Distinguished Fellow, Carnegie Mellon University’s College of Engineering
Vivek Wadhwa: Biography at a Glance
- Distinguished Fellow at Carnegie Mellon University’s College of Engineering and Director of Research at Duke University’s Pratt School of Engineering
- Author of "The Driver in the Driverless Car: How Our Technology Choices Will Create the Future," “The Immigrant Exodus: Why America Is Losing the Global Race to Capture Entrepreneurial Talent,” and “Innovating Women: The Changing Face of Technology”
- Globally syndicated columnist for the Washington Post
- Held appointments at Stanford Law School, Harvard Law School and Emory University
- Faculty member at Singularity University
Videos
Biography
Vivek's background is impressive -- an Entrepreneur, Academic, Author, Keynote Speaker wrapped into a wonderfully vibrant and charismatic package. His research is focused on the critical advances in robotics, artificial intelligence, computing, synthetic biology, 3D printing, medicine, and nanomaterials, and how these advances are creating disruptive changes for companies, industries, governments and the culture at large.
Vivek just rejoined Harvard as a Distinguished Fellow, Harvard Law School, Labor, and Worklife Program, where he will help lead a critical three-year research project on the effects of technology on future employment and work. This will be the first study on how technology will affect the core foundations of our economy.
He is also currently a Distinguished Fellow at Carnegie Mellon University's College of Engineering, he teaches on CMU's Silicon Valley campus about the latest exponential technologies; technology convergence and industry disruption; risks and regulation; and the new rules of innovation. Vivek was also a Director of Research at Duke University's Pratt School of Engineering, Vice President of Innovation and Research at Singularity University, and Fellow at Stanford University's Rock Center for Corporate Governance, Harvard Law School, and Emory University. Remarkably, he has held as many as six simultaneous appointments at top universities.
Vivek's syndicated column for The Washington Post is one of the world's most popular columns on all things technology and innovation. His newest bestselling book is Your Happiness Was Hacked: Why Tech Is Winning the Battle to Control Your Brain--and How to Fight Back. Previous books include the award-winning,The Driver in the Driverless Car: How Our Technology Choices Will Create the Future, he also wrote The Immigrant Exodus: Why America Is Losing the Global Race to Capture Entrepreneurial Talent, which was named by The Economist as a Book of the Year of 2012, and Innovating Women: The Changing Face of Technology, for which the Financial Times named him #2 on its global list of the top ten men worth emulating.
This talent for communicating the complexities of global technological advancements in simple, almost poetic ways have made Vivek one of the most in-demand keynote speakers in the world. He gives more than 100 talks every year to the most prestigious and powerful audiences, including world leaders, CEOs, industry organizations, universities, entrepreneurship groups, and a multitude of national science and engineering academies.
He started his career as a software developer and gained a deep understanding of the challenges in building computer systems. His experience as Vice President of Information Services at investment banking powerhouse CS First Boston (CSFB), spearheading the development of technology for creating computer-aided software-writing systems, was so successful that CSFB decided to spin off that business unit into its own company, Seer Technologies. As its Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, Wadhwa helped grow the nascent startup into a $118 million publicly traded company.
The explosive growth of the Internet afforded Vivek with an even greater opportunity to help businesses adapt to new and fast-changing technologies, and founded Relativity Technologies. As a result of his vision, Forbes.com named Wadhwa a Leader of Tomorrow, and Fortune declared Relativity one of the 25 coolest companies in the world.
In 2012, the U.S. Government awarded Wadhwa distinguished recognition as an "Outstanding American by Choice", for his "commitment to this country and to the common civic values that unite us as Americans". He was also named one of the world's "Top 100 Global Thinkers" by Foreign Policy magazine in that year; in June 2013, he was on TIME's list of "Tech 40", one of forty of the most influential minds in tech; and in September 2015, he was second on a list of "ten men worth emulating" in the Financial Times.
Topics
Why Innovation Isn’t Dead: A Look at Our Technology Future
There is a lot of pessimism about the future. Some people argue that, other than advances in computer-related fields, technological progress has actually stalled: the internal-combustion engine, invented in 1876, still rules our highways; the cancer death rate has barely changed since 1971; today’s Internet was actually designed in the 1960s. There are fears that world wars will break out over water and energy shortages and that our standards of living will fall.
These perceptions couldn’t be further from the truth.
Vivek Wadhwa will discuss why he believes that this will be the most innovative decade in human history. He will explain how exponentially advancing technologies—in fields such as robotics, A.I., computing, synthetic biology, 3D printing, medicine, and nanomaterials—will enable us to start solving humanity’s grand challenges.
These technologies will disrupt entire industries, provide opportunities to create new ones, and help solve humanity’s grand challenges. For example:
- 3D printing and robotics will enable manufacturing to return to the U.S.
- Advances in DNA sequencing and synthetic biology will make it possible to engineer drugs for the individual and create personalized stem cell lines.
- Autonomous, self-driving cars will revolutionize urban transport.
- Low-cost tablets and artificial-intelligence–based learning systems will change the teaching paradigm and bring education to the world’s masses.
- Star Trek–like tricorders, holodecks, and replicators will become a reality.
- These advances aren’t going to come from governments and large research labs but from small groups of motivated people. Wadhwa will give you a tour of the Star Trek future we are headed into.
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FAQs
How do I book Vivek Wadhwa for my event?
Contact CAA Speakers at (424) 288-2898 or speakers@caa.com to book Vivek Wadhwa 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 Vivek Wadhwa's booking agent?
CAA Speakers is the preferred booking agency to contact for Vivek Wadhwa’s speaking engagements. Contact speakers@caa.com for all Vivek Wadhwa in-person appearances and keynote speaking requests.
Contact Vivek Wadhwa's agent- Email: speakers@caa.com
- Website: caa.com/caaspeakers
- Response: Within 24 hours
CAA Speakers can check Vivek Wadhwa's speaking calendar with direct access to availability and official pricing. While many websites may list Vivek Wadhwa, CAA Speakers is the direct source for authentic information about availability and pricing.
What is Vivek Wadhwa's speaking fee?
Vivek Wadhwa's speaking fee varies by event type, location, and requirements. As a top keynote speaker, Vivek Wadhwa'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 Vivek Wadhwa's current speaking fee and detailed cost breakdown.
How much does it cost to book Vivek Wadhwa as a keynote speaker?
The cost to book Vivek Wadhwa as keynote speaker includes their speaking fee plus travel and logistics expenses.
Total booking cost includes:- Vivek Wadhwa'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 Vivek Wadhwa's exact booking cost and customized pricing proposal.
How to contact Vivek Wadhwa for speaking engagements?
Contact CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com for all Vivek Wadhwa speaking engagements.
Official contact for Vivek Wadhwa bookings:- Email: speakers@caa.com
- Website: https://www.caa.com/caaspeakers/vivek-wadhwa
- Response time: 24 hours
Include your event date, location, audience size, and budget when contacting CAA about booking Vivek Wadhwa.
Is Vivek Wadhwa available for virtual speaking events?
Yes, Vivek Wadhwa speaks at virtual events with professional-grade equipment and interactive presentation style.
Vivek Wadhwa'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 Vivek Wadhwa's engaging presentation quality.
Contact CAA Speakers for Vivek Wadhwa's virtual event availability and technical specifications.
What events can I book Vivek Wadhwa for?
Book Vivek Wadhwa for corporate conferences, industry events, private functions, and virtual presentations. Vivek Wadhwa 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
Vivek Wadhwa engages audiences from private executive meetings to large conferences with thousands of attendees.
Contact CAA Speakers to discuss how Vivek Wadhwa can customize their presentation for your specific event.
Vivek Wadhwa booking information and availability
Check Vivek Wadhwa'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 Vivek Wadhwa for your preferred event date.
Book Vivek Wadhwa keynote speaker through CAA
Book Vivek Wadhwa through CAA Speakers for guaranteed authentic representation and professional event coordination. CAA is the preferred booking agent for Vivek Wadhwa, with direct access to their speaking availability and decades of experience representing the world’s top keynote speakers.
CAA booking advantages:- Direct access to Vivek Wadhwa'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 Vivek Wadhwa for your next event.
Will Vivek Wadhwa speak at private events?
Yes, Vivek Wadhwa 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 Vivek Wadhwa's private event availability and confidential pricing proposals.
How quickly will I get a response about booking Vivek Wadhwa?
CAA Speakers responds to Vivek Wadhwa 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 Vivek Wadhwa?
Book Vivek Wadhwa 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 Vivek Wadhwa pricing information?
Get Vivek Wadhwa 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.