Founder & Executive Chairwoman, TaskRabbit
Leah A. Busque: Biography at a Glance
- Founded TaskRabbit, a digital marketplace for on-demand service recently acquired by Ikea
- Named one of the “100 Most Creative People in Business” by Fast Company
- Inaugurated into the Forum of Young Global Leaders in 2014
- Active angel investor and advisor to retail, consumer technology, hardware and education companies
- More than 15 years of experience creating technology products that have reached millions of people around the globe
Videos
Biography
Leah has over 15 years experience building and creating technology products that have reached millions of people around the globe. She started her career at IBM as a Software Engineer, working on Lotus Notes and Domino. In 2008 Leah founded TaskRabbit, the leading on-demand service marketplace in the world. She served as the CEO for eight years and now is the Executive Chairwoman of the company.
A vision for revolutionizing the way people work led Leah to pioneer the concept of “service networking.” Leah has expanded TaskRabbit internationally, raised more than $50 million in venture funding, and inspired legions of startups to launch in the collaborative consumption space. Fast Company named her one of the “100 Most Creative People in Business,” and her achievements have been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Wired, and Time.
Leah has a passion for the application of digital technology across industries. She is an active Angel Investor and Advisor to a wide range of companies and venture funds giving her breadth of insight across industries such as retail, specialty apparel, consumer technology, hardware, education, and marketplaces. In addition to TaskRabbit, she works closely with companies such as, Homebrew Ventures, Binary Capital, Monica+Andy, Nanit, and Zently. She also serves on the Board of Directors for Galvanize, a Ed Tech startup out of Denver, CO.
In 2014 Leah was inaugurated into the Forum of Young Global Leaders, a prestigious group of less than 1000 people around the globe recognized for their bold, brave, action oriented entrepreneurial ventures that are having a global impact. As a Latina, she is passionate about bringing diversity to business culture and also enjoys speaking on topics related to the future of work, women in technology, and entrepreneurship. She has facilitated workshops and delivered speeches across the globe including the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, the University of Oxford in the UK, and Tina Brown’s Women in the World Summit in New York City.
Leah resides in the Bay Area with her husband, two children, and highly energetic black labrador retriever. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from Sweet Briar College, where she earned a B.S. in Mathematics and Computer Science and currently serves on the Board of Directors for the college.
Topics
The Sharing Economy and The Future of Work
Mom always told us not to talk to strangers, but are there really any strangers today? Five years ago it was unthinkable to flag down a random car and hop in for a ride, but today, with the use of technology, we don’t hesitate in sharing rides with people we don’t know. We are willing to hire a handyman through an app, such as TaskRabbit, and we are renting out rooms in our own houses to people we’ve never met before. How did The Sharing Economy begin and where will it evolve to next? In this dynamic speech, Leah will share her story of starting TaskRabbit and why 2008 was a pinnacle time for the beginning of the Sharing Economy. Over the last 8 years, this new trend has evolved into mainstream adoption and continues to grow and scale in new ways that are changing the future of work. Leah will explore how businesses, large and small, will need to evolve to support this new fragmented workforce, and how, despite the skeptics, providing more flexibility and entrepreneurship in our work environments will drive innovation, support diversity, and ultimately translate to stronger, longer lasting companies.
Entrepreneurship: From Engineer to Entrepreneur, 5 Lessons Learned
After 8 years as a Software Engineer at IBM, Leah quit her job to found TaskRabbit. With no prior business experience, no MBA, and by withdrawing $20,000 from her IBM Pension account, it was a cold winter night when she had the idea for founding TaskRabbit. After bootstrapping the company for 18 months, maxing out credit cards, and building the business from the ground up, Leah has been able to raise over $50 million dollars in venture funding, expand the company internationally, and propel TaskRabbit as a leader of the Sharing Economy movement. There were many lessons learned along the way, and in this dynamic speech, Leah will share five important lessons that changed the game for her life and her business. From having “Big Hairy Audacious Goals” to discovering ideas, instead of inventing them, Leah will explore how anyone can be entrepreneurial and drive innovation for their team, business, or organization, ultimately achieving greater happiness for themselves and truly loving what they do.
Women in Technology: Invest in our Girls Early and Bridge the Gap Now
We constantly hear about the “pipeline problem” of Women in the technology industry. Companies want to hire more women and drive more diversity, but they say they struggle in finding qualified candidates. Is the pipeline problem real and how can we better prepare our girls and young women for careers in the technology industry? Leah will share her experiences from how her 8 year old self learned about what a CEO does, to having strong female mentors and role models throughout pivotal educational years, to quitting her job at IBM to found TaskRabbit - a pioneer of the Sharing Economy movement. Her experiences as a speaker for Girls Who Code, mentor for Girls in Tech, and Board Trustee for Sweet Briar College have shaped her perspective on bridging the gap for women in technology. As we strive to increase diversity in the pipeline, Leah will also share how companies can start finding qualified diverse candidates today, by increasing their focus on culture building, investing in diversity and inclusion programs, and working with untraditional recruiting resources to fill the gap immediately. The audience will be left motivated, inspired, and with new tools at the ready to drive diversity for their organization.
FAQs
How do I book Leah A. Busque for my event?
Contact CAA Speakers at (424) 288-2898 or speakers@caa.com to book Leah A. Busque to speak at corporate or private events, keynote speeches, speaking engagements, workshops, fireside chats, motivational speaking, or virtual appearances.
Quick booking process- Email CAA Speakers with event details
- Get availability confirmation within 24 hours
- Review speaking fee and contract terms
- Sign agreement and finalize logistics
As one of the most influential talent agencies in the world, CAA handles all speaking engagements from contract to event day coordination.
Who is Leah A. Busque's booking agent?
CAA Speakers is the preferred booking agency to contact for Leah A. Busque’s speaking engagements. Contact speakers@caa.com for all Leah A. Busque in-person appearances and keynote speaking requests.
Contact Leah A. Busque's agent- Email: speakers@caa.com
- Website: caa.com/caaspeakers
- Response: Within 24 hours
CAA Speakers can check Leah A. Busque's speaking calendar with direct access to availability and official pricing. While many websites may list Leah A. Busque, CAA Speakers is the direct source for authentic information about availability and pricing.
What is Leah A. Busque's speaking fee?
Leah A. Busque's speaking fee varies by event type, location, and requirements. As a top keynote speaker, Leah A. Busque's fee reflects their expertise and market demand.
Speaking fee factors:- Event type and audience size
- Travel distance and logistics
- Presentation length and customization
- Virtual vs. in-person delivery
Additional costs: Travel, accommodation, A/V requirements, and optional meet-and-greets.
Contact CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com for Leah A. Busque's current speaking fee and detailed cost breakdown.
How much does it cost to book Leah A. Busque as a keynote speaker?
The cost to book Leah A. Busque as keynote speaker includes their speaking fee plus travel and logistics expenses.
Total booking cost includes:- Leah A. Busque's keynote speaking fee
- Travel and accommodation
- Technical requirements and A/V setup
- Optional add-ons like book signing and meet & greets
- Virtual presentations
- Local/regional events
- Off-peak booking periods
- Flexible event dates
Email speakers@caa.com for Leah A. Busque's exact booking cost and customized pricing proposal.
How to contact Leah A. Busque for speaking engagements?
Contact CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com for all Leah A. Busque speaking engagements.
Official contact for Leah A. Busque bookings:- Email: speakers@caa.com
- Website: https://www.caa.com/caaspeakers/leah-busque
- Response time: 24 hours
Include your event date, location, audience size, and budget when contacting CAA about booking Leah A. Busque.
Is Leah A. Busque available for virtual speaking events?
Yes, Leah A. Busque speaks at virtual events with professional-grade equipment and interactive presentation style.
Leah A. Busque's virtual event options:- Live virtual keynotes with Q&A
- Interactive workshops and breakouts
- Hybrid events (in-person + virtual)
- Pre-recorded presentations
Virtual events offer global reach, flexible scheduling, and reduced travel costs while maintaining Leah A. Busque's engaging presentation quality.
Contact CAA Speakers for Leah A. Busque's virtual event availability and technical specifications.
What events can I book Leah A. Busque for?
Book Leah A. Busque for corporate conferences, industry events, private functions, and virtual presentations. Leah A. Busque customizes content for any audience size or event type.
Event types:- Corporate meetings and conferences
- Industry summits and trade shows
- Private executive retreats
- Educational institution events
- Virtual and hybrid conferences
Leah A. Busque engages audiences from private executive meetings to large conferences with thousands of attendees.
Contact CAA Speakers to discuss how Leah A. Busque can customize their presentation for your specific event.
Leah A. Busque booking information and availability
Check Leah A. Busque's speaking availability through CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com. Book 3-6 months in advance for best date selection during peak seasons (September-November, March-May).
Availability factors:- Event date and location
- Speaking fee and budget
- Lead time for booking
- Peak conference seasons
- 3-6 months: Best availability
- 3-6 months: Best availability
- 2-3 months: Good availability
- 1-2 months: Select availability
- Under 30 days: Limited availability
Contact CAA early in your planning process to secure Leah A. Busque for your preferred event date.
Book Leah A. Busque keynote speaker through CAA
Book Leah A. Busque through CAA Speakers for guaranteed authentic representation and professional event coordination. CAA is the preferred booking agent for Leah A. Busque, with direct access to their speaking availability and decades of experience representing the world’s top keynote speakers.
CAA booking advantages:- Direct access to Leah A. Busque's calendar
- 24-hour availability confirmations
- Professional contract negotiation
- Full logistics coordination
- Industry-leading client service
Trusted by Fortune 500 companies for their most important speaking engagements. Contact speakers@caa.com to book Leah A. Busque for your next event.
Will Leah A. Busque speak at private events?
Yes, Leah A. Busque speaks at private corporate events, executive retreats, board meetings, and exclusive functions.
Private event types:- Executive retreats and board presentations
- Client entertainment and VIP gatherings
- Corporate celebrations and award ceremonies
- Private dinners and exclusive functions
Private event benefits: Customized content, enhanced interaction, complete confidentiality, and flexible scheduling.
Contact CAA Speakers for Leah A. Busque's private event availability and confidential pricing proposals.
How quickly will I get a response about booking Leah A. Busque?
CAA Speakers responds to Leah A. Busque booking inquiries within 24 hours during business days. Complex requests or international events may take up to 48 hours for detailed proposals.
Response timeline:- Initial acknowledgment: Within 24 hours
- Availability confirmation: 24-48 hours
- Detailed pricing proposal: 48-72 hours
- Urgent requests: Same-day priority response
Include complete event details (date, location, audience size, budget) for fastest response times.
How far in advance should I book Leah A. Busque?
Book Leah A. Busque 3-6 months in advance for best availability, especially during peak speaking seasons. Early booking ensures better date selection and rate negotiations.
Recommended booking timeline:- 3-6 months: Optimal availability and pricing
- 2-3 months: Good availability
- 1-2 months: Select availability
- Under 30 days: Limited availability
Peak seasons: September-November and March-May book fastest. Contact CAA Speakers early for priority consideration.
How do I get Leah A. Busque pricing information?
Get Leah A. Busque pricing information by contacting CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com with your event details. Receive detailed cost breakdown within 24-48 hours with no obligation to book.
For accurate pricing, include:- Event date and location
- Audience size and type
- Event format and duration
- Budget parameters
CAA provides transparent pricing with all costs included - speaking fee, travel, accommodation, and technical requirements.