Akansha Saxena

Sr Director, Business Aligned Data Science, Global Commercial Analytics at Pfizer

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On their agenda

Three priorities, mapped against profiled leaders

Saxena prioritizes deploying practical AI/ML solutions to address complex business challenges and extract data-driven narrative insights. Her operational priorities emphasize balancing strategic leadership with hands-on programming skills

AI strategy

Establishing high-impact data infrastructure (B-CIDS framework)

Data platforms

And driving cross-functional alignment between engineering and business units.

AI strategy Digital transformation Operational efficiency Analytics & decisions Talent & culture Growth & partnerships Data platforms Data governance Customer experience

Source: 734 The CIO Room leader profiles with at least one priority theme, from 742 leaders in the series. Share of those leaders in each theme; leaders may have multiple themes. Yellow marks Akansha's saved themes.

In the room

CIO Vision Chicago 2026

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Chicago · 21 Aug 2026

On film

10:00–10:30 CT · Panel

Beyond the Business Case: When Does AI Investment Actually Pay Off?

Every senior leader is under pressure to show that AI spend translates to business value, but the path from investment to measurable outcomes is rarely linear. This panel brings together executives to share unfiltered perspectives on how they are defining, measuring, and communicating success for AI at the enterprise level, holding their organizations accountable to results, and making the tough call on when to double down, pivot, or walk away. From navigating board expectations and financial scrutiny to recalibrating strategy when pilots don't deliver, panelists will discuss what it genuinely takes to turn AI ambition into sustained competitive advantage. This is not a conversation about technology. It is about leadership, accountability, and the strategic choices that separate AI leaders from AI laggards.

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As Pharmaceutical Commercial Analytics and AI Leader at Pfizer, Akansha Saxena leads global analytics teams

About

<p>Akansha Saxena, PhD, is a Data Science and AI leader with extensive experience applying advanced analytics, machine learning, and AI across the pharmaceutical industry. She currently leads a Data Science team at Pfizer working at the intersection of AI and commercial strategy, building AI-powered analytics capabilities that enable smarter, faster, and more human-centered healthcare commercialization decisions.</p><p>Across leadership roles at Pfizer, AbbVie, and Astellas, Akansha has built and scaled multidisciplinary data science teams and led transformations spanning commercial strategy, forecasting, real-world evidence, and customer engagement. She has shaped and executed multi-year AI roadmaps, with a focus on translating advances in ML/AI into scalable enterprise capabilities that transform decision-making and deliver measurable business impact.</p>

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