Arena Strategic AI
We bring clarity, confidence and
control to your AI Journey.
Our Solution
AI That Works for You
Most AI strategies fail because they ignore context. We specialize in low-risk, high-impact AI advisory tailored for privately held, mid-market companies.
Arena Strategic AI brings:
Clarity on what AI makes sense today—and what doesn’t
Confidence through Carnegie Mellon–powered research & analytics
Control with structured, secure AI implementation and governance
We guide companies through every phase:
Opportunity assessment
AI strategy planning
Solution deployment
Governance and policy development
All from a trusted, sector-savvy team.
Why Us?
What Sets Us Apart
Middle-Market Focus
We serve the sectors others overlook.
Partnership with Leading AI Research Institutions
Exclusive access to top-tier AI talent, methods, and research.
Speed-to-Impact
Our clients see measurable ROI in weeks.
Built for Business
We bridge strategy, operations, and tech—not just software.
Secure Collaboration Hub
AI learning, governance, and implementation in one place.
We deliver AI strategy that is responsible, relevant, and results-driven.
Who We Are
Aaron J. Cohen Founder & President, Arena Strategic AI
Aaron Cohen is one of today’s most respected strategic and political thinkers. As founder of Arena Strategic AI, he brings two decades of experience helping CEOs, elected leaders, and innovators navigate complexity with clarity and purpose.
Aaron founded Arena Strategies in 2005 and has led groundbreaking work in government affairs, policy strategy, and business development. His belief that “linear models don’t work in an exponential world” led to the creation of Arena Strategic AI—a consultancy focused on responsible AI planning and adoption.
He holds degrees from The George Washington University and the University of Pennsylvania’s Fels School of Government. Aaron serves on numerous civic boards and believes passionately in applying strategy to the challenges that matter most.
Rob Wonderling Advisor & Strategic Partner
Rob Wonderling brings deep expertise at the intersection of public policy, business leadership, and civic engagement. A former Pennsylvania State Senator and past CEO of the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia, Rob is a champion for innovation-driven growth.
As an advisor to Arena Strategic AI, Rob provides counsel on industry engagement, economic impact, and strategic outreach. His decades of experience across infrastructure, as an officer in an engineering software company, healthcare, and workforce development shape Arena’s work in building AI solutions that are grounded in entrepreneurship and economic opportunity.
Upasna Ahuja AI Product Manager
Upasna focuses on turning emerging AI concepts into practical, measurable business value. She brings experience across AI product strategy, enterprise technology, workflow automation, and digital transformation, helping organizations connect AI capabilities to executive priorities, operational improvement, risk reduction, and growth opportunities across industries.
At Arena Strategic AI, Upasna supports responsible AI planning and adoption by bringing a product-led lens to complex business challenges. Her background spans 0→1 AI MVPs, agentic AI exploration, GenAI strategy, enterprise SaaS, retail technology, financial services, and supply chain operations. She has worked across product management, software engineering, and business analysis roles, giving her a practical understanding of how technology moves from concept to implementation.
Upasna holds a Master of Science in Product Management from Carnegie Mellon University; she is also Scrum Master Certified and a PRINCE2 Agile Practitioner, bringing a strong foundation in agile project management, product strategy, technical execution, and disciplined delivery.
Ankita Kotwal Strategy Manager
Ankita Kotwal helps organizations turn complex, ambiguous problems into clear strategy and disciplined execution. She brings over eight years of experience delivering technology and AI programs across regulated industries, with a focus on finding the real problem beneath the surface and building the operating systems that keep solutions working long after launch.
At Arena Strategic AI, Ankita supports responsible AI planning and adoption, pairing hands-on fluency with emerging AI tools and the judgment to know where automation helps and where human oversight belongs. Her background spans program and delivery leadership across financial services, lending, insurance, and consumer platforms, where she has driven AI automation from mandate to production, scaled core systems, and delivered more than $25M in business impact. Having worked across program management, operations, and technical delivery, she understands how strategy becomes reality on the ground.
Ankita holds a Master of Information Systems Management from Carnegie Mellon University and is a Certified Scrum Master. She is based in Austin, Texas, where she serves on the board of Austin Women in Technology.
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Ready to bring clarity, confidence, and control to your AI journey?