Arun Shastri
Background and experience
Arun is a global leader in the firm’s AI practice who has led classical and generative AI implementations throughout his career. His vision guides the development of AI-powered products that deliver value to B2B and B2C clients across industries. He has helped companies build lasting competitive advantages at some of the world’s leading businesses operating in technology, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, financial services and travel and transportation. Arun is also a thought leader who writes about how AI is making an impact on the world of business. A regular contributor to Forbes, Arun’s articles have also appeared in Harvard Business Review, Information Week and other publications. Arun is a host of the “Reinventing Customer Experience” podcast, where guests from companies such as Walmart, United Airlines, Panera and Goldman Sachs discuss strategies for delivering personalized experiences and engaging customers using technology.
Arun is a co-author of “The Harvard Business Review Sales Management Handbook,” which focuses on digital competencies and how to implement AI in the sales ecosystem. As a lecturer for Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management executive education program, Arun teaches digital transformation and AI applications in sales for the B2B Sales Force Strategy & Effectiveness in the Digital Age program.
Arun was with ZS from 1995 to 2010, during which he helped clients across industries on a broad range of commercial effectiveness issues. He also opened ZS’s Boston office in 2001. Before rejoining ZS in 2015, he was the chief strategy officer at IntraFi, a fintech company focused on providing innovative asset and liability solutions to banks.
Education
Ph.D. in decision sciences, Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University