Naveen Athresh delivered a forward-thinking session on the intersection of artificial intelligence and business. He highlighted how AI is transforming traditional business models and creating new avenues for innovation. Naveen encouraged future managers to adopt a tech-first mindset, explaining how understanding AI can offer a competitive edge. From real-world case studies to the basics of leveraging AI tools in strategy, marketing, and operations, his session was both enlightening and practical. He closed with advice on how management students can build AI literacy and identify startup or career paths in this fast-growing sector. Meet Naveen Athreesh, is a seasoned AI entrepreneur and two-time startup founder with a track record of scaling tech ventures from the ground up to over $25 million in annual revenue. With deep expertise in building SaaS products for global markets, Naveen has led high-impact initiatives across companies like Rakuten, Flipkart, and eBay—shaping user experiences, driving innovation in competitive intelligence, and spearheading global compliance transformations. He began his entrepreneurial journey as employee #1 at IDrive.com, growing it into a thriving business. He is passionate TEDx and campus speaker, he has inspired over 25,000 students across premier institutes like IIMs and IITs on startup building, AI/ML, and product thinking. Naveen brings a rare blend of vision, execution, and humility to every stage he steps on. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx