About

About Ben Udell — GenAI consultant, speaker, and educator for banking

"I help organizations grow, adapt, and stay relevant in a changing world."

Nearly 30 years in financial services, including 15 years in community banking, shape how I approach GenAI today. My focus is practical application inside regulated, high-trust environments — and helping the people doing real work get there responsibly.

Ben Udell

Activating Everyday AI in Real Work

My most recent work focuses on helping organizations move GenAI from curiosity into everyday use. I work with executives and teams to apply GenAI responsibly in real workflows — not as future concepts or isolated experiments, but as practical tools that improve how work gets done today. The emphasis is always on clarity, confidence, and momentum, helping organizations build capability that sticks and scales.

Banking, Credit Unions, and Organizations

I've spent much of my career working in banking, focused on consumer, marketing, digital innovation, customer experience, and growth initiatives. From community banks to national institutions and investments, my work has focused on making banking more human, more relevant, and more effective. That includes modernizing solutions, improving onboarding and engagement, applying data and analytics responsibly, and guiding institutions through digital change without losing the trust and relationships that matter most. This background shapes how I approach GenAI in regulated, high-trust environments.

Experience That Shapes My Perspective

Before focusing on GenAI and consulting, I held senior leadership roles across consumer banking, digital innovation, marketing, and investments. I've led large teams, managed branches and products, partnered closely with marketing and technology teams, and worked through multiple waves of industry change. That experience gives me a practical perspective on what it actually takes to lead change, support teams, and turn new ideas into daily practice.

Credentials and recognition

Where my work shows up.

  • Nearly 30 years in the financial services industry
  • American Bankers Association | Stonier Faculty, GenAI speaker, AI faculty leading the online AI Workshop
  • Graduate School of Banking at UW Madison | AI faculty lead teaching GenAI in in-person and virtual classes
  • The Financial Brand | Contributor and speaker focused on GenAI and marketing
  • America's Credit Unions | Frequent speaker and teacher on marketing and digital enablement
  • Madison College | Everyday AI virtual and in-person classes
  • National and state conferences | Speaking and teaching focused on GenAI, marketing, and digital transformation
  • Content creator and webinar host focused on GenAI, financial services marketing, and executive education
  • UMass Amherst MBA with a financial services emphasis
  • Graduate School of Banking at UW Madison graduate
  • Bank Beat 2024 Rising Stars of Banking
  • The Financial Brand Forum 2024 Top Rated Speaker

"As a speaker, writer, educator, and activator, I help leaders and teams get unstuck, build confidence, and move GenAI into everyday work. If you're ready to jumpstart progress and find a clear path forward, let's start the conversation."

Find Your Path Forward

Contact Me