Building systems that turn complexity into clarity
I'm Steven Thompson, Founder & CEO of NexTrial.ai and veteran of billion-dollar transformations. Currently also delivering enterprise transformation through Think People within the Oliver Wyman ecosystem. Presenting at DIA 2026. From São Paulo to Cambridge, MA—I orchestrate teams and systems where compliance, scale, and human resilience determine success.
Brazil taught me empathy. Cycling taught me grit.
Living and working in Brazil showed me that the best solutions emerge when you truly understand the people using your systems. Whether it's navigating FDA to ANVISA regulations or building for GxP/LGPD compliance, cultural intelligence isn't optional—it's the foundation of trust.
Cycling through Estrada Real or Los Angeles's urban landscape taught me that progress isn't about individual speed. It's about reading the terrain, pacing the climbs, and keeping your team together when the route gets complex. The same principles apply to billion-dollar transformations.
How I approach every transformation
Compliance-First
Every system I build starts with audit readiness. GxP, GDPR, LGPD, SOX—compliance isn't overhead, it's the foundation that enables sustainable speed and investor confidence.
Spec-First
Before any code is written, we define success. Clear specifications, measurable outcomes, and stakeholder alignment prevent scope creep and ensure programs finish strong.
Human-in-Loop
AI amplifies human expertise, never replaces it. Teams stay in control while intelligent systems handle routine work, creating space for strategic thinking and creative problem-solving.
From ERP veteran to AI orchestration pioneer
Think People / Oliver Wyman
CurrentEnterprise transformation delivery within the Oliver Wyman ecosystem. Currently engaged on Paramount Studios Project Fusion.
NexTrial.ai
CurrentFounder & CEO. Presenting at DIA 2026 Annual Meeting (Abstract ID 116114). Predict → Activate → Prove framework achieving 94% first-submission approval.
ADM Global Transformation
EnterpriseOrchestrated >$1.2B ERP program delivering $250M cost reduction across 44,000+ FTEs.
NuBank IPO Readiness
HypergrowthScaled HCM systems from 700 to 10,000+ employees across Brazil, Mexico, and Colombia.
Indigo AG LATAM
ExpansionLed Brazil/Argentina expansion with localized finance, payroll, and supply chain systems.
Takeda
Life SciencesLed GxP Technical Agile Project Manager. Delivered GxP-compliant data engineering pipelines, AWS MDM/Data Hub, and clinical analytics integrations.
Biogen
Life SciencesERP Project Manager & Integration Lead. Managed Oracle ERP upgrade (R11 → R12 → Fusion) and B2B Contract Manufacturing Operations integrations, overseeing 260+ validated interfaces.
AI-Native Operations
My operations are powered by a coordinated team of AI agents handling competitive intelligence, investor research, regulatory monitoring, content production, and G&A workflows. This isn't aspiration—it's production infrastructure. A lean team moving at a pace that doesn't make sense to competitors still running on email and spreadsheets.
NexTrial.ai and the future of clinical trials
Today, I'm focused on NexTrial.ai—our AI-native platform transforming how clinical trials activate and scale. Presenting at DIA 2026 Annual Meeting (Abstract ID 116114). Expanding across FDA, ANVISA, and CDSCO jurisdictions.
The same principles that delivered $250M in cost savings at ADM and scaled NuBank to IPO readiness now power our Predict → Activate → Prove framework. It's about turning complexity into clarity, one coordinated step at a time.
Learn About NexTrial.ai →Beyond the systems
Art, cycling, and the spaces between
When I'm not orchestrating clinical trials or digital transformations, you'll find me exploring Ubatuba's gravel roads or São Paulo's urban landscapes on two wheels. There's something about cycling that mirrors good system design—it's about finding the optimal path, maintaining momentum, and staying aware of everything around you.
Art teaches patience and perspective. Cycling teaches resilience and rhythm. Both remind me that the best solutions emerge in the spaces between effort and flow, structure and creativity, individual strength and collective momentum.