Our Team

Ryan Patel is an internationally recognized business strategist and global leadership expert who brings transformative real-world experience to The Standard School of Machine Learning (TheSSML). Known for scaling organizations across continents, Patel offers deep insight into global markets, innovation, consumer behavior, and strategic growth. His expertise spans both high-growth startups and Fortune 500 companies, making him a powerful educator and advisor for emerging leaders in a rapidly evolving global economy.

Before joining TheSSML, Patel served as a senior fellow and advisory board member at the Drucker School of Management, where he also taught Global Leadership. He is widely admired for helping turn Pinkberry into a global brand, expanding its presence to 23 countries as vice president of global development. His leadership impact extends across iconic organizations including Wet Seal Retail, Jamba Juice, BJ’s Restaurants, and Panda Restaurant Group.

A respected public voice on global business trends, Patel regularly appears on CNN, BBC, Fox Business, and Yahoo Finance, and his insights have been featured in The New York Times, Forbes, Entrepreneur, Nasdaq, and TD Ameritrade. He sits on several influential boards, including the Red Cross Los Angeles and the Mastercard Innovation Collective. He also serves as a trainer at the Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center and speaks globally at institutions such as the London School of Economics, Osaka University, Salesforce, Hewlett-Packard, Mastercard, LEGO, and the World Government Summit.

Recognized for his leadership influence, Patel has earned distinctions such as Inc. Magazine’s list of top executives transforming business, the SoCal Business Leader of the Year “Connect” Award, and Los Angeles Business Journal’s “Executive of the Year.” With a BA from UC Berkeley, an MBA from UC Irvine, and board governance certification from UCLA Anderson, he brings a unique blend of academic rigor, industry experience, and global vision to his teaching at TheSSML.