Maryam Daryabegi
AI & Leadership Strategy Expert
Executive Advisor to Senior Leaders
Human-Centered Innovation
MIT Sloan & Columbia Executive Educator
Forbes & HBR Contributor
International Speaker
Learn about Maryam
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I partner with C-suite leaders to future-proof their organizations by transforming disruption into opportunities for profit, productivity, and purpose. My expertise lies in merging cutting-edge AI with human-centered leadership to drive revenue growth, operational efficiency, and enduring cultural resilience.
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Why Work With Me?
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For Senior Leaders: I turn AI into your leadership advantage—replacing uncertainty with strategic clarity, fostering data-driven empathy, and building teams that thrive in complexity.
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For Organizations: I deliver measurable outcomes: 30%+ customer engagement lifts, 20-50% productivity spikes, and AI-powered revenue streams that outpace competitors.
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My Approach
I collaborate directly with teams to:
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Scale Smart: Help companies use AI in a way that supports their people and culture.
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Lead with Balance: Train leaders to combine data insights with empathy for faster, better decisions.
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Build Fast: Partner with teams to launch real AI tools in 12 weeks, not 12 months.
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Industries Transformed
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Retail/CPG: Leadership development initiatives fostering high-performing teams and enhancing employee engagement, resulting in a +42% increase in repeat sales.
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Financial Services: Leadership development programs boosting employee engagement and improving retention across top financial institutions.
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Hospitality: Workforce AI tools reducing turnover by 35%.
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Proven Authority
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Global AI Educator: Trained 15K+ executives at Fortune 500 firms and top institutions (MIT, Columbia) in ethical, culture-smart AI leadership.
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Borderless Influencer: 20+ keynotes; Forbes & HBR contributor; frameworks used from Silicon Valley to emerging markets.
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Cultural Architect: Built transformation programs that respect local values—scaling AI without sacrificing trust.
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What Clients Say
“She makes leadership development actionable. Our team engagement and performance improved significantly.”
— COO, Leading Retail Group​
“Reimagined how we lead with technology—always putting people first.”
— CEO, Fintech Scale-Up
Let’s Build Your Future-Ready Workforce
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I partner with leaders who are ready to:
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Foster high-performing teams and enhance employee engagement.
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Future-proof their workforce through leadership development.
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Lead with both innovation and authenticity.
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Whether we’re refining your leadership strategy, upskilling your teams, or coaching your C-suite—let’s turn your workforce potential into measurable success.
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👉 Let’s connect: maryam@innovationbazar.com
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Expertise
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AI & Leadership Strategy: Transforming AI from a technical tool into a strategic leadership asset, enabling organizations to navigate complexity with clarity and confidence.
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Executive Coaching & Advisory: Guiding senior leaders to integrate AI into their decision-making processes, fostering data-driven empathy and agile leadership.
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Human-Centered Innovation: Designing solutions that align technological advancements with human values, ensuring sustainable and inclusive growth.
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Organizational Transformation: Leading cross-functional initiatives that drive cultural change, enhance employee engagement, and improve operational efficiency.
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Global Thought Leadership: Contributing to leading publications and speaking at international forums to share insights on AI, leadership, and innovation.

What sets Maryam apart?
Maryam is a global innovator who seamlessly integrates strategy, design, and technology to drive transformative change across industries. With over 20 years of experience spanning four continents, she has partnered with organizations in banking, technology, retail, and more to spearhead digital transformation and innovation initiatives.
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Fluent in multiple languages and cultures, Maryam brings a unique perspective that enables her to navigate complex challenges with creativity and precision. Her empathetic leadership style fosters deep connections with clients, breaking down silos and accelerating decision-making to achieve meaningful outcomes.
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As the founder of Innovation Bazar, Maryam has led AI-driven initiatives that enhance customer experiences and optimize operations for top-tier companies . Her expertise in designing AI-powered, human-centered solutions helps organizations unlock new revenue streams, improve customer engagement, and stay ahead of market disruptions.
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In addition to her consulting work, Maryam is a respected academic, teaching courses on innovation, technology strategy, entrepreneurship, and leadership at institutions such as MIT Sloan, Columbia University, and Stevens Institute of Technology . She is also a member of the Harvard Business Review Advisory Council and the Forbes Coaches Council, contributing thought leadership on technology management and strategic leadership
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Maryam's approach blends strategic vision with actionable insights, enabling organizations to not only navigate challenges but also seize new opportunities for growth and innovation in an ever-evolving digital landscape.
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Member of
Forbes Coaches Council
Forbes Coaches Council empowers successful and diverse business, leadership, and career coaches to connect, collaborate, publish, and grow.
Members of Forbes Coaches Council are respected professional coaches selected for the council based on their depth of experience and success in the field.
Member of Harvard Business Review Advisory Council
As a new member, I am honored to contribute to such a prestigious community of thought leaders, sharing insights, and shaping the future of HBR content in the areas of innovation, management and leadership.
Forbes
Women 50 > 50 Inaugural Nominee
2021
The 50 Over 50 is a brand-new Forbes list dedicated to women who exemplify the slow burn. It's a list that will highlight women over the age of 50 who have achieved significant success later in life—often by overcoming formidable odds or barriers—and who are shattering age and gender norms.
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Maryam is grateful and honored to be selected from a pool of more than 10,000 nominees for the inaugural Forbes/Know Your Value 50 Over 50 list in April 2021.






Educator Experience
As a global educator and career coach, I design and teach courses in technology foundations, innovation, entrepreneurship, leadership and sustainability.
My teaching approach emphasizes experiential learning methodologies, hands-on projects, real-world problem-solving, and collaborative learning, equipping students with the skills to address the evolving challenges of tomorrow's industries.
Students are empowered to integrate 1 to 3 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into their group projects, designing innovative products and services that drive global impact while delivering sustainable profitability.
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Associate Professor, Columbia University
Teach a graduate course in Technology Foundations course to an executive cohort in a hybrid model at Columbia University’s Executive Master of Science in Technology Management
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Adjunct Instructor, Stevens Institute of Technology
Teach 2 project-based undergraduate courses in Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Charles V. Schaefer, Jr. School of Engineering & Science
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Head Program Instructor, MIT Sloan
Lead 2 executive online programs in Digital Business Strategy and Managing the Human Side of Digital Disruption
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Associate Professor, St. Francis College
Instruct courses in Product Design, UX Immersion, UX/UI Design, and Design Thinking
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Adjunct Professor, New York University
Developed and taught a graduate course in Innovation & Entrepreneurship
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Visiting Professor, EGADE Business School
Designed and taught MBA courses in Entrepreneurship, Innovation management, Leadership, and UN SDGs.
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