Finding Open Spaces, Building Power (keynote or training)
Have you ever screwed up a conversation? Played it back in your head, wincing at moments you shut someone down? Or what about that split second you shut yourself down? Humans have an existential need to connect. And yet, we get in our own way. The great news is: connection is a muscle you can build.

Aarti Shahani, award-winning NPR journalist and bestselling Macmillan author, used to be terrible at it. She thought talking and prosecuting were the same thing. Her end goal was not to learn, but to be right. Over the years, she felt trapped. She began looking for ways out, for open spaces – inside herself and others – through radical listening.

Listening is not a neutral act. Done deeply, it is a key strategy for building power. Aarti wants to teach you her hard won lessons. In your time together, you’ll learn:

• how to turn down loud voices in order to hear quiet wisdom;
• how to set wise intentions;
• how to gather information that serves your end goals; and
• how to open doors you didn’t even know existed.

Among the thousands of interviews Aarti has conducted, she doesn’t have a favorite one. But she does have a hardest one: talking with the judge who sentenced her father to jail. She’ll share how that exchange changed the course of her entire life.

Asian American, Proud and Loud (keynote)
How do you pursue the creative journey when you’re supposed to be invisible? Aarti Shahani is among the most influential Asian American media makers in the U.S. She defies the stereotypes about quiet, submissive Model Minorities. In this Asian American Heritage Month keynote, Aarti will share how tragic family circumstances unlocked a life that’s bigger and more rewarding than anything she’d ever expected. With humor and practical tips, she’ll reveal how she pivoted from a community organizer in Queens, New York to NPR’s lead Silicon Valley correspondent in three years flat; how she sold her first book for enough to buy a house in San Francisco; how she got Barack Obama to talk frankly about his marriage. Her unconventional path will inspire audience members to take their shot.

Here We Are
The immigrant has become an object of distrust, scorn and even hatred. Yet for many migrants, including Aarti Shahani, this identity is a source of profound pride. Her Asian American family fought three decades to make this country home. For almost half that time, Aarti played family lawyer, campaigning to stop the deportation of her father and hundreds of other immigrant New Yorkers. Her journey from undocumented kid in Queens to NPR Silicon Valley Correspondent is nothing short of remarkable. Aarti shares her inspiring story with humor and searing lessons on the American Dream, as well as the nightmares that threaten to take it away. You’ll leave her talk seeing this country and your own human potential differently.

“To capture a parent’s hidden story, practice patience — and let the tears flow”

“NPR’s Aarti Shahani tells her family’s immigration nightmare in ‘Here We Are’”

“‘Here We Are’ Recounts Struggle At The Heart Of Immigrant Family’s Story”

“Opinion | Kamala Harris and the rise of the desi alpha female”

Read an excerpt with the Great RBG from Here We Are.

Visit Aarti Shahani’s website.

“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.”
— Lara Dickinson, Executive Director and Co-Founder, One Step Closer (OSC)

“Aarti is a regular keynote speaker for our cohorts at SAP. A master storyteller, she blends comedy, tragedy and practical skills-building effortlessly into a captivating 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.”
— V. R. Ferose, Senior Vice President and Head of SAP Academy for Engineering

“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.”

“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.”

“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!”

“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. Thanks to her, it’s allowed us to accelerate our conversations on race, diversity, and equity.”

“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.”

“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.”

“Aarti shared her family’s story, as detailed in her book Here We Are, with our AI2 team in late Summer 2020. As an AI research institute, our invited talks often feature new learnings from renowned AI researchers or paper highlights from top-tier conferences. Hearing Aarti’s story, which speaks to our collective humanity, was a welcome and refreshing change. Despite the bitter battles she details that touch on a flawed immigration and justice system, 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.”