Helping Founders Increase Profitability with AI Automation – Interview with Aravind Sakthivel
- Brainz Magazine
- Oct 2
- 5 min read
Updated: Oct 13
Aravind Sakthivel is a seasoned technology strategist with more than 23 years of global leadership across Europe, India, and the U.S. As Chief Information Officer turned Chief AI Officer, he has guided Fortune 500 companies through enterprise-wide digital transformation, AI deployments, M&A integrations, and compliance initiatives. Today, as the Equity Partner & Non-Executive Board Member at London AI Studio, Aravind focuses on Agentic AI, autonomous AI systems designed to reshape business strategy, operations, and leadership. In this exclusive Brainz Magazine interview, he shares his journey, insights from his published research, and why he believes executives must embrace AI literacy to future-proof their organizations.
Aravind Sakthivel, CIO & Chief AI Officer
Who is Aravind Sakthivel? Introduce yourself, your hobbies, your favourites, you at home and in business.
I started my career in consulting with Oracle, KPMG, and GE before moving into senior executive roles at Danaher/Veralto, where I spent nearly two decades leading global IT transformations. My professional journey has been about one thing, aligning technology with business outcomes. I focus on helping Presidents and Founders increase profitability with AI automation, ensuring that strategy and technology translate into measurable growth. Whether through AI-powered platforms, ERP modernizations, M&A integrations, or risk and compliance programs, my goal has always been to deliver growth and resilience.
Outside of work, I’m passionate about mentoring, traveling, and reading history. I believe that leadership in both business and family life is ultimately about people, values, and long-term vision. I want to adopt the lifestyle (being with my family) that fulfils my passion.
What first inspired you to specialise in AI, digital design, and strategy?
My inspiration came from realizing that IT, while powerful, often lacked adaptability. Systems could execute transactions flawlessly, but couldn’t strategize. That gap drew me toward AI.
As I explored deeper, I developed what is now my research focus, Agentic AI. Unlike traditional AI, which automates or predicts, agentic systems make autonomous decisions with purpose. My recent paper Agentic AI in the Enterprise shows how this next wave of AI can transform everything from customer personalization to executive decision-making.
How do you help businesses use AI to solve real problems and grow faster?
At London AI Studio, I guide leaders through a structured transformation process. First, I do an AI Assessment, assess decision-making gaps, and data readiness. Then, apply the Agentic AI Framework, which has four layers, foundation (generative AI for data), autonomy (reinforcement learning for decision-making), governance (ethics and compliance), and impact (measuring outcomes).
This method has enabled enterprises to achieve 20-30% productivity gains while enhancing trust and resilience. Beyond efficiency, it creates cultural readiness, where employees see AI as a partner, not a replacement.
Can you share a success story where your AI solutions or design strategies made a big difference?
In one enterprise, our AI team rolled out Robotic Process Automation (RPA) for incoming customer purchase orders, enabling direct uploads into the ERP system without manual entry. This saved significant time for the operations team and accelerated order intake for customers.
Building on that success, we implemented an AI-powered chatbot self-service portal that reduced inbound call volume while boosting customer satisfaction.
The win wasn’t just operational. Employees were relieved from repetitive tasks, leadership gained faster insights, and customers felt empowered. This kind of impact reflects what I believe AI should do, enhance human agency while driving measurable business outcomes.
Who are your ideal clients, and what challenges do they usually face before working with you?
My ideal clients are enterprise leaders who see AI not just as a tool but as a strategic enabler. Typically, they face challenges such as:
Fragmented legacy systems that block integration.
A lack of AI literacy at the executive level.
Ethical and compliance risks with early AI deployments.
Cultural resistance within teams.
These pain points can stall transformation. My role is to guide organizations through strategy, governance, and adoption, so AI becomes a sustainable advantage rather than a fragmented experiment.
What mistakes do businesses often make when trying to adopt AI or digital transformation on their own?
The common pitfalls are twofold, chasing hype and neglecting governance. Too often, companies deploy tools without connecting them to strategic goals. This leads to wasted investment and scepticism across teams.
Equally dangerous is ignoring ethics and compliance. In my research, 55% of executives cited bias and job displacement as major risks. Without explainable AI (XAI) frameworks and reskilling programs, businesses face reputational and regulatory risks that can outweigh benefits.
What is the biggest opportunity AI and creative strategy bring to businesses today?
The biggest opportunity lies in hyper-personalization and resilience. AI can personalize customer journeys at scale, drive real-time supply chain optimization, and even predict risks before they materialize.
But I believe the deeper opportunity is cultural, AI can shift organizations from rigid hierarchies to adaptive, data-driven ecosystems. Leaders who embrace this will unlock innovation cycles that are 20% faster while positioning their enterprises for long-term advantage.
For a business considering working with you, what is the first step in the process?
The first step is always an AI readiness assessment. We look at current systems, decision-making workflows, and cultural openness. From there, I design a roadmap, starting with pilots, scaling through ethical audits, and embedding governance at every stage.
This phased approach ensures adoption is not just fast but sustainable. By the time enterprises scale, they already have the trust, skills, and safeguards needed for AI maturity.
How do you stay updated and ahead in the rapidly changing world of AI and digital design?
I combine research with practice. On the research side, I publish in international journals like Well Testing, where my work on Agentic AI provides empirical insights. On the practice side, I work directly with enterprises across industries, which grounds theory in real-world application.
I also collaborate with global think tanks, attend executive education at institutions like Harvard and Carnegie Mellon, and actively mentor leaders stepping into AI-driven roles such as Chief AI Officer. This mix of scholarship and practice keeps me ahead of the curve.
What message would you like to share with decision-makers who want to future-proof their business with AI?
AI is no longer optional, it’s existential. My message is, become AI literate and agentic in your approach. Understand not just what AI can do but what it should do for your organization.
Executives who master this mindset will drive growth, resilience, and trust. Those who don’t risk falling behind as AI-driven competitors capture market share. The time to act is now, with frameworks that balance innovation with ethical governance.
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