Fareeda Ahmed

Principal

Innovation leader with 15 years’ experience in launching groundbreaking products and services, focused on using digital as a gateway to connect with new markets and audiences

Education

Stanford Graduate School of Business
Master of Business Administration
Barnard College, Columbia University
Bachelor of Arts

Past Experience

MAG
Head of Innovation Practice
Morgan Stanley
Associate, Internal Strategy & M&A

Fareeda is a Principal based in the US and a member of the firm’s global Telecommunications, Information Technology, Media & Electronics (TIME) practice.

Fareeda is an experienced innovation consultant with a special interest in digital products and services. Her extensive experience with innovators of all sizes has taught her to treat each innovation opportunity as a gateway to remake a client’s future. 

Prior to joining Arthur D. Little, Fareeda led MAG's Innovation practice for 6 years, authoring research on the impact of Gen Z and Millennials on Digital Consumer Media and Products. She has worked with top 5 TV networks and publishers to develop and launch transformational products and services, including a national streaming network. Her client work reflects the multi-faceted nature of innovation, spanning ideation and vision, market entry strategy, and competitor and consumer profiling. 

In addition to media clients, other industries facing digital dilemmas have benefited from Fareeda’s expertise, including leading Financial Services, Aerospace, and Logistics companies. After four years at Morgan Stanley specializing in internal strategy and M&A, Fareeda led Digital Strategy at PureGrowth Consulting, advising on comprehensive brand and product innovation. She currently advises several startups and nonprofits looking to connect with consumers in innovative ways.

Fareeda earned her MBA from Stanford University, including coursework in New Media at Stanford’s Design School. She holds a BA (Summa Cum Laude) from Columbia University.

Recent Publications

Once upon a time in Hollywood
Once upon a time in Hollywood
Much is unclear about the future of non-fungible tokens (NFTs), but one thing remains certain: studios that fail to explore the possibilities of NFTs will miss opportunities for growth, relevance, and engagement. In this Viewpoint, we explore some burning questions: Why are NFTs exploding? Are they a fad, a bubble, or a burgeoning market? What are the risks? What should studios do? What industry-specific applications of NFTs will generate long-term value?
Customer experience drives value in public EV charging
Customer experience drives value in public EV charging
Public electric vehicle (EV) charging is still nascent, as reflected by subpar customer charging experiences. Arthur D. Little (ADL) recently took a deep dive into the public EV charging customer journey, surveying and conducting comprehensive interviews with EV drivers in North America to understand their key pain points. From these challenges arose significant opportunities that players across the ecosystem can seize to improve financial performance and create competitive advantage.
Web3 basics for telecoms & media
Web3 basics for telecoms & media
Web3 is the umbrella term for the next generation of the Internet underpinned by decentralization and token-based economics. Alongside the Metaverse, whose operation it partly enables, Web3 will transform the power structure and way of working of the Internet, providing new opportunities across telecom, media, and other sectors as well as threats to companies that fail to adapt. In this first of a series of Viewpoints on this topic, we provide a brief overview of the Web3 landscape and opportunities.

Fareeda is a Principal based in the US and a member of the firm’s global Telecommunications, Information Technology, Media & Electronics (TIME) practice.

Fareeda is an experienced innovation consultant with a special interest in digital products and services. Her extensive experience with innovators of all sizes has taught her to treat each innovation opportunity as a gateway to remake a client’s future. 

Prior to joining Arthur D. Little, Fareeda led MAG's Innovation practice for 6 years, authoring research on the impact of Gen Z and Millennials on Digital Consumer Media and Products. She has worked with top 5 TV networks and publishers to develop and launch transformational products and services, including a national streaming network. Her client work reflects the multi-faceted nature of innovation, spanning ideation and vision, market entry strategy, and competitor and consumer profiling. 

In addition to media clients, other industries facing digital dilemmas have benefited from Fareeda’s expertise, including leading Financial Services, Aerospace, and Logistics companies. After four years at Morgan Stanley specializing in internal strategy and M&A, Fareeda led Digital Strategy at PureGrowth Consulting, advising on comprehensive brand and product innovation. She currently advises several startups and nonprofits looking to connect with consumers in innovative ways.

Fareeda earned her MBA from Stanford University, including coursework in New Media at Stanford’s Design School. She holds a BA (Summa Cum Laude) from Columbia University.

Recent Publications

Once upon a time in Hollywood
Once upon a time in Hollywood
Much is unclear about the future of non-fungible tokens (NFTs), but one thing remains certain: studios that fail to explore the possibilities of NFTs will miss opportunities for growth, relevance, and engagement. In this Viewpoint, we explore some burning questions: Why are NFTs exploding? Are they a fad, a bubble, or a burgeoning market? What are the risks? What should studios do? What industry-specific applications of NFTs will generate long-term value?
Customer experience drives value in public EV charging
Customer experience drives value in public EV charging
Public electric vehicle (EV) charging is still nascent, as reflected by subpar customer charging experiences. Arthur D. Little (ADL) recently took a deep dive into the public EV charging customer journey, surveying and conducting comprehensive interviews with EV drivers in North America to understand their key pain points. From these challenges arose significant opportunities that players across the ecosystem can seize to improve financial performance and create competitive advantage.
Web3 basics for telecoms & media
Web3 basics for telecoms & media
Web3 is the umbrella term for the next generation of the Internet underpinned by decentralization and token-based economics. Alongside the Metaverse, whose operation it partly enables, Web3 will transform the power structure and way of working of the Internet, providing new opportunities across telecom, media, and other sectors as well as threats to companies that fail to adapt. In this first of a series of Viewpoints on this topic, we provide a brief overview of the Web3 landscape and opportunities.

More About Fareeda
  • Stanford Graduate School of Business
    Master of Business Administration
  • Barnard College, Columbia University
    Bachelor of Arts
  • MAG
    Head of Innovation Practice
  • Morgan Stanley
    Associate, Internal Strategy & M&A