User Experience Design Leader & Digital Product Innovator; Former VP of User Experience & Design at Yahoo; Global Head of User Experience Design at Google; Author of "Design in Venture Capital"

Palo Alto, CA, USA
Live Event: $10,000 - $20,000 Virtual Event: $5,000 - $10,000 More Fee Info

Irene Au Biography

Irene Au is recognized for her contributions to user experience design and digital product innovation. Au holds a bachelor's degree in electrical and computer engineering from the University of South Carolina Honors College and a master's degree in industrial engineering and human-computer interaction from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. She began her career as an interaction designer at Netscape Communications, contributing to the design of the internet's first commercial web browser.

Au was the first interaction designer at Yahoo, where she conducted user experience research and led developments for the website. She spent eight years at Yahoo, ultimately serving as vice president of user experience and design, overseeing product and platform design globally. Au later joined Google as global head of user experience design, coordinating user-centered approaches across the company’s online services. At both Yahoo and Google, Au established human-centered design practices, built and scaled design teams, and directed research and design efforts across a broad portfolio of products and services.

At Udacity, Au served as vice president of product and design, helping the company identify product-market fit and develop project-based learning for students pursuing technical careers. She later became the first design operating partner at Khosla Ventures, advising startup CEOs on integrating design and user research into their organizations. Her influence has been noted in portfolio companies such as Nutanix, where design became central to company culture and business outcomes.

Au is the author of the O'Reilly book, "Design in Venture Capital," and her work has been featured in Wired, Fast Company, CommArts, and Mindful. She is an adjunct lecturer at Stanford University, teaching product design, and serves as a trustee for the Cooper-Hewitt Smithsonian Museum of Design. Au is also a juror for the Red Dot Design Awards. She frequently speaks and writes on topics including human-centered design, mindfulness practices, and creativity, with many of her talks published on Medium.

BOOK Irene Au

Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 07/23/2026.

Irene Au Videos

Keynote Irene Au- Interaction14 on Vimeo

Keynote Irene Au- Interaction14 on Vimeo

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Irene Au, "Cultivating Focus, Empathy, and Creativity for Better ...

Irene Au, "Cultivating Focus, Empathy, and Creativity for Better ...

Design and engineering are both an art and science. Yet, while we teach methods and practices for hard design and coding skills; focus, empathy, and...

  • How do I book Irene Au to speak at my event?

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  • What are the speaker fees for Irene Au

    Speaking fees for Irene Au, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Irene Au are $10,000 - $20,000 for live events and under $10,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Irene Au, 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 Irene Au speak about?

    Irene Au is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Art & Design, Creativity, Disruptive Thinking, Finance, Mental Health, Mindfulness, Technology, Thought Leadership, User Experience (UX), Venture Capital, Women in Tech
  • Where does Irene Au travel from?

    Irene Au generally travels from Palo Alto, 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.
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    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like Irene Au 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 Irene Au for your next private or corporate function.
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Irene Au is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics. The estimated speaking fee range to book Irene Au for your event is $10,000 - $20,000. Irene Au generally travels from Palo Alto, CA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Ivy Ross, Mellody Hobson, Yves Béhar, Lauren Ducrey and Ziyuan "Zoey" Zhu. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Irene Au for an upcoming live or virtual event.

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