Connecting dots from strategy to execution.

Entrepreneur + Board + Advisor

Naveen is a tech entrepreneur with 35+ years of experience in building startups, and operating in C-roles in global Fortune 100 companies. He advises large enterprises, startups, and venture funds on growth, transformation and M&A. He works with boards and management teams and brings his deep operating experience with a passion for technology, data, AI and marketing.

  • Board Service

    As a board member, Naveen brings global perspective, governance experience, and a deep understanding of how technology, especially AI, reshapes business risk and opportunity. As a fiduciary, he likes to read carefully, listen thoughtfully, and then ask the questions to provoke deeper thought and robust engagement to create superior stakeholder value. More »

  • Advisory

    Naveen partners with CEOs, visionary leaders and investors navigating inflection points, growth, investments, transformation, or disruption. His guidance blends global experience, startup grit, and the art of possible to equip leaders to act with clarity in uncertain times. More »

  • Speaker

    From boardrooms to global stages, Naveen’s keynotes brings humor and in depth thinking on the hype and hope of AI, business transformation, key tech trends, and there implications on talent, strategy, competition and outcomes . His talks challenge assumptions, spark new perspectives, and provide practical frameworks that inspire and ignite audiences. He is a sought after speaker at the intersection of AI, finance, and healthcare. More »

Proven Experience

A Life of Connecting Dots

Naveen Agarwal is a seasoned board director, entrepreneur, and former C-suite executive with extensive experience leading digital, AI, and data-driven transformation. He has guided organizations across healthcare, financial services, insurance, and SaaS, scaling businesses at E*TRADE, Pricelock, and SunGard. As Chief Customer Officer at Prudential Financial, Naveen spearheaded enterprise-wide digital, AI/ML, and customer experience initiatives, demonstrating his ability to drive results at both large and mid-sized organizations.

Today, Naveen advises boards, executives, and investors on the future of AI—particularly the rise of agentic AI—and its implications for strategy, governance, and leadership. He challenges assumptions, connects technology with human impact, and provides practical frameworks audiences and executives can implement. Naveen brings a unique combination of global perspective, operational depth, and visionary thinking, ensuring every engagement is both memorable and actionable.

  • Unveiling the Chief Sphinx

    The C-Suite is where strategy, decisions, and the future of your organization converge but human dynamics often slow progress. Imagine a new kind of executive: the Chief Sphinx. Powered by AI, it cuts through politics, surfaces critical insights, and challenges the team with clarity and candor. Read the article »

  • Are Corporate Boards Ready for AI?

    AI isn’t just a tool—it’s a governance challenge. In this piece, Naveen explores how boards must adapt to the risks, ethics, and strategic opportunities of generative AI. It’s a call to action for directors to engage with AI before it shapes them. Read the article

  • Beginning of Things: Daydreaming with AI

    Every journey starts with a moment of imagination. Naveen reflects on his own path and on how generative AI opens new beginnings—inviting us to wonder where these possibilities can take us, and what choices we’ll make along the way. Read the article »

  • Leading in the Days of Coronavirus

    In moments of crisis, whether in business or in life, we can’t control everything, but we can choose how we respond. We can stay clear-headed, kind, and focused on what matters most: intent, effort, and trust. Read the article »

How He Works

Reflections on the Future, Rooted in The Present.

Governance for the AI Era: Helping boards prepare for the strategic, ethical, and operational realities of generative AI.

Strategic Navigation: Guiding CEOs and executive teams through inflection points—growth, transformation, crisis, or renewal.

Investor Alignment: Partnering with VC and PE groups to strengthen portfolio company leadership and board effectiveness.

Approach:

  • Human First: Every decision impacts people—employees, customers, society. Naveen puts humanity at the center.

  • Pragmatic & Action-Oriented: He’s lived both the exhilaration of IPOs and the frustrations of slow-moving committees. He knows talk without execution is wasted.

  • Connector of Worlds: Money, health, tech, and purpose don’t live in silos. Neither does Naveen. He sees across systems, cultures, and industries to help leaders shape what’s next.