2025’s Most Innovative CROs to Follow

Terence J. Fitzpatrick: Powering the Future of Enterprise Intelligence

Breaking Barriers: 2025’s Most Innovative CROs to Follow

In an era where artificial intelligence is redefining the boundaries of business efficiency and scale, there are a select few leaders steering this global revolution. These pioneers aren’t just adapting to change but architecting it. At the forefront of this transformation stands a name synonymous with results-driven innovation across continents and sectors. One such pioneer is Terence J. Fitzpatrick, Chief Revenue Officer and Global Business and AI Leader at DTiQ. 

Few executives today sit at the intersection of AI, operational intelligence, and revenue growth with the credibility and global execution Terence J. Fitzpatrick brings. As Chief Revenue Officer at DTiQ, he’s not only transforming how companies sell and scale. He’s reimagining what’s possible at the edge of technology and human performance. 

A global revenue and AI transformation executive, Terence has carved a remarkable career out of scaling multi-unit businesses across North America, Europe, MENA, and APAC. With a proven record of tripling revenue, driving 8-figure ARR expansion, and orchestrating complex cross-border commercial strategies, he has become a trusted force behind modernization in high-volume, high-complexity industries. 

From deploying AI, computer vision, and machine learning to modernize legacy systems to delivering over $1 billion in total revenue impact across 100,000+ sites in 20+ countries, Terence is an authority in turning technological potential into tangible enterprise performance. His specialty is commercializing AI and automation at scale to reduce cost-to-serve, transform operations, and unlock recurring growth. 

Blueprint for Transformational Leadership 

Terence’s professional arc is one shaped by relentless evolution. A career forged in the crucible of disruption, expansion, and reinvention. From the outset, he immersed himself in the mechanics of market strategy, mastering the art of precision execution. Yet it was his immersion in international arenas that truly honed his executive edge. Operating across North America, the Middle East, Asia-Pacific, and Europe, he developed a nuanced understanding of how local insights and cultural intelligence drive global success. 

His tenure across diverse markets offered more than operational exposure. It deepened his belief that sustainable growth hinges not just on product innovation or tactical prowess but on human connection and cultural fluency. Whether navigating complex acquisitions, orchestrating market entries, or launching transformative technologies, Terence built a reputation for converting ambiguity into opportunity. 

One of his most defining chapters involved spearheading a corporate turnaround amid fierce competition. A crucible that tested not only resilience but the ability to chart a new path forward. Rather than merely stabilizing, his leadership propelled the organization into a stronger, more agile future. This experience cemented his leadership ethos: one that marries rapid execution with long-range vision, decisiveness with thoughtful discipline. 

As Terence puts it, “Real leadership happens when the plan meets the unpredictable, and you still find a way to win.” It’s a philosophy that continues to guide him in building scalable, forward-looking organizations that thrive in the face of constant change. 

Building Revenue Engines That Endure 

For Terence, leading organizations through triple-digit revenue growth wasn’t about chasing unicorn deals or betting on singular breakthroughs. It was about architecting systems. Resilient, high-performance frameworks that could carry the weight of sustained momentum. Over the course of his career, he’s driven 3x revenue growth at multiple companies, but the formula was never flashy. It was methodical, disciplined, and deeply human. 

The journey began with go-to-market precision. Aligning all teams, not just revenue-generating divisions, under one cohesive vision of value. Rather than operating in silos, teams were galvanized around shared outcomes, driving not only efficiency but clarity of purpose. 

The inflection point, according to Terence, always came when organizations made the leap from transactional execution to transformational ambition. “We stopped chasing just the next deal and started thinking in terms of category dominance,” he reflects. “That shift changed everything.” 

Central to this evolution was talent. Time and again, he credits success to building elite teams. Professionals with the drive to innovate, the focus to deliver, and the resilience to thrive amid uncertainty. For Terence, growth isn’t a straight line. It’s unpredictable, challenging, and intensely personal. 

“The best technology and GTM plans fail without the right people. My legacy is the teams I’ve built… resilient, curious, and built for scale.” 

“If you want extraordinary outcomes,” he asserts, “build extraordinary teams first.” 

Powering the Future of Intelligent Operations 

With a presence in more than 37,000 customer locations worldwide, DTiQ has cemented its position as a global force in intelligent operations technology. From quick-service restaurants to convenience stores and retail chains, the company’s reach is vast. But scale alone isn’t what sets DTiQ apart. As Terence explains, the company’s edge lies in its ability to seamlessly integrate AI, video surveillance, and analytics into a unified platform designed to make businesses run not just better but smarter and faster. 

“DTiQ is not just about monitoring,” Terence notes. “We’re helping our clients make sharper decisions, reduce inefficiencies, and turn data into actionable insight at scale.” 

The company’s innovations span a wide array of mission-critical functions: real-time video intelligence, smart auditing systems, and AI-powered analytics that touch every layer of operations. Whether it’s enhancing drive-thru performance, improving workforce productivity, or reducing loss, DTiQ enables brands to optimize their operations inch by inch, moment by moment. 

But the real excitement, Terence emphasizes, lies in what’s ahead. “We’re moving beyond hindsight and into foresight,” he says. “By combining computer vision with advanced AI, we’re not just analyzing the past. We’re forecasting what’s next. That’s the power of operational intelligence in its next evolution.” 

In a world where agility and insight define success, DTiQ isn’t just responding to change. It’s shaping it. 

Turning Technology into Trust 

For Terence, the path to commercializing artificial intelligence at scale isn’t paved with code alone. It’s built on credibility. “It’s not enough to build powerful technology,” he asserts. “You have to earn the trust of the people using it.” In industries driven by operational efficiency and razor-thin margins, operators don’t have time for hype. They want results they can see, measure, and repeat. 

At DTiQ, that meant designing AI solutions for the real world, not the ideal one. The team faced headwinds familiar to any business leader: spotty internet infrastructure, high employee turnover, and the ever-looming cost of downtime. These conditions demanded more than innovation. They required pragmatism. 

The pivotal shift came when the company stopped selling “technology” and started delivering “outcomes.” Rather than focusing on the mechanics of AI, Terence and his team positioned it as the invisible force driving tangible improvements. Faster service times, reduced shrink, accelerated onboarding, and more intelligent staffing decisions. 

“That’s when everything changed,” he recalls. “Once operators saw AI as a driver of everyday wins, adoption took off.” 

In a landscape where digital transformation often stumbles on skepticism, Terence offers a simple truth: “In AI commercialization, trust is the true currency.” 

Leading with Cultural Intelligence and Operational Precision 

Expanding into international markets is more than a strategic play for Terence. It’s a nuanced balancing act of cultural fluency and operational adaptability. “Going global isn’t about translation,” he says. “It’s about interpretation. Understanding what truly matters in each market and meeting people where they are.” 

In the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), he notes, business begins and ends with trust. Building genuine relationships is not optional. It’s foundational. In Europe, the dialogue shifts toward regulatory compliance and stringent data privacy concerns, requiring a more structured and policy-driven approach. Meanwhile, Asia presents a unique paradox. Rapid technological adoption coexists with deeply localized expectations, requiring tailored go-to-market strategies that reflect regional behaviors and norms. 

On the operational front, Terence emphasizes the importance of adaptability without sacrificing consistency. Infrastructure disparities, workforce dynamics, and regulatory constraints vary widely. Organizations must be nimble enough to respond while maintaining global standards of excellence. 

Yet across geographies, one truth remains constant. Authenticity is everything. “People know if you’re invested in their success or just chasing market share,” Terence says. “They can spot a spreadsheet strategy from a mile away.” 

For him, global expansion isn’t just about footprint. It’s about forging meaningful, lasting partnerships that reflect a real commitment to local success. 

“I’ve also advised executive teams and boards on how to structure global go-to-market strategies, embed AI horizontally across functions, and scale responsibly through data and talent alignment.” 

Building Beyond the Bottom Line 

While revenue may be the scoreboard, Terence views it as only one part of the story. For him, true success lies in what endures. The systems, teams, and cultures that continue to thrive long after a single leader steps aside. 

Throughout his career, Terence has prioritized sustainable and ethical growth. He focuses on transformation that doesn’t just scale companies but strengthens them from within. His leadership philosophy is grounded in developing others. Nurturing talent and empowering individuals who eventually take the reins on even larger initiatives. 

“Success isn’t just about hitting targets,” he says. “It’s about creating the conditions where people, ideas, and organizations can evolve and outperform expectations, even in your absence.” 

That same ethos extends to client partnerships. Terence measures impact by the breakthroughs clients experience. Outcomes they once considered out of reach, now made possible through insight, innovation, and execution. 

“Revenue is a metric,” he reflects. “Impact is a legacy.” 

Why AI Is Becoming the New Operating System 

As AI rapidly evolves from a tactical tool to a transformational force, Terence sees a seismic shift on the horizon that will redefine the very architecture of enterprise operations. At DTiQ, he and his team are leaning into a future where artificial intelligence is not simply a driver of efficiency but the central nervous system of the modern business. 

“AI is moving from the edge to the core,” Terence says. “We’re building toward a reality where it doesn’t just support the enterprise; it is the enterprise.” 

This new era, he explains, will be shaped by agentic AI: autonomous systems capable of making real-time decisions across departments, from supply chain optimization to dynamic pricing to frontline workforce coordination. These systems will operate within human-defined guardrails, but they’ll handle millions of micro-decisions daily, driving outcomes with a level of speed and precision previously unattainable. 

Terence is particularly energized by the rise of autonomous enterprise ecosystems—interconnected platforms where predictive analytics, real-time AI decisioning, and smart workflows eliminate the friction of manual processes. In this paradigm, operational agility becomes not just a goal, but a default state. 

For organizations still approaching AI as a siloed initiative or “center of excellence,” Terence offers a bold challenge: “The real winners will be the ones who embed AI horizontally across every function, every layer. They’ll build AI-first cultures where innovation is continuous, execution is seamless, and the distance between insight and action is zero.” 

This isn’t just automation. It’s a reimagining of what enterprise performance can look like, and Terence is helping lead the charge. 

From Teams to Movements 

In the high-stakes world of rapid transformation, Terence believes leadership must be visible, visceral, and unwavering. “You lead from the front. Period,” he says. “You never ask people to do what you wouldn’t do yourself.” 

This frontline leadership philosophy has anchored Terence’s approach across industries and continents, particularly during periods of accelerated change. He sees the role of a leader not just as strategist-in-chief but as the energy center, the person responsible for setting direction, instilling clarity, and generating momentum when the road ahead is uncertain. 

In his view, exceptional teams don’t just form; they mobilize. And that requires more than skills and KPIs. It demands transparency, resilience, and a shared, unapologetic obsession with outcomes. “You’re not just building teams,” he says. “You’re building movements. And movements need leaders who show up every day with authenticity and fire.” 

Terence draws inspiration from modern transformation icons like Satya Nadella and Sundar Pichai, who redefined what empathetic, empowering leadership looks like at scale. “They didn’t just steer their companies through change,” he notes. “They rolled up their sleeves, stayed engaged, and helped their people see what was possible.” 

That, to Terence, is the essence of real leadership—the kind that doesn’t flinch in the face of disruption but meets it head-on, with conviction and care. 

“When you lead from the front,” he says, “people will follow you through anything because they know you’re in it with them.” 

Simplicity, Grit, and the Builders Who Inspire 

Terence’s leadership ethos has been shaped not only by the challenges he’s faced, but by the mentors and visionaries who modeled a rare blend of ambition and empathy. For him, the most compelling leaders are those who run toward complexity, not away from it, and emerge with bold solutions that move organizations forward. 

“I’m inspired by leaders who are builders at heart,” Terence shares. “People like Reed Hastings, who didn’t just lead Netflix; he reimagined what the industry could be through vision, courage, and operational discipline.” 

That builder’s mindset—fearless in the face of ambiguity yet grounded in execution—is at the core of Terence’s approach. He believes the leadership traits most essential today are forged in fast-moving, high-stakes environments: clarity to cut through noise, humility to seek the right input at the right time, velocity to seize fleeting opportunities, and grit to endure when momentum stalls. 

“In the face of complexity,” he says, “leadership is about creating simplicity without sacrificing ambition.” 

It’s a philosophy that has guided him across industries, cultures, and transformations—a commitment not just to delivering outcomes, but to building systems, teams, and legacies that endure long after the moment of change has passed. 

“As AI reshapes the enterprise world, I’m partnering with forward-thinking leaders who want to define what’s next, not just react to it. If your company is ready to scale intelligently, globally, and sustainably, I’m interested.” 

Advice to Leaders Embarking on AI-Driven Transformation 

For leaders looking to harness AI to drive change, Terence offers a simple but powerful roadmap: start small, move fast, and stay relentlessly focused on real-world outcomes. 

“AI is not about technology for technology’s sake,” he explains. “It’s about solving meaningful problems—better, faster, and smarter.” 

He emphasizes the importance of piloting AI use cases that can quickly demonstrate value. These initial efforts, he advises, should focus on areas where tangible results can be seen early, whether that’s improving operational efficiency, enhancing customer experience, or driving more accurate forecasting. “Pick a few key use cases where you can prove ROI,” he suggests. 

Equally critical is the formation of interdisciplinary teams. “You need a mix of business, tech, and operations expertise,” Terence says. “AI isn’t just an IT project. It’s a shift in mindset for the entire organization.” 

He also stresses that perfection is not the goal—progress is. “Don’t wait for perfection. Start now. The gap between companies that embrace AI and those that don’t will widen dramatically over the next five years.” 

In Terence’s view, AI isn’t a far-off future; it’s already here. “AI is not the future. It is the present, and the companies that realize that will own the future.”