Futurist | AI Strategist| Innovation Practitioner

Former General Manager, Corporate Business Development, Microsoft Asia
Former CEO, LumenLab and MetLife Global Chief Innvation Officer
Aspen Institute Fellow
Boardmember service on Two Singapore Statutory Boards

Helping leaders navigate uncertainty, comprehend emerging technologies, and transform innovation into sustainable growth.

Keynote Speaker | Board Director | Former Fortune 500 Innovation Executive

Why Book Zia?

Most leadership teams are not struggling to understand change.

They are struggling to make decisions in the face of it.

Over a career spanning Microsoft, MetLife, Singtel, LG Electronics, and Silicon Valley technology firms, Zia Zaman has advised, invested in, acquired, built, and scaled businesses across multiple industries and markets. He has led corporate strategy, venture investing, innovation, and growth initiatives at some of the world's leading organizations while serving on public-sector boards shaping Singapore's long-term development.

Today, Zia helps senior leaders navigate AI, technological disruption, and strategic uncertainty with a practical perspective grounded not in theory, but in decades of executive decision-making and business building.

Education & Credentials

Stanford Graduate School of Business
MBA

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
MS, Operations Research
BS, Electrical Engineering

Aspen Institute
First Movers Fellow

A combination of engineering, quantitative analysis, business strategy, and responsible leadership development that informs Zia's work on innovation, technology, and organizational transformation.

Author

Five books of fiction and non-fiction and three scholarly articles.

Career Highlights

Microsoft
General Manager, Corporate Business Development, Strategy & Ventures, Asia

MetLife Asia
Chief Innovation Officer

LumenLab
Chief Executive Officer

Singtel Group Enterprise
Chief Strategy Officer

LG Electronics North America
Chief Strategy Officer

FAST Search & Transfer
Chief Marketing Officer

Board & Public Sector Leadership

National Environment Agency (Singapore)
Board Member

Energy Market Authority of Singapore
Former Board Director

Signature Keynotes

AI in Small Spaces

Operationalizing AI, Compute Economics & Real ROI

Artificial Intelligence is rapidly moving from experimentation to enterprise deployment. Yet many organizations struggle to translate AI investments into measurable business outcomes.

Drawing on experience spanning Microsoft, venture investing, and corporate innovation, this keynote helps leaders separate signal from noise and focus on the decisions that drive value creation.

Key themes:

• Scaling AI beyond pilots and proofs of concept

• The economics of AI adoption and deployment

• Building organizational capability for the AI era

• Governance, risk, and responsible innovation

• Creating sustainable competitive advantage

Pulling the Goalie

Strategic Decision-Making Under Uncertainty

The most important decisions are often made when information is incomplete, conditions are changing, and outcomes remain unclear.

This keynote explores how leaders can make better strategic choices amidst technological disruption, geopolitical uncertainty, and rapidly evolving markets.

Key themes:

• Decision-making under ambiguity

• Managing risk without stifling innovation

• Scenario planning and strategic foresight

• Recognizing organizational blind spots

• Building adaptive and resilient organizations

Inclusive Innovation

Creating Growth by Solving Real Customer Problems

The most successful innovations are rarely driven by technology alone. They emerge from a deep understanding of customer needs, market realities, and human behavior.

Drawing on experiences building ventures across healthcare, insurance, fintech, and digital platforms, this keynote demonstrates how organizations can create both commercial and societal value.

Key themes:

• Customer-centric innovation

• Identifying underserved opportunities

• Building products people actually need

• Aligning purpose with growth

• Innovation as a driver of long-term value creation

The Pragmatic Futurist

Navigating AI, Disruption & Exponential Change

Technology is reshaping industries, redefining competition, and altering the nature of work. Yet the greatest challenge for leaders is not predicting the future. It is preparing for multiple potential futures.

This keynote combines strategic foresight with practical execution frameworks to help organizations navigate a rapidly changing world.

Key themes:

• Artificial Intelligence and its business implications

• Geopolitics and economic transformation

• Demographic and societal shifts

• Emerging business models

• Leadership in an age of disruption

Ideal Audiences

CEO Offsites • Board Retreats • Leadership Summits • Technology Conferences • Innovation Forums • Financial Services Events • Government & Public Sector Forums

Speaking Highlights

Selected Speaking Engagements

Zia has delivered keynotes, participated in executive dialogues, and moderated discussions for global business, policy, and innovation audiences, including:

• World Economic Forum (Davos)

• Milken Institute

• Institute of International Finance (IIF)

• UN Women

• Global Summit for Women

• InsurTech Connect

• RISE

• Digital Hollywood

• Consumer Electronics Show (CES)

His speaking engagements focus on AI, innovation, growth strategy, leadership, decision-making under uncertainty, and the future of business.

Who Engages Zia

Zia's sessions are designed for senior leaders navigating transformation, growth, and disruption.

Typical Audiences

• Boards of Directors

• Chief Executive Officers & Executive Committees

• Leadership Offsites & Strategy Retreats

• Innovation & Transformation Conferences

• Financial Services & Fintech Events

• Technology & AI Summits

• Government & Public Sector Leadership Forums

• Corporate Strategy & Future-Readiness Programs

Ideal Engagement Formats

• Keynote Presentations

• Executive Fireside Conversations

• Leadership Panels

• Board Retreats

• C-Suite Workshops

• Innovation & Strategy Offsites

Contact

Zia Zaman

Singapore

📧 zia.zaman@gmail.com
WA  +65 98207072
LinkedIn: https://sg.linkedin.com/in/zia-zaman-05b8463b2