Karim Farishta

Karim Farishta is the Senior Director for State and Local Government at C3 AI and is an Adjunct Graduate Lecturer at The George Washington University. At C3 AI, he leads government-wide digital transformation efforts, helping governors and mayors harness the power of enterprise AI to modernize operations and better serve the public. In the classroom, he equips students with the tools to rethink the foreign policy toolbox as cities and states increasingly lead global problem-solving, challenge conventional approaches to diplomacy, and examine how governors and mayors are reshaping national and global security. Karim previously served as the Director of Intergovernmental Affairs at the U.S. Department of Defense. At the Pentagon, he facilitated partnerships among federal, state, and local leaders on issues such as cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, critical infrastructure, and supply chain resilience. He previously served as the director of strategic alliances at The Asian American Foundation and advocated for the passage of the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act. Karim has also worked on congressional and presidential campaigns and at the White House. He holds a master’s in public policy from Harvard University and a B.A. in International Affairs from George Washington University. He is a Truman Scholar, Fulbright Scholar, International Strategy Forum Fellow, and Atlantic Council Millennium Fellow.