Speaking

Founder & CEO

Book Sophia Velastegui for your next event.

<p data-block-key="gplft">Artificial intelligence is driving profound change to businesses throughout the globe today. Sophia Velastegui can communicate the business ramifications of deploying AI products, validated AI product deployment process and strategy, AI ethics &amp; governance, traditional &amp; machine learning &amp; generative AI development, and keen judgment into all critical aspects of this high technology.</p><p data-block-key="3dczu"><b>Sophia Velastegui</b> delivers rare credibility: she has built, launched, and scaled <b>AI products</b> at <b>Microsoft, Apple, Google/Nest</b> and now serves as <b>CEO of Velastegui Ventures</b> and on the boards of BlackLine and Georgia Tech. CEOs and corporate boards seek her guidance when they need to understand, and lead through, the disruptive forces reshaping business, technology, and society.</p><p data-block-key="771u7">She combines deep technical insight on how AI works (generative, traditional, search + product architecture) and how to drive business growth through industry-proven approaches to development, governance, and human impact.</p><p data-block-key="71sii">With her AI leadership and understanding of the business landscape, Sophia connects with audiences across industries. She inspires with stories of real-world innovation and shares actionable frameworks that can be applied immediately.</p><p data-block-key="xio7w">Sophia has spoken in front of audiences of thousands to smaller, discrete fireside chats for executives across the globe.</p>

Recent Engagements

Where Sophia has taken the stage.

Financial Times — The Global Boardroom :: Dec 2025
<p data-block-key="6s4g0">Sophia joined Sarah Hammer of Charles Schwab, Shay Banon of Elastic AI, and FT's Murad Ahmed for a panel session, "The AI Arms Race — How Technology is Disrupting Economies." AI innovation is accelerating rapidly all over the world and will impact the economies of both wealthy and developing nations — will the gap between prosperity and poverty widen, or will unprecedented growth in data centers, chips, and architecture enable new players to catapult into economic leadership?</p>

Watch the session →

Tricentis — Transform :: Oct 2025
<p data-block-key="psm0k">Sophia shared how software teams can harness AI's potential to build a better future — and how we can turn disruption into opportunity. Drawing from her experience at Microsoft, Google, Apple, and beyond, she explored how curiosity, adaptability, and responsible innovation can help us shape what's next.</p>

Read more →

The Wall Street Journal — Technology Council Summit :: Sep 2025
<p data-block-key="98mwf">Key focus areas included: Company of the Future — how AI is restructuring teams, workflows, and departments for transformative productivity gains; Operationalizing AI — moving from pilot purgatory to large-scale deployment; Technology Leadership — the expanded strategic role of CTOs in corporate strategy, product development, and operations; and Cybersecurity — the critical security implications of multi-agent AI systems.</p>

Learn more →

Mastercard — Digital Safari :: Jun 2025
<p data-block-key="qhswz">Sophia provided a keynote at Mastercard's Digital Safari on "Who Will Dominate the Market and Shape Tomorrow's Technology?"</p>

Learn more →

Financial Times — Outstanding Directors Exchange :: Jun 2025
<p data-block-key="1md1u">In the opening panel, Sophia shared her perspective on "Board Leadership in a Shifting Economic Environment," covering the role of policy and regulation in shaping corporate governance, the impact of globalization on interconnected financial markets, and the resilience of the U.S. economy through these cycles. She also led a roundtable on "Harnessing AI for Strategic Advantage," discussing how boards can stay engaged on ethical and responsible AI while maintaining transparency for investors.</p>

Learn more →

Georgia Institute of Technology — Tech AI Fest :: Mar 2025
<p data-block-key="ocnez">Sophia and Pascal Van Hentenryck discussed the hottest topics of the day, from AI ecosystems to DeepSeek AI and AI agentic roles to robotics.</p>

Learn more →

EWOB / Grant Thornton — AI Discussion :: Mar 2025
<p data-block-key="pqi1l">Sophia provided a fireside chat with EWOB / Grant Thornton, taking audience questions on executive-level AI concerns.</p>
Gibson Dunn — Fireside Chat :: Mar 2025
<p data-block-key="juyyi">Sophia joined Gibson Dunn partner Keith Enright for a fireside chat exploring the intersection of artificial intelligence, digital transformation, and the risks and opportunities these technologies present for the firm and for the legal profession. Drawing on her experience as an AI product leader across industries, Sophia identified key trends, and she and Keith explored what they might mean for Gibson Dunn and for the legal profession generally.</p>
LionTree — Slopes 2025 :: Mar 2025
<p data-block-key="zpb1l">Sophia spoke at a panel discussion called "AI or Die."</p>
TEDx — Palo Alto :: Nov 2024
<p data-block-key="zxuw0">Today, AI is trained on data from developers and the people who use it — a foundation that's critical to how the AI ecosystem continues to evolve and produce higher-quality outputs that may help solve some of humanity's biggest challenges. AI tools need people like all of us: the more we participate, the more accurately AI will represent our unique points of view, and ultimately benefit everyone — not just a handful of developers in Silicon Valley.</p>

Watch the talk →

Financial Times — Future of AI Summit :: Nov 2024
<p data-block-key="qu724">Sophia participated in a panel discussion at FT's Future of AI Summit.</p>

Watch the panel →

Diligent — Elevate Conference :: Sep 2024
<p data-block-key="vgd01">Sophia participated in a panel discussion: "AI in the Boardroom: Risks and Opportunities."</p>
NACD — New England Chapter :: Jul 2024
<p data-block-key="wl866">Sophia participated in a panel discussion covering AI topics critical to corporate directors.</p>
Financial Times — TNW Conference :: Jun 2024
<p data-block-key="b58e3">Sophia delivered the keynote speech "AI is Unstoppable" at FT's TNW Conference.</p>
New York Stock Exchange — AAPI Second Annual Celebration :: May 2024
<p data-block-key="hl8sc">Sophia participated on an AI panel at the NYSE AAPI Celebration.</p>
PACT — Phorum 2024 :: Apr 2024
<p data-block-key="n5w46">Sophia participated on the panel "Practical AI: Bridging the Gap Between Theory and Application" at the Philadelphia Alliance for Capital and Technologies Phorum 2024.</p>
NACD — AI Masterclass :: Mar 2024
<p data-block-key="vdk1v">Sophia delivered the keynote at the National Association of Corporate Directors' AI Masterclass: "Technology and Innovation Oversight."</p>
FFA — 13th Annual Global Fund Finance Symposium :: Feb 2024
<p data-block-key="1facf">Sophia provided a fireside chat, "The AI Advantage: Transforming Finance in a Tech-Driven Era," at the FFA Global Fund Finance Symposium.</p>

"Every engagement leaves a verification trail."

Start a conversation