
VP for Global AI Initiatives
Calista is the VP of Global AI Initiatives at NVIDIA, working with Regions, Ecosystem Partners and Product Groups to develop and drive Sovereign AI and other global programs that compel adoption of the NVIDIA platform for national and regional AI initiatives. Prior to NVIDIA, Calista was CEO of RISC-V International to grow value and adoption of the open RISC-V Instruction Set Architecture across the industry and around the world. Before RISC-V, she held several roles at IBM including VP of IBM Z Ecosystem, leading strategic relationships across software vendors, system integrators, business partners, developer communities, and broader engagement across the industry. Calista’s experience also includes building and leading strategic business models within IBM Systems through open source initiatives including Open Mainframe Project, OpenPOWER, and OpenDaylight, numerous acquisition and divestiture missions, and several strategic alliances. Prior to joining IBM, she was an entrepreneur in four successful start-ups in the IT industry. She holds degrees from the University of Michigan and Northwestern University and is based in Washington DC.
ibm.com
cebglobal.com
nvidia.com
riscv.org
Washington DC-Baltimore Area
VP for Global AI Initiatives
NVIDIA
• www.linkedin.com/company/nvidia
Jan 2025 - Present
CEO, RISC-V International
RISC-V International
• www.linkedin.com/company/risc-v-international
Mar 2019 - Dec 2024
Board Member
Open Mainframe Project
Jan 2017 - Feb 2019
Vice President, IBM Z Ecosystem
IBM
• www.linkedin.com/company/ibm
Sep 2016 - Feb 2019
Global
Director, OpenPOWER Global Alliances
IBM
• www.linkedin.com/company/ibm
Mar 2014 - Aug 2016
Director of Business Development - Systems and Technology Group
IBM
• www.linkedin.com/company/ibm
Jun 2006 - Mar 2014
Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer
Affinity Lab
Jul 2000 - Oct 2002