Peter Johnson
Finance Fellow at Scale AI, Doctoral Researcher at UPV/EHU, and Founder at The Ayadee Foundation
About
I'm Peter Johnson, currently serving as a Finance Fellow at Scale AI and a Doctoral Researcher at the University of the Basque Country. My career has been a journey through the worlds of international finance, high-stakes diplomacy, and frontier technology. I spent several years as a Foreign Service Officer with the U.S. State Department, where I helped raise billions for humanitarian efforts, and I've since pivoted to exploring how we govern the technologies of the future. I'm deeply passionate about strategic foresight and closing the 'governance gap' in AI. Through my work at The Ayadee Foundation and my research into DAOs and cooperatives, I aim to bridge the divide between high-level policy and practical, ethical tech implementation. I’m always looking to connect with researchers, diplomats, and leaders who are interested in building more resilient, transparent, and inclusive institutional designs.
Networking
What I can offer
- ›Strategic foresight and scenario planning
- ›Expertise in AI governance and ethics implementation
- ›Bridging high-level diplomacy with frontier technology
- ›Advisory on blockchain-based social impact
Looking for
- ›Collaborations on research and teaching
- ›Advisory engagements and board service
- ›Expanding my professional network
- ›exploring mutual opportunities in international finance and AI governance
Best fit for
Current Interests
Background
Career
Transitioned from financial analysis at S&P and Citi into a decade of high-level diplomacy with the U.S. State Department, followed by roles in academia and founding social impact ventures in the blockchain and AI space.
Education
PhD Candidate in Business Management at University of the Basque Country; MA in International Relations and Economics from Johns Hopkins SAIS; BA in Economics and International Relations from SUNY Geneseo.
Achievements
- ›Raised over $2 billion in humanitarian and stabilization funding for Syria and Iraq
- ›Nominated for Best Undergraduate Business Professor (2021) at Mediterranean Business School
- ›Secured funding from Stellar Community Fund and DEVxDAO for blockchain social impact solutions
- ›Taught 1,000+ students and executives globally
Opinions
- The problem with AI ethics is a failure to implement existing frameworks rather than a lack of them.
- Diverse perspectives are a requirement for resilient cultures and better decision-making, not just an ethical nice-to-have.
- Businesses should proactively adopt transparency standards rather than waiting for perfect regulation.
- Foresight is a discipline requiring constant pressure-testing, not just a static product.