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Chris Thomas

Founder of YNDR, an Atlanta AI/software development agency; Fractional Chief AI Officer and Anthropic-certified Claude specialist

ExecutiveLeads from the frontNew schoolAIProduct0→1Brand
A hands-on, AI-era founder who both advises and ships production agents under a strategy-build-security-governance framework, though his impact is currently scoped to his own agency rather than the broader design discipline.

Signature win. Built YNDR into an AI-operations firm that pairs board-level advisory with hands-on agent development for PE, mid-market, and Fortune 100 clients, after a Fortune 100 stint as global head of product development and marketing.

The case

editorial · CCBEI · with sources
CraftTwo decades of enterprise UX/product work (touchscreen banking app prototype, Fortune 100 global head of product/marketing); ships agents himself ('pull requests in the afternoon'), but no public craft artifacts establish a discipline-leading bar.6
CommunicationWrites regularly on LinkedIn and YNDR insights, articulates a clear strategy-to-execution thesis and a four-gate framework; persuasive in agency register but not a recognized clarity voice in the field.6
BusinessFounded and runs YNDR since 2019 serving PE firms, mid-market, and Fortune 100; positions as Fractional CAIO/board advisor tying AI to operational outcomes — clear commercial orientation, though specific results are unquantified publicly.7
EducationRuns AI workshops and training and frames leadership through mentorship/storytelling; people-protection and team-elevation evidence is thin and unverified beyond marketing copy.3
InnovationAnthropic-certified, builds production Claude Agent SDK 'operational agents' with security and governance gates — AI adoption framed as augmenting operators, not shedding teams, so it reads elevate-leaning, but impact is local to his agency.6

Endorsed by peers

illustrative · opens with verified accounts
OverallI'd work for them24
CraftRaised my craft bar26
CommunicationMade the case for design26
BusinessMade design matter to the business30
EducationTaught me something I still use13
InnovationShowed me a new way to work26

Verified peers only — one tap with LinkedIn. Names stay private; we show role and industry. Bars are illustrative until the participation backend is live.

Stories

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