Alan Amling is a TED speaker and thought leader on harnessing digital disruption for success. Amling helped drive innovation over a 27-year career with UPS. He is currently a Fellow at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville and CEO of advisory firm Thrive and Advance, LLC; he is also on the Executive Advisory Board for the Georgia Tech Manufacturing Institute. Amling researches, invests, advises and speaks on innovation in manufacturing and logistics and how firms can recognize and thrive in disruption. His latest role at UPS was VP Corporate Strategy, where he helped revitalize UPS innovation and venture capital programs for the digital economy. He moved into this role after serving as VP of Marketing for UPS Global Logistics & Distribution. Amling began his UPS career in 1982 working as a seasonal employee for four years, performing a variety of jobs, including package handler and car washer. He rejoined UPS after graduate school in 1992 and held numerous leadership roles in industrial engineering, customer technology, and new product development.