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

Areas of Expertise

In the News 8 of 15 results

Show More

Navin Girishankar's Commentaries and Reports

Photo: iLab/CSIS

Photo: iLab/CSIS

The Limits of Control

This edition of the Economic Security and Technology Newsletter covers The Limits of Control.

Newsletter by Navin Girishankar — August 5, 2026

Navin Girishankar's Podcasts

words above a cityscape in africa

U.S.-Africa Economic Ties Beyond AGOA

In this episode of Into Africa, Oge Onubogu is joined by Enoh Ebong and Navin Girishankar to discuss AGOA's legacy, the changing global trade landscape, and what a future U.S.-Africa economic framework must deliver.

Podcast Episode by Oge Onubogu, Enoh T. Ebong, and Navin Girishankar — October 9, 2026

Listen to the Betting on America Podcast:

In the News 8 of 15 results

Show More

All Navin Girishankar Content

Filter by

1 - 10 of 185 results

U.S.-Africa Economic Ties Beyond AGOA

In this episode of Into Africa, Oge is joined by Enoh Ebong, and Navin Girishankar to discuss what a future Africa Growth and Opportunity Act agreement must deliver.  

Event — October 9, 2026

Into Africa

U.S.-Africa Economic Ties Beyond AGOA

In this episode of Into Africa, Oge Onubogu is joined by Enoh Ebong and Navin Girishankar to discuss AGOA's legacy, the changing global trade landscape, and what a future U.S.-Africa economic framework must deliver.

Podcast Episode by Oge Onubogu, Enoh T. Ebong, and Navin Girishankar — October 9, 2026

Photo: CSIS

EST Rapid Roundup: What Comes After "Pace the AI Frontier"?

Dario Amodei’s essay “We Must Pace the Frontier” has sparked heated debate about the future of AI models and how best to regulate them. Join Navin Girishankar and Aalok Mehta as they unpack the competing arguments and examine the role of government in managing AI’s risks. 

Event — September 18, 2026

Can AI and Reindustrialization Open New Pathways to Wealth for All? | Betting on America

Join us for an episode of Betting on America, featuring a panel discussion on the AI revolution, reindustrialization, and new pathways to Black wealth. The panel was moderated by Joint Center President Dedrick Asante-Muhammad and featured Dr. Nicol Turner Lee of the Brookings Institution, Chanelle Hardy of Google, and Navin Girishankar. 

Event — August 28, 2026