Rana el Kaliouby

Rana el Kaliouby is an Egyptian-American scientist, entrepreneur, angel investor, author, and AI thought leader dedicated to infusing emotional intelligence into our digital world. She is currently the Deputy CEO at Smart Eye, a global AI company, and was the Co-Founder and former CEO of Affectiva, an MIT spin-off that pioneered Emotion AI. Rana led Affectiva to a successful exit in June 2021 when it was acquired by Smart Eye, where she now focuses on scaling the company globally. Additionally, she is an Executive Fellow at Harvard Business School, where she teaches about AI and startups.

Her bestselling memoir, Girl Decoded: A Scientist’s Quest to Reclaim Our Humanity by Bringing Emotional Intelligence to Technology (Penguin Random House, April 2020), intertwines her personal journey from growing up in the Middle East to becoming an entrepreneur in the United States with her work in Emotion AI.
Rana has raised over $50 million in venture capital to bring Affectiva’s Emotion AI, which leverages deep learning, computer vision, and speech science, to more than 90 countries and various industries, including automotive and media analytics. She has a proven track record of turning technology innovations into products that meet the needs of international markets, with applications in market research, mental health, autism, conversational interfaces, robotics, and education.
Rana is deeply committed to the ethical development and deployment of AI, advocating for standards that ensure data privacy and reduce algorithmic bias. She contributes to industry best practices through organisations like the Partnership on AI and the World Economic Forum’s Council of Young Global Leaders.

As one of the few women leading an AI company, Rana is a passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion in tech. She is actively involved in initiatives like the Boston Steering Committee for All Raise, supporting female founders and funders, and serves on the New England board of the Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO). Rana is also a venture partner at the MIT Media Lab E14 Fund, a Board Member of SIMPEDs at Boston Children’s Hospital, and a Board of Trustees member at the Mass Technology Leadership Council and the American University in Cairo.
A TED speaker and co-host of a PBS NOVA series on AI, Rana has been recognized on Fortune’s 40 Under 40 list and as one of Forbes’ Top 50 Women in Tech. She holds a Ph.D. from the University of Cambridge and completed a post-doctorate at MIT.
 

Rana el Kaliouby is an Egyptian-American scientist, entrepreneur, and AI thought leader, recognised for her pioneering work in emotional artificial intelligence (AI). As Deputy CEO at Smart Eye, she leads efforts to scale the company into a global AI powerhouse. Rana co-founded Affectiva, an MIT Media Lab spin-off that defined the Emotion AI category, which was later acquired by Smart Eye in 2021. She is also an Executive Fellow at Harvard Business School, where she teaches on AI and entrepreneurship.

Rana holds a PhD in Computer Science from the University of Cambridge and completed her postdoctoral research at MIT. She has raised over $50 million in venture capital to advance Emotion AI technology, impacting industries including automotive and media analytics. Passionate about ethical AI, Rana advocates for standards that ensure data privacy and reduce algorithmic bias. She is an active member of industry bodies like the Partnership on AI and the World Economic Forum’s Council of Young Global Leaders.

As an angel investor and venture partner, Rana focuses on supporting diverse teams developing human-centric AI. She is a TED speaker, co-host of a PBS NOVA series on AI, and has been recognised on Fortune’s 40 Under 40 and Forbes’ Top 50 Women in Tech lists.

Rana el Kaliouby has contributed significantly to discussions on technology, leadership, and diversity through various publications. In celebration of International Women’s Day 2021, she shared advice for young female leaders in CEO Insights. She has also reflected on life lessons learned with her son through the Meditative Story podcast in an article for YPO.

Rana's insights into the evolving role of social networking and professional organisations were featured in the Harvard Business Review and YPO publications. Her expertise in artificial intelligence (AI) and the need for diverse voices in AI development was highlighted in the World Economic Forum and BBC Science Focus Magazine.

In her piece for Thrive Global, Rana discussed non-verbal communication while wearing masks during the pandemic. Her perspectives on empathetic leadership during crises have been shared in Inc. and other outlets. Rana has also examined how AI can mitigate ‘Zoom fatigue’ in Fast Company.

Her thoughts on responsible leadership, business continuity, and the future of AI have been featured in YPO, Bizwomen, and World Economic Forum. Through these publications, Rana continues to influence the global conversation on AI, leadership, and technology ethics.

Rana el Kaliouby has received numerous prestigious awards, recognising her contributions to technology and leadership. She was named one of Entrepreneur's 100 Women of Influence in 2022 and has been featured twice in Inc. Magazine's Female Founders 100 list. She has also been recognised as one of the BBC's 100 Women in 2019 and included in Fortune's Most Powerful Women Trailblazers and 40 Under 40 lists. Additionally, Rana has been honoured by Forbes in its AI 50 and America’s Top 50 Women in Tech, as well as by WIRED and Smithsonian Magazine.

Rana el Kaliouby envisions a future where AI enhances human experience through emotional intelligence, fostering connections and well-being. Her goal is to develop technology that supports mental health, productivity, and sustainability while championing ethical practices and diversity, ultimately creating a world where AI serves humanity’s best interests.