Keynote Speaking

A keynote speaker who has built what she teaches.

AI keynote speaker, AI founder, and leadership expert. Twenty years on the world’s largest stages, from CES and Davos to Ai4.

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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.

Female Inspirational AI Speaker for Enterprise and Association Events

Event planners searching for a female inspirational AI speaker usually need two things at once: a keynote that moves the room, and a speaker who can answer the hard questions afterward. Susan Sly is an enterprise AI keynote speaker, AI founder, and leadership expert who has built, deployed, led, and commercialised AI in the real world. She is not a commentator on AI. She has run it in production.

Her keynotes combine real world AI operating experience, inspirational storytelling, executive leadership, responsible AI adoption, human judgement and accountability, and practical frameworks audiences can use the next morning. That combination is why organisations looking for a female AI keynote speaker, an inspirational AI keynote speaker, an AI leadership speaker, or a responsible AI keynote speaker book Susan for enterprise conferences, association meetings, and leadership retreats.

Check Susan’s Availability

Recent and Upcoming Keynotes

Delivered August 4, 2026 · Las Vegas, NV

Ai4 2026: Keynote

Susan keynoted and joined a panel alongside leaders from Johnson & Johnson and CVS, presented by KPMG, at North America’s largest AI industry event.

October 6 to 7, 2026 · Washington, DC Area

AGENTIC AI North America

Modev’s agentic AI summit at The AI House presented by KPMG, held in Loudoun County, Virginia, the data-center capital of the world.

May 24 to 25, 2027 · Phoenix, AZ

NSGA Leadership Conference 2027

Invited back by the National Sporting Goods Association after her standing-ovation 2026 conference keynote.

Booking now for late 2026 and 2027. Dates are limited.

Trusted by the World’s Biggest Stages

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Susan Sly AI keynote speaker at DAVOS 2026 (1)Susan Sly keynote at CES 2026 - The New Geography of AI: Power, Compute, and Global AdvantageSusan Sly AI keynote speaker at WHIS 2025 (1)Susan Sly keynote at the GovAI Summit, Washington DC - S.A.G.E. IntelligenceSusan Sly AI keynote speaker at HPE Discover 2024Susan Sly AI keynote speaker at NvidiaSusan Sly AI keynote speaker at MIT At WorkSusan Sly AI keynote speaker at Forbes ceo roundtable
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Susan Sly AI keynote speaker at CES 2026Susan Sly AI keynote speaker at Microsoft for Startups Listening Session International Women’s Month specialSusan Sly AI keynote speaker at Lenovo tech world 22 minSusan Sly AI keynote speaker at Integrity Summit 14Susan Sly AI keynote speaker at PHX East Valley Partnership’s 43rd Annual MeetingSusan Sly AI keynote speaker at Phoenix Global Forum Harnessing AI for Cross Sector InnovationSusan Sly AI keynote speaker at HPE x STNSusan Sly AI keynote speaker at NeurotechSusan Sly AI keynote speaker at the AI houseSusan Sly AI keynote speaker at WHIS 2024Susan Sly AI keynote speaker at 17th Annual Womens Leadership ConferenceSusan Sly AI keynote speaker at IVYFOM 2024Susan Sly AI keynote speaker at Women in STEM Leadership 2024Susan Sly AI keynote speaker at Generative AI Workshop Valentines specialSusan Sly AI keynote speaker at LEADING in an AI WORLD eventSusan Sly AI keynote speaker at HPE Discover Barcelona 2023Susan Sly AI keynote speaker at BIGDATA AISusan Sly AI keynote speaker at Applied Intelligence AustinSusan Sly AI keynote speaker at Shaping the Future with Women in AISusan Sly AI keynote speaker at Voice AI 2023Susan Sly AI keynote speaker at HPE Discover 2023Susan Sly AI keynote speaker at Conexxus 2023Susan Sly AI keynote speaker at RLC Building up the Industry 2023 twitter share cardSusan Sly AI keynote speaker at NACS Leadership Forum 2023Susan Sly AI keynote speaker at 2022 Securitas Technology Security SymposiumSusan Sly AI keynote speaker at Forbes az eventSusan Sly AI keynote speaker at LPRC ImpactSusan Sly AI keynote speaker at Edge SummitSusan Sly AI keynote speaker at CoreNetSusan Sly AI keynote speaker at Susan Sly for National Restaurant Association SpeechSusan Sly AI keynote speaker at Restaurant Leadership conferenceSusan Sly AI keynote speaker at ENP New yr new growth

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

Marian Edwards, Global Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Manager, Hewlett Packard Enterprise

Booking now for late 2026 and 2027. Dates are limited, and Susan builds every keynote around the audience in the room.

Check Susan’s Availability

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: $17,500 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: $15,000 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 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
“

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 FoxwellVP 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, and 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

Susan Sly delivering a virtual keynote presentation

Virtual Keynote
Up to 45 Minutes

$7,500

Fully customized keynote with live Q&A.

Check Availability

Susan Sly speaking on stage at a live keynote event

Live Keynote
Continental US

From $15,000

45 min: $15,000 · 60 min: $17,500
*Travel and accommodation not included.

Check Availability

Susan Sly, international AI keynote event speaker

Live Keynote
International

Custom Quote

*Travel and accommodation not included.

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Industries Susan Speaks To

Susan customises every keynote for the room in front of her. These are the audiences she serves most often, and the proof behind each one.

Retail and Consumer

As former Co-CEO and Co-Founder of an AI computer vision company, Susan oversaw one of the largest AI computer vision deployments in U.S. retail. Retail, grocery, restaurant, automotive dealer, and sporting goods audiences hear from someone who has put AI on the floor, not only on the slide. The National Sporting Goods Association invited her back for 2027 following her 2026 keynote.

Associations and Professional Organisations

For associations and professional organisations, whether members work in accounting, law, marketing, or technology, Susan translates AI into the specific decisions those members face this year. She learns the audience and its goals before she writes a word, which is why association planners describe the talk as written for their room.

Legal, Compliance, Risk, and Governance

The AI-Driven Leader was built for leaders responsible for trust, privacy, and accountability. It covers the confident hallucination problem, the verification discipline that protects an organisation, the Build, Buy, or Pilot decision matrix, and the O-Ring principle of keeping human judgement load bearing in every AI system.

Enterprise Technology and Leadership

Susan has keynoted for Intel, NVIDIA, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Lenovo, and MIT, and at CES, Davos during the World Economic Forum, Ai4, and the American Medical Association, for audiences of up to 20,000. Executive teams and boards book her when they need AI explained by someone who has carried the accountability for deploying it.

Start the Conversation

Advocacy for Women in Technology

Alongside her enterprise keynotes, Susan speaks and mentors in support of women in technology and women in AI, including work that encourages female students to pursue STEM and leadership roles. As a founder who has built and led AI companies, she treats leadership as a muscle that grows with use, and she brings that conviction to every room she addresses. The fuller story is on her About page.

Frequently Asked Questions About Booking an AI Keynote Speaker

How much does it cost to book Susan Sly as an AI keynote speaker?

Susan’s enterprise keynote fees are $17,500 USD for a 60-minute live keynote, $15,000 USD for a 45-minute live keynote, and $7,500 USD for a 45-minute virtual keynote. Live keynotes in the continental United States start at $15,000. International engagements are quoted individually. Her 90-minute professional development workshop is $7,500 USD when added to a keynote engagement, with standalone workshop pricing available on inquiry. Travel and accommodation are additional and are arranged by the host organization.

What does Susan Sly speak about?

Susan speaks on AI leadership and enterprise transformation: responsible AI adoption, AI ethics, agentic AI and the agent-ready organisation, human judgement and accountability in AI systems, the future of AI-augmented work, and leadership and human transformation. Her signature keynotes are The AI-Driven Leader and AI as Your Superpower, and she offers a 90-minute professional development workshop, Demystifying AI.

Who is a leading female inspirational AI speaker?

Susan Sly is widely booked as a female inspirational AI speaker for enterprise and association events. She was named one of the Top 7 Female AI Thought Leaders in the World in 2026, has founded two award-winning AI companies, and has keynoted at CES, Davos during the World Economic Forum, Ai4, and the American Medical Association. Her talks are inspirational because she has built, led, and overcome, and they are practical because she has deployed AI at enterprise scale.

Who is a top female AI keynote speaker for enterprise events?

Organisations seeking a female AI keynote speaker for enterprise events choose Susan Sly because she pairs stage craft with real technical credentials. She trained at MIT Sloan and the MIT School of Engineering, founded and leads The Pause Technologies, formerly co-led one of the largest AI computer vision deployments in U.S. retail, and has spoken for Intel, NVIDIA, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Lenovo, MIT, and Fortune 500 audiences.

What makes Susan Sly different from other AI speakers?

Susan is an operator, not an observer. She has built, deployed, led, and commercialised AI, and she has carried the accountability for those deployments. That experience shapes every keynote: she shows audiences where AI succeeds, where it fails, why confident hallucination is the most dangerous failure mode in business today, and why human judgement becomes more valuable as AI becomes more powerful. Audiences leave with a decision-making toolkit, not only inspiration.

Is Susan Sly a motivational speaker?

Inspiration is part of how Susan delivers, but her category is enterprise AI leadership and transformation. She is an enterprise AI keynote speaker, AI founder, and leadership expert. Audiences are moved because the stories are real, and they are equipped because the frameworks come from actual AI operating experience.

Does Susan Sly speak to non-technical audiences?

Yes. Susan is known for translating complex AI concepts into practical, engaging, and actionable insight for non-technical audiences. AI as Your Superpower was designed for organisations that want to replace AI anxiety with confidence across frontline teams, managers, and executives, and her Demystifying AI workshop requires no technical background.

Does Susan Sly speak for associations and professional organisations?

Yes. Susan speaks regularly for associations and professional organisations, including the National Sporting Goods Association, which invited her back for its 2027 Leadership Conference following her 2026 keynote, and the American Medical Association. She builds each talk around the association’s members and goals rather than delivering a stock presentation.

What industries does Susan Sly speak to?

Susan speaks most often to retail and consumer businesses, associations and professional organisations, legal, compliance, risk, and governance teams, and enterprise technology and leadership audiences. She also speaks to healthcare, financial services, and other regulated industries where responsible AI adoption and human judgement are priorities.

Does Susan customise her AI keynotes?

Yes. Every keynote is built around who is actually in the room. Before the event Susan learns the audience, the industry, and the outcome the organiser wants, then tailors the examples, frameworks, and stories to match. Event organisers frequently note that the talk felt as though it was written for their attendees.

Who has Susan Sly spoken for?

Susan has spoken for Intel, NVIDIA, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Lenovo, MIT, the American Medical Association, and the National Sporting Goods Association, and at CES, Ai4, and Davos during the World Economic Forum, addressing audiences of up to 20,000 people.

Does Susan Sly speak virtually and internationally?

Yes. Susan delivers virtual keynotes of up to 45 minutes, live keynotes across the continental United States, and international engagements by custom quote. She has keynoted on global stages including CES in Las Vegas and Davos, Switzerland.

How do I check Susan Sly’s availability?

Complete the speaking inquiry form and you will hear back within two business days. Susan is booking now for late 2026 and 2027, and dates are limited.

Check Susan’s Availability