Professor Christian Farioli Interview
Professor Christian Farioli, AI professor, bestselling author, and CEO of ESD Dubai, has set a bold mission to train 100,000 AI-powered professionals by 2027. With experience speaking at over 130 global conferences, including NASA, Google, and the World Economic Forum, he is dedicated to democratizing AI education and empowering leaders worldwide to embrace digital transformation with confidence.
The Mission behind Training 100K AI Leaders
We started the interview by asking, “Professor Christian, you’ve set a bold mission to train 100K AI-superpowered professionals by 2027. What inspired this goal?”
Professor Christian Farioli replied, “This mission didn’t come from a boardroom—it came from the heart.
It was born the moment I saw professionals—brilliant minds, passionate leaders—freeze in the face of AI. Not because they lacked intelligence, but because they lacked access. They were overwhelmed, uncertain, even afraid. I’ve looked into the eyes of marketers, CEOs, doctors, educators… and seen both excitement and fear. And I realized: we are at a historic crossroads.
AI is no longer a distant technology—it’s becoming the very fabric of how we live, work, and make decisions. But what happens if only a few understand how to use it? What happens to the rest?
That thought… terrified me.
I don’t want a world where opportunity belongs only to the tech elite. I want a world where the teacher, the small business owner, the corporate leader—all have the tools to thrive in the age of AI. Where a woman in Cairo, a student in Manila, a banker in Italy can stand shoulder to shoulder with Silicon Valley.
That’s why 100,000 isn’t just a number. It’s a movement. A ripple effect. If each person I train influences just 10 more, we create a million shifts in thinking. A million empowered voices. A million futures changed.
This mission is my way of giving back. Of using every stage I stand on, every workshop I lead, every keynote I deliver—to spark something real. Something that says: “You’re not too late. You’re not too small. You can lead this revolution.”
Because I believe the future of AI is not just in machines—it’s in us.”
Speaking at NASA, Google, and WEF
The Arab Today: You’ve trained and spoken at 130+ conferences including Google, NASA, and WEF. Which moment stands out most in your speaking career?
Professor Christian Farioli replied, “Every stage has its own magic, but one moment that truly stands out was speaking at a NASA event. Imagine being in a room with some of the brightest minds on the planet—people who literally dream beyond Earth! The challenge was to make AI and digital strategy relevant to them, and when I saw their eyes light up with curiosity, I knew I had sparked something.
Another unforgettable experience was at the World Economic Forum. Picture global decision-makers, pens in hand, taking notes on how AI could impact not just business, but humanity. That moment reminded me that transformation doesn’t always start in a lab—it can begin with a single, well-timed insight.
And perhaps the most heartwarming highlights? They happen right after the speeches. So many times, executives and professionals have come up to me and said, “This has been the best speech I’ve heard in my entire career.” That fills me with pride and joy. It’s humbling. It’s fuel. It’s what keeps me going—knowing that these moments of connection, inspiration, and transformation can ignite real change.”
Balancing Leadership with Global Education
Arab Today: You’re the CEO of ESD Dubai, a leading marketing agency. How do you balance running an agency with your mission as an educator and speaker
Professor Christian Farioli replied, “Balance is always a dance between passion and discipline. But luckily, I’m not alone—I have an amazing team at ESD, including brilliant division heads who help me steer the ship. Their dedication and expertise allow me to step back from day-to-day operations when needed and focus on the bigger mission: educating and empowering professionals around the world.
In fact, this strong foundation is what enabled me to open an entirely new division, Agentic AI. It’s dedicated to helping organizations unlock the power of AI in their marketing, operations, and strategy. Running ESD keeps me grounded in real-world challenges, while Agentic AI and my educational work allow me to push the boundaries of what’s possible.
I see my roles as deeply interconnected: the agency keeps me sharp, the stage fuels my purpose, and teaching allows me to multiply impact. When everything aligns with a common mission—transforming how people and businesses grow through digital and AI—balance isn’t just possible, it becomes energizing.”
Simplifying AI for Executives
The Arab Today: How do you simplify complex topics like AI and digital transformation for executives who may not have a technical background?
Professor Christian Farioli replied, “The key is storytelling. Executives don’t need to understand algorithms—they need to understand outcomes. I use metaphors, business cases, and relatable analogies. For example, instead of explaining deep learning through equations, I might compare it to how a chef experiments with ingredients until discovering the perfect flavor.
And being Italian definitely helps! We naturally speak with our hands, and I love to entertain my audience—so I spice things up with humor and plenty of metaphors involving pizza, pasta, and tiramisù! I might explain data training as making the perfect dough: the ingredients (data) must be clean and balanced, or the whole pizza (AI model) flops. That’s when people lean in, laugh, and most importantly—get it.
I also believe in interactive learning. I ask executives to apply concepts right away to their own business context. This bridges the gap between theory and practice. My goal isn’t to turn them into data scientists—it’s to make them confident, AI-powered leaders who ask the right questions and lead with vision in a digital-first world.”
Professor Christian’s Unique Approach
The Arab Today: Many leaders describe you as a “creative digital genius” and “thought leader.” What qualities do you think make your approach unique?
Professor Christian Farioli replied, “I believe my uniqueness lies in the ability to blend depth with simplicity. I’ve spent years mastering digital strategy, AI, and marketing—but I never present them as intimidating or overly technical. Instead, I break them down into clear, actionable insights people can use immediately. That’s where the transformation begins.
But let’s be honest—part of it is also in my DNA. I come from Italy, the land of creative geniuses! From Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo to today’s legends in cinema—Fellini, Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Stallone, DiCaprio—we’re wired for storytelling, imagination, and bold expression. It runs through our veins, whether it’s fashion with Armani, Versace, Prada, Gucci, Ferragamo, Zegna, Valentino, Dolce & Gabbana, Loro Piana… or engines that roar with Ferrari, Lamborghini, Bugatti, Ducati, Maserati, Pininfarina.
And it doesn’t stop there—Italian genius sings in the voices of Pavarotti and Andrea Bocelli, and echoes through icons like Frank Sinatra, Bon Jovi, Springsteen, Lady Gaga, Madonna, and Ariana Grande, many of whom share Italian roots. We lead in luxury—Bulgari, Panerai, Bottega Veneta, Fendi—and in the yacht world with masterpieces like Azimut, Pershing, Riva, Benetti, and Ferretti.
Creativity, for me, isn’t a tactic—it’s a way of living and thinking. I approach every client, every speech, every campaign with fresh eyes and a tailor-made strategy. And I lead with passion. Because people don’t just remember data—they remember how you made them feel. When they feel inspired, they act. That’s the magic I try to create every time I step on stage or into a boardroom.”
AI Adoption Mistakes
The Arab Today: You’ve worked with world-class brands across industries. What’s one common mistake organizations make when it comes to AI adoption?
Professor Christian Farioli replied, “The biggest mistake I see is treating AI as a tech project instead of a strategic transformation. Too often, companies rush to buy AI tools because they feel pressure to “do something with AI.” They install the software… and then nothing changes. Why? Because they haven’t aligned AI with their business goals, culture, or people.
They forget that AI doesn’t run the business—people using AI do.
They also underestimate the importance of data quality. AI is like a Ferrari: it can perform brilliantly, but if you fuel it with low-quality data, it will stall. Many organizations still operate in silos with fragmented, inconsistent data that undermines AI performance.
Here’s a smart tip to avoid these pitfalls:
Before choosing a tool, choose a question.
Ask: “What decisions do we want AI to improve?” Start there. Reverse-engineer the solution. This creates alignment between leadership, tech teams, and users. And it turns AI from a buzzword into a business accelerator.
Also, appoint an “AI Translator” inside the organization—someone who understands both business strategy and AI capabilities. This role ensures that AI initiatives aren’t lost in translation between the data scientists and the C-suite.
The organizations that win with AI? They treat it not as magic, but as a multiplier—one that only works when strategy, systems, and people evolve together.”
What’s next for AI
Lastly we asked, “Looking ahead, what excites you most about the future of AI and digital transformation?”
“What excites me most is not the technology itself—but what it awakens in us as humans.
We are standing at the dawn of a new renaissance, one where machines no longer compete with us, but collaborate with us. I imagine a world where professionals aren’t drowning in spreadsheets or mundane reports, but finally have the space to breathe, to think strategically, to be human again. Where a young entrepreneur in a remote village has the same access to insights and innovation as a CEO in a glass tower in New York or Dubai.
AI gives us time. It gives us clarity. But most importantly, it gives us possibility.
Picture a doctor in a rural clinic using AI to diagnose rare diseases in minutes. A teacher creating personalized learning paths for every student. A small artisan business using AI-powered ads to reach millions. This is not science fiction—it’s already happening. And that gives me goosebumps.
I’m also deeply moved by AI’s potential to solve global challenges—from climate modeling to medical research to sustainable urban planning. But the true magic happens when humans and AI co-create. When we use technology not to replace our humanity, but to amplify it.
That’s why I’m so passionate about training 100,000 professionals by 2027. Because the future won’t be written by algorithms alone—it will be shaped by people who know how to ask the right questions, who lead with heart, and who dare to imagine a better world with AI as their ally.
The transformation we’re witnessing is not just digital—it’s deeply personal, deeply human. And I can’t wait to see what we create together.” Professor Christian Farioli concluded
Connect with Professor Christian Farioli on LinkedIn
For more information visit ESD Dubai
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