MIS Speakers: Dan Ranta

Each semester, the MIS BBA program invites executive speakers to help students learn more about the changing world of technology-enabled business. This fall, the Director of Knowledge Sharing at ConocoPhillips, Dan Ranta, will join us on Mon, 10/26, from 5:15-6:15PM in GSB 2.126 to share some of their exciting strategies.

As Director of Knowledge Sharing, Dan Ranta is accountable for the strategic implementation of knowledge sharing for the 32,000-person integrated oil and gas company (a top-10 global company in total revenue terms).

In 2004, Ranta led a small team charged with developing and implementing a knowledge sharing strategy for the Exploration and Production part of the business. He joined ConocoPhillips as Director of Knowledge Sharing in January 2006, making a complete transition to lead the effort he began as a consulting practice leader.

Today, Knowledge Sharing spans the entire ConocoPhillips (CP) enterprise and has grown to include more than 120 Networks of Excellence (NoEs) enabled through world-class processes and infrastructure. NoEs connect technical professionals with their peers around the world, enabling them to solve common work issues and deliver significant improvements to the enterprise.The CP knowledge management program focuses on business transformation that leads to additional business value.From 2004-08, knowledge sharing documented over $5 Billion of estimated cash flow (additional business value) for ConocoPhillips.

Before joining ConocoPhillips, Ranta served as Practice Leader of Schlumberger Business Consulting, specializing in fields related to knowledge, content management and portals. Previously, he led the KM consulting community for IBM Consulting Services, where he conducted multi-faceted knowledge management-related work including KM strategy, social network analysis, communities of practice, and design and implementation of portal structures. Earlier, he worked as Global Program Manager for Ernst and Young’s Center for Business Knowledge. Ranta spent his first 10 years of professional work experience as a Senior Consultant with the U.S. General Accounting Office, specializing in monitoring, evaluating and shaping economic and military assistance programs affecting, El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala and Mexico. It was with the GAO that Ranta took a two-year leave of absence to serve as a Peace Corp Volunteer in Guatemala, working to promote small businesses among women’s groups.

Ranta holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Spanish from Grove City College (Pennsylvania), and a Master’s in Management from Kent State University (Ohio). He completed post-graduate studies on European Common Market and East/West Economic and Political Relations with New York State University in Paris, France.

Ranta is fluent in Spanish and French, and speaks conversational Italian.

He coaches youth basketball and baseball in Katy, Texas, and enjoys golf, tennis, running and biking.