Sophia Velastegui

Founder & CEO

Book Sophia Velastegui for your next event.

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 & governance, traditional & machine learning & generative AI development, and keen judgment into all critical aspects of this high technology.

Sophia Velastegui delivers rare credibility: she has built, launched, and scaled AI products at Microsoft, Apple, Google/Nest and now serves as CEO of Velastegui Ventures 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.

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.

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.

Sophia has spoken in front of audiences of thousands to smaller, discrete fireside chats for executives across the globe.

Recent Engagements

Where Sophia has taken the stage.

  • Sophia will be joining 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.” In the U.S., we look to Silicon Valley but 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.

    Join the conversation here: https://lnkd.in/g_jRyygZ

  • 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 experiences at Microsoft, Google, Apple and beyond, Sophia explored how curiosity, adaptability, and responsible innovation can help us shape what’s next. Link

  • Key focus areas:
    * 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 across your organization
    * Technology Leadership: The expanded strategic role of CTOs in corporate strategy, product development, and operations
    * Cybersecurity: Critical security implications of multi-agent AI systems

    This isn't theoretical—it's about practical strategies you can implement immediately. Learn from leaders who've navigated costly mistakes and breakthrough successes. Link

  • Sophia Velastegui provided a keynote at Mastercard’s Digital Safari on “Who Will Dominate the Market and Shape Tomorrow’s Technology?”

    Link

  • In the opening panel, Sophia shared her perspective on “Board Leadership in a Shifting Economic Environment,” including:

    * The role of policies and regulation in shaping corporate governance frameworks
    * The impacts of globalization on interconnected financial markets
    * The resilience of the U.S. economy in withstanding these ups and downs

    Sophia also led a roundtable discussion on “Harnessing AI for Strategic Advantage” to discuss how boards can stay engaged on ethical and responsible AI while maintaining transparency for investors. Link

  • Pascal Van Hentenryck and Sophia discussed the hottest topics of the day, from AI ecosystems to DeepSeek AI and AI agentic roles to robotics. Link

  • Sophia Velastegui provided a Fireside chat with EWOB / Grant Thornton on audience questions covering executive level AI concerns.

  • Sophia joined Gibson Dunn partner Keith Enright for a fireside chat that explored the intersection of artificial intelligence, digital transformation, and the risks and opportunities these technologies present for the firm and for the legal profession.

    Drawing from my extensive experience as an AI product leader across industries, Sophia identified key trends and developments, and Keith and Sophia explored what this might mean for Gibson Dunn, and for the legal profession generally.

  • Sophia Velastegui spoke at a panel discussion called “AI or Die”.

  • Today, AI is being trained on data from developers and the people who use it. That foundation is critical to how the AI ecosystem continues to evolve and produce higher-quality outputs that may help us solve some of humanity’s biggest challenges.

    The truth is that AI tools need people like you and me. The more we participate, the more accurately AI will represent our unique points of view and ultimately benefit ALL of us - not just a handful of developers in Silicon Valley. And you can start right now. Link

  • Sophia Velastegui participated on panel discussion at FT’s Future of AI Summit.

    Link

  • Sophia Velastegui participated in a panel discussion: “Ai in the Boardroom: Risks and Opportunities”.

  • Sophia participated in a panel discussion covering AI topics critical to Corporate Directors.

  • Sophia Velastegui provided the keynote speech “AI is Unstoppable”
    at FT’s TNW Conference.

  • Sophia Velastegui participated on an AI Panel at the NYSE AAPI Celebration.

  • Sophia Velastegui participated on the pane; “Practical AI: Bridging the Gap Between Theory and Application” at the Philadelphia Alliance for Capital and Technologies Phorum 2024.

  • Sophia Velastegui provided the keynote at the National Association of Corporate Director’s AI Masterclass: “Technology and Innovation Oversight”.

  • Sophia Velastegui provided a Fireside Chat “The IA Advantage: transforming Finance in a Tech-Driven Era” at the FFA Global Fund Finance Symposium.