Jeffrey Saviano Keynote Speaker

Harvard Safra Ethics Center, AI Governance and Ethics Appointment
MIT Research Affiliate and Connection Science Senior Fellow
Retired EY Emerging Technology Strategy, Governance, and Ethics Leader

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Jeffrey Saviano's Biography

Jeffrey Saviano is a globally respected keynote speaker and a leading authority on the responsible use of artificial intelligence, emerging technology strategy and governance, and innovation. Having recently retired from a distinguished 30+ year career at Ernst & Young (EY)—most recently as EY’s Emerging Technology Strategy & Governance Leader—Jeff now brings his deep expertise and dynamic presence to stages around the world.

Jeff’s keynote talks are designed for corporate boards, C-suite executives, and global audiences seeking clarity and inspiration in a rapidly evolving technological landscape. Since 2023, he has advised more than 100 corporate boards and senior leadership teams on AI governance, risk, and strategy— making him one of the most experienced experts in the world on boardroom-level AI oversight.

Throughout his career, Jeff built and commercialized over 25 tech-enabled businesses, generating more than $400 million in annuity revenue. He played a central role in shaping EY’s $11B global Tax & Law innovation strategy and served as CEO of its $500M Indirect Tax Practice. He also led the EY Advanced Technology Lab in Cambridge and co-founded The Prosperity Collaborative, a partnership with MIT, the World Bank, and NGOs focused on leveraging technology to improve government systems.

Now an academic thought leader, Jeff holds appointments at Harvard University, MIT, and Boston University School of Law. At Harvard’s Safra Center for Ethics, he leads research on AI governance and business ethics. At MIT, he is a Senior Fellow with Connection Science and Research Affiliate, and at BU Law, he teaches Innovation, Technology, and the Law.

Jeff’s insights have been featured at TEDx, the World Economic Forum, the United Nations, Nasdaq, U.S. Congressional Roundtables, and major executive forums across industries. As the founder and host of the Better Innovation podcast, he has conducted 100+ interviews with visionary leaders across sectors. His May 2024 Fortune Op-Ed called on corporate boards to take a bold, proactive role in governing AI.

Jeff holds an LL.M. in Taxation (BU Law, 1998), a JD (Syracuse University College of Law, 1992), and a BBA in Accounting (Iona University, 1989). He has also completed executive programs in AI and Blockchain (MIT), Leadership (Northwestern University), and Strategic Leadership & the Journey to the Boardroom (Harvard University).

Whether speaking on the promise and peril of AI, the role of corporate governance in emerging tech, or how innovation can be ethically harnessed for global good, Jeff’s keynotes deliver thought-provoking frameworks, actionable insights, and memorable moments that move audiences to lead with confidence and purpose.

AI as a Central Focus

AI is the current centerpiece of Jeffrey Saviano's keynotes and other presentations. Most talks are tailored to senior business leaders, including corporate boards and C-suite executives, but he also frequently presents to cross-functional and sector-specific audiences. He typically structures his AI-focused keynotes around five core pillars—often referred to as the "Big 5" AI Topics:

‣ Strategy. Best practices for developing a comprehensive enterprise AI strategy that moves beyond isolated use cases toward a structured, outcome-driven roadmap.

‣ Applications. Sector-specific or audience-specific use cases. For example, in a recent keynote for ~50 insurance CEOs, board directors, and C-suite execs, he focused on high-impact applications tailored to the insurance space.

‣ Risks. Many AI presentations underplay risk. Saviano emphasizes both enterprise and societal risks associated with AI systems, drawing from practical examples and real-world implications.

‣ Governance. His deepest area of expertise and the subject of his appointments at Harvard and MIT. He presents empirical research and AI governance frameworks tailored for boards and senior executives, with a focus on oversight responsibilities and best practices.

‣ Ethics. A core focus of Jeffrey's Harvard research team. He shares models for ethically aligned AI governance and strategy, with a focus on sectors like healthcare and financial services; presents strategies to embed responsible AI principles into operations and culture.

Additional AI-Focused Presentation Topics & Audiences

Sector-Specific Presentations. Tailored sessions for executives in healthcare, biotech, insurance, transportation, financial services, energy, entertainment, industrials, legal and tax, government, nonprofit, and more.

‣ AI for the Legal Sector. Jeffrey Saviano teaches a course on the future of law at Boston University School of Law, focusing on how AI and other emerging technologies are transforming legal practice. He frequently speaks to law firms, in-house counsel, and professional associations.