Susan Sly | Enterprise AI Keynote Speaker on AI Ethics, Leadership, and Responsible AI Adoption

Susan Sly is an award-winning AI entrepreneur, enterprise AI keynote speaker, and trusted global thought leader in artificial intelligence, AI ethics, and transformational leadership. She has deployed AI in real-world enterprise environments, led award-winning technology companies, and spoken to audiences of up to 20,000 people on leadership, innovation, and human performance.

In 2026, Susan was named one of the Top 7 Female AI Thought Leaders in the world and has spoken on global stages including CES, Davos during the World Economic Forum, and for the American Medical Association. She has also delivered AI leadership keynotes for Fortune 500 enterprise audiences on topics including AI ethics, responsible AI adoption, agentic AI, human judgment, data privacy, and the future of AI-augmented work.

Susan is known for making complex AI topics practical, engaging, and actionable. Her keynote style blends audience participation, real-world case studies, and no-nonsense leadership wisdom from someone who has built and deployed AI at scale. She helps leaders understand not only what AI can do, but where it fails, how to verify outputs, and why human accountability remains essential.

Susan has been trusted to speak for and collaborate with organizations and stages including Intel, NVIDIA, HPE, Lenovo, MIT, the American Medical Association, the Consumer Electronics Show, Agentic AI House in Davos, the Women’s Health Innovation Summit, the National Sporting Goods Association, the Silicon Valley Education Foundation, The Integrity Summit, Isagenix International, and many more.

In addition to decades of experience in entrepreneurship and professional speaking, Susan has built teams that have generated more than $2 billion in sales across three verticals. In 2024, she was recognized by RTInsights as one of the top women in the world in real-time AI.

Susan is the Founder and CEO of The Pause Technologies, an award-winning AI women’s health platform, and the former Co-CEO and Co-Founder of an award-winning AI-driven retail and healthcare computer vision company. In that role, she helped lead one of the largest AI computer vision deployments in U.S. retail, along with healthcare AI pilots in high-trust environments.

Beyond the stage, Susan is a top-ten Ironman triathlon finisher, six-time Boston Marathon competitor, mother of four, and long-time humanitarian who spent years supporting anti-trafficking work in Cambodia. Her work is grounded in faith, discipline, ethical leadership, and a deep belief that as AI becomes more powerful, human judgment becomes more valuable.

Susan's Signature Talks Include:

The AI-Driven Leader: How to adopt AI without losing human judgment, trust, or accountability.

Who This is For

The AI-Driven Leader is designed for organizations where AI adoption, trust, governance, and human judgment matter.

Ideal audiences include:

  • Legal, compliance, risk, and governance teams
  • Executive leadership teams and boards
  • Healthcare, financial services, insurance, and other regulated industries
  • Corporate teams adopting AI tools, agents, or automation
  • Leaders responsible for data privacy, ethics, workforce transformation, and organizational trust

This keynote is especially relevant for companies asking:

  • How do we use AI responsibly without slowing innovation?
    Where should humans stay in the loop?
    How do we reduce hallucination, privacy, and reputational risk?
    What should we pilot, buy, deploy, or avoid?

Susan helps leaders move from AI curiosity to AI confidence — with practical frameworks for trust, verification, and responsible adoption.

Keynote Length – 60 Minutes + Q and A

Investment – $15,000 USD*

Session Overview

The AI-Driven Leader As AI becomes more powerful, human judgment becomes more valuable. In this keynote — delivered this year for audiences ranging from Big Four professional services firms and Fortune 500 companies to global professional associations and public broadcasters — Susan Sly shows leaders how AI actually works, where it fails, and why the confident hallucination is the most dangerous failure mode in business today. Drawing on real cases, live audience participation, and her experience deploying AI at enterprise scale, Susan gives leaders practical frameworks for verification, governance, and knowing what to pilot, buy, deploy, or avoid. Attendees leave with something rare in AI keynotes: not just inspiration, but a decision-making toolkit they use the next morning.

Susan’s Five Core Strategies for Leading in The Age of AI

  1. The Confident Hallucination: Why AI is extraordinarily good at sounding right — and the verification discipline that protects your organization from the failure mode that has already cost firms sanctions, fines, and reputations.
  2. The Build / Buy / Pilot Matrix: A practical decision framework for every AI use case — plot value against risk, and know when to deploy, pilot, buy, or walk away.
  3. The O-Ring Principle: Why the human in the loop is the load-bearing component of every AI system — and how removing human verification collapses the value of even the best models.
  4. Synthetic vs. Real: From fabricated case law to AI influencers earning millions — how synthetic content is reshaping trust, and what leaders must do about provenance and verification.
  5. The Agent-Ready Organization: As AI agents join the workforce, who is accountable? Governance, identity, and policy for the hybrid human-AI team.

Why Audiences Love This Talk

The AI-Driven Leader is “liberating,” “visionary,” and “the bridge between technology and humanity we’ve been waiting for.” It’s ideal for leaders, entrepreneurs, and organizations ready to embrace the future with clarity, courage, and compassion.

Susan leaves every audience with a renewed sense of agency and optimism — ready to lead boldly, think differently, and create meaningful impact in an automated world.

*Travel and accommodation are not included in the speaking fee and are kindly arranged by the host organization. We’re grateful for your partnership and look forward to creating a meaningful experience for your audience.

AI as Your Superpower: How to Work Smarter, Not Fear Harder

Ideal For

This keynote is perfect for non-technical organizations seeking to empower their teams, boost morale, and foster innovation in an age of AI transformation. Whether for employee engagement, professional development, or executive leadership programs, Susan helps every audience member walk away with actionable tools — and a renewed sense of confidence in their future with AI.

Why This Talk Is Perfect for Your Organization

In today’s rapidly changing workplace, employees are being asked to adapt faster than ever — and many are anxious about how artificial intelligence will affect their roles. “AI as Your Superpower: How to Work Smarter, Not Fear Harder” gives organizations the tools to turn that anxiety into empowerment.

Unlike purely technical presentations, this keynote blends inspiration, strategy, and practical tools that help employees see AI as a trusted companion rather than a competitor. Susan Sly combines her deep experience in AI innovation with her relatable, human-centered approach to make technology accessible for everyone — from frontline staff to executive leaders.

Keynote Length – 45 Minutes + Q and A

Investment – $12,500 USD*

This keynote demystifies AI, separating hype from grounded application. Susan reveals what it really takes to align stakeholders, deploy AI in live environments, and navigate complex leadership dynamics — all while staying true to ethical responsibility and human connection. Drawing on her experiences scaling artificial intelligence in the real world, building multi-vertical businesses, and leading The Pause Technologies, she translates AI into something human, strategic, and actionable.

Key Outcomes for Your Organization

  1. Boosts employee confidence and engagement by replacing AI fear with practical understanding.
  2. Drives productivity and innovation through real-world AI tools that save time and enhance creativity.
  3. Fosters a culture of adaptability and collaboration, aligning teams around a shared vision for the future of work.
  4. Encourages ethical leadership and thoughtful adoption of AI technology.
  5. Promotes mental well-being by showing how AI can reduce overwhelm and improve balance, not add stress.

This talk is ideal for companies focused on employee well-being, digital transformation, and future-ready leadership. Attendees leave inspired, equipped with actionable takeaways, and confident in their ability to thrive alongside AI.

*Travel and accommodation are not included in the speaking fee and are kindly arranged by the host organization. We’re grateful for your partnership and look forward to creating a meaningful experience for your audience.

Professional Development Workshop: Demystifying AI — What Every Leader and Team Needs to Know

Who This Is For

Corporate teams • Leadership retreats • Professional associations • HR and Learning & Development groups • Entrepreneurs • Non-technical professionals who want to understand AI without the jargon

Workshop Overview

Artificial Intelligence is transforming every industry, yet for many professionals, it still feels complex, intimidating, or even threatening. In this 90-minute professional development workshop, Susan Sly — Professional AI Speaker and former Co-CEO of a computer vision company where she oversaw the largest deployment of AI in retail history — breaks down the essentials of AI in a way that’s engaging, human, and immediately relevant.

This session empowers participants to understand the different types of AI, recognize their implications in business and daily life, and build the confidence to embrace technology as a trusted companion for growth and innovation.

Attendees will gain clarity on what AI is (and isn’t), discover how to apply it ethically and effectively, and leave inspired to lead change with optimism and purpose — regardless of their technical background.

Key Learning Outcomes

  1. Understanding the Types of AI: A clear, accessible overview of generative, predictive, and assistive AI — and how each is already transforming the workplace.
  2. Real-World Applications: Insight into how AI is being used across industries to streamline operations, enhance decision-making, and improve customer experience.
  3. Human-Centered Innovation: How to collaborate with AI tools ethically and creatively without losing the human touch.
  4. Scaling AI Responsibly: What leaders need to know about data integrity, transparency, and the cultural impact of AI integration.
  5. Mindset for the Future: How to cultivate adaptability, digital curiosity, and forward-thinking leadership in the age of intelligent technology.

Format: 90-minute Workshop + Q&A

Includes:

  • 60 minutes of guided learning and live discussion
  • 30 minutes of audience Q&A and dialogue
  • Optional post-session resource guide: “Your AI Primer: The Top Tools and Terms Every Professional Should Know”

Investment

Single Workshop (90 Minutes)

Standalone in-person or virtual professional development session

Inquire About Pricing

Add-On to Keynote Engagement

When booked in combination with another talk or corporate event

7500 USD

Travel and accommodation (if in-person) to be arranged by the host organization.

Why This Workshop Is Perfect for Your Organization

This workshop is ideal for organizations that want to empower their teams to understand and leverage AI responsibly — without requiring a technical background.

Susan’s rare combination of hands-on AI leadership experience and approachable teaching style bridges the gap between complexity and clarity.

Attendees leave saying, “I finally understand AI — and I’m excited about it.”

*Travel and accommodation are not included in the speaking fee and are kindly arranged by the host organization. We’re grateful for your partnership and look forward to creating a meaningful experience for your audience.

Susan's Recent Event Appearances!

“

Susan Sly is an empowering and authentic speaker at the bleeding edge of AI.

Marian EdwardsGlobal Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Manager, HPE Services, Hewlett Packard Enterprise
“

I had the honor and privilege to collaborate with Susan on a CoreNet virtual event to educate Corporate End Users in commercial real estate on the Metaverse. Susan is not only a true expert in her field but also an amazing speaker. Her soft yet determined approach enabled our audience to ask many questions about the future of the Metaverse and its implications in both our professional and personal lives. She brought much insight and valuable discussions during our sessions together that ultimately led to a more holistic and collaborative mindset. Her vast amount of knowledge and expertise was impressive to witness. Thank you Susan.

Brigitte BeltranAssociate Director Client Solutions
“

Wow that was fantastic!

I wanted to thank you so much for working with our sales team from across the country last week. You were impressive, engaging and made an outstanding impact on our team.

Your interview was energetic, funny, down to earth, extremely informative and hit home with the team. Your story is inspiring and the help you offer is priceless. The team has been commenting to me every day since about changes they are working on and actions they are taking to improve their business and their live as a direct result of your efforts.

On a personal level I am working through your resources to grow as a person and strive to get better every day. Something my company and my partner will benefit from.

Thank you again so much, we all appreciate it and would love to have you back again.

If anyone is ever looking for a reference, please send them to me as I would give you a very strong endorsement.

Thanks again,

Chris SmithFirst Access Funding Corp.
“

Susan Sly is an absolute powerhouse of a speaker who commands a stage and a room with ease. She is an expert in her field of AI and has many lived experiences that are extremely relevant and powerful for audiences to hear. Her gravitas and authenticity shine through…I can’t recommend her enough. Any event or room will be elevated by her presence.

Carolyn HenryVP, CMO of Americas Regional Marketing at Intel Corporation
“

Susan Sly is an effective trainer who is able to generate results. We have entrusted her to train our top leaders for years.

Steve FoxwelVP Global Sales for Isagenix International
“

I’m writing to offer my highest recommendation for Susan Sly as a keynote speaker. As the founder of The Pause, Susan has been a featured speaker at several of our high-profile AI events over the past five years, including the CES AI House, NeuroTech Summit, and AGENTIC (formerly VOICE & AI). She consistently delivers compelling, insightful, and engaging presentations that leave a lasting impact on our executive-driven audiences.
Susan is not only an exceptional orator, but she also brings a rare and valuable blend of technical expertise, strategic vision, and human-centered insights to the technology industry. Her ability to connect with audiences—ranging from top executives to industry innovators—is unmatched.
If you're looking for a speaker who can captivate, inspire, and deliver meaningful, actionable insights, Susan Sly is an outstanding choice. Hiring Susan will be one of the best decisions you make for your event—you will not be disappointed.

Pete EricksonFounder & CEO, Modev
“

Susan Sly is a powerhouse in AI, seamlessly bridging the gap between cutting-edge technology and real-world applications. Her deep knowledge and keen insights enable her to see beyond the hype, identifying practical ways AI can drive business success and solve complex challenges. More than just an expert, Susan is a true connector—bringing together people, ideas, and innovation to create tangible results. She leads with integrity, grounded in strong business ethics and values, ensuring that AI is used responsibly and for the greater good. Her energy is infectious, her vision is bold, and her ability to make things happen is unmatched. If you’re looking for a leader who can demystify AI and turn it into real impact, Susan Sly is the one to watch.

Cory DavisonFounder, CEO 4Xperience
“

Actively engages with every individual member in the audience, remembering and referencing people’s stories. She’s authentic and extremely knowledgeable in all she speaks to, showing her heart and passion to help the world around her.”

Rachel HaydenAssociate Project Manager at ASU
Virtual speaking up to 45 minutes
Live Speaking Event in Continental US
Request More Information
Live Speaking Event Internationally

Women in Technology Leadership

Susan is deeply dedicated to supporting increased inclusivity in the tech industry and has presented on various topics related to this incredibly relevant issue. Her speaking engagements have included presentations to leading technology companies and events specifically focusing on supporting women in technology.

As a pioneer in the AI and technological fields, Susan Sly takes pride in sharing her experience and knowledge with fellow women – and showing them that, now more than ever, they can become leaders in these burgeoning industries.

Empowering Women Tech Students Rise

To inspire women to pursue positions of leadership in technology, Susan recognizes the importance of empowering female students to embark on studies in STEM. Most STEM-related majors are severely lacking in their number of female students, but Susan hopes her efforts can contribute to a much-needed shift.

She aims to play a role in closing the gender gap in STEM education through the education and information she provides as an event speaker.

Build Your Leadership Muscle

Susan firmly believes that leadership is a muscle that requires constant exercise, and stretching yourself is the only way to increase your strength truly. In her presentations on leadership experience, she provides an in-depth perspective on the practical steps you can take to become a better, more effective leader with the confidence you need to succeed.

Whether you are an experienced leader or only beginning to foster your skills, Susan’s speaking engagements provide an outstanding opportunity to hone real-life strategies in an interactive environment.