Paul McDonagh-Smith

Paul McDonagh-Smith is a Visiting Senior Lecturer in Information Technology at the MIT Sloan School of Management. His research and teaching focus on the intersection of technology and business, with an emphasis on translating computer and data science into measurable business value that enhances organizational capability, transformation, and strategy. He teaches in MIT Sloan’s ‘Accelerating Digital Transformation with Algorithmic Business Thinking’ and ‘Digital Learning Strategy’ programs. As an early pioneer in Digital Reality, he has innovated with Extended Reality (XR) and metaverse technologies across multiple industries for over 20 years. He also contributes to a wide range of MIT Sloan Executive Education programs and plays a role in shaping the digital program portfolio. McDonagh-Smith collaborates with MIT faculty, labs, and schools, as well as industry partners, to define digital strategy and drive transformative technology experimentation. Prior to MIT, he held senior roles in the telecoms industry, including Optical Network Systems Engineering, R&D, and Business Transformation. He is an advisor to NASA Goddard Space Flight Center under the supervision of Dr. James B. Garvin.