Clara Shih

Senior Advisor and Founder, Meta Business AI
Former CEO, Salesforce AI
TIME100 AI Leader
Board of Directors, HubSpot

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Everyone says AI is changing everything. Clara Shih shows how, where, and what comes next.

A TIME100 AI honoree and one of the architects behind enterprise AI adoption, Clara Shih sits at the center of how artificial intelligence is actually being used by businesses today. As Senior Advisor and Founder of Business AI at Meta, she is building AI agents for over 200 million businesses across WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram, redefining how companies engage customers, automate operations, and grow. Previously, as CEO of Salesforce AI, she led the creation and monetization of Agentforce, and as CEO of Service Cloud, scaled it into Salesforce’s largest product line at $10B in annual revenue. Earlier, she founded and led Hearsay Systems for over a decade, pioneering AI-powered customer engagement backed by Sequoia and NEA.

On stage, Shih translates AI from abstraction into execution. She gives organizations a clear view of what is working now, what is coming next, and how to apply AI in ways that drive real business outcomes. Drawing from experience at the highest levels of Meta, Salesforce, and the startup ecosystem, she equips leaders to operate smarter and compete in an AI-driven economy where hesitation is the biggest risk.

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Topics: Talks & Conversations with Clara Shih >>

Past Hosts Include:

Spark New Zealand
Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA)
IAB Technology Laboratory
Apollo Global Management
Scholastic

Ontario Teachers Pension Plan
Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD)
National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD)
McKinsey & Company Annual Partner Meeting
New York Life Insurance Company

Rave Reviews About Clara Shih

“

Shih clearly articulates the opportunity for businesses on the social web, breaking it down into simple, actionable steps for companies to reach and connect with customers and prospects from around the world.

- Facebook

”

Clara Shih: What No One Tells You About Entrepreneurship | Stanford eCorner - Get Sharable Link

Clara Shih: What No One Tells You About Entrepreneurship | Stanford eCorner

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Changemakers: Meta Head of Business AI Clara Shih on leading in a male-dominated industry | CNBC TV

Clara Shih for Anita Borg Institute: Grace Hopper Celebration

Clara Shih: The Social Media Imperative in Banking | TheFinancialBrand

Talks & Conversations with Clara Shih

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AI: Where Opportunity Meets Disruption, Governance, and Risks

Meta's Head of Business AI CLARA SHIH breaks down how artificial intelligence is reshaping business models, redefining competition, and introducing new governance challenges. She cuts through the noise to show where the real opportunities are, what risks le ...

Meta's Head of Business AI CLARA SHIH breaks down how artificial intelligence is reshaping business models, redefining competition, and introducing new governance challenges. She cuts through the noise to show where the real opportunities are, what risks le

7 Habits of Highly Successful Enterprise AI

Drawing on her experience building AI at scale, CLARA SHIH outlines the defining behaviors of organizations that are actually winning with AI. From leadership alignment to execution discipline, she reveals what separates experimentation from impact and how companies turn AI into measurable business ...

Drawing on her experience building AI at scale, CLARA SHIH outlines the defining behaviors of organizations that are actually winning with AI. From leadership alignment to execution discipline, she reveals what separates experimentation from impact and how companies turn AI into measurable business value.

AI in the Boardroom: Oversight, Accountability, and What Directors Need to Know

TIME Magazine "Architect of AI" CLARA SHIH equips boards and executive teams with a clear framework for governing AI. She covers the critical questions directors should be asking, how to evaluate AI investments, and how to build fluency at the leadership level to guide responsible and effective adop ...

TIME Magazine "Architect of AI" CLARA SHIH equips boards and executive teams with a clear framework for governing AI. She covers the critical questions directors should be asking, how to evaluate AI investments, and how to build fluency at the leadership level to guide responsible and effective adoption.

Impact of AI and Automation on Jobs and Economy

As AI reshapes roles, workflows, and entire industries, CLARA SHIH unpacks what it means for jobs, talent, and economic growth. She offers a grounded view of what is changing now, what is coming next, and how organizations can prepare their workforce for an AI-driven future. ...

As AI reshapes roles, workflows, and entire industries, CLARA SHIH unpacks what it means for jobs, talent, and economic growth. She offers a grounded view of what is changing now, what is coming next, and how organizations can prepare their workforce for an AI-driven future.

How to Futureproof Your Company's AI Strategy

Enterprise AI Pioneer CLARA SHIH shares how organizations can build AI strategies that last beyond the current hype cycle. She outlines how to stay adaptable as the technology evolves, where to invest, and how to position your company to compete in a landscape where AI capabilities are constantly sh ...

Enterprise AI Pioneer CLARA SHIH shares how organizations can build AI strategies that last beyond the current hype cycle. She outlines how to stay adaptable as the technology evolves, where to invest, and how to position your company to compete in a landscape where AI capabilities are constantly shifting.

Books by Clara Shih

The Social Business Imperative: Adapting Your Business Model to the Always-Connected Customer

The Social Business Imperative: Adapting Your Business Model to the Always-Connected Customer

The Facebook Era: Tapping Online Social Networks to Market, Sell, and Innovate

The Facebook Era: Tapping Online Social Networks to Market, Sell, and Innovate

Silicon Valley’s new grind: ‘9-9-6’ to keep up with AI - Business Desk

A visionary entrepreneur recognized by TIME100 AI, CNBC, and the New York Times, Clara Shih is Senior Advisor and Founder of Business AI at Meta, providing AI agents for 200M businesses on WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram. Previously, Clara was CEO of Salesforce AI, where she led the development, launch, and monetization of Agentforce, and CEO of Salesforce Service Cloud, which she grew into the company's largest product line at $10B in annual revenue. From 2009-2020, Clara was founder, CEO, and Chair of Hearsay Systems, a global AI software company backed by Sequoia and NEA.

Clara serves on the board of directors of Hubspot (NYSE:HUBS) and previously served on the Starbucks board from 2011-2023. She is an advisor and angel investor in AI startups including Perplexity, Braintrust, and Qodo, and has been named to CNBC 50 Disruptors, Fast Company Most Creative People, Fortune's Most Powerful Women, and World Economic Forum Young Global Leaders. Clara holds undergraduate and Master's degrees in computer science from Stanford and also an M.S. in technology and society from Oxford University, where she studied as a U.S. Marshall Scholar.