Get To Know The CEO Who Believes In Being Data-First, Not Digital-First
Get to know Sparq CEO Ingrid Curtis and why she believes a data-first foundation—not AI hype—is what enterprises need to succeed in the AI Age.
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Ingrid Curtis has spent the last 17 years of her career building Sparq from a true startup into a seasoned technology services business. Now in the CEO seat, she’s ready to lead the Atlanta-based company and its clients through the AI Age.
Her strategy? Focus on data and not on the AI hype.
Data-First, Not Digital-First
Curtis argues that many companies built their digital transformation stacks optimized for speed, and now AI is exposing the architectural flaws. She's seeing enterprises struggle to implement AI—not because of the technology itself, but because their underlying data architecture wasn't built to support it.
It's a problem rooted in the past decade's rush to digitize. While companies moved quickly to go digital, Curtis believes they didn't lay the groundwork necessary for AI to function effectively. Now, AI is forcing organizations to rethink those architectures entirely.
That's why Sparq is repositioning around a "data-first" strategy rather than digital-first. "To become differentiated you need to have better processes, more efficient ways of doing business, [and] a more thoughtful approach to your customer experience," she said.
Her central thesis: Many companies think they're struggling with AI because the technology is complex or immature. In reality, Curtis argues, AI is simply exposing structural cracks in enterprise foundations—especially around data architecture. Fix the foundation, and AI becomes far more accessible.
The Road To The CEO Seat
Curtis started out as Sparq’s Vice President of Client Services in 2008, moving into roles as COO and President before taking over CEO at the start of this year. She took over the helm of the company from Monty Hamilton, whom she called a coach, advisor, and a friend.
“His partnership over the years has really prepared me as an entrepreneur to look across the business…and see how we could do something better,” she told Hypepotamus. “When I was given the opportunity to [lead Sparq] into its next phase, how could I say no?”
Curtis’ appointment isn’t the only movement Sparq has seen in the c-suite recently. The team recently announced that Jason Paru has joined as chief financial officer and Kyle Boston as chief growth officer.
The Atlanta-based company has also been in expansion mode recently, which included acquisitions to grow headcount in Latin America.
