When envisioning the architects of our technological future, one name that stands out is Ariba Jahan. With her roots in New York City and Bangladesh, she’s reshaping the role of responsible innovation in emerging technology. Ariba is an innovation leader and a catalyst for change within her teams, organizations, and industry.
Leading with Impact
As the Vice President of Product Experience and Innovation at the Ad Council, Ariba has spearheaded the implementation of their ground-breaking design innovation practice. She has introduced human-centered design, lean UX, sprints, and other creative approaches to transform the organization’s work.
Her dedication to innovation is unmatched, training 90% of the organization in design innovation and shaping product strategy to ensure digital products and experiences are designed with the audience’s needs in mind. From Mental Health to Teen Bullying Prevention, Love Has No Labels, Embrace Refugees, and Saving for Retirement, Ariba champions approaches that create products with positive impact. She has also led co-creations and workshops for organizational initiatives for transformation, infusing new ways of thinking to shape diversity, equity, and inclusion commitments and exploring agile working methods.
In her most recent role at the Ad Council, she co-led explorations and activations that connect people to Ad Council causes in the emerging media and technology ecosystem.
Ariba’s vision extends beyond the Ad Council; her initiatives span various domains. Ariba led the NY Chapter of Women In Innovation for two years, nurturing a team of women and spearheading innovation activities in NY while collaborating with global leaders on strategy. She is also an adjunct faculty at Parsons School of Design, an advisor for All Tech Is Human, a board member of Asians in Advertising, and serves on the Emeritus Council for Women in Innovation. In addition, she launched her podcast, Up Next In Tech with Ariba Jahan, to facilitate dialogues around emerging tech and responsible innovation.
Innovating with Purpose
Through her work at the Ad Council, Ariba has harnessed the power of immersive experiences and Web3 to raise awareness for social causes, inspire action, and accelerate change.
She shares: “To celebrate Pride this year, the Ad Council extended the ‘Love Has No Labels’ (LHNL) messages to Decentraland in partnership with Polygonal Mind, integrating multiple educational gamified experiences where players can learn about LGBTQ+ community history and how to be an ally. Users could engage with these experiences throughout the Metaverse Pride event to unlock the chance to win virtual LHNL wearables. In addition, we worked with iHeartMedia to feature the LHNL campaign content in their Roblox iHeartland experience”.
These incredible partnerships exemplify the transformative potential of emerging technology in fostering inclusivity. Moreover, Ariba collaborated with industry partners and thought leaders in emerging media and technology, hosting events to educate partners on various technology verticals and receiving invaluable guidance that shaped the Ad Council’s work in this space. Ariba immerses herself in the Web3 ethos, actively participating in several Web3 collectives such as Mole Patrol, JUMP, and SheFi to learn, explore, and work alongside others creatively utilizing technology.
Building a Legacy
Inspired to ensure diverse voices join forces to shape our present and future, she hosts the ‘Up Next in Tech’ podcast to create access to conversations breaking down emerging tech and the career paths that lead there. She peels back the curtain through captivating dialogues with leaders who explore the intersection of human interactions, responsible innovation, and technology. Her goal is to remind people that the conversation around technology belongs to everyone and inspire listeners to use technology creatively and responsibly. She hopes her work will play a role in facilitating more diverse representation in leadership positions within emerging technology because she believes progress requires historically marginalized communities to author our shared tomorrow.
From Immigrant to Innovator
“My life story has been a whirlwind of challenges and adventures, but I’m not sure I’d have it any other way,” shares Ariba. As an eight-year-old immigrant from Bangladesh, she faced the daunting task of assimilating to a new culture in the US, dealing with childhood bullying, and being diagnosed with profound deafness in the right ear, which set the tone for her resilience. Watching her mother raise her and her sister by herself, with no family in the US made Ariba the fighter she is today. She says: “My mother battled barriers with grace, grit, and love. She’s truly the embodiment of a true warrior – she endured, persevered, and emerged stronger. I’m hoping she passed that spirit onto me.”
While her journey took her from biomedical engineering to medical school, her passion for innovation guided her toward startups, human-centered design, collective impact, products, and emerging technology. Ariba’s story demonstrates the unstoppable power of perseverance and the incredible potential within each of us.
Innovating for All
Every trailblazer has a guiding principle, a North Star. For Ariba Jahan, it is a profound belief in an inclusive, accessible, and humanity-driven future. Her resounding message is clear: “We have the power to build a future that works for everyone, but it requires us to confront biases and change systems of oppression head-on. It requires us to take action, understanding our role in social justice and responsible innovation.”
But this isn’t naïve optimism. She’s keenly aware of technology’s double-edged sword, and that technology can’t solve everything. Ariba highlights: “Without care, tech can further marginalize vulnerable groups instead of empowering them.” But with guidance from collectives and communities, technology can be a tool and facilitator of intentional progress. And for her, this is not just about moving forward; it’s about ensuring everyone is part of that trajectory. She stresses that “progress in tech cannot compromise human safety, privacy, autonomy or dignity.”
Shaping the Path for Women in Tech
Ariba is acutely aware of women’s systemic challenges in the tech world. She identifies the gender pay gap and gender biases as critical issues that must be addressed. To combat these, she suggests salary transparency policies, regular pay audits, accountability to equitable pay, and parental leave policies are a great starting place. But Ariba believes that we must dismantle the entrenched patriarchy to create a more inclusive and intersectional tech landscape.
Through community, Ariba found strength. She emphasizes: “Dreams are not achieved in isolation. When we connect and hold space for each other, conversations are filled with vulnerability, support, and the freedom to explore our aspirations.” Through community, she discovered the momentum that propelled her forward. Today, she aims to elevate the voices of people of color and people with disabilities, firmly believing in the power of collective strength and belonging.
A Message for the World
Amidst the noisy chaos of technical advances, Ariba’s message rings out clearly and purposefully: “Innovate responsibly for a tech future for all.” Ariba is more than just a tech innovator; she’s a beacon of hope, showcasing how tenacity, vision, and community can craft a better tomorrow. Her story is proof of the boundless potential that emerges when we blend technology with heart, vision, responsibility and purpose.
