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Professor Ajay Agrawal is a globally recognised thought leader in the economics of artificial intelligence. With over two decades of experience bridging academia and entrepreneurship, Ajay has profoundly influenced how businesses harness AI to drive growth and transformation. As the Founder of the Creative Destruction Lab, he has directly supported the scaling of over 1,000 start-ups, cementing his reputation as a catalyst for innovation and entrepreneurial success. Ajay’s engaging style and deep insights make him a standout figure at conferences and events worldwide.
Ajay’s journey began with a strong academic foundation. After earning his PhD in Philosophy from The University of British Columbia in 2000, he embarked on a career that blended teaching and research with a focus on innovation. He served as an Assistant Professor at Queen’s University before joining the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management in 2003. Alongside his academic roles, Ajay co-founded NEXT Canada in 2010, a programme dedicated to nurturing entrepreneurial talent. Two years later, he launched Creative Destruction Lab, a ground-breaking non-profit initiative that mentors AI and machine-learning start-ups.
In recent years, Ajay’s achievements have been both prolific and impactful. He is a celebrated educator, having been named Professor of the Year seven times by MBA students at Rotman and receiving the Martin-Lang Award for Excellence in Teaching. His research has earned him accolades such as the Distinguished Scholarly Contribution Award (2017) and the Outstanding Research Impact Award (2021). His recognition extends beyond academia, with his appointment to the Order of Canada (2022) and the prestigious President’s Impact Award (2023). Ajay is also a bestselling author, with works like Prediction Machines (2018) and Power & Prediction (2022) hailed for debunking AI’s economic implications.
Organisations seek Ajay as a speaker for his unmatched expertise in connecting AI innovation with entrepreneurial success. His ability to inspire, educate, and provide actionable strategies makes him an invaluable asset for audiences striving to understand and navigate the transformative power of AI.
Prof. Ajay Agrawal is regularly booked to engage audiences at events, read their latest feedback below:
“Ajay was so incredibly personable, friendly, and considerate. His content helped the group reframe how they think about AI and the implications to our business. I can wholeheartedly say his session was thought-provoking and has a lasting impact; rarely does a speaker get referenced for a couple of weeks after a presentation, let alone actively come up in conversations a people talk about how to navigate their business in the coming years.”
“Attendees were raving about his presentation – really thought-provoking and well-delivered. He’s a very impressive speaker and the content is top-notch.”
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