Behavioral Researcher & Human Behavior Expert; Founder of Science of People; Author of "Captivate" & "Cues"
Vanessa Van Edwards Biography
Vanessa Van Edwards is a behavioral researcher, author, and Harvard University instructor who has spent two decades translating the science of human behavior into practical, learnable skills. She founded Science of People with the thesis that people skills are not innate talent but a science that can be learned. What began as a research blog has grown into a platform used by more than 5 million students in over 100 countries. As lead investigator at her human behavior research lab, Van Edwards conducts original research on popular psychology and communication.
Van Edwards is the author of three books published by Portfolio/Penguin Random House. Her book "Captivate: The Science of Succeeding with People" has been translated into more than 18 languages, and her second book, "Cues: Master the Secret Language of Charismatic Communication," became a Wall Street Journal bestseller. Her third title, "Conversation: How to Be Instantly Likeable in Any Interaction," expands on her framework for understanding and mastering the dynamics of human interaction, offering audiences actionable tools based on rigorous research.
Van Edwards describes herself as a recovering awkward person who struggled with social anxiety early in life. Early in her career, she recognized the importance of developing social skills to effectively communicate ideas. This personal experience of overcoming social difficulty became the foundation of her research, focusing on the cues and social signals that shape perception and trust.
More than 75 million people have seen Van Edwards on YouTube and in her TEDxLondon talk, "You Are Contagious," where she explains how nonverbal behavior, such as hand gestures, microexpressions, and verbal variety, influences perceptions of confidence. Her lab has conducted experiments on TED Talks, analyzed hand gestures in presidential inaugural addresses, and researched the TV show "Shark Tank." Her work has been featured across major media outlets, including CNN, BBC, CBS Mornings, Fast Company, Inc., Entrepreneur, USA Today, and The Today Show.
Van Edwards works with organizations to improve communication, with clients including Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Meta, and Comcast. She has spoken at MIT, Stanford, and SXSW, and writes monthly columns for Entrepreneur Magazine. Through her research and writing, Van Edwards provides practical insights into human behavior, communication, and leadership development.
Vanessa Van Edwards Speaking Topics
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The Surprising Secrets of High Performers: How the Most Successful People Use Effective Communication to be More Productive
Highly effective people have a unique approach to productivity. Over the last decade, Vanessa Van Edwards has studied the patterns of successful people and found a surprising way we can all work smarter, not harder. The key is being a productive communicator.
Vanessa will teach attendees how to maximize their relationships and streamline their communication with a simple, but powerful framework, as well as how to communicate like a human when leveraging AI tools. The goal is to empower attendees to increase efficiency by connecting and collaborating in a purposeful way. This highly actionable, engaging talk will energize every audience member to look at their to-do list in a completely new way.
This topic can be tailored for leaders, teams and inspirational conferences. Specific topic descriptions are available upon request.
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The Three Levels of Connection: Build Stronger Relationships by Using the Science of People
Our desire for community and connection doesn’t end at work. While connection with colleagues looks different from purely personal connections, having authentic and healthy connections in the workplace is one of the main determinants of productivity and workplace satisfaction. While the increase of virtual mediums presents an added challenge, creating meaningful connections is possible. In fact, there’s a science-based blueprint to fostering connections quickly and maintaining them with professional intention.
In this presentation, Vanessa Van Edwards teaches the three levels of connection that build trust and rapport. These principles can be applied at work, within teams, at conferences, and while networking, with colleagues and customers alike. Each level builds on the next, providing insight and tools on how to deepen relationships. Along with gaining a deeper understanding of the levels of connection, attendees will learn the practice of creating a safe space for vulnerability and ideas.
Key learning objectives can include:
- How to start a conversation with anyone and build immediate rapport using the conversation blueprint.
- Conversation starters that break down barriers and social scripts, encouraging openness and trust.
- The powerful psychological concept “The Swan Effect” and how it helps stimulate connectedness through openness and vulnerability.
- Improving social perceptiveness
• the ability to read the room, predict behavior and understand underlying emotions for smooth communication.
- How to read people, uncover hidden emotions, and which body language cues can instantly increase trust and charisma.
- The external cues to use to project confidence and trust.
This topic can be tailored for networking, teams, leaders, and sales. Specific topic descriptions are available upon request.
Vanessa Van Edwards Videos
This Is Why People Don't Take You Seriously | Vanessa Van Edwards
What if one sentence could make someone instantly feel valued? In this episode Vanessa Van Edwards.
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What are the speaker fees for Vanessa Van Edwards
Speaking fees for Vanessa Van Edwards, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Vanessa Van Edwards are $50,000 - $100,000 for live events and $20,000 - $30,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Vanessa Van Edwards, 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 Vanessa Van Edwards speak about?
Vanessa Van Edwards is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Bestselling Authors, Business Authors, Business Coaching, Business Leadership, Communication, Corporate Culture, Customer Experience, Disruptive Thinking, Family & Parenting, Human Resources, Influential Women, Innovation, Leadership, Motivational, Non-Fiction Authors, Peak Performance, Personal Growth, Research & Exploration, Teamwork & Teambuilding, Thought Leadership, Workshop -
Where does Vanessa Van Edwards travel from?
Vanessa Van Edwards generally travels from Los Angeles, 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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Vanessa Van Edwards is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as The Surprising Secrets of High Performers: How the Most Successful People Use Effective Communication to be More Productive, The Three Levels of Connection: Build Stronger Relationships by Using the Science of People and Charismatic Communication: The Art and Science of Presence, Confidence and Trust . The estimated speaking fee range to book Vanessa Van Edwards for your event is $50,000 - $100,000. Vanessa Van Edwards generally travels from Los Angeles, CA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Josh Linkner, Erica Dhawan, Libby Gill, Amy Jo Martin and Keith Ferrazzi. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Vanessa Van Edwards for an upcoming live or virtual event.
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