Award-Winning Podcast Host & Global Authority on Human Behavior; Global Director of Behavioral Economics, Google
Maya Shankar: Biography at a Glance
- Maya Shankar is a cognitive scientist and global authority on human behavior and change, currently serving as Google’s Global Director of Behavioral Economics.
- She previously served as Senior Policy Advisor in the Obama White House and as the first Behavioral Science Advisor to the United Nations.
- She created and hosts A Slight Change of Plans, Apple’s “Best Show of the Year,” blending science and storytelling to help millions navigate life’s biggest transitions. The podcast features deeply personal stories and scientific insights about who we are and who we become in the face of a big change featuring guests like Hillary Clinton, Tiffany Haddish, and Kacey Musgraves.
- A Rhodes Scholar, Maya earned her B.A. from Yale, Ph.D. from Oxford, and completed a postdoctoral fellowship in cognitive neuroscience at Stanford.
- Her work has been featured in The New Yorker, NPR, CBS Mornings, The Today Show, and National Geographic’s Limitless with Chris Hemsworth.
- She is the author of The Other Side of Change, which combines compelling human stories with scientific insight to reveal how we can find meaning in disruption.
- A former Juilliard violinist trained by Itzhak Perlman, Maya draws on her own life-altering injury to connect with audiences facing unexpected change.
Videos
Biography
Maya Shankar is a cognitive scientist who currently serves as Google’s Global Director of Behavioral Economics. She is well known as the creator of the podcast A Slight Change of Plans, previously named “Best Show of the Year” by Apple. She served as a Senior Policy Advisor in the Obama White House, where she founded and chaired the Social and Behavioral Sciences Team. She was also appointed as the first Behavioral Science Advisor to the United Nations. Maya has a B.A. from Yale and a Ph.D. from Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar, and completed a postdoctoral fellowship in cognitive neuroscience at Stanford. She has been profiled by The New Yorker, has been a guest on NPR, CBS Mornings, and The Today Show, and was featured as a neuroscience expert on National Geographic’s Limitless with Chris Hemsworth. She is a former violin student of Itzhak Perlman at Juilliard.
Topics
The Other Side of Change: Who We Become When Life Makes Other Plans
In this powerful and deeply human talk, cognitive scientist Maya Shankar shares transformative insights from her book The Other Side of Change, blending cutting-edge behavioral science with moving personal stories. Drawing from her own life-altering experiences and interviews with individuals who’ve faced profound upheaval, Maya explores how we can rethink our relationship with change—not as something to survive, but as a profound opportunity for reinvention and growth. With warmth and clarity, she offers practical strategies for navigating disruption, helping audiences unlock resilience, tap into new potential, and embrace change as a catalyst for becoming their most authentic selves.
A Slight Change of Plans: The Science of Harnessing Disruption
There are few things in life that are as complex and messy—and potentially magical—as change. Once a concert violinist studying under Itzhak Perlman and the Juilliard School of Music, a career-ending injury instantly closed the doors that Maya had worked for years to open.
Inspired by her own experience, Dr. Shankar went on to study the science of change – ultimately leading Behavioral Science teams at the White House and Google. Now host of the podcast, A Slight Change of Plans, Maya explores how the world’s luminaries navigate change in their own lives.
Audiences will learn how to skillfully embrace inflection points in their own lives, as Dr. Shankar reveals behavioral insights that can lead to powerful transformation.
From the White House to Google: How to Improve Decision-Making at Scale
When it comes to taking care of our health, finances, or emotions, we often make decisions and behave in ways that run counter to what intuition would suggest. Looking closely at what underlies these types of behaviors, Dr. Shankar shares knowledge of how even small changes in the way we design programs, products, and policies can motivate better choices, improve individual wellness, and impact other fundamental measures of happiness and health.
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FAQs
How do I book Maya Shankar for my event?
Contact CAA Speakers at (424) 288-2898 or speakers@caa.com to book Maya Shankar 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 Maya Shankar's booking agent?
CAA Speakers is the preferred booking agency to contact for Maya Shankar’s speaking engagements. Contact speakers@caa.com for all Maya Shankar in-person appearances and keynote speaking requests.
Contact Maya Shankar's agent- Email: speakers@caa.com
- Website: caa.com/caaspeakers
- Response: Within 24 hours
CAA Speakers can check Maya Shankar's speaking calendar with direct access to availability and official pricing. While many websites may list Maya Shankar, CAA Speakers is the direct source for authentic information about availability and pricing.
What is Maya Shankar's speaking fee?
Maya Shankar's speaking fee varies by event type, location, and requirements. As a top keynote speaker, Maya Shankar'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 Maya Shankar's current speaking fee and detailed cost breakdown.
How much does it cost to book Maya Shankar as a keynote speaker?
The cost to book Maya Shankar as keynote speaker includes their speaking fee plus travel and logistics expenses.
Total booking cost includes:- Maya Shankar'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 Maya Shankar's exact booking cost and customized pricing proposal.
How to contact Maya Shankar for speaking engagements?
Contact CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com for all Maya Shankar speaking engagements.
Official contact for Maya Shankar bookings:- Email: speakers@caa.com
- Website: https://www.caa.com/caaspeakers/maya-shankar
- Response time: 24 hours
Include your event date, location, audience size, and budget when contacting CAA about booking Maya Shankar.
Is Maya Shankar available for virtual speaking events?
Yes, Maya Shankar speaks at virtual events with professional-grade equipment and interactive presentation style.
Maya Shankar'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 Maya Shankar's engaging presentation quality.
Contact CAA Speakers for Maya Shankar's virtual event availability and technical specifications.
What events can I book Maya Shankar for?
Book Maya Shankar for corporate conferences, industry events, private functions, and virtual presentations. Maya Shankar 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
Maya Shankar engages audiences from private executive meetings to large conferences with thousands of attendees.
Contact CAA Speakers to discuss how Maya Shankar can customize their presentation for your specific event.
Maya Shankar booking information and availability
Check Maya Shankar'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 Maya Shankar for your preferred event date.
Book Maya Shankar keynote speaker through CAA
Book Maya Shankar through CAA Speakers for guaranteed authentic representation and professional event coordination. CAA is the preferred booking agent for Maya Shankar, with direct access to their speaking availability and decades of experience representing the world’s top keynote speakers.
CAA booking advantages:- Direct access to Maya Shankar'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 Maya Shankar for your next event.
Will Maya Shankar speak at private events?
Yes, Maya Shankar 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 Maya Shankar's private event availability and confidential pricing proposals.
How quickly will I get a response about booking Maya Shankar?
CAA Speakers responds to Maya Shankar 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 Maya Shankar?
Book Maya Shankar 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 Maya Shankar pricing information?
Get Maya Shankar 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.