Lead What's Next
Dr. Sam Zolfagharian helps leaders move beyond AI buzzwords and fear, toward smart and strategic adaptation. Her keynotes are inspirational and make the future feel clear and actionable.
Two Books for the Age of AI
Explore the books →
Future by Design
Substance behind the stage
AI strategist, keynote speaker, and bestselling author. Sam helps executives lead with clarity and confidence in the age of intelligent disruption.
She brings two decades of experience in tech and innovation, including seven years leading product platforms at Autodesk in Silicon Valley. She holds a Ph.D. from Georgia Tech, has published more than 30 peer-reviewed research papers cited globally, and is the co-founder and president of YegaTech, where she advises CEOs and boards on real AI transformation.
Talks that move leaders from anxiety to strategy
Every keynote is tailored to your goals, industry, and the inflection points your audience is navigating. Delivered in person, virtual, or hybrid.
The Future of Us
AI is changing how we think, decide, and create. This keynote helps leaders make sense of the future of humans, not just the future of tech.
- A clear, balanced view of AI without hype or fear
- What changes for humans, and what doesn't
- A leadership mindset for navigating uncertainty
The AI Ready Organization
AI isn't the bottleneck. Most organizations are. Based on the book Disrupt It, this keynote shows executives how to prepare culture, business models, and operating models.
- A framework for becoming strategic innovators
- Moving beyond pilots into business impact
- The big three pillars: culture, business models, operating model
Leading in a Human + AI World
Winning organizations rebuild their talent system: roles, skills, and incentives. This keynote shows leaders how to make AI adoption stick.
- A new model for leading teams with AI in the workflow
- Redesigning roles, skills, and incentives at scale
- Increasing adaptability during constant change
Keynotes audiences keep talking about
Sessions that spark conversations all event long
We had the good fortune of having Dr Sam deliver our opening keynote for the Egnyte AI Summit. She provided an inspiring and practical outlook on how firms are navigating the industry's new reality of AI. Dr Sam was great to work with, she was flexible in the content and helped us really raise the quality of our event. Thank you Dr. Sam!
Dr. Sam gave a fantastic keynote; insightful, engaging, and full of value for our community. Her session sparked conversations throughout the rest of the event. I highly recommend her.
She broke down how organizations can prepare their teams, processes, and strategies for the AI era, leaving the audience with clear, actionable steps.
Endearing and inspiring. She did a great job connecting with our 600 attendees. We're grateful for the energy she brought to the event!
Outstanding session Sam. Looking forward to reading your book Disrupt It and sharing it with my leadership team!
Her talk about AI and her personal journey gave our audience practical insights and a new way to think about innovation. Valuable and memorable!
Trusted on stages worldwide
- Egnyte AI SummitOpening Keynote
- PSMJ, TalentMaxOpening Keynote
- PSMJ, AEC Innovate: The AI and Technology SummitOpening Keynote
- "Rising Together" by Women in ConstructionOpening Keynote
- YegaTech AI Summit and Strategic PlanningOpening Keynote
- CFIA BIMCONOpening Keynote
- RIL, HelsinkiOpening Keynote
- RCON ConferenceAI Keynote and Panel
- Building VenturesAI Keynote and Panel
- "Equity in Artificial Intelligence" at AIA ConferencePanel Discussion
- Women in ConstructionPanel Discussion
Good questions, straight answers
Who is Dr. Sam Zolfagharian?
Dr. Sam Zolfagharian is an AI keynote speaker, strategist, and author. She holds a Ph.D. from Georgia Tech, led product platforms at Autodesk in Silicon Valley, and is the co-founder and president of YegaTech, where she advises CEOs and boards on AI transformation. She has published more than 30 peer-reviewed research papers.
What topics does Sam speak about?
Sam delivers keynotes on AI strategy, the future of work, and organizational readiness. Her signature talks are The Future of Us, The AI Ready Organization, and Leading in a Human + AI World. Every keynote is tailored to the audience and delivered in person, virtual, or hybrid.
What industries does Sam speak for?
Her keynotes are designed for leaders across industries. Sam has delivered talks for technology companies, engineering and construction organizations, professional associations, universities, and executive programs, adapting each keynote to the audience's industry and the inflection points it is navigating.
What books has Sam written?
Sam is the author of Future by Design: The New Shape of Change in the Age of AI, and coauthor of Disrupt It, a framework to align culture, business models, and operations for the age of AI.
How do I book Sam to speak at my event?
Use the contact form on this site to check availability for your conference, summit, or executive program. Include your event date, location, and audience, and the team will respond promptly.
Does Sam speak at international and virtual events?
Yes. Sam has spoken at events across the United States and internationally, including keynotes in Europe, and delivers virtual and hybrid sessions for global audiences.
Ideas your audience takes home
Two playbooks for leaders, especially nontechnical ones, who want to act on AI rather than just watch it happen.
Disrupt It
Transform Your Organization in the Age of AI Disruption
Do you want to be on the cutting edge, not the bleeding edge, of AI? A clear, actionable guide for nontechnical CEOs and board members: how to prepare your culture, business model, and operating model for a future shaped by AI.
Future by Design
The New Shape of Change in the Age of AI
AI is changing what counts as value, and the future will be shaped by those who redesign it on purpose. AI isn't just changing what work looks like. It's changing what counts, as skill, as value, as strategy, and even as leadership.
Praise for Disrupt It
The book is very practical. Enough data and theory to support it, but what I like best about the book is that I walked away with a plan in my head of what I need to do to move to the next level.
Vince DiPofiCEO, SSOEI like the book for its ease of reading and the ability to take a complicated topic and relate it to other previous changes as well as to lead to a more straightforward approach to adopt.
Cathy MyersPresident, SSOEThe book clearly targeted our industry, and industry professionals will be interested in reading it as they strive to begin their AI Journey.
Tim O'RourkeCTO, Wade TrimBook Dr. Sam for your next conference
Keynote, masterclass, panel, or a custom leadership experience. Share your event date, audience, and goals through the contact form and you'll hear back promptly.
Moments from recent events
