Samantha Darnell

About Samantha Darnell

I help Chief Risk Officers (CROs) and Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) leaders transform risk from a defensive obligation into a strategic competitive advantage. As a Senior Principal at Gartner, I bridge the gap between high-level academic rigor (PhD, The Wharton School) and the practical, high-stakes needs of the modern C-suite.Core Areas of Impact-Executive Advisory & ERM Strategy: Serving as a 1:1 advisor to hundreds of CROs annually, providing the frameworks and coaching necessary to elevate the ERM function’s visibility and impact-Generative AI Implementation: Leading the charge on AI adoption within the risk landscape. I author research on integrating GenAI into ERM functions and have spearheaded the design of new internal capabilities to scale AI adoption, driving massive gains in quality and efficiency-Strategy & Insights: Translating complex global trends and proprietary research into \"Board-ready\" actionable insights that empower executives to lead through ambiguity-Recognized for Excellence: Recipient of the Assurance Practice\'s 2024 award for the Highest-Impact First-Year Associate and the 2025 award for Innovation in GenAI Training for the scalable process improvements I architected.

Experience

1. Senior Principal Analyst Erm

   Gartner

   Mar 2026 — Present · Philadelphia, PA, US

   I serve as a lead strategic partner to a global portfolio of Chief Risk Officers and ERM leaders, specializing in the intersection of enterprise risk, corporate strategy, and the transformative power of Generative AI.Executive Strategy Advisory: Partner 1:1 with global CROs to shift ERM from a compliance-centric function to a strategic engine, ensuring risk-informed insights are integrated into the enterprise-level decision-making process.GenAI Strategy & Research: Author and deliver market-facing research on the integration of Generative AI within the ERM function. I guide clients on leveraging AI to improve efficiency, enhance reporting quality, and generate deeper predictive insights.Scalable Client Enablement: Developed and delivered high-impact webinars and workshops to hundreds of ERM leaders, providing practical, tangible frameworks for operationalizing risk appetite and integrating AI in ERM.Internal AI Transformation: Designed and spearheaded a proprietary internal capability for GenAI adoption across the Gartner Assurance Practice. I facilitate ongoing training and workshops that enable experts to leverage AI tools, resulting in significant gains in deliverable quality and operational efficiency.Award-Winning Innovation: Recognized with practice-wide awards for Highest-Impact First-Year Associate in and for Process Innovation regarding the GenAI training frameworks I developed and scaled.Strategic Thought Leadership: Translate complex proprietary research into \"Board-ready\" insights, equipping executives to manage emerging global threats and navigate high-ambiguity environments.Team Mentorship: Coach and onboard junior advisors, ensuring the team maintains a high standard of excellence in executive-level delivery and methodology.

Education

• The Wharton School

  Masters, Management Research

  2018 — 2021

• Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile

  Bachelor of Arts - BA, Spanish Language and Literature

  2011 — 2011

• The University of Texas at Austin

  Supply Chain Management, Business Honors, Spanish Literature

  2009 — 2013

• The Wharton School

  PhD, Management (Strategy)

  2018 — 2023

Skills

• Inventory Management
• Business Process Design
• Demand Forecasting
• Cross-Functional Problem Solving
• System Testing