about sustainability, technology, and innovation. He also leads standardization of environmental sustainability technologies at the IETF and IEEE, and is a champion at the Green Software Foundation. Carlos is Fast Company's Innovative Leader of the Year (2021), a Fellow at the National Academy of Inventors (NAI), a three-time HITEC 100 (the one hundred most influential Hispanic leaders in technology) awardee (2021, 2023, and 2025), Stevie's Tech Innovator of the Year and Information Technology Executive of the Year, Senior Fellow at The Conference Board (TCB), co-founder of the International Society of Service Innovation Professionals, and recipient of several of industry awards including the IEEE Communications Society Industrial Innovation Award 2019. He is also co-author of more than 60 Internet RFCs, four books, multiple publications, and co-inventor of over 300 patents issued with the USPTO.

Originally from Argentina, Carlos lives in North Carolina, US, enjoys volunteering and traveling, and values humor and connecting with people.