Artificial Intelligence Expert; Director of Operations & Special Projects at Neuralink; Former Board Member at OpenAI

San Francisco, CA, USA
Live Event: Please Contact Virtual Event: Please Contact More Fee Info

Shivon Zilis Biography

Shivon Zilis is a Canadian-born artificial intelligence expert, venture capitalist and executive known for her leadership in the field of machine learning and her high-profile role at Elon Musk’s companies. Zilis has worked at the intersection of technology and ethics, helping shape the future of AI through strategic investments and hands-on leadership at some of the world’s most ambitious tech ventures.

Born in Ontario in 1986, Zilis studied economics and philosophy at Yale University, where she also played as a goalkeeper for the Yale Bulldogs women’s ice hockey team. After graduating in 2008, she began her career at IBM, focusing on financial technologies and cognitive computing. Her early interest in AI led her to a role at Bloomberg Beta, the venture capital arm of Bloomberg L.P., where she became a founding member and specialized in early-stage investments in machine intelligence.

Her work at Bloomberg Beta gained recognition across Silicon Valley and beyond. In 2015, Forbes named her to its "30 Under 30" list in the venture capital category, citing her innovative work in the emerging AI sector. Zilis also served as a fellow at the Creative Destruction Lab at the University of Toronto, where she advised startups focused on deep tech and artificial intelligence.

Zilis joined Neuralink in 2017, a neurotechnology company co-founded by Elon Musk with the goal of building brain-machine interfaces. She held the position of director of operations and special projects, helping drive the company’s early development and operational strategy. Her role at Neuralink exemplified her reputation as a trusted strategist with deep technical fluency and business acumen.

In addition to Neuralink, Zilis became associated with Musk’s other ventures, including Tesla and OpenAI. She served on the board of OpenAI, the nonprofit research organization behind several breakthroughs in artificial intelligence, including large language models like ChatGPT. Her involvement at OpenAI underscored her commitment to ensuring that AI is developed responsibly and ethically.

Zilis attracted broader public attention in 2022 when court documents revealed she had twins with Elon Musk via in vitro fertilization. The twins were born in late 2021. While the revelation sparked media interest in her personal life, Zilis has remained largely private and focused on her professional work. In June 2024, it was reported that she had a third child with Musk. On February 28, 2025, Zilis announced the birth of her fourth child, a son who was conceived via IVF with Musk.

A dual citizen of Canada and the United States, Zilis continues to be a prominent figure in the AI community. Her career reflects a rare blend of technical depth, strategic thinking and ethical consideration, placing her at the forefront of conversations about the future of AI and its role in society.

BOOK Shivon Zilis

Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 08/07/2025.

Shivon Zilis Videos

Who is Shivon Zilis?  The Woman Behind Musk’s AI Empire | Elon Musk’s Partner Who Met PM Modi

Who is Shivon Zilis? The Woman Behind Musk’s AI Empire | Elon Musk’s Partner Who Met PM Modi

Shivon Zilis is a key figure in the world of artificial intelligence and a close associate of Elon Musk. She serves as an executive at Neuralink and...

Elon Musk and Shivon Zilis Reveal The Names of Their Twins | E! News

Elon Musk and Shivon Zilis Reveal The Names of Their Twins | E! News

Elon Musk's twins with Neuralink executive Shivon Zilis are featured in a Time magazine story, which also reveals their names. Strider and Azure are...

The Future of Brain Machine Interfaces - Shivon Zilis

The Future of Brain Machine Interfaces - Shivon Zilis

In this talk we introduce Shivon Zilis Project Director at Neuralink to her team's work and the ethical impacts of implanting technology.

  • How do I book Shivon Zilis to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Shivon Zilis for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Shivon Zilis, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Shivon Zilis or any other speaker of your choice.
  • What are the speaker fees for Shivon Zilis

    Speaking fees for Shivon Zilis, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Shivon Zilis are available upon request for live events and available upon request for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Shivon Zilis, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
  • What topics does Shivon Zilis speak about?

    Shivon Zilis is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Artificial Intelligence, Computer Science, Entrepreneurship, Female Leadership, Finance, Women in Business
  • Where does Shivon Zilis travel from?

    Shivon Zilis generally travels from San Francisco, CA, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.
  • Who is Shivon Zilis’s agent?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like Shivon Zilis for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Shivon Zilis for your next private or corporate function.
  • What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Shivon Zilis or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
  • Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

    If you’re looking for the best, unbiased speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.

Shivon Zilis is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics. The estimated speaking fee range to book Shivon Zilis for your event is available upon request. Shivon Zilis generally travels from San Francisco, CA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Karen Palmer, Mutale Nkonde, Joanna Peña-Bickley, Dona Sarkar and Mira Murati. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Shivon Zilis for an upcoming live or virtual event.

Tell us about your event!

During normal business hours, we respond to most inquiries within 4 hours.
Please Select Event Budget
Please enter your message
Please Enter Your Name
Please Enter Your Email
  • Customized Service

    Our agents find the right fit for your event

  • Unparalleled Database

    Full access to all speakers & celebrities

  • One Stop Shopping

    A reliable and unbiased point of contact

  • Logistics Management

    Your personal Logistics Manager who takes care of all event details

This website is a resource for event professionals and strives to provide the most comprehensive catalog of thought leaders and industry experts to consider for speaking engagements. A listing or profile on this website does not imply an agency affiliation or endorsement by the talent.

All American Entertainment (AAE) exclusively represents the interests of talent buyers, and does not claim to be the agency or management for any speaker or artist on this site. AAE is a talent booking agency for paid events only. We do not handle requests for donation of time or media requests for interviews, and cannot provide celebrity contact information.

If you are the talent and wish to request a profile update or removal from our online directory, please submit a profile request form.

TOP