Saira Jesani

Saira Jesani is the Deputy Executive Director of the Data & Trust Alliance, a coalition of 25 leading organizations including American Express, CVS Health, Humana, IBM, Nike, UPS, and Walmart. For the past two years, Saira has shepherded the design of new tools to increase the responsible use of data and AI—from Algorithmic Bias Safeguards to Responsible Data and AI Diligence.

In addition to the Alliance, Saira is a Partner at SYPartners, a transformation consultancy. For 10 years, she has worked with CEOs and their teams to envision and design new futures. For example, she worked alongside the Pfizer CEO to envision a new purpose, strategy, and values-oriented cultural transformation that buoyed them through the pandemic.

Saira has a background in science journalism. She received her B.S. in Microbiology and Immunology from McGill University and has since lectured at the Yale School of Management and Parsons School of Design. Born in Kenya, she’s spent much of her life in Africa and the Middle East before moving to New York City.