Meet Adtalem’s Chief Customer Officer Steven Tom

See how Steven Tom’s Asian heritage influenced his career and how representation factors into decisions he makes as CCO of Adtalem Global Education.

Long before he was Adtalem Global Education’s chief customer officer, Steven Tom learned the value of a hard-earned education from his parents. Both were from immigrant families that came to the United States in the 1940s from Guangdong Province in China. They were the first in their families to go to college.

“This idea that education can improve lives and have an impact on people was instilled in me at a young age,” he says. “It is one of the things I am really passionate about in my work here at Adtalem.”

In his role as CCO, Tom partners with Adtalem’s five institutions to optimize student experiences, develop differentiated learning offerings and solutions, and leverage data and analytics to drive value-added insights across all the company’s institutions.

Advancing Leaders Through Innovation

In May, Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month is observed to recognize the contributions and influence of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islander Americans to U.S. history and culture. The 2024 theme—“Advancing Leaders Through Innovation”—pays homage to innovation, resilience, and a pioneering spirit as the cornerstones of American leadership.

When we talk about an innovation theme for this month, that resonates with me when I think about what we’re doing at Adtalem to innovate in our student experience. It’s a critical thing as we think about how we make sure our tools and experiences account for a diverse population and diverse backgrounds. You have to be thoughtful about that during the design process of something for our students.

More About Steven Tom

Since 2021, Steven Tom has transformed the student and learning experience as as Adtalem Global Education's senior vice president, chief customer officer. At the intersection of technology, product development, analytics, he's redefined student engagement through enhanced learning solutions, revamped the digital experience through new technology capabilities, broadened strategic B2B partnerships, and elevated data science to drive deeper student insights. . Previously, at Walden University and Laureate Education, he led digital and student experience transformations, boosting engagement and retention.

His experience spans roles at TESSCO Technologies, where he drove analytics and innovation, and management consulting at Deloitte, focusing on growth and marketing strategies for Fortune 500 clients. Tom's academic credentials include an MBA from MIT Sloan and a bachelor’s degree in both information technology and marketing from the University of Maryland. Committed to community service, he serves on boards of notable non-profits, marrying his expertise in technology and education with his passion for social impact. 

For more information, email the Adtalem Global Communications Team: adtalemmedia@adtalem.com.