Award-Winning Clinical Psychologist, Educator & Author of "A Suitcase Full"; Resilience, Trauma Recovery and Mindfulness Expert
Maryam Kia Biography
Dr. Maryam Kia is an award-winning clinical psychologist, educator and author of the picture book "A Suitcase Full." She speaks about resilience, wellness, mindfulness and the journeys people take along the way. She graduated from Dartmouth College and earned graduate degrees at Harvard University and Boston University.
From her extensive experience responding in the immediate aftermath of natural disasters, mass shootings, forced displacement and other collective trauma, Dr. Kia understands what people and communities need to bounce back. She has designed resilience programs for parents, children, schools and first responders, and her scientific studies have been published in high-impact academic journals. Her work has been featured in The Washington Post, ABC News, CNN, NPR and Psychology Today.
Dr. Kia's "A Suitcase Full" is inspired by her own journey across the world after her family was forced to flee Iran. She lived around the globe and settled on the island of Oahu, where she graduated from Punahou School. Dr. Kia's experiences provide her with an international lens, an appreciation for our shared humanity, a firsthand understanding of resilience and a unique and authentic vantage point. As a lifelong educator, she delivers clear messages that engage audiences from young to old.
Contact a speaker booking agent to check availability on Maryam Kia and other top speakers and celebrities.
Maryam Kia Speaking Topics
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A Suitcase Full of Strength: Raising Resilient Children in Uncertain Times
Along our journeys, we fill our metaphorical suitcases with experiences, identities, losses, and hopes. In a world shaped by displacement, pandemics, climate crises, and social unrest, parents and educators are asking:
- How do we help children feel safe when the world feels unstable?
- What builds resilience?
Inspired by her children’s book, "A Suitcase Full," and grounded in trauma-informed developmental science, Dr. Maryam Kia shares how children make meaning of adversity—and how caring adults can support that process. It emphasizes storytelling, connection, and emotional literacy as protective forces. Audiences leave with practical tools to nurture belonging, emotional resilience, and hope in children—helping them carry their stories with strength rather than fear.
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Protecting Children’s Social-Emotional Health in a Digital World
AI is shaping how children learn, connect, and understand themselves—but emotional development can’t be automated. This presentation asks:
- How does constant digital engagement affect empathy and identity?
- What happens to belonging when connection is mediated by algorithms?
- How do we prepare children for the future without sacrificing their humanity?
Bridging psychology, education, and ethics, Dr. Kia explores AI’s impact on children’s social-emotional development. Through a trauma-informed and equity-focused lens, it highlights how adults can guide children to use technology as a tool, not a substitute for human connection.
The session calls for intentional, values-driven approaches that center emotional well-being, agency, and relational resilience in an AI-shaped world.
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How do I book Maryam Kia to speak at my event?
Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Maryam Kia 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 Maryam Kia, 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 Maryam Kia or any other speaker of your choice. -
What are the speaker fees for Maryam Kia
Speaking fees for Maryam Kia, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Maryam Kia are $10,000 - $20,000 for live events and under $10,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Maryam Kia, 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 Maryam Kia speak about?
Maryam Kia is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Artificial Intelligence, Belonging, Children's Authors, Crisis Management, Education, Emotional Intelligence, Family & Parenting, Mental Health, Mindfulness, Overcoming Adversity, Personal Growth, Psychology, Resilience, Social Sciences, Storytelling, Youth -
Where does Maryam Kia travel from?
Maryam Kia generally travels from Santa Ana, 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 Maryam Kia’s agent?
AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like Maryam Kia 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 Maryam Kia 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 Maryam Kia 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.
Maryam Kia is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as A Suitcase Full of Strength: Raising Resilient Children in Uncertain Times, Protecting Children’s Social-Emotional Health in a Digital World, From Individual Coping to Collective Healing: Building Community Resilience After Crisis, Belonging and Value: Restorative Schools, Youth Agency, and Educating the Next Generation of Changemakers and What Happens When We Slow Down Together. The estimated speaking fee range to book Maryam Kia for your event is $10,000 - $20,000. Maryam Kia generally travels from Santa Ana, CA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Heidi Connal, Dr. Becky Kennedy, Stephanie Simpson, Shannon Miller and Linnda Durre, Ph.D.. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Maryam Kia for an upcoming live or virtual event.
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