KU Business announces 2026 Sutton Lecture with VML innovation leader Brian Yamada

LAWRENCE — The University of Kansas School of Business will host Brian Yamada, global chief innovation officer at VML, for the Walter S. Sutton Lecture at 5 p.m. April 8. His talk, “From Madison Avenue to Machine Learning: Business Ethics at the Speed of AI,” will explore the ethical questions emerging as artificial intelligence transforms marketing, technology and business.

The lecture, which will be in the Dicus Family Auditorium, 1111 Capitol Federal Hall, is free and open to the public, but registration is required.

Yamada spearheads the Innovation and Emerging Tech teams, which work on a variety of tech solutions and drive AI development for global creative, experience and technology agency VML and its clients. For more than 25 years, Yamada has worked for the company in several roles and leadership positions, working across accounts such as the International Olympic Committee, Gatorade, Wendy's, Southwest Airlines and more. His team is responsible for AI strategy and transformation for VML, including the development of AI applications and tools, managing external partnerships with venture capital firms, emerging technology and startups. 

Lending to his expertise, Yamada has worked on AI and technologies such AR/VR/XR (augmented reality, virtual reality and extended reality) as well as IoT (Internet of Things) and connected technologies. Real‑world applications of these technologies have helped reimagine audience engagement, optimize content supply chains and improve the efficiency of AI tools used across VML’s global client base, according to the company.

He received his bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Missouri and an executive diploma in AI from Oxford University. Outside the office, he has served as an adjunct professor for the Missouri School of Journalism and as a mentor for startup and STEM programs. 

The Sutton Ethics Lecture Series is held in memory of Walter Sutton, a 1939 School of Business alumnus. Before his death in 1985, he devoted much of his time to civic organizations. This KU School of Business lecture series highlights the importance of ethics and value systems in business.