Leone Lage Perdigão

Background

I work across AI strategy and implementation — advising leadership on direction, then embedding with engineering teams to build it.

I've seen how AI projects fail when strategy and implementation are handled separately, and I've built my practice around keeping them connected.

My Journey

My path started in software engineering in Brazil in 2010. Over more than a decade, I progressed from full-stack development through cloud architecture and platform engineering, eventually leading teams at companies including IBM, PostNL, ABN AMRO (Tikkie), and Randstad.

The shift to AI came from recognizing the gap between what AI can do in research and what it delivers in production. I went back to university to earn my MSc in Artificial Intelligence (with Distinction) from the University of Bath while continuing to lead AI engineering teams. This built on earlier degrees in Computer Engineering from CEFET-MG and Information Systems from Universidade FUMEC.

Today, as the founder of TaoQ AI, I bring this perspective to every engagement. Whether designing an Agentic AI architecture, establishing MLOps standards, or working with C-level leadership on technical direction, I focus on solutions that are production-ready and aligned with business goals.

Experience

Strategic

• PostNL (AI Centre of Excellence): Partnering with the CTO and Principal Engineers on enterprise AI strategy, governance, and adoption standards for 30,000+ employees. Co-created the organizational AI Architecture covering Generative AI, Agentic AI, Edge AI, classical ML, and MLOps/LLMOps.
• IBM (Advisory AI Engineer): Supporting AI solutions for strategic clients across 15+ countries in North, Central, and Eastern Europe. Collaborated with IBM Research to translate cutting-edge capabilities into production solutions.
• TaoQ AI: Independent AI architecture and engineering practice — architecture reviews, embedded technical leadership, strategy sprints, and project recovery.

Technical

• Engineering Leadership: Led multiple teams throughout my career — currently overseeing three specialized teams at PostNL (Prototyping, Core Tech & R&D, AI Adoption/Governance), with prior leadership roles at IBM, Randstad, and in fintech and logistics.
• Cloud & Platform Engineering: Deep experience across AWS, Azure, and GCP — infrastructure, networking, serverless architectures, and platform engineering at enterprise scale. Built platforms serving 50+ teams and 500+ cloud accounts.
• Fintech Delivery: Led API development at Tikkie (ABN AMRO) and built cloud APIs for Inter bank, one of Latin America's largest digital banking platforms.
• Mentorship: IBM Blue Core Mentor and active MentorCruise mentor, coaching engineers and consultants on AI, cloud, and software engineering.
• Open Source: Built Ziran, an open-source AI agent security testing framework.
• Academic: MSc in Artificial Intelligence (Distinction) — University of Bath. BSc in Information Systems — Universidade FUMEC. BE in Computer Engineering — CEFET-MG.

Why this matters

The gap between AI strategy and implementation is where projects lose value. Keeping both connected is how I help teams deliver.