Azadeh Williams named among Top 30 AI leaders to follow in 2025

Award-winning public relations and media leader Azadeh Williams has been named one of the Top 30 AI Leaders to Follow in 2025 by the Process Excellence Network (PEX), a global authority on AI and process innovation.

The annual list recognises pioneers and change-makers who are leading the way in responsible and impactful AI adoption across industries.

Azazdeh Williams has been named Top 30 AI Leaders to Follow in 2025 by PEX Network.

Williams, the founder and managing director of AZK Media, was singled out for her influential work in AI ethics, thought leadership, and commitment to driving positive transformation through emerging technologies. Her appointment to the executive board of the Global AI Ethics Institute in 2023 further cemented her position as a key voice in the global AI landscape.

“AI is transforming every industry at breakneck speed,” Williams said in response to the announcement. “We need more leaders who are willing to ask the difficult questions, advocate for transparency, and ensure AI is developed with cultural diversity, accountability, and human wellbeing at its core.”

The PEX Network’s Top 30 list is compiled based on a range of criteria, including industry impact, global influence, published thought leadership, and innovation in AI implementation. According to the announcement, the leaders selected this year are not only reshaping how AI is applied to process excellence, but also championing ethical frameworks and inclusive strategies in AI development.

Williams’s work has spanned both the corporate and non-profit sectors, with a particular focus on building AI governance models that reflect global perspectives. At AZK Media, she advises clients on digital transformation strategies and helps position them at the forefront of innovation. She also regularly speaks at international conferences on the intersection of marketing, ethics, and AI.

Earlier this year, Williams participated in the PEX Network’s “All Access: Agentic AI in PEX APAC” event, where she joined a panel exploring how businesses can prepare their workforce and processes for the next wave of AI technologies. Her presentation highlighted the importance of cross-functional AI governance teams, ethical audits, and internal education to help companies manage risk while innovating responsibly.

Her recognition by PEX comes amid growing global debate around the responsible deployment of AI tools such as large language models and autonomous systems, like agentic AI. Williams has consistently argued that without inclusive ethical standards and a commitment to long-term human impact, AI innovations risk losing public trust and creating unintended harm.

With this latest accolade, Williams joins an elite cohort of AI leaders from across the globe, including academics, entrepreneurs, and C-suite executives, who are charting the path forward for AI.

As AI adoption accelerates, Williams’s voice continues to serve as a vital reminder: technological advancement must go hand-in-hand with ethical foresight, human values, and inclusive leadership.

Read the original blog here.

At AZK Media, we specialise in helping global technology companies get noticed in new and emerging markets. We make driving your growth, our business. Contact us today to see how we can strengthen your expansion efforts.