Dr. Ashish Kakar: Harnessing AI for smarter investment decisions
Dr. Ashish Kakar
Participant of the Global DBA
Advancing research through the Global DBA
Dr. Ashish Kakar’s journey through the Global DBA at emlyon business school and Durham University empowered him to explore the role of artificial intelligence in investment strategies. As a senior executive in digital transformation at Citibank Singapore, he saw the DBA as an opportunity to bridge his industry expertise with rigorous academic research, developing insights with real-world applications.
The Global DBA is a part-time, executive doctoral program that enables senior professionals to integrate academic learning with business practice. Over the course of four to six years, participants engage in research workshops, academic coursework, and independent thesis development, ensuring that each candidate’s work contributes to both their field of expertise and the broader global landscape.
Applying AI to investment decisions
During his DBA research, Dr. Kakar tackled a pressing question in the finance industry: Can a machine learning model assess whether a startup is ready for its next round of funding? Leveraging insights from the Global DBA’s modules on strategic management and research methodologies, he built a model that evaluates factors such as technological uniqueness, patent value, and founder profiles.
The structured approach of the DBA program allowed Dr. Kakar to systematically test and refine his hypothesis, ensuring his research was both academically robust and practically applicable. His work culminated in a data-driven investment strategy that was later used by a US-based accelerator to select 15 pre-seed startups, demonstrating how academic research can directly impact industry practices.
A critical perspective on AI in finance
While his research showcased AI’s potential in investment decision-making, Dr. Kakar maintains a nuanced view: “AI is a double-edged sword. It has great benefits, but I also think it’s overhyped.” The DBA program encouraged him to critically assess the limitations of AI, exploring the conditions under which technology truly enhances decision-making. He argues that AI is most effective when it replaces high-cost resources with low-cost solutions, a perspective shaped by the program’s emphasis on real-world application of research.
Through the Global DBA’s collaborative environment, he was able to engage with faculty and peers from diverse industries, enriching his understanding of AI’s broader implications beyond banking.
Researching the global economic divide
Beyond AI, Dr. Kakar’s research also explored macroeconomic trends, particularly the disconnect between market growth and economic inequality. The Global DBA’s interdisciplinary approach allowed him to investigate how financial systems contribute to widening economic gaps, leading him to question: Why does economic prosperity benefit only a select elite?
This research led him to develop a forthcoming book on the "multispeed economy," a concept he refined throughout the DBA program. His studies highlighted how the structured yet flexible nature of the Global DBA supports professionals in tackling complex global issues from both an academic and business perspective.
A call for sustainable innovation
Dr. Kakar also examined sustainability within the context of economic growth, questioning whether current environmental efforts truly address the long-term challenges of climate change. His DBA research, enriched by the program’s focus on research methodologies and strategic management, helped him frame sustainability as a critical factor in financial decision-making.
His reflections on the environmental impact of electric vehicles, for instance, underscore a key theme of the DBA—how business leaders must incorporate sustainability into their strategic thinking. “If you care about the next generation, you have to be an environmentalist,” he asserts, reinforcing the program’s mission to develop thought leaders who drive meaningful change.
A transformative academic and professional experience
Reflecting on his Global DBA journey, Dr. Kakar acknowledges how the program sharpened his analytical skills, broadened his strategic thinking, and connected him with a global network of professionals.
“This program challenged me to think beyond my industry and apply my expertise in new, impactful ways.”
Today, he continues to push the boundaries of AI-driven investment strategies while advocating for economic and environmental sustainability.
Ready to take your expertise to the next level? Discover the Global DBA at emlyon business school and Durham University.