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Tiarne Hawkins is the CEO & Founder of Optica Labs, a pioneering technology firm dedicated to securing AI systems by illuminating hidden risks through adaptive stress testing and vulnerability detection. With over 15 years of experience in digital transformation and 7 years leading cutting-edge AI initiatives, Tiarne is a recognized force in AI enablement, collaborating extensively with global tech leaders such as Amazon, Google, Meta, OpenAI, and numerous enterprises across various industries.

Her career journey began in Australia, where she founded and led her first successful company at just 22, specializing in digital transformation consulting and recruitment. Following a strategic merger with leading firm Salt, Tiarne expanded operations internationally into Asia, the UK, and Dubai, scaling the business to $37 million in annual revenue prior to a successful exit. She later played a crucial role in the rapid growth of an international firm in the U.S., contributing to its expansion from $500 million to $900 million as part of its global executive team.

In 2017, Tiarne joined Playable AI, strategically positioning its advanced AI-powered video editing and email marketing solutions for high-profile entertainment clients, including Disney and ESPN. By 2019, at Welocalize, she spearheaded the launch of its AI training division, significantly advancing machine translation, multilingual language modeling, and sophisticated AI data pipeline creation. Her influential work there involved leading AI programs for industry giants such as Google, Amazon, AWS, Meta, and Apple.

Before founding Optica Labs, Tiarne served as an Industry Strategist at Invisible Technologies, developing innovative AI training strategies for Large Language Models (LLMs), AI program advancements, and next-generation AI training methodologies for clients including OpenAI, Meta, xAI, Nvidia, Cohere, and Amazon.

At Optica Labs, Tiarne's vision is to ensure AI systems achieve rigorous testing standards comparable to those in aerospace by 2030. Her innovative approach combines technical depth with strategic clarity, emphasizing behavioral authenticity, proactive transparency, and continuous intelligence provided by automated AI agents and expert human analysts. Alongside co-founder Hallie Stern, Tiarne leads a distinguished team comprising researchers, engineers, and leading experts from national security, government, and top technology platforms, collectively working to fortify global AI deployments.

A sought-after public speaker and media personality, Tiarne hosts the influential "You & AI" podcast series, engaging global leaders, tech visionaries, celebrities, and innovators in critical conversations about AI’s transformative impact on humanity, economic stability, and national security. She regularly leads keynote presentations and workshops at premier events such as CES, AI Boston, AI Summit New York, and Voice & AI, collaborating with organizations including HPE, Nvidia, Intel, AWS, and VMware to shape discussions around AI policy, ethical frameworks, and customer-centric innovation.

Connect with Tiarne to explore how your organization can leverage safe, reliable, and innovative AI deployment strategies.