Dr. Maya Shankar

Cognitive Scientist and Podcast Creator @ A Slight Change of Plans

Maya Shankar is a cognitive scientist and creator of the podcast A Slight Change of Plans, previously named “Best Show of the Year” by Apple. She served as a Senior Policy Advisor in the Obama White House where she founded and chaired the Social and Behavioral Sciences Team. She was also appointed as the first Behavioral Science Advisor to the United Nations. Maya has a B.A. from Yale and a Ph.D. from Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar, and completed a postdoctoral fellowship in cognitive neuroscience at Stanford.

Speaker Sessions

Fri •Sep 5 •2:30pm - 3:00pm PT •
The Art of Yes, And: Amy Poehler's Improv-Driven Success
Join comedy icon Amy Poehler as she reveals how improv's core principles have shaped her multifaceted career. From founding Paper Kite Productions to launching her podcast "Good Hang," Amy shares how saying "yes, and" has empowered her creative decisions and business ventures. Discover how comedy and collaboration helped Amy navigate uncertainty, foster innovation, and build authentic connections. Amy discusses how embracing spontaneity and presence—skills from Second City and SNL—translates into effective leadership and problem-solving.
- Amy Poehler,
- Dr. Maya Shankar
Open to All Levels

Dr. Maya Shankar

Speaker Sessions

The Art of Yes, And: Amy Poehler's Improv-Driven Success