In celebration of Singapore’s 60 years of independence, Tatler looks at how the country continues to make an outsized mark on the world—not through scale, but through foresight and ambition. From tech visionaries and design trailblazers to cultural leaders and a decorated Paralympian, these individuals reflect the nation’s unique blend of agility, integrity and global influence rooted in a strong sense of identity. Here, Ayesha Khanna shares how she’s championing human potential and inclusive tech, and in turn, a more equitable future

For almost two decades, Dr Ayesha Khanna has been shaping global nerve centres for artificial intelligence (AI)—from Asia Pacific to North America. A visionary technologist and the founder of leading AI solutions firm Addo AI, Khanna is widely regarded as one of the most influential voices in human-centric innovation.

When she arrived in Singapore 13 years ago from Wall Street, she quickly noticed a gap between the sophisticated, data-powered operations of financial institutions in New York and the underutilised potential of businesses across Asia. Armed with a PhD in information systems and years of experience in computational finance and emerging technologies, Khanna launched Addo AI—a boutique consultancy of elite AI scientists and engineers—designed to help organisations translate algorithms into action.

“We’re not a general management consultancy. We’re a deep-tech firm focused on results,” she explains. “Our role is to help companies use AI and data to become more productive, more customer-centric, and more future-ready.”

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