Azita Arvani is a global business and technology executive known for turning emerging technologies into engines of commercial growth and large-scale transformation. As former CEO of Rakuten Symphony North America, she helped bring cloud-native, open network architectures to market across the Americas and became a leading voice on how AI, software, and connectivity are reshaping the communications landscape.

Her leadership spans operating roles, board service, and strategic advisory work. Azita currently serves as an independent director at Tennant Company and brings a board-level lens to innovation, governance, and long-range strategy. Through Arvani Group, she advises organizations navigating AI-led transformation, ecosystem partnerships, and new growth opportunities across high-tech and connectivity markets.

Azita’s career has crossed startups, scale-ups, and global enterprises, including leadership roles connected to Nokia, Rakuten, DOCOMO, and Microsoft. She is equally comfortable shaping strategy, opening new markets, building partnerships, and translating technical change into business outcomes. That mix of operating depth and market vision has made her a sought-after speaker on AI, automation, cloud, and the future of digital infrastructure.

Her current affiliations reflect that broader platform. She serves as Senior Fellow and Executive in Residence at the Center for the Future of Organization at the Drucker School, advises Rockfish.ai, is a member of the WSJ Board of Directors Council, and serves on the Advisory Board of Sensors Converge. Together, these roles sit at the intersection of AI, leadership, governance, and emerging technology.

Azita holds a Master of Science in Management from Stanford University (Sloan Fellow), a Master of Science in Computer Science from the University of Southern California, and a Bachelor of Science in Math/Computer Science from the University of California, Los Angeles (Magna Cum Laude). She was recognized as Woman in Tech Leader of the Year in 2023 and continues to work with companies, boards, and industry leaders on the strategic implications of AI and next-generation technology platforms.