“Captivating…unforgettable…hilarious”

Aarti Shahani is an award-winning NPR journalist, bestselling author and host of the hit podcast “Art of Power.” She regularly interviews extraordinary leaders such as: President Barack Obama, the CEOs of Microsoft and PepsiCo,  "Queer Eye" creator David Collins, democracy activist Stacey Abrams, Grammy and Oscar winning performer Common....and even the judge who sentenced her father to prison. Aarti's own journey is remarkable. She was an undocumented child in Queens, New York. She graduated from Harvard on a full scholarship and became a national voice speaking to millions of Americans at a time from Silicon Valley.

Her first book, which is being developed into a feature film, is "among the finest memoirs written in recent decades—a heartbreaking, hilarious and tender love letter…a vivid, almost cinematic journey that is both beautiful and unforgettable" — Guy Raz, co-creator of How I Built This, TED Radio Hour.

Aarti gives keynotes and interactive trainings on how to use your voice to build power. She has spoken at companies and nonprofits, including Starbucks, Google, Pixar, Capital One, Square and Skoll Foundation. 

OFFERING: Using Your Voice to Build Power

Have you ever screwed up a conversation? Played it back in your head, wincing at moments you shut someone down? Or shut yourself down? Humans have an existential need to connect. And yet, our Inner Prosecutors and Pleasers get in the way.

Aarti Shahani, award-winning NPR journalist and bestselling Macmillan author, used to be terrible at connection. She thought talking and prosecuting were the same thing. Over the years she felt trapped. And then, she began looking for ways out, for open spaces in herself and in others.

In this interactive talk, Aarti shares her personal journey and audio clips from 20+ years of recorded conversations to show how she has learned to build power through the radical act of listening. In your time together, you’ll get practical tips on how to turn down the loud voices in your head; set clear intentions; ask generative questions; hear what’s really being said; gather information that serves your end goals. 

OFFERING: Asian American, Proud and (Gulp) Loud

Aarti Shahani is among the most influential Asian American mediamakers in the U.S. She defies the stereotypes about quiet, submissive, invisible Model Minorities. With humor and practical tips, she’ll break down how she pivoted from self-censoring immigrant kid to national voice speaking to millions of Americans at a time. She’ll share the life-changing conversation with an unlikely source that set her on the path to publishing her family’s secrets. She’ll explain how she got Barack Obama to be one of her very first podcast guests and what he taught her about how power really works. This Asian American Heritage Month, Aarti is sharing her unconventional path – and inspiring you to take your shot.

Want to learn more? Email tour@aartishahani.com to start the conversation.

TESTIMONIALS

Jamie Woolf, Director of Culture and Learning, Pixar

"Aarti is simply captivating. She is such a powerful storyteller. Her talk packed a big emotional punch. And yet her unique journey was super relatable. We've all had to navigate unfair power dynamics and either stay silent, not knowing how or whether to speak up; or speak up in a way we immediately regret. Aarti has been through it and shares her lessons with vivid detail, gripping audio excerpts from real life interviews, and comedy. She’s hilarious. There was so much ground covered in our hour together, I thought about Aarti’s talk the morning after, and the one after that. So did my colleagues. She didn’t just entertain us. She is a true teacher. Her lesson, grounded in deep experience, is: Be bold. Don’t mute yourself. Do it respectfully.”

V. R. Ferose, Senior Vice President and Head of SAP Academy for Engineering

“Aarti is a regular keynote speaker for our cohorts at SAP. A master storyteller, she blends comedy, tragedy and practical skills-building effortlessly into an unforgettable keynote. Her talks keep the audience on the edge of their seats, hanging onto her words and reflecting deeply on their own power. She reignites the fire inside. Aarti also graciously sticks around for a personalized book signing. The lines are long, as almost everyone who’s heard her wants a moment together.”

Lara Dickinson, Executive Director and Co-Founder, One Step Closer (OSC)

“Aarti is an exceptional presenter. She delivered an impassioned AND practical keynote for the first ever Women's Summit at ExpoWest. Her journey from undocumented migrant to national voice is not only inspiring. She makes it relatable, imparting a steady stream of self-help tips to remove internal barriers to one's authentic voice and to build power through connection to others. Even though it was a Friday morning (last day of convention), the room was packed and stayed that way. Some participants even choked up in tears. After Aarti delivered her keynote, she expertly interviewed celebrity Chrissy Teigen on stage. Aarti has an uncanny ability to build rapport instantly with anyone, getting even the most guarded people to surprise themselves with how much they open up. After the keynote, Aarti then hopped into a panel to be in conversation with female leaders from Fortune 500 companies. Again, she was completely at ease and imparted wisdom that had everyone — the audience and fellow panelists — laughing, applauding, taking notes. Grab this gem.”

Jole Seroff, Director of Library Services, Castilleja School

“Hosting Aarti Shahani as virtual Author-in-Residence at our high school was an excellent experience. Aarti spoke to the whole student body about finding her voice and learning to navigate around expectations based on race, culture, and immigration status. She worked directly with Junior English classes, who had read a portion of her book. Aarti planned her lesson based on the needs of our curriculum; she helped our students brainstorm topics for their own personal essays that would include research into family background. The students were engaged by her writing, and in person they responded to her warm, direct approach.”

The Brearley School (Lois Kahn Wallace Writers Award Committee)

“We loved Shahani’s voice—so genuine, lively, and intelligent—and were moved by her story, or shall we say stories, as there were so many narrative threads deftly woven together. We were impressed by the way Here We Are tackles some of the big issues our society faces but also is very personal and specific. We look forward to reading her next work!”

DJ Patil, first U.S. Chief Data Scientist (appointed under President Obama); General Partner, GreatPoint Ventures

“Aarti is both a phenomenal speaker and helped communicate hard, complex topics in a manner that made everyone feel safe and comfortable. And on top of that, she did it virtually.”

Craig Harwood, Director, Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowship For New Americans

“Aarti shared her story and facilitated a conversation for the Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowship’s virtual Fall Conference in October. Aarti’s conversation was so personal yet touched upon a host of universal themes, from the power of personal narrative, to navigating family dynamics, building a career and making a mark as an immigrant. Aarti’s journey became a launching pad for a deep and meaningful conversation amongst the fellowship community during the conference. By sharing her story in such an honest and open way, Aarti inspired this already accomplished group of young adults to consider how both their struggles and their triumphs can help them make a difference in the world.”

Malachi Jones, Williams & Connolly LLP

“Aarti’s discussion about the immigrant experience, our legal system, and her personal journey was as interesting and compelling as her memoir. The presentation resonated in a thought provoking way that is sure to generate ongoing talks and reflection about today’s meaning of the American Dream.”

Oren Etzioni, CEO Allen Institute for AI (AI2)

“Hearing Aarti’s story, which speaks to our collective humanity, was a welcome and refreshing change. Despite the bitter battles she details [in her book], her talk was inspiring, honest, and relatable. Aarti speaks openly and conversationally about her deeply personal story. In this year filled with challenges, Aarti’s talk was a highlight.”

A few of the companies, non-profits and schools who’ve invited Aarti to speak: