Sharad Aggarwal

Sharad Aggarwal

Global Head, Strategy, Partnerships & AI Solutions Google

Sharad Aggarwal is a strategic leader and AI Evangelist dedicated to architecting the future of enterprise intelligence. As the Global Head of Strategy, Partnerships & AI Solutions at Google Cloud, he leads the orchestration of global strategic alliances, overseeing a portfolio valued at over $1 billion. With 25 years of experience in Big Tech—including senior leadership roles at IBM and Google—Sharad specializes in bridging high-level business strategy with the practical deployment of emerging technologies. He has negotiated numerous multi-million-dollar deals that serve as the foundation for modern business growth and operational scale. A sought-after mentor and thought partner, Sharad serves on multiple advisory boards and the UCLA Anderson Alumni Board of Directors. He is passionate about empowering C-suite executives and the next generation of leaders to navigate the "Age of AI" with a strategic mindset. Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, Sharad is an Executive MBA graduate of UCLA Anderson. When not architecting global strategies, he can be found biking the trails of Silicon Valley.

Wednesday, June 10, 2026: Main Day Two

1:45 PM Panel | Build, Buy or Leverage Partners: Choosing the Right Path for Your AI Strategy

With agentic AI rapidly reshaping how work gets done, organizations face a fundamental question: Should we build proprietary capabilities, buy proven solutions, or partner strategically to accelerate outcomes? The wrong choice can waste time, inflate costs, and stall momentum. The right one becomes a competitive advantage.
In this session, leaders will break down the decision frameworks behind successful AI adoption paths from internal platform builds to vendor co-development to modular solution purchases. We’ll explore:
  • When to build internally to protect IP, data, and competitive edge
  • When buying accelerates speed-to-value
  • How to evaluate and vet vendor claims in a noisy market
  • Partnering without creating long-term dependency or vendor lock-in
  • Budgeting and governance considerations for each path 

Check out the incredible speaker line-up to see who will be joining Sharad.

Download The Latest Agenda