Kyle Mede

Background

About Kyle Mede

I’m a data and AI product leader at Rakuten who builds internal platforms for security, geo‑intelligence, and AI that multiple businesses can rely on. My work focuses on turning complex science and data into simple, reliable systems that “just work” for the teams using them and quietly improve how customers experience and enjoy our services. I partner with VP/SVP‑level leaders to shape roadmaps, decide which initiatives to fund, and sequence experiments so we can test new ideas safely while protecting core operations. A lot of my impact comes from company‑wide standards and platforms—shared fraud‑risk controls, geo‑intelligence layers, and model documentation practices—that support many products behind the scenes. In my next chapter at Rakuten I’ll be focused on agentic customer service solutions, combining LLMs and behavior data to make support more proactive, personalized, and efficient. Earlier in my career I built scientific software and instrumentation in astrophysics, which still shapes how I design explainable systems, measure impact, and coach technical teams.