AI can't be what AI can't see — for alum Eli Potter, role models are success multipliers

For Eli Potter, a 1996 graduate of Carnegie Mellon University’s Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy, CMU laid the groundwork for a lifelong commitment to curiosity and community.

Academically and — ultimately — professionally, Carnegie Mellon opened the door for Eli to hone her skills in structured problem-solving and converting new technologies into critical business value.

“Learning from Heinz College professors shaped my foundation in technology, analytics and leadership. They were amazing role models,” she says. “And CMU’s interdisciplinary, real-world focus built my bias for innovation and execution.”

Throughout her robust career as an executive and consultant in the business technology space with industry leaders like Autodesk, Coinbase and Insight Partners, Eli shaped a philosophy that reflects the heart of CMU: Build a community where people invest in one another, elevate ideas and commit to responsible leadership.

She articulates this philosophy in her book, “Role Modelship: Multiply Your Impact to Influence AI.” The book describes an intersection of five disciplines: stewardship, fellowship, mentorship, leadership and sponsorship. Eli suggests that being a role model is no longer a soft skill; it is a hard AI input that we have a responsibility to shape ethically and responsibly.

Personally, Eli draws inspiration from 30 years of friendship with the “Big Six” — a group of close friends that began as a cohort of Heinz College students. They continue to celebrate their bond often: with regular video calls as they’ve been scattered around the world in Austin, Texas; Dubai; Washington, D.C.; California; and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. And the Big Six includes someone extra special to Eli, her husband Jamie Potter (HNZ 1996).

That kind of invisible CMU string runs through Eli’s career as well. She’s hired CMU grads at Autodesk, extending the Tartan network and culture of collaboration. A sense of appreciation for all of these connections inspired Eli to begin giving to CMU.

“I have a deep gratitude for the professors and staff who invested in our journeys and a desire to expand access to transformative opportunities for students like the Grace Hopper Celebration,” she says. “I really believe in paying it forward to multiply the impact I’ve felt across generations.”

Attending the Grace Hopper Celebration — the largest annual gathering of women in tech — can change the trajectory of a student's career path. For Eli, it is especially meaningful to support that initiative through the lens of mentorship and sponsorship. In that spirit, she donated a scholarship enabling students to attend the conference and partnered with Heinz to prepare attendees for the event.

Giving back has become a cornerstone in Eli’s relationship with CMU. In addition to her vital support of the Grace Hopper Celebration, she has sponsored CMU students to work on Agile projects and blockchain assignments at Autodesk and guest lectured for seven years at CMU Silicon Valley on innovation, technology, venture capital, career development and role modelship.

Looking ahead, Eli hopes that her work and her support of CMU will prepare students to lead and innovate responsibly in an AI-driven world and strengthen the bridge between academia and industry. She is ensuring the next generation gets the same gift she did: someone who believed in them first.

“It’s about creating a multiplier effect: empowering students to become role models who elevate others.”