Aleksandr (Alex) Rakitin has been leading the Digital Business Design team at Schneider Electric since 2016, introducing a user-centered approach and product management practices to Schneider’s corporate innovation culture. With his team, he has incubated over a dozen innovative digital products helping establish Schneider as one of the leaders in Industrial IoT.

Alex’s previous background is rooted in more innovation. He started as an applied scientist, defended a Ph.D. in Plasma Physics in 2009. From there, he moved into entrepreneurial roles in tough-tech startups and a VC, working to bring novel nanomaterials and plasma technologies to the market. He received an MBA from MIT Sloan prior to joining Schneider Electric in 2016.