John Werner has built a career at the intersection of ideas, networks, and people—turning vision into powerful results. He is a Managing Director and Partner at Link Ventures, where he leads investments in artificial intelligence. Driven by deep curiosity and a passion for problem-solving, John has held diverse roles across technology, academia, and social impact. At MIT, he is a Visiting Lecturer, teaching the AI Venture Studio course each semester, contributing to the IAP Deep Learning Course, and serving as a Special Assistant for the history course STS.050. Previously, John was a Vice President at Meta, a Y-Combinator-backed augmented reality startup in Silicon Valley. He also served as Head of Innovation and New Ventures at the MIT Media Lab’s Camera Culture Group and as Managing Director of Emerging Worlds SIG, where he launched collaborative innovation centers in Mumbai, Nashik, and Hyderabad. John channels his energy into building platforms for thought leadership and exchange. He is the Founder and CEO of Ideas in Action, which has produced more than 5,000 talks, including Imagination in Action, Planet Action, TEDxBoston, TEDxMIT, Science Dinners, and MA250—hosting programs at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Silicon Valley, and MIT. Collectively, these talks have surpassed 300 million YouTube views. He also writes a daily AI column for Forbes. A serial builder and advisor, John co-founded Citizen Schools, taught in the Boston Public Schools, and advises companies including Liquid AI, Sublime Systems, EverQuote, Verijet, Brelyon, PhotoButler, Vestigo Ventures, and Founders Forum (Boston). He is also a Senior Fellow at MIT Connection Science, a Loeb Fellow at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design, and a graduate of Hamilton College. His leadership has been recognized by Harvard Business Review, the Boston Globe (2024 Tech Power Player, Top 50 in New England), BostonInno (50 on Fire), and the Boston Chamber of Commerce (TOYL Award). As a college student, he organized the project Defying the Prisoner’s Dilemma. Beyond his professional pursuits, John is a passionate photographer and an accomplished triathlete, having qualified for the world championships and competed in four national championships. He lives in Brookline, Mass., with his family.