Navin Girishankar

President, Economic Security and Technology Department
Navin Girishankar

Navin Girishankar is the inaugural president of the Economic Security and Technology Department at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), which he has built into one of Washington’s leading policy enterprises— assembling a world-class team across economics, technology, energy, trade, and AI; leading research on U.S.-China technology competition; and mobilizing considerable resources from philanthropic, corporate, and private donors.

Girishankar spent over two decades at the World Bank pioneering work on development finance, fiscal federalism, public sector reform, and trade and industry competitiveness—mobilizing hundreds of billions in public and private capital across emerging markets and designing new instruments for development finance, including landmark programs across Africa.

He went on to hold senior commercial roles at Bridgewater Associates, advising sovereign wealth funds on global macro strategy and asset allocation, before serving as counselor to the U.S. deputy secretary of commerce. While in government, Girishankar helped shape the investment framework underpinning the CHIPS and Science Act, channeling large-scale federal capital into semiconductors, broadband, and strategic technologies. He also led U.S. economic and commercial efforts in the Indo-Pacific, emerging markets, and Africa.

Girishankar's work is grounded in a core proposition: Economic dynamism fuels technological prowess—and underwrites national strength. He has written in Foreign Affairs and the National Interest, hosts the CSIS Betting on America podcast, and speaks regularly before corporate boards, policy forums, and national media.

He holds degrees from the Harvard Kennedy School and Williams College.

Programs & Projects

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In the News 8 of 14 results

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Navin Girishankar's Commentaries and Reports

Photo: tinyakov/Adobe Stock

Photo: tinyakov/Adobe Stock

Will the AI Economy Have a Middle Class? The Case for an AI Homestead Policy

Navin Girishankar argues that America needs an AI Homestead policy that offers the middle class a wages-to-wealth ladder for the coming AI economy. It is a commitment to upskilling, labor mobility, business formation, data as an asset, and community access to compute.

Commentary by Navin Girishankar — May 22, 2026

Navin Girishankar's Podcasts

Listen to the Betting on America Podcast:

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Will the AI Economy Have a Middle Class? The Case for an AI Homestead Policy

Navin Girishankar argues that America needs an AI Homestead policy that offers the middle class a wages-to-wealth ladder for the coming AI economy. It is a commitment to upskilling, labor mobility, business formation, data as an asset, and community access to compute.

Commentary by Navin Girishankar — May 22, 2026

Commercial Diplomacy for U.S. Tech Exports

Join us for an episode of Betting on America featuring Cynthia Conner, Senior Manager for International Policy at Chevron; Nicole Issac, VP of Global Public Policy at Cisco; and Katherine F. Pickus, Chief Sustainability Officer at ADM. 

Event — May 21, 2026

EST Rapid Roundup: Unpacking the Trump-Xi Summit Pt.2 - Tech Competition

Following the recent Trump-Xi summit, join CSIS's Navin Girishankar, Lauryn Williams, Aalok Mehta, and James Lewis to unpack what both sides expected, the implications of China's growing role as a global innovation hub, cybersecurity stakes, AI guardrails, and what China's coordination with Iran means for dialogue moving forward.

Event — May 20, 2026

EST Rapid Roundup: Unpacking the Trump-Xi Summit Pt.1 - Trade and Investment

Following the recent Trump-Xi summit, join CSIS's Navin Girishankar, Philip Luck, Kate Koren, Scott Kennedy, and Rick Rossow to break down what both sides expected, where tariffs and export controls stand today, and what frameworks could define the road ahead for U.S.-China trade and investment. 

Event — May 20, 2026

The War Against Time

This edition of the Economic Security and Technology Newsletter covers The War Against Time. 

Newsletter by Navin Girishankar — May 1, 2026