Malay A. Upadhyay

Malay A. Upadhyay is a globally recognised AI strategist, business leader and keynote speaker who specialises in artificial intelligence leadership, enterprise transformation and organisational readiness. Widely regarded as one of the leading voices helping organisations navigate the realities of AI adoption, he has built an international reputation for translating complex technological developments into practical business outcomes. Malay currently serves as Chief Operating Officer of SalesChoice, an award-winning AI SaaS and consulting firm, and Board Advisor at the United States Artificial Intelligence Institute (USAII). His recognition as one of Microsoft's MSN Top 10 AI Leaders to Follow in 2026 further cemented his position as a trusted authority on AI leadership and transformation.

Malay's career journey reflects a unique blend of technology, business strategy and leadership development. After completing a degree in Biotechnology Engineering at the Manipal Institute of Technology, he began his professional career as an Associate Software Engineer at Accenture, where he contributed to projects supporting the energy industry. Eager to broaden his commercial expertise, he pursued a Master's degree in Marketing Management at Università Bocconi before earning an MBA from the Smith School of Business at Queen's University. These experiences, combined with international roles across India, Italy, the United Arab Emirates and Canada, provided Malay with a broad understanding of business growth, innovation and organisational change. 

Throughout his career, Malay has become a recognised leader in AI education, governance and transformation. At SalesChoice, he has held several senior leadership positions before becoming Chief Operating Officer, helping organisations across multiple sectors implement AI-driven strategies and digital transformation initiatives. He has trained more than 2,000 senior leaders from organisations including the U.S. Navy, Compass Group Japan, CGI India, Reckitt Europe and Services Australia. Beyond his corporate leadership, Malay played a role in the European AI Alliance, contributing to discussions that helped shape the European Commission's first AI policy in 2019. He is also the creator of the TUSCANE AI Readiness Framework, one of the earliest managerial frameworks designed to assess organisational readiness for AI adoption. A prolific author, he has written four books on artificial intelligence and has been recognised with the Global Icon Award, named among the Most Influential Business Leaders to Watch, featured as one of the Top 10 Pioneering Business Leaders, and highlighted on the cover of Insights Success Magazine.

As a keynote speaker, Malay is valued for his ability to make artificial intelligence accessible, practical and relevant for business audiences. His presentations focus on topics including AI leadership, AI readiness, AI governance, responsible AI adoption, change management, the future of work, AI risk management and AI-powered sales and marketing transformation. His engaging and thought-provoking presentations equip audiences with the tools needed to lead successful transformation initiatives, making him an outstanding choice for conferences, corporate events and leadership forums seeking expert insight into one of the most important business challenges of the modern era.