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Clara Shih — keynote speaker on Technology & AI

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Technology & AI keynote speakers

Clara Shih

AI Leader & Founder of Hearsay Systems

Speaking feeTypically $50k–$100kIndicative only, confirmed on request
  • Keynote · Fireside chat · Virtual
  • English
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Headliner can arrange a booking with Clara Shih or their representative. This profile is compiled from public sources; availability and fees are confirmed on request. A listing here does not imply endorsement, affiliation, partnership, or exclusivity.

Signature keynotes

What your audience walks away with

  • Outcome

    Enterprise & Business AI — From Hype to Operating Model

    She built business AI at both Salesforce and Meta — so this is the talk almost no one else can give. How leaders move past pilots and demos to AI as a genuine operating advantage: where the value really is, how to build trust and governance in (the Einstein Trust Layer was hers), and how to adopt at the speed the technology is moving without breaking the business.

  • The Age of AI Agents

    Autonomous agents that can think, plan, and execute complex business goals are arriving fast — Clara shipped them to 200M businesses at Meta. What agents change for org design, for work itself, and for who wins. A grounded, near-future view from someone who has deployed agents at scale.

  • The Future of Work — "Every Job Is an AI Job"

    The dividing line in the modern workforce is no longer seniority — it's whether you use AI. Drawn from her New Work Foundation work, this keynote covers how AI agents reshape jobs, hiring, and skills; why the people using AI are being fought over while others are left behind; and what organizations and individuals do about it now.

  • Responsible AI — Keeping Humans in the Driver's Seat

    Adopting AI without losing the plot. Clara on trust layers, governance, and why the people with moral objections to AI are exactly the ones who should be in the room steering it — so teams use AI as a thought partner, not a replacement for thinking.

  • Women in Tech & Leadership

    A Stanford-CS engineer, first-time founder before 30, youngest director of a major public company at 29, and a TIME100 AI leader — Clara speaks with rare authority on building and leading in tech and AI as a woman, on authenticity over inherited goals, and on focus as a leadership skill.

  • Digital Transformation & the Connected Customer (legacy, still requested)

    From The Social Business Imperative and her CRM leadership: how to adapt the business model to an always-connected customer. The throughline from social to AI, for audiences earlier in their transformation.

The story

Who Clara actually is

Clara Shih has spent two decades at the leading edge of how technology changes business — and is one of the only people to have built business AI at both Salesforce and Meta.

Born in Hong Kong and raised in the U.S., Shih studied computer science at Stanford (B.S. and M.S.) and earned an M.Sc. in Internet Studies from Oxford as a Marshall Scholar. After early stints at Microsoft and Google, she joined Salesforce in 2006 as a founding product marketer on its AppExchange platform. In 2007 she built Faceconnector — the first business application on Facebook — and turned the idea into The Facebook Era (2009), a New York Times–featured bestseller translated into nine languages and taught at Harvard Business School.

In 2009 she co-founded and led Hearsay Systems, helping financial-services and insurance firms use social media compliantly; it grew to roughly $70 million in revenue. In 2011, at age 29, she was elected to the Starbucks board of directors — among the youngest directors of any major public company.

Shih returned to Salesforce in 2021 and, in May 2023, was named CEO of Salesforce AI, leading its generative-AI strategy at the moment ChatGPT reshaped the industry — shipping EinsteinGPT and the Einstein Trust Layer. TIME named her one of the 100 Most Influential People in AI (2023). In late 2024 she moved to Meta to found and lead its Business AI group, launching a portfolio of AI agents for around 200 million businesses across WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram.

In 2025 she joined the HubSpot board of directors. In 2026, having watched AI agents match and surpass her best people, she stepped into an advisory role at Meta and founded the New Work Foundation (consumer brand Dear CC) — a nonprofit equipping the next generation with the AI skills to thrive in a transformed job market. She is also the author of The Social Business Imperative (2016).

The receipts

Books & publications

  • The Facebook Era

    2009

    how businesses tap online social networks to market, sell, and innovate; NYT-featured bestseller, translated into nine languages, taught at Harvard Business School.

  • The Social Business Imperative

    2016

    adapting your business model to the always-connected customer; the bridge from social to AI-era strategy.

Gravity

Career highlights & recognition

  • Milestone

    Built business AI at both Salesforce and Meta

    CEO of Salesforce AI; founder of Meta Business AI (AI agents for ~200M businesses)

  • Credential

    Founder & Chair, Hearsay Systems

    grew to ~$70M revenue

  • Credential2007

    Creator of Faceconnector (2007)

    the first business application on Facebook

  • Milestone2023

    TIME100 — 100 Most Influential People in AI (2023)

  • Credential2016

    Author

    The Facebook Era (NYT-featured bestseller, 9 languages, taught at Harvard Business School) and The Social Business Imperative (2016)

  • Credential2011

    Starbucks board director (2011)

    elected at age 29, among the youngest directors of a major public company; served ~12 years

  • Credential2025

    HubSpot board director (2025)

  • Milestone

    Stanford

    B.S./M.S. Computer Science · Oxford M.Sc. (Marshall Scholar)

  • Award2024

    Honors

    Fortune 40 Under 40, Ad Age 40 Under 40, WEF Young Global Leader, Gold House (2024)

  • Credential2026

    Founder, New Work Foundation / Dear CC (2026)

    AI-skills nonprofit for the next-generation workforce

Booking with confidence

What to expect when you book Clara

  • 01

    Compiled from public sources

    This profile is built from public, verifiable material and stamped with the date it was last reviewed. Nothing here is a claim we cannot trace to a source.

  • 02

    Availability and fees, confirmed

    Tell us your date and brief, and we confirm Clara's availability and current fee on request. We never publish a fabricated figure or imply an exclusivity we do not hold.

  • 03

    Managed end to end

    From first inquiry to the day itself, Headliner handles briefing, contracting, and logistics, so your team can focus on the event.

Answers

Booking questions, answered

What is Clara Shih's speaking fee?

Typically $50k–$100k (indicative; confirmed on request). Clara's fee varies by event, date, format, and location, so we confirm the exact figure for your booking. Share your brief for current pricing and live availability.

Is Clara Shih available for my event date?

Availability changes with Clara's schedule and the season. Tell us your date and we'll confirm whether Clara is open, and hold the slot while you decide.

How do I book Clara Shih for my event?

Clara Shih is booked through Headliner. Tell us your event date, audience, and goals, and we'll confirm availability and the next steps — typically within four business hours.

How much does Clara Shih charge to speak?

Typically $50k–$100k (indicative; confirmed on request). It depends on event, date, format, location, and whether the session is in person or virtual. Share your brief and we'll confirm the exact figure and availability.

Can I hire Clara Shih for a corporate event?

Yes. Clara is represented for speaking engagements through Headliner on a non-exclusive basis and regularly takes corporate keynotes, conferences, and leadership events. Share your brief to check availability.

Can I book Clara Shih for a virtual keynote?

Yes. Clara presents virtual keynotes as well as in-person sessions. Virtual fees are typically quoted below a live keynote, so tell us your format for a precise quote.

What formats does Clara offer?

Clara is available for Keynote, Fireside chat and Virtual engagements. We'll match the format to your audience and run-of-show.

What does Clara speak about?

Clara's keynote themes include Artificial Intelligence and Future of Work. Each talk is tailored to your audience and outcomes.

What languages does Clara present in?

Clara presents in English.

Where does Clara travel from?

Clara is based in San Francisco, CA and travels internationally for engagements; virtual sessions are also available.

Profile updated . Compiled from public sources — confirm current fees and availability with Headliner.

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