She was building AI before the world even knew what it was.
In this episode, I sit down with Ayesha Khanna—from coding complex financial models on Wall Street to founding a leading AI company in Asia, her journey is anything but typical. We get into how she spotted the artificial intelligence wave early, why most companies still struggle with AI adoption, and what it really takes to build AI-powered businesses today.
She breaks down how leaders can use generative AI, automation, and machine learning to drive productivity—and why AI won’t replace leadership, but will redefine it.
This one goes beyond the hype—real insights on AI tools, future of work, and building a career in AI.
IN THIS EPISODE
00:00 | Will AI replace your job—or make you more powerful?
02:44 | Simple ways to use AI in your daily work
05:48 | How she built a career in AI before it was a trend
07:18 | What AI companies actually do (and why it matters)
08:18 | Biggest AI myths that are holding you back
09:31 | Why people resist AI—and how to get ahead anyway
11:19 | How AI can unlock your creativity and time
14:44 | AI tools that can 2x your productivity
16:58 | How women leaders can win in the AI era
19:39 | Where to find AI tools that actually help you
21:57 | The human skills AI still can’t replace
24:30 | Should you use AI for content or not?
27:35 | Should your kids be using AI already?
29:34 | The real risks of AI nobody talks about
34:32 | The skills you need to stay relevant in AI
37:01 | The AI question that actually matters for your career
39:28 | Mid-career? How to stay relevant (and get ahead) with AI
40:29 | Final takeaway: what to do next with AI today
Ayesha Khanna
Dr. Ayesha Khanna is a globally recognized AI expert, entrepreneur, and CEO of Addo, helping businesses leverage AI for growth. With 20+ years in digital transformation, she advises Fortune 500 CEOs and serves on global boards, including Johnson Controls and NEOM Tonomus. A graduate of Harvard, Columbia, and the London School of Economics, she spent a decade on Wall Street advising on information analytics.
A thought leader in AI, Dr. Khanna has been recognized as a groundbreaking entrepreneur by Forbes, named to Edelman’s Top 50 AI Creators (2025), featured in Salesforce’s 16 AI Influencers to Know (2024), recognized by Reuters as one of the Trailblazing Women in Enterprise AI (2026), and named among LinkedIn’s Top 10 Female Founders in Singapore.
Committed to diversity in tech, she founded the charity 21C Girls, which taught thousands of students the basics of AI and coding in Singapore, and currently provides scholarships for mid-career women through her education company Amplify.
Ritu Mehrish | Founder and Author | ReWrite The Rules
Ritu Gupta Mehrish is a speaker, executive coach and author, with 20 years of corporate experience working in companies such as P&G, GE Capital and GE spin-off Genpact. In her last role, Ritu ran a multimillion-dollar business vertical with 1000 people across eight countries and five continents. Throughout her extensive career, Ritu has had the opportunity to work, coach and converse with leaders across the globe from diverse industries. Her business and leadership experience has enabled her to bring in a pragmatic approach to leadership development. Her client list of Google, PayPal, Swiss Re, JP Morgan, Applied Materials, Intel, Knight Frank, Johnson & Johnson, AIA, Medtronic, Wharton Executive Education highlights the level of expertise she brings to the leadership topic.
https://www.letsrewritetherules.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ritugmehrish/
https://www.ritumehrish.com/
