Damu Winston

Damu Rufaro Winston, is an international digital advisor, serial entrepreneur, and a global thought leader recognised for pioneering advancements in emerging technologies at Amazon and other Fortune 50 corporations, including IBM, Wells Fargo, Duke Energy Corporation, and Bank of America. 

Damu is the Global Head of Web 3.0 Innovation at Amazon. He is responsible for empowering organisations through harnessing diverse thought and talent, re-engineering processes and leveraging emerging technologies (such as, Blockchain, AI cognitive capabilities, IoT wearables, spatial computing, Web 3.0), to ultimately drive profitability, productivity, and maximise impact.

Damu is also the founder of Winston Trust, a marketplace for industry-leading Fintech experts that are now teachers. The trust offer hands-on experiences covering a wide range of topics such as Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain, design thinking, open banking, project management, big data & analytics, cybersecurity, and full stack development. 

Having led globally distributed high-performing teams in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, throughout Europe, India, Mexico, and domestic U.S., Damu has a track record of optimising operations, growing businesses profitability and generating new revenue streams (i.e., leveraging new cloud capabilities).

Damu is also a speaker at many conferences and summits, including Arab EmTech & Startups Conference, UAE Speaker Bureau. 

As an investor, Damu is associated with Intelak Hub, an Emirates, Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, GE, and dnata Travel Group incubator and accelerator initiative.

As an author who has twice topped Amazon's bestseller list, notably with his 2019 work 'I Don’t Trust You, But Blockchain and Bitcoin Will Help,' he is a seasoned investor and inventor. 

Damu Winston's journey began with a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, where he was an active student, serving as Class President and a member of Kappa Alpha Psi. This solid foundation in computer science set the stage for his impressive career in technology and innovation.

His early professional experiences included working as a Software Engineer for IBM, where he honed his skills in robotic process automation from 2003 to 2004. Following this, he became the Team Lead for Robotic Process Automation at SAS, based in Cary, NC, from 2004 to 2005. His entrepreneurial spirit emerged during this period when he founded Rufaro Technology, LLC, providing innovative tech solutions.

Winston's career trajectory took a significant turn when he joined Bank of America as Assistant Vice President for FinTech and RegTech, a role he held for over six years until June 2012. Here, he was instrumental in integrating financial technology solutions within the bank, particularly in the realms of compliance and regulatory technology. He then transitioned to Duke Energy Corporation as a Senior Nuclear Energy IT Consultant, where he led the Primavera Implementation project to standardise business processes across Duke Energy's nuclear fleet.

In 2013, Winston joined Wells Fargo as a Senior Solution Project Manager and Scrum Master, where he was pivotal in leading a predictive analytics solution for the bank’s electronic communications. His role involved managing project expenditures, resources, and scope, ultimately enhancing business monitoring and forecasting capabilities.

Winston's diverse skill set and innovative mindset led him to the healthcare sector, where he served as Senior Strategy Manager at Saudi Arabia's National Medical Care Company in partnership with the Ministry of Health. His strategic initiatives contributed significantly to the company's 2020 Strategy, focusing on improving healthcare delivery through technology and strategic planning.

His entrepreneurial journey continued as he co-founded the Charlotte Greek Picnic, a significant cultural and networking event, reflecting his commitment to community engagement. In 2016, Winston moved to Dubai, taking on the role of Digital Director at Synechron, where he led blockchain and private equity projects, further solidifying his expertise in emerging technologies.

In November 2018, Winston founded Winston Trust in Dubai, a venture that encompassed multiple innovative projects. He became a leading figure in fintech education, personally training over 1% of all banking professionals in the UAE through courses on blockchain, AI, and other financial technologies. His platform, Finn Teachable, became a marketplace for industry-leading fintech experts, offering hands-on experiences in cutting-edge technologies.

Winston's book, "I Don't Trust You, But Blockchain and Bitcoin Will Help," became an international bestseller, demystifying blockchain technology for business professionals. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he launched Covid19Funding.us, a platform designed to help small businesses access necessary financial capital, demonstrating his commitment to supporting the business community during challenging times.

In August 2021, Winston joined Amazon Web Services (AWS) as the Emerging Solutions Leader, focusing on Web3, blockchain, digital assets, and the metaverse. His leadership in this role paved the way for his current position as Global Head of Web3 Innovation at Amazon, a role he has held since June 2023. In this capacity, he is driving the development of next-generation digital products, leveraging his extensive expertise in artificial intelligence, spatial computing, Web3, IoT, and blockchain.

In an interview with Dinis Guarda, Founder and CEO of ztudium Group, Damu said:

"I am champion for empowering organizations through harnessing diverse thought and talent, re-engineering processes and leveraging emerging technologies (such as, Blockchain, AI cognitive capabilities, IoT wearables, etc…), to ultimately drive profitability, productivity, and maximize impact. 

As a customer-focused partner to reimagine experiences, for new and traditional businesses, I empower organizations through innovation and digital transformation. Having led globally-distributed high-performing teams in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, throughout Europe, India, Mexico, and US domestically, I've optimized operations, grown businesses and generated new revenue streams (i.e., new cloud services), while helping organizations differentiate themselves by becoming transformative (i.e., market makers)."