Leadership Team
Marisa Kopec
Chief Executive Officer
Marisa Kopec is the Chief Executive Officer at Lux. She leads a talented, experienced team focused on a purpose-driven mission of studying novel sciences, emerging technologies, and consumer behavior to enable “sustainable innovation” for Lux clients. Her passion is growth through innovation and helping corporate leaders reach their sustainability and net zero targets. Marisa joined Lux in January 2021 as Lux’s Chief Research Officer. She was responsible for Lux Research’s syndicated research and consulting services as well as new product development and management. Over the last two years, Marisa has orchestrated a brilliant transformation of Lux’s product strategy, from pricing and packaging to reinvention of the digital and service delivery that has been instrumental in the company’s ability to scale and grow. Marisa is a seasoned market research leader with 30+ years of experience. She served as the Senior Vice President of Research Product Management at Forrester. She was commercially responsible for the SiriusDecisions product line and successfully led a new go-to-market strategy for Forrester following its acquisition of SiriusDecisions in 2019. Before Forrester, she was Head of Product and Innovation at SiriusDecisions and an executive team member that grew the start-up research and advisory firm into a $100M business. She was responsible for designing and implementing the organization’s product management processes and governance. Also, Marisa transformed SiriusDecisions’ product strategy and go-to-market architecture while leading the digital transformation of the company’s intellectual property origination and delivery. Before SiriusDecisions, Marisa spent 12 years with Gartner, most recently as a managing vice president and product leader for Gartner’s High-Tech and Telecom business unit. She also ran global marketing at Gartner and was the Chief Privacy Officer. In addition to her managerial experience at market research organizations, Marisa is known for her innovative and industry-recognized methodologies (e.g., The SiriusDecisions PMM model, Messaging Nautilus, and Buyer Persona Framework) that have been widely operationalized across B2B organizations today.
Marisa Kopec is the Chief Executive Officer at Lux. She leads a talented, experienced team focused on a purpose-driven mission of studying novel sciences, emerging technologies, and consumer behavior to enable “sustainable innovation” for Lux clients. Her passion is growth through innovation and helping corporate leaders reach their sustainability and net zero targets.
Marisa joined Lux in January 2021 as Lux’s Chief Research Officer. She was responsible for Lux Research’s syndicated research and consulting services as well as new product development and management. Over the last two years, Marisa has orchestrated a brilliant transformation of Lux’s product strategy, from pricing and packaging to reinvention of the digital and service delivery that has been instrumental in the company’s ability to scale and grow.
Marisa is a seasoned market research leader with 30+ years of experience. She served as the Senior Vice President of Research Product Management at Forrester. She was commercially responsible for the SiriusDecisions product line and successfully led a new go-to-market strategy for Forrester following its acquisition of SiriusDecisions in 2019.
Before Forrester, she was Head of Product and Innovation at SiriusDecisions and an executive team member that grew the start-up research and advisory firm into a $100M business. She was responsible for designing and implementing the organization’s product management processes and governance. Also, Marisa transformed SiriusDecisions’ product strategy and go-to-market architecture while leading the digital transformation of the company’s intellectual property origination and delivery.
Before SiriusDecisions, Marisa spent 12 years with Gartner, most recently as a managing vice president and product leader for Gartner’s High-Tech and Telecom business unit. She also ran global marketing at Gartner and was the Chief Privacy Officer. In addition to her managerial experience at market research organizations, Marisa is known for her innovative and industry-recognized methodologies (e.g., The SiriusDecisions PMM model, Messaging Nautilus, and Buyer Persona Framework) that have been widely operationalized across B2B organizations today.
Scott Wilson
Chief Financial Officer
Scott Wilson is the Chief Financial Officer at Lux Research and is responsible for the company’s financial function including planning and analysis, accounting, tax, treasury, and business finance operations.Scott has over 15 years of financial and operational experience with both public and private global technology companies. Prior to Lux, he was the Vice President of Finance at LogicManager, a software-as-a-service company focused on enterprise risk management. Scott helped lead the Company through exponential growth and oversaw its first international expansions. Prior to that Scott was the Corporate Controller at QuickBase, a low code development platform that sold to Vista Equity Partners for > $1 billion valuation. Prior to QuickBase, he held roles at Amazon, Backstage LLC, and Nuance Communications. Scott received his Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting from Ithaca College and his Master’s Degree in Accounting from Northeastern University. He also holds his CPA license in Massachusetts.
Scott Wilson is the Chief Financial Officer at Lux Research and is responsible for the company’s financial function including planning and analysis, accounting, tax, treasury, and business finance operations.
Scott has over 15 years of financial and operational experience with both public and private global technology companies. Prior to Lux, he was the Vice President of Finance at LogicManager, a software-as-a-service company focused on enterprise risk management. Scott helped lead the Company through exponential growth and oversaw its first international expansions. Prior to that Scott was the Corporate Controller at QuickBase, a low code development platform that sold to Vista Equity Partners for > $1 billion valuation. Prior to QuickBase, he held roles at Amazon, Backstage LLC, and Nuance Communications.
Scott received his Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting from Ithaca College and his Master’s Degree in Accounting from Northeastern University. He also holds his CPA license in Massachusetts.
Ujwal Arkalgud
Executive Vice President
Ujwal is an award-winning cultural anthropologist and a pioneer in digital ethnography and the study of implicit and symbolic meaning using the internet. In 2015, he co-founded MotivBase, which is the world’s first predictive anthropology research technology that enables the study of meaning and consumer beliefs with big data. He speaks passionately and keynotes on the value of anthropology to corporate innovation across major conferences around the globe and has written two books on the topic. His most recent book, Microcultures: Understanding the Consumer Forces That Will Shape the Future of Your Business, was published in 2020. Since the acquisition of MotivBase by Lux Research in April 2022, Ujwal serves as the Executive Vice President and Group Director for the Anthropology and Consumer Insights portion of Lux Research’s business.
Ujwal is an award-winning cultural anthropologist and a pioneer in digital ethnography and the study of implicit and symbolic meaning using the internet. In 2015, he co-founded MotivBase, which is the world’s first predictive anthropology research technology that enables the study of meaning and consumer beliefs with big data. He speaks passionately and keynotes on the value of anthropology to corporate innovation across major conferences around the globe and has written two books on the topic. His most recent book, Microcultures: Understanding the Consumer Forces That Will Shape the Future of Your Business, was published in 2020.
Since the acquisition of MotivBase by Lux Research in April 2022, Ujwal serves as the Executive Vice President and Group Director for the Anthropology and Consumer Insights portion of Lux Research’s business.
Arij van Berkel, Ph.D.
Senior Vice President, Group Director
Arij is a Senior Vice President at Lux and leads the energy research team. Arij and his team provide strategic insights in the rapidly changing landscape of energy supply to mobility, residences, and industry Prior to joining Lux Research, Arij worked for Shell and TNO, the public research and technology organization of The Netherlands. At Shell, he conducted research into process safety and combustion. At TNO he worked on a variety of topics including food preservation, emission reduction and biomass conversion. His last position there was innovation director for the chemical industry, P&L responsible for TNO’s entire project portfolio for the chemical industry and liaising with the Dutch and EU governments on innovation policy. Arij holds an M.Sc. degree in mechanical engineering from Twente University and a Ph.D. from Eindhoven University.
Arij is a Senior Vice President at Lux and leads the energy research team. Arij and his team provide strategic insights in the rapidly changing landscape of energy supply to mobility, residences, and industry
Prior to joining Lux Research, Arij worked for Shell and TNO, the public research and technology organization of The Netherlands. At Shell, he conducted research into process safety and combustion. At TNO he worked on a variety of topics including food preservation, emission reduction and biomass conversion. His last position there was innovation director for the chemical industry, P&L responsible for TNO’s entire project portfolio for the chemical industry and liaising with the Dutch and EU governments on innovation policy.
Arij holds an M.Sc. degree in mechanical engineering from Twente University and a Ph.D. from Eindhoven University.
Steve Dodman
Chief Sales Officer
As Chief Sales Officer, Steve Dodman leads Lux Research’s global sales organization by providing leadership, direction, and an executive vision to ensure alignment with the company’s financial and strategic goals. With 20+ years’ experience driving revenue, profitability, and performance in the professional services industry, Steve brings strong business acumen and creative energy to Lux. Working collaboratively across sales, marketing, research, and consulting, Steve is responsible for leading the sales team in their pursuit to deliver solutions to clients as they seek to drive sustainable innovation and growth. Prior to joining Lux Research, Steve held senior-level sales and marketing positions with Insider Intelligence, Richardson Sales Performance, Sirius Decisions, IDG, and GBMP. His experience includes defining and executing go-to-market strategies and building award-winning sales teams. Steve holds a B.Sc. in Business Management from the University of Massachusetts and an MBA from Babson College. He was selected as an Emerging Leader in the City of Boston and is currently a fellow at the Center for Collaborative Leadership. Steve resides just outside of Boston, Massachusetts with his family.
As Chief Sales Officer, Steve Dodman leads Lux Research’s global sales organization by providing leadership, direction, and an executive vision to ensure alignment with the company’s financial and strategic goals. With 20+ years’ experience driving revenue, profitability, and performance in the professional services industry, Steve brings strong business acumen and creative energy to Lux. Working collaboratively across sales, marketing, research, and consulting, Steve is responsible for leading the sales team in their pursuit to deliver solutions to clients as they seek to drive sustainable innovation and growth.
Prior to joining Lux Research, Steve held senior-level sales and marketing positions with Insider Intelligence, Richardson Sales Performance, Sirius Decisions, IDG, and GBMP. His experience includes defining and executing go-to-market strategies and building award-winning sales teams. Steve holds a B.Sc. in Business Management from the University of Massachusetts and an MBA from Babson College. He was selected as an Emerging Leader in the City of Boston and is currently a fellow at the Center for Collaborative Leadership. Steve resides just outside of Boston, Massachusetts with his family.
Research and Consulting Leaders
Michael Holman, Ph.D.
Senior Vice President, Group Director
Michael Holman is SVP and Group Director for Manufacturing and Materials at Lux Research, leading a team of analysts and consultants who help clients, primarily large global corporations, with new opportunities in emerging technology areas from 3D printing to advanced materials to the circular economy. He has been with Lux since 2005, shortly after the company was founded, and held a variety of positions in research, consulting, and client service. Michael earned his Ph.D. in Chemistry from Columbia University, where he worked at Columbia’s Nanoscale Science and Engineering Center. He also holds a B.A. in Chemistry and Philosophy from Rice University.
Michael Holman is SVP and Group Director for Manufacturing and Materials at Lux Research, leading a team of analysts and consultants who help clients, primarily large global corporations, with new opportunities in emerging technology areas from 3D printing to advanced materials to the circular economy.
He has been with Lux since 2005, shortly after the company was founded, and held a variety of positions in research, consulting, and client service. Michael earned his Ph.D. in Chemistry from Columbia University, where he worked at Columbia’s Nanoscale Science and Engineering Center. He also holds a B.A. in Chemistry and Philosophy from Rice University.
Samhitha Udupa
VP Product Operations
Samhitha is the VP of Product Operations at Lux. Her contributions in advisory projects have facilitated commercialization of technologies in advanced building materials, nanomaterials manufacturing processes, building-integrated photovoltaics, novel drug-delivery technologies, and nano-catalysts, to name a few. Prior to her consulting work at Lux Research, Samhitha was a major contributor to the Biosciences Intelligence team, where she has conducted extensive primary and secondary research in biofuels, biomaterials, targeted delivery, synthetic biology, and other areas of emerging biosciences. Samhitha joined the Lux Research team from University of Pennsylvania where she co-designed a diagnostic instrument that measures torque and range-of-motion of rotator cuff muscles in patients suffering from chronic shoulder pain (patent pending). Samhitha holds a B.S. in Bioengineering from the University of Pennsylva
Samhitha is the VP of Product Operations at Lux. Her contributions in advisory projects have facilitated commercialization of technologies in advanced building materials, nanomaterials manufacturing processes, building-integrated photovoltaics, novel drug-delivery technologies, and nano-catalysts, to name a few. Prior to her consulting work at Lux Research, Samhitha was a major contributor to the Biosciences Intelligence team, where she has conducted extensive primary and secondary research in biofuels, biomaterials, targeted delivery, synthetic biology, and other areas of emerging biosciences.
Samhitha joined the Lux Research team from University of Pennsylvania where she co-designed a diagnostic instrument that measures torque and range-of-motion of rotator cuff muscles in patients suffering from chronic shoulder pain (patent pending).
Samhitha holds a B.S. in Bioengineering from the University of Pennsylva
Naveen Krishnamurthy
Vice President, Executive Partners
As Vice President of Lux Executive Partners, Naveen Krishnamurthy leads high-impact relationships with companies navigating multidecade transitions. In his role, Naveen brings about important connections among CXOs at peer-group companies, engages Lux’s repository of research across multiple areas of emerging innovation, and advises clients on strategic growth imperatives in diverse industries. Naveen brings two decades of research, industry, and consulting experience in commercially viable innovation to address entrenched problems. Most recently, Naveen’s work has spanned ideation, market penetration, and transaction due diligence for clients on three continents. Prior to joining Lux Research, Naveen served as business development manager at Harvest Power, a waste-to-energy developer funded by Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, where he evaluated technologies, developed economic and strategic analyses, and assisted in executing several acquisitions. In his consulting roles before Lux, Naveen helped venture capital and buyout firms analyze industries, assess growth opportunities, and identify attractive targets in carbon markets, emission control, healthcare IT, packaging, testing & measurement, and food & beverage for Firelake Capital, Graham Partners, and Lux Capital. Previously, as an environmental engineer at AECOM, Naveen conducted design, planning, and construction management for water/wastewater treatment, solid & hazardous waste management, and air pollution control for utilities, federal agencies, and countries. Naveen graduated with an MBA in finance from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, where he was a recipient of the Joseph Wharton Fellowship. He received an M.S. in environmental engineering at Pennsylvania State University, where he conducted U.S. Department of Energy-funded laboratory research to develop an innovative treatment process for high-level nuclear waste. He has published several papers in peer-reviewed journals and has spoken and moderated at conferences related to waste treatment, land and water management, water reuse, and corporate sustainability. Naveen is a certified ISO 14001 auditor.
As Vice President of Lux Executive Partners, Naveen Krishnamurthy leads high-impact relationships with companies navigating multidecade transitions. In his role, Naveen brings about important connections among CXOs at peer-group companies, engages Lux’s repository of research across multiple areas of emerging innovation, and advises clients on strategic growth imperatives in diverse industries. Naveen brings two decades of research, industry, and consulting experience in commercially viable innovation to address entrenched problems. Most recently, Naveen’s work has spanned ideation, market penetration, and transaction due diligence for clients on three continents.
Prior to joining Lux Research, Naveen served as business development manager at Harvest Power, a waste-to-energy developer funded by Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, where he evaluated technologies, developed economic and strategic analyses, and assisted in executing several acquisitions. In his consulting roles before Lux, Naveen helped venture capital and buyout firms analyze industries, assess growth opportunities, and identify attractive targets in carbon markets, emission control, healthcare IT, packaging, testing & measurement, and food & beverage for Firelake Capital, Graham Partners, and Lux Capital. Previously, as an environmental engineer at AECOM, Naveen conducted design, planning, and construction management for water/wastewater treatment, solid & hazardous waste management, and air pollution control for utilities, federal agencies, and countries.
Naveen graduated with an MBA in finance from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, where he was a recipient of the Joseph Wharton Fellowship. He received an M.S. in environmental engineering at Pennsylvania State University, where he conducted U.S. Department of Energy-funded laboratory research to develop an innovative treatment process for high-level nuclear waste. He has published several papers in peer-reviewed journals and has spoken and moderated at conferences related to waste treatment, land and water management, water reuse, and corporate sustainability. Naveen is a certified ISO 14001 auditor.
