Ayesha Khanna Speaker Biography
Artificial Intelligence, Smart Cities and Fintech Expert
Dr. Ayesha Khanna is the Co-Founder and CEO of Addo, a global artificial intelligence (AI) solutions firm headquartered in Singapore. Ayesha was named one of Southeast Asia’s groundbreaking female entrepreneurs by Forbes magazine and is a strategic advisor on artificial intelligence, smart cities, and the metaverse to leading corporations and governments worldwide. Ayesha is a highly regarded speaker on AI and disruptive technologies, provides high-level government and board briefings, and was a member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Councils, a community of international experts who provide thought leadership on the impact and governance of emerging technologies.
Education
Ayesha has a BA (honors) in Economics from Harvard University, an MS in Operations Research from Columbia University, and a Ph.D. in Information Systems (focused on digital innovation in smart cities) from the London School of Economics.
Board Experience
Ayesha serves on the board of Johnson Controls (NYSE: JCI), a global leader in smart buildings, creating safe, healthy, and sustainable spaces with the world’s largest portfolio of building technology, software, and service solutions. She is a member of the Governance Committee. Ayesha previously served on the board of AVEVA, a global leader in industrial software, which was part of the FTSE100, before its acquisition by Schneider Electric. She was a member of the Renumeration Committee. She serves on the board of NEOM Tonomous, responsible for formulating the vision and delivery of the technology infrastructure (which includes AI, robotics, blockchain, and metaverse) for NEOM, the $500 billion smart city under development in Saudi Arabia. She is the Chairwoman of the Investment Committee. Ayesha serves on the Scientific Advisory Board of L’Oreal, the world’s largest beauty company, where she advises on new technologies and disruptive innovations. She also serves on the Consumer Committee of the Board for Mercy, one of the largest healthcare providers in the United States, and named to Fortune magazine’s most innovative companies of 2023, and advises on how to modernize and improve consumer journeys and clinical outcomes with data and AI.
Press and Recognition
Ayesha has been globally recognised for her work in artificial intelligence and her thought leadership on the impact of technology disruptions on the future of work and smart cities. ZDF (Germany’s largest TV channel) featured Ayesha in a documentary on twelve “Leading Women” around the world (2019). She has been named one of Singapore’s leading women in tech (Singapore Computer Society). She has been profiled for her work in artificial intelligence in leading publications around the world, including Neue Zürcher Zeitung (Switzerland), Focus Magazin (Germany), Corriere della Sera (Italy), Dagens Næringsliv (Norway), Lëtzebuerger Journal (Luxembourg), Computer Sweden (Sweden), Information Age (Nordics), Peak (Singapore), and In The Black (Australia).
Singapore Government
Ayesha has served on several Singapore government boards, including: Infocomm Media Development Authority, a statutory board under the Ministry of Communications and Information, develops and regulates its world-class technology sector to drive the country’s digital economy and power its Smart Nation vision. Health Promotion Board, a statutory board under the Ministry of Health, is Singapore’s primary driver for national health promotion and disease prevention programs. Ngee Ann Polytechnic, a statutory board under the Ministry of Education, has 15,000 students and 44 full-time diploma courses offered through 9 academic schools. Sport Singapore is a statutory board under the Ministry of Culture, Community, and Youth tasked with developing a holistic sports culture for the nation. Ayesha was also a steering committee member of the Singapore Ministry of Education and developed the country’s Skills Future program. This innovative national program aligns education with economic demand, career guidance, and lifelong learning to prepare citizens for the fourth industrial revolution.
Philanthropy
Ayesha is a passionate advocate of diversity and inclusion. She is the Founder of 21st Century Girls, a charity that delivers girls free coding and artificial intelligence classes. In collaboration with major companies like Google, PayPal, Visa, and Infocomm Media Authority, 21st Century Girls is focused on educating girls in tech.
Ayesha Khanna Speaking Topics
From Pilot to P&L: Operationalizing AI at Enterprise Scale
Most organizations are stuck running AI proofs-of-concept that never become profit centers. This talk tackles the operationalization gap head-on: how to decide which pilots deserve real investment, how to structure teams that ship AI into production (not just experiment), and how to measure ROI in language the CFO respects. Your audience will leave with: • A kill-or-scale framework for evaluating AI pilots • A playbook for building cross-functional AI implementation teams (not data science silos) • A clear understanding of the three operationalization gates: data readiness, process integration, and organizational alignment
The Human Side of AI: Building Organizations Where People and AI Thrive Together
The question isn’t whether AI will change your workforce — it’s whether your people will be ready when it does. This talk cuts through the fear and the hype to give leaders a practical blueprint for building AI-fluent teams: how to identify which roles will be augmented vs. redesigned, how to build a reskilling program that actually works, how to manage the cultural resistance that derails most AI transformations, and how to create an environment where human judgment and AI capability amplify each other. Your audience will leave with: • A workforce readiness framework: which roles to augment, which to redesign, and where to invest • Practical tactics for overcoming the cultural resistance that kills AI adoption • A clear-eyed view of what AI will and won’t change about how their teams work
The AI-Ready Leader: Five Shifts for the Age of Agents
AI is no longer a tool you use — it’s a teammate you manage. Most leadership operating systems were built for a world where humans did all the thinking. This talk lays out the five shifts leaders need to make: from intuition-first to data-informed decisions, from control to orchestration, from annual planning to adaptive strategy, from talent hoarding to human + AI teaming, and from risk avoidance to responsible experimentation. Your audience will leave with: • A leadership self-assessment: where they are today vs. where they need to be • A practical AI governance structure that enables speed without recklessness • Confidence to lead AI transformation — even without a technical background
Governing AI Before It Governs You
AI regulation is accelerating globally. Boards that treat AI governance as a compliance checkbox will be blindsided; those that treat it as strategic advantage will outperform. This talk provides a practical governance framework: how to structure board-level oversight of AI, what metrics to track, how to balance innovation speed with responsible deployment, and how to prepare for the regulatory landscape of 2027 and beyond. Your audience will leave with: • A board-ready AI governance checklist they can implement immediately • A clear framework for evaluating AI risk without stifling innovation • An understanding of where global AI regulation is heading and what to do about it now
Top Tech Trends That Will Transform Your Industry
Technologies like Generative AI, edge computing, robotics, and human enhancement will significantly impact all industries in the coming 5-10 years. Using illuminating case studies, Dr. Khanna discusses how these accelerating technologies will disrupt business models and operations and open up new opportunities to lift your firm to new heights. With experience advising some of the world’s largest corporations on data-driven digital transformation and innovation, Dr. Khanna highlights the key technologies you must include in your strategic planning for the decade beyond.
Generative AI 101
Generative AI is one of the fastest-growing technologies of our time. Amidst the hype and heightened fears, Dr. Ayesha breaks down the ground realities into bite-sized, digestible pieces that anyone can grasp, whether an existing techie or aspiring to be one. She covers everything about generative AI, from what it is, its applications, and various types to how to run your own generative AI pilot. Dr. Ayesha takes the audience on a jargon-free journey full of relatable anecdotes and examples that leave them more confident when discussing generative AI, whether in everyday conversations or board meetings.
Ayesha Khanna Books
Straight Through Processing for Financial Services: The Complete Guide
Purchase Book
Hybrid Reality: Thriving in the Emerging Human-Technology Civilization
Purchase BookAyesha Khanna Videos
Ayesha Khanna Articles
Ayesha Khanna Speaker Testimonials
Sincere gratitude for your enlightening session on AI during our FedEx APAC O & D Summit. Your expertise and enthusiasm for this transformative technology were truly inspiring. Your ability to demystify complex AI concepts and present them in a clear and accessible manner was commendable.
- | Fed Ex
Dr. Ayesha's passion for AI and her commitment to making sure everyone has fair access and leadership opportunities in the field really resonated with our audience. We received many notes of appreciation from employees after her session."
- | S&P Global
Dr Ayesha Khanna gave thoughtful and considered insights on the emergence of AI. She provided our attendees with key lessons and practical advice.
- | AICD
Huge thanks and congratulations on Ayesha's outstanding participation in FHTT2024, Sydney. Her discussion was a smash hit with guests, and we cannot imagine the program without her.
- | Intuit / Mailchimp
