A self-described ‘activator and connector,’ Larry Gioia doesn’t let the grass grow under his feet (and thinks that sleep is overrated!) Larry, a Pittsburgh native, graduated from Gannon University in 2004 and Carnegie Mellon in 2005. At Gannon, he received his Bachelor of Science degree in Management Information Systems.  During his sophomore year, Larry began exploring his entrepreneurial interests and started GioiaDesign.net, where he worked as an independent consultant advising Erie businesses as they established their presence on the Internet. After Gannon, Larry went on to attend the Heinz College at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU).  It was here that he earned his Master of Information Systems Management degree. While at CMU, Larry continued his passion for leadership and entrepreneurship.  He was the recipient of the MISM Student Leadership Award and also helped launch COMPackage.com, the Alphabot mobile app, and advised numerous other technology start-up ventures. Upon graduation from CMU, Larry joined Diamond Management & Technology Consultants in 2005 as a technology consultant.  Diamond was later acquired by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) in 2011.  At PwC, Larry serves as a Senior Director in PwC’s Health Industries Advisory technology consulting practice.  As a digital architect and thinking partner, Larry has worked alongside healthcare executives and innovators across the healthcare ecosystem – predominately in big pharma.  He is passionate about the future of healthcare and how technology is disrupting the delivery and consumption of health services in the New Health Economy. Beyond his work at PwC, Larry remains active with his alma maters and also in the Pittsburgh community.  Larry is a regular guest lecturer at CMU on the topics of leadership, consulting, enterprise architecture, and technology trends, he has sponsored four IS capstone projects, serves as the lead for PwC Advisory recruiting efforts across campus, serves as an alumni mentor, and is the recipient of the 2015 Carnegie Mellon Alumni Meritorious Service Award.   Larry also proudly served Gannon as a Director on the National Alumni Board from 2011-2013, was a speaker at the inaugural Gannon Ongoing Leadership Development (GOLD) Conference in 2013, and is a recipient of the 2015 Gannon Distinguished Alumni Award. In his community, Larry serves on the Board of Directors of two Pittsburgh-based non-profits - Find Some Flow and Paddle Without Pollution, he volunteers as a Trip Leader with Venture Outdoors, and serves on the organizing committee of PwC’s United Way Giving Campaign. Larry still actively maintains his entrepreneurial interests as the Founder of Dynamic Paddlers – a kayaking school which specializes in kayak instruction for people with disabilities and the Co-Founder of the Pittsburgh Adaptive Sports Network (PASN) – a consortium of adaptive sports/recreation organizations from around the greater Pittsburgh area. Most recently, Larry helped launch the Pittsburgh Kindness Initiative – a global social experiment that aims to measure to the ripple effect of human kindness and ‘paying it forward.’ When not jet setting around the country on business or connecting the dots in the community, it’s a safe bet that you can find Larry in the outdoors taking advantage of the multitude of outlets we have in the region to stay active.  Larry resides in Pittsburgh, PA and enjoys spending time (usually in the outdoors!) with family, friends, his better half, Maria Balestrino, and their dog, Bruna. Larry's (2 week) Challenge: Every day for a week, meet one new person or find something new about one person you already know. In the second week, connect every one of those seven people with another one of those seven people. Always be connecting the dots! Connect with Larry on Social Media lg@dynamicpaddlers.comFollow on Twitter at @LGin412 Connect on LinkedIn Dynamic Paddlers  Facebook Follow on Twitter at @DynamicPaddlers Pittsburgh Adaptive Sports Network pittsburghadaptive@gmail.com FacebookFollow on Twitter at @AdaptPittsburgh Pittsburgh Kindness Initiative Email bekindpgh@gmail.comFacebook www.facebook.com/kindnesspghFollow on Twitter at @bekindPGH