Priya Lakhani

PRIYA LAKHANI – AI AND FUTURE OF WORK SPEAKER

Priya Lakhani OBE is the Founder CEO of CENTURY Tech, the award-winning AI and education technology company that develops learning tools for schools, colleges, universities and employers across the world, and is a keynote speaker on AI, leadership, and the future of work.

In 2008, Priya left her career as a barrister to launch a successful FMCG business, which through its charitable foundation provided millions of meals and thousands of vaccinations to the underprivileged in India and Africa.

She was appointed to the UK government’s AI Council in 2019 and co-founded the Institute for Ethical AI for the education sector. Between 2021 and 2023, Priya was appointed as Non-Executive Board Member to the UK Government Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS), with specific focus on online safety and technology. In 2023 she was an advisor to Patrick Vallance for his Pro-innovation Regulation of Technologies Review and currently advises the government as a member of the Prime Minister’s Council of Science and Technology.

Most recently, Priya was selected by the World Economic Forum as a Tech Pioneer for her pioneering AI work at CENTURY and has received a number of prestigious awards including the MIT SOLVE award (2018), the National Economic Innovator of the Year by The Spectator (2019), The Mayor’s Fund Special Recognition Award (2016) and Business Entrepreneur of the Year by the Chancellor of the Exchequer (2009). Priya has also received investment and a grant from MIT to develop cutting edge AI technology for education.

Priya holds numerous trustee and non-executive posts, and was awarded an OBE in 2014. She is an Honorary Vice President of the Council of British International Schools and in 2020 she received an honorary doctorate from Coventry University’s engineering faculty. She is co-host of BBC News’s flagship AI programme, AI Decoded on The Context, with Christian Fraser.

SPEAKING TOPICS

Each session is customised following a client briefing and can be delivered as a keynote, panel, or fireside chat. Topics can be presented individually or combined, such as blending “AI” with “Innovation Culture” or integrating “Entrepreneurial Mindset” with “Skills for the Future.” Below are sample themes tailored for leadership teams, corporate innovation groups, boards, and wider enterprise audiences:

The 13%: Entrepreneurial mindset in corporate environments – This inspirational keynote draws from real-world entrepreneurial experience to explore what it takes to lead with vision and resilience. Designed for executives and intrapreneurs within large organisations, this talk explores:

• The mindset and principles behind high-growth entrepreneurship and high performance
• Purpose-driven leadership and aligning personal values with business impact
• Overcoming systemic and cultural obstacles to innovation
• How to foster entrepreneurial thinking within corporate structures
• Navigating ambiguity and staying agile in high-pressure environments

Disruption, innovation, and building a culture that thrives on change –This session provides a compelling framework for understanding technological disruption and fostering innovation at scale. It covers:

• Identifying opportunities in disruption: Product and business model innovation
• Case studies of corporate reinvention and innovation-led growth
• Embedding innovation into daily operations, KPIs, and team incentives
• Change management in digital transformation initiatives
• Encouraging experimentation, cross-functional collaboration and a roadmap for innovation

Artificial Intelligence: Opportunity, disruption & strategy- This keynote demystifies AI and provides enterprise leaders with a strategic overview of what AI means today and what it could mean tomorrow. Key topics include:

• Horizon scanning: Where AI is headed in the next 3–5 years
• Practical use cases across functions: From productivity and automation to personalization and forecasting
• Implementing AI: Strategic frameworks, opportunity areas, and risks
• Creating a responsible AI strategy aligned with business priorities
• Navigating the AI ecosystem: Regulation, geopolitics, ethics, and security

HI, AI, and the future of work and skills –This talk addresses the changing relationship between human and artificial intelligence, with a focus on the future of skills and talent development. Key discussion areas include:

• Human-AI collaboration: Augmenting intelligence rather than replacing it
• Skills of the future: Critical thinking, data literacy, adaptability, and creativity
• Evolving roles in leadership, operations, and technical teams
• Reimagining corporate learning and development in the AI era
• Implications for hiring, upskilling, and employee experience

The Future of Truth: AI, attention, and the ethics of influence –As generative AI reshapes content creation and persuasive technology influences behaviour at scale, this talk explores:

• The psychology of algorithms: Attention, addiction, and digital autonomy
• AI and misinformation: The future of media, elections, and public trust
• Personal data, deepfakes, and algorithmic manipulation
• How enterprises can lead on ethical AI and protect information integrity
• Strategies to empower employees and customers with media literacy

This keynote is ideal for sectors such as media, government, education, and any organization concerned with reputation, compliance, or digital ethics.