Mastermind Henna Karna: A Tech Titan, Leading the Digital Transformation Charge Across Industries
Women are smashing through barriers and leaving their mark on the ever-evolving digital landscape. The number of females leading the tech workforce has improved by 19.5% compared to the past few years. Among these inspiring trailblazers, Dr. Henna Karna shines as an exceptional individual, emerging as a prominent figure in the world of digital transformation.
Hailing from Bihar, India, Henna is a tireless advocate for positive change and a strong believer in the power of technology to create a lasting impact on society. Her journey has been fueled by a passion to give back and leverage cutting-edge technological advancements for the betterment of humanity.
With a wealth of experience in technology and risk management, Henna’s career is distinguished by remarkable accomplishments and a steadfast commitment to innovative problem-solving. Her publications in cognitive science and mathematics underscore her dedication to transformation and groundbreaking ideas, pushing businesses toward uncharted frontiers.
Most recently, Henna was the General Manager and Global head of Industry Solutions Insurance at Google Cloud. She led the global strategy, product roadmap, and go-to-market approach for the insurance and risk management industry. Her leadership led to several research white papers, Fortune 50 lighthouse customers, and a trajectory of profitable growth for her vertical. Previously, as the Executive Vice President and Global Chief Data Officer at AXA XL, a vital division of the global commercial insurance powerhouse AXA, Henna led the charge in spearheading the digital transformation within the company. AXA XL, with over 165,934 employees and a staggering revenue of $147.9 billion, operates in property and casualty, specialty risk, along with risk management and consulting, making it a major industry player.
Guided by her visionary approach, Henna led a dedicated team of hundreds professionals across a dozen countries to design and execute AXA XL’s digital and data strategy. This involved strategic planning, seamless execution, and continuous business evolution. She created the first set of business architecture roles that were game changing in the firm and proved to be a trend worthwhile for the industry to leverage. Henna redesigned the operating model, talent strategy and performance model within her division in a very unique way. She also led the design of a new product development process, called Digital Design Workflow, which was based off of her Systems Dynamics and Operational Management courses from her MBA at MIT. A life-long student, Henna continues to apply academic research and commercial experiences to bridge the gap between the art of the possible.
Under Henna’s direction, AXA XL underwent a profound transformation, embracing talent development initiatives, digital-driven strategies, and operational efficiency measures, all while meticulously monitoring their impact. Her division won several industry awards, including the prestigious CELENT Innovation Award.
Prior to AXA, Henna also led the design and build of patented technology at Verisk Analytics. By harnessing cutting-edge technologies such as AI, ML, and NLP, Henna led Verisk Digital Services, a subsidiary of Verisk Analytics to make data-driven decisions, yielding significant returns on equity (ROE). Advanced data analytics provided valuable insights into customers, risks, and market trends, enabling the company to craft innovative products and services tailored to their clients’ evolving needs.
The results were transformative in every firm: Google Cloud open sourced its first-ever Insurance Industry Solutions; AXA XL achieved unprecedented operational efficiency, substantial cost reduction, and measurable and enhanced customer satisfaction, solidifying its status as a market leader; and Verisk Analytics became one of the first companies to build a platform for a digital ecosystem.
Henna’s visionary leadership, diversity-at-core team values, and deep understanding of technology have been the driving forces behind her firm commitment to business growth and fostering a culture of innovation. Time and time again, her instrumental role in reshaping the companies she works for to an optimal digital ecosystem demonstrates her prowess as a tech titan.
With a track record of doubling the value of every company she joins, Henna’s expertise and experience make her a force to be reckoned with in the corporate realm. Don’t miss the chance to be inspired by Henna Karna‘s spirit and her commitment to making a difference in the world of technology and beyond.
