Priya Lakhani is the founder and CEO of CENTURY Tech, a pioneering company that harnesses artificial intelligence to enhance educational experiences across schools, universities, and corporations globally. With a strong background in law and entrepreneurship, Priya has dedicated her career to addressing the challenges of underachievement in education through innovative technology. Her work has garnered recognition from esteemed organisations, including the World Economic Forum, which named her a Tech Pioneer, and she serves on the UK Government's AI Council.
Priya began her professional journey as a barrister specialising in defamation law before venturing into entrepreneurship with the establishment of Masala Masala, a successful FMCG business that supported social initiatives in India and Africa. Her passion for leveraging technology in education led her to found CENTURY Tech, where she developed AI-driven personalised learning tools that provide real-time insights to enhance student performance and alleviate teachers’ workloads. Today, the company operates in over sixty countries, making a significant impact on educational outcomes.
In addition to her role at CENTURY, Priya is actively involved in various advisory capacities. She co-founded the Institute for Ethical AI in Education and has served as a Non-Executive Board Member at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. Her contributions to AI policy and regulation have been influential, and she currently sits on the UK Prime Minister’s Council of Science and Technology.
Priya's expertise has been recognised through numerous awards, including an OBE, the Mayor's Fund Award, and the National Economic Innovator of the Year by The Spectator. She is also the author of "Inadequate: The System Failing our Teachers and Your Children," which critiques the educational system and proposes necessary reforms. Through her insights on business, innovation, and leadership, Priya continues to inspire others to embrace technology for social good.
Priya Lakhani shares her powerful journey from barrister to entrepreneur, spotlighting the grit and purpose needed to break through barriers - particularly as a woman in business, where only 13% of founders receive venture capital. Drawing on personal lessons and professional victories, she unpacks the mindset that fuels innovation and resilience in the face of challenge. A compelling blend of insight and inspiration that provokes reflection on what it really takes to disrupt, persist and lead with impact.
Persuasive technology and generative AI are blurring the lines between reality and manipulation. Priya Lakhani exposes how algorithms influence decision-making, fuel addiction, and challenge our sense of agency. With sharp clarity and urgency, she explores what’s at stake when truth becomes subjective in a world shaped by code. This session cuts through the noise, equipping audiences with the awareness to navigate digital spaces more critically and to protect integrity in the age of influence.
Innovation doesn’t happen by chance - it’s driven by people and cultures that embrace change. Priya Lakhani delves into how organisations can foster agility and identify opportunity in the face of rapid technological disruption. Using striking case studies and hard-won insights, she unpacks the mechanics of product and business model disruption, offering practical pathways to embed innovation across teams. A high-energy session that challenges complacency and reframes disruption as a catalyst for growth.
Priya Lakhani demystifies AI by breaking it down into its key components - what it is, what it isn’t, and how it can be leveraged strategically. From digital twins to predictive modelling, she presents compelling use cases across sectors and explains why a robust data strategy is essential. Her ability to simplify complexity and inject urgency makes this talk particularly valuable for leaders navigating the hype cycle and wanting clarity on how AI can drive meaningful transformation.
The evolving relationship between human and artificial intelligence is redefining the future of skills. Priya Lakhani explores the shifting demands of both enterprise and education sectors, examining trends in lifelong learning, adaptive technology, and the balance between creativity and computation. With her signature clarity and relevance, she paints a vivid picture of how individuals and organisations must rethink capability in an AI-shaped world - and how to stay not just competitive, but human.
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