Brian Lafater

As Principal Architect, GTM at Google, Brian Lafater steers the translation of institutional strategy into robust enterprise architectural solutions, accelerating customer growth through advanced AI/ML and commercial initiatives. He acts as a strategic bridge between engineering and business, analyzing complex organizational challenges to deliver scalable, end-to-end data engineering systems.

Brian brings over two decades of experience in technology and operations, with deep expertise in Generative AI, global logistics, and digital marketing. Throughout his career, he has championed data-driven strategies that deliver measurable operational efficiency, as evidenced by a 2023 Google Cloud Club Award. A proven leader of both technical and cross-functional teams, Brian drives innovation across the digital landscape, spanning predictive analytics, marketing mix modeling, cloud architecture, and customer personalization.

Prior to his current role, Brian held senior leadership positions in engineering and global operations, including a nearly ten-year tenure at Cisco and pivotal management roles launching Google Fiber markets. His career is rooted in a rigorous technical foundation, beginning as an Electronic Engineer for the U.S. Department of Defense and Cree.

Brian holds a Master of Science in Digital Marketing from Wake Forest University and a Master of Business Administration from Boston University. He also earned dual Bachelor of Science degrees in Electrical Engineering and Computer Engineering from North Carolina State University.