Peter McDowell

Raised in Charlotte, North Carolina, with a strong foundation in attention to detail thanks to parents in investment banking and law, I developed an early interest in engineering and computer science. In high school, I honed my technical skills by learning C++ and Java, which led me to declare computer science as my major at Southern Methodist University’s Lyle School of Engineering. After a few semesters, my passion shifted towards Operations Research & Systems Engineering, prompting a transfer to Engineering Management, Information, and Systems (EMIS), where I graduated in 2013.

My professional journey began at General Motors in their IT Innovation Center in Austin, TX, where I contributed to the Global Product Development team on groundbreaking projects, including Maven—a corporate venture aimed at revolutionizing car-sharing platforms with innovative technology. This experience further fueled my interest in new product creation and entrepreneurship.

Driven by this passion, I launched my own e-commerce business, managing all aspects from inception to operations. After two years of valuable experience, I transitioned back to corporate life through consulting, gaining exposure across various industries, including food, fintech, and healthcare.

Motivated by my parents' academic achievements, I pursued a graduate degree, opting for the Master’s in Technology Commercialization at McCombs School of Business, University of Texas at Austin. This specialized degree perfectly complemented my engineering background and entrepreneurial aspirations, leading to my next major project—managing the Dave & Buster's Mobile App & Loyalty program. This role taught me the intricacies of scaling a product for millions of users while driving innovation.

Currently, I am leading the launch of new platforms and consumer applications at Ikon Technologies, where I continue to leverage my expertise in product management and technology commercialization.