Jean Arnaud

Jean Arnaud is AI Program Director at ESMT Berlin Executive Education, where he designs and leads executive education programs focused on artificial intelligence and human-centered AI. His work helps executives understand the strategic, organizational, and leadership implications of AI and supports organizations in building the capabilities needed for AI adoption and organizational transformation.

Before joining ESMT, Jean held leadership roles in innovation and entrepreneurship, including serving as Director of Innovation at the Cambridge Innovation Center (CIC). During his time in the Cambridge innovation ecosystem, he co-founded and served as Chief Innovation Officer of Æthos, an interdisciplinary AI hub based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, within the Harvard and MIT innovation ecosystem and dedicated to the responsible development and governance of artificial intelligence.

In these roles, he advised corporations, startups, investors, universities, and public institutions across Europe and the United States on AI strategy, innovation, and organizational transformation.

Jean is also the co-founder of NOVA, an AI company developing AI research agents for scientific and enterprise applications. NOVA received support from the U.S. National Science Foundation. He previously co-founded OMIA, an educational academy and innovation lab that pioneered live instruction in the metaverse and developed active, collaborative, immersive, and project-based approaches to learning.

His research and professional interests include AI strategy, executive education, innovation management, philosophy, and the societal impact of emerging technologies. He has delivered lectures and keynote presentations at universities, including Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and at international conferences, including SXSW and the World AI Summit.