Ryan Backer is a seasoned Corporate Entrepreneur & Innovation Catalyst with a passion for helping organizations transform their research, insights, and experimentation capabilities. He holds a BA in Chemistry from the University of St. Thomas and an MBA from the Carlson School of Management. Ryan has been with General Mills for 11 years and has held numerous roles at the intersection of insights, innovation, and strategy across the enterprise's Consumer Insights, Marketing and ITQ (R&D) functions. He is also the co-founder of G-Works, a new ventures incubator and accelerator, and the Chief Growth Officer for Good Measure, G-Works' first start-up launch.

Ryan's experience spans Corporate Ventures, Emerging Technologies, Channel/Customer, Accelerated & Disruptive Innovation, Natural & Organic, B2C/B2B, Lean Startup, and numerous additional strategic initiatives for the company. He has a talent for making external connections, storytelling & influence, and he pioneered the Modernization of Marketing Research Movement at the industry level. Ryan is also the founder of modernMR, an innovation consultancy that specializes in helping clients accelerate the transformation of their research capabilities by leveraging emerging technologies.

In addition to his work at General Mills and modernMR, Ryan has served as a Research Scientist at Eli Lilly Pharmaceuticals and as a Laboratory Manager at the University of St. Thomas. He is a guest lecturer at the Carlson School of Management and has volunteered as a graduate consultant for the school.