The Future of Engineering Leadership
Raji Arasu
CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER AUTODESK
AI is reshaping engineering faster than any shift we’ve seen before. Teams are becoming smaller, cycles are accelerating, and leaders are being challenged to adapt in real time. The future of engineering leadership isn’t about managing bigger organizations—it’s about leading smarter, leaner ones. Success will come from inspiring agility, empowering small teams to deliver outsized impact, and creating clarity amidst constant change.
We will dig into the tough questions: How do you upskill yourself and your teams to stay ahead of AI? How do you manage fear of job displacement while keeping morale strong? And what distinctly human skills - empathy, judgment, and trust-building - will matter most when machines are doing more of the work? The next era of engineering leadership belongs to those who can do more with less, while building cultures of trust, resilience, and excellence.
Raji Arasu
CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER AUTODESK
Raji Arasu is Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer at Autodesk, where she drives the company’s technology strategy and platform initiatives that power Autodesk’s industry clouds. She leads cross-industry capabilities—including Data, AI, Trust, and other shared platform services—and oversees research which includes development of AI foundation models that are transforming 3D design and make. Raji also leads Autodesk’s ecosystem strategy, which includes a vibrant Marketplace of third-party and partner-built apps that help customers extend and automate their workflows.
With over 30 years in technology leadership at Intuit, StubHub, and eBay, Raji has steered global teams through major platform transformations in payments, fintech, and eCommerce. She has served on public boards since 2015 and currently sits on the board of MediaAlpha, as well as the advisory board of the CTO Forum.
A passionate advocate for diversity in tech and STEM education, Raji holds a degree in Computer Engineering from Savitribai Phule Pune University, India.