From Top Secret to ChatGPT

An Insider’s View of AI, Risk Management & Decision-Making for the Future

How do leaders make better decisions in an age of AI?

Join the Columbia Alumni Association of DFW for an engaging evening with Columbia alumnus Asif Haider, AI strategist, U.S. Air Force veteran, Founder of SARZAD LLC, and advisor to Fortune 500 companies.

Drawing on experience spanning military service, national security, negotiation, artificial intelligence, and executive advisory work, Asif will share practical frameworks for navigating uncertainty, managing risk, and making better decisions in an increasingly AI-driven world.

We’ll explore:

• What AI changes and doesn’t about leadership
• The role of human judgment alongside AI
• Lessons from military operations, negotiation, and risk management
• How leaders can separate signal from noise
• Practical frameworks for better decision-making

The conversation will be moderated by Ina Sturlis, President of the Columbia Alumni Association of DFW and VP, Strategy & Product Management, JP Morgan.

Event Details

October 13, 2026 | 6:00–8:00 PM
Panel begins at 6:30 PM

Haynes and Boone — Downtown Dallas
2801 N Harwood St, Ste 2300
Dallas, TX 75201

Free Parking

$40 | Includes refreshments, wine & appetizers

Come connect with fellow Columbia alumni for an evening of conversation, networking, and practical insight—and explore how leaders can build a decision advantage in the age of AI.

About Asif Haider

Asif Haider is a Columbia University alumnus, AI strategist, U.S. Air Force veteran, and Founder of SARZAD LLC, a Dallas-Fort Worth–based Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business specializing in vendor-neutral AI strategy and decision intelligence.

He earned his MSc in Negotiation and Conflict Resolution from Columbia University and spent 10 years on active duty in the U.S. Air Force before transitioning into AI and data work. His experience includes Defense Industrial Base contracts and advisory engagements with Fortune 500 companies including Cisco, AT&T, Verizon, NVIDIA, and WWT.

Moderator

Ina Sturlis is President of the Columbia Alumni Association of DFW and VP, Strategy & Product Management at JP Morgan. A Columbia University graduate in Financial Economics, she brings more than 12 years of experience across product management, credit risk, data, technology, and AI-driven innovation.