Roger D. Odipo
Chief Technology Officer
Overview
Roger D. Odipo is a seasoned Computer Scientist, Mechatronics Engineer, and technology strategist with a multidisciplinary background spanning artificial intelligence, cloud computing, robotics, and full-stack development. As the current Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at Vanguard BI, Roger is at the forefront of driving transformative digital solutions for businesses and institutions across Africa and beyond. His work emphasizes scalable innovation, user-centric design, and cutting-edge integration of cloud and AI technologies.
Leadership at Vanguard BI
At Vanguard BI, Roger has led high-impact projects, including the design and development of HAKI AI, a revolutionary legal assistant platform built to support lawyers and legal practitioners with AI-powered insights and automation. This project was launched under the Haki Group, a visionary initiative focused on using technology to bridge legal access gaps and enhance the efficiency of law firms. Roger played a key role as a Senior Developer in the architecture, training, and deployment of the HAKI platform, available at haki.africa.
Roger’s leadership has also catalyzed key partnerships, notably a strategic collaboration with Google Cloud, underscoring his ability to align technical innovation with business growth. In addition, he has overseen the successful deployment of cross-platform mobile applications and led cloud transformation initiatives for industry leaders in Kenya and Nigeria.
Democratizing AI
Roger has pursued impactful experiential learning and advocacy through globally recognized programs, underscoring his commitment to democratizing access to artificial intelligence and technology in general.
In 2021, he served as a tutor during an AI Hackathon funded by the University of Manchester and the DARA Big Data organization, mentoring participants on the design and implementation of machine learning models to solve real-world challenges. Here, worked with students to help them learn practical machine learning and ultimately create a sentiment analysis tool using Google’s BERT-2 model.
In 2024, Roger was a speaker in a webinar titled “AI for HR: A Confluence of Intelligence” in partnership with the College of Human Resource Management (CHRM). In the session, he explored how artificial intelligence intersects with cognitive and social dimensions of HR leadership, helping professionals understand how AI can be used as a strategic partner rather than a threat. The webinar served as a catalyst for deeper engagement and practical application.
Following the webinar, Roger took on a coaching role in CHRM’s Executive Certificate in AI Integration for HR Professionals course in 2024 and 2025. As a coach and curriculum contributor, he guided HR professionals through both live sessions and hands-on workshops on AI use cases across recruitment, onboarding, training, performance evaluation, and succession planning. His approach offered a balance of technical depth and strategic insight, equipping leaders with tools to embed AI in real organizational processes.
Through these efforts, Roger continues to play a pivotal role in enabling professionals and institutions to embrace AI as a transformative force for development and inclusion.
In April 2025, Roger was a coach in the IHRM training Transforming HR Through Artificial Intelligence: Strategies, Tools and Applications.
Interests
In his free time, Roger enjoys playing his guitar, watching old movies and making epic dad jokes.