Athena Peppes, AI speaker, adviser and author of AI-Q

Athena helps senior leaders close the gap between AI investment and returns

I am an economist and futurist, passionate about helping senior leaders adapt their leadership for the human + AI era.

My book, AI-Q: The New Leadership Imperative for the Human+AI Era (Practical Inspiration Publishing), is out in January 2027, and sets out how you can build the Mindsets, Abilities and Practices to lead with confidence.

Whether it is advisory work, writing or speaking, the theme that excites me is the same:

how AI and other emerging technologies are reshaping the future of work, leadership, and our economies.

I am a Director at Beacon Thought Leadership, a thought-leadership advisory firm, where I specialise in AI economic research, and Head of AI Research at BossUp.AI, a startup pioneering benchmarks for AI readiness. I am a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (RSA) and hold an MSc in Economics from the University of York. I live in London with my husband and son.

You can find a bit more about my advisory and speaking experience below or download the one-page bio.

Advisory

More than 15 years of experience advising senior executives on emerging trends across industries including automotive, insurance, consumer goods, energy, consulting and government.
Spent over a decade at Accenture, advising Fortune 500 companies and public institutions.
Co-founded Accenture’s Business Futures workshop approach used at innovation hubs, inspiring executive teams into action and led to strategy engagements of at least $30m and helped a semiconductor company triple its revenue and profitability.
Contributed to 50+ reports, articles and points of views on topics related to the future of business.
Featured insights at global forums including the World Economic Forum, B20, W20, IBEC and the CBI.
Published in outlets including MIT Sloan Management Review, Harvard Business Review, Rotman Magazine, Thunderbird International Business Review and The European Business Review.

Speaking

Speaking engagements at international conferences and leadership forums, including:
- SXSW
- Global Marketing Summit
- KIMRA Conference
- The Forward Institute
- Rialto Board Briefings
Audiences have included senior leaders from organizations such as BCG, BT, Bupa, Centrica, EY, Fortnum & Mason, Microsoft, Nationwide, Primark, Virgin, the UK Space Agency, and government departments.
Regular radio and business podcast guest, exploring what AI and emerging technologies really mean for everyday life and business.

AI-Q book

Advisory

Speaking

“A standout theme in AI-Q is the widening gap between access to AI tools and true understanding of those tool among senior leaders, who must nonetheless oversee their use.

I found especially valuable its call to treat scepticism as a strength rather than resistance, encouraging leaders to rigorously test vendor claims against real business needs.”

Oxana Kozliouk, Chief Risk Officer, United Bank for Africa (UK) Lrd

“I was pleased to contribute to this book. Athena brings together research, practical frameworks, and insights from experts across different industries to help leaders navigate the opportunities and challenges of the Human+AI era.

If you are interested in AI, leadership, organisational readiness, or how to turn AI investments into meaningful outcomes, this book is well worth adding to your reading list.”

Thomas Baumgartner, Chief Finacial Officer, Voestalpine Metsec Plc

“Athena is a forward thinker, who is able to translate complex ideas into accessible and relevant insights for business.”

Jess Majekodunmi, Managing Director, Accenture

“Smart, commercially grounded and genuinely engaging.

Highly recommend booking her for events, leadership teams or company sessions if you want someone who can make people properly think.”

Paul Armstrong, CEO, TBD Group and TBD Conference

“Athena was a fabulous conference Chair for KIMRA Conference. Athena is a talented insight professional able to understand and articulate how complex technology megatrends may impact across a range of nuanced topics.”

Simon Burton, Managing Director, KIMRA Conference

“Executives and decision makers will breathe a sigh of relief from the first page of this much-needed book, which offers actionable insights and practice advice to deliver measurable value across organizations in the age of AI”

Dr. Stephanie Hare, Host of BBC AI Decoded, Author of "Technology is not neutral: A short guide to technology ethics"

“We asked Athena to speak at our AI event for financial services leaders based on her invaluable insights from interviewing leaders for her book. She was outstanding at sharing relevant stories and shifting perspectives on the role we play as humans in the advancement and adoption of AI.”

Andy Ayim MBE, "AI, Humans and the Future of Financial Services" host