Success isn’t magic. It’s math.
Dona Sarkar delivers entertaining,
framework-driven keynotes
that turn AI hype into 25
real AI wins in a year.

Microsoft. 20+ years. 1,000+ stages.
Book Dona.
About
Dona

Dona Sarkar is the keynote speaker Fortune 500 leaders book when they’re done with AI drama and ready to actually do the thing. A longtime Microsoft engineering leader, fashion business owner, wine bar co-owner, four-time author, and full-time Chief Troublemaker, she’s spent over 20 years on stage—delivering 200+ keynotes to audiences of 30,000 in person and 2 million virtually—turning the future of work into a system.

Her signature “100 Bad Ideas” framework helps teams trade AI chaos for 25 real AI wins a year. Funny, irreverent, and relentlessly practical, Dona helps leaders adopt AI, drive innovation, and banish imposter syndrome—because success isn’t magic. It’s math.

Learn More About Dona.

Topics

Every keynote is built from scratch for your audience. Dona spends time before every event learning your industry, your bottlenecks, and your specific change moment — so the frameworks land on Monday, not “someday.”

100 Bad Ideas: The Math and Science of AI Adoption

Most AI adoption stalls because teams chase one perfect idea. Dona teaches the opposite: generate 100 bad ones, run 25 experiments across 25 workflows, land 5 breakthroughs. It’s the formula that turns AI-curious teams into AI-shipping teams in 30 days — customized live to your industry, your tools, and your bottlenecks.

The Future of YOUR Work

AI will take your job. No, AI will create more jobs. Which is it? Well, a little of BOTH. Leaning on 20+ years of job reinvention as well as the latest research on what the future of work is trending toward, Dona guides you through her framework of how you can craft your next job vs waiting for some magical “they” do it AND set up your overall organizational structure for a post-AI world.

Stay Extra Human: Your Competitive Edge in the AI-Verse

When everyone’s prompting the same models, your humanity is the moat. Dona shares her framework for how you and your team can identify and amplify what AI can’t replicate — taste, judgment, weirdness, soul. Customized to your company’s specific human assets so your team leaves knowing exactly which edge to sharpen on Monday.

Request Dona’s Availability.

Other Highlighted Videos

TEDx --The Imposter Syndrome Banishing Spell

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Sloss Tech Keynote—How to make AI more inclusive

Virtual DynamicsCon Keynote – How To be Today’s Superhero

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AI AgentCon San Francisco Keynote—Will The Real Autonomous Agent Please Stand Up

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Testimonials

If you’re looking for a speaker who’s 100% authentic, not afraid to engage in uncomfortable but highly necessary #RealTalk to get your audience thinking, Dona Sarkar is your answer. A powerhouse of a speaker, Dona always comes prepared with fresh ideas and actionable plans (read: homework!) to continue investing in themselves long after the event is over. Get ready to be volunTOLD, get out of your comfort zone, and discover how you can become a better human.

Shona Bang, Global Head of Microsoft’s Human of IT Program

When Dona Sarkar speaks, something exceptional happens. She is a passionate presenter and changemaker who is making a remarkable impression globally. Single-handed, Dona is lifting up everyone in the room and instilling in them the belief that they can and will do more. Her brave, no-nonsense approach is infectious and making a world of difference.

Tracy O’Connell, Director of European SharePoint Conference

As an Olympic athlete, I’ve listened to many motivational speakers. It’s sometimes hard to find talks that really hit home specifically to me. Dona’s presence in person and on stage grabbed me immediately. I knew she was someone I wanted to emulate and was further inspired after hearing her TEDxtalk about the Imposter Syndrome. She was engaging, relaxed and so genuine. Anyone who has taken a risk in life towards success can relate to her message of feeling like you don’t belong or are not worthy. She uses her own successful career and personal experiences to illustrate how to combat these feelings and find power on the other side of it. Every employee, college student, entrepreneur and athlete will be faced with Imposter Syndrome at some point in their lives; Dona Sarkar’s message will prepare, normalize and inspire them to conquer these feelings and teach them how to OWN their success!

Katie Hoff

Dona Sarkar is one of our favorite speakers! She is a dynamic and engaging speaker who captivates audiences with her sharp wit, intelligence, and insightful perspectives. Her keynotes and fireside conversations are both humorous and thought-provoking, making complex ideas accessible and inspiring actionable change.

Erin Tselenchuk, President & Co-Founder

TRUSTED BY

Books

#DoTheThing:
Because comfort zones are boring

Everyone’s got that thing.
Yes, even you. You know what I’m talking about. Your secret dream or idea. You haven’t yet started to make it a reality…but you can’t stop thinking about it.

Why haven’t you started yet? Any of these sound familiar? I don’t have time… It’s not well thought out… I don’t know how to start… I have no one to talk to about it… People will think it’s stupid… It’s too “big” for me to take on right now… It’s too late for me….

Sound like that voice in your head?

The Imposter Syndrome Banishing Spell:
Do you have this overwhelming feeling that you’re not qualified to be here?

You’re not alone! According to research, about 70% of the people around you get this sense of being a fraud, this “imposter” at some point or another. Fed up with feeling this way, I created this 13 step Imposter Syndrome Banishing Spell to banish my (and your!) imposter syndrome for GOOD.

Model 47: A Startup Storybook
Is this the year you’re finally going to start your own business?

We can help! My partner in crime and I wrote Model 47: A Startup Storybook, a memoir/guidebook about the time we helped 46 entrepreneurs start and run profitable businesses. We used these 30 lessons to start our own businesses and think they’ll work for you too!

Spin Your Tale:
People are talking about you…

Want to know what they’re saying?

Better: want to CONTROL what they’re saying? Why don’t you try spinning your tale today? I wrote Spin Your Tale using fiction writers techniques to craft a personal brand story for the most important person in your life: YOU!

You Had Me At “Hello, World”:
Did you just start your career?

What if you could get mentored by top leaders at Microsoft, Amazon, Zynga, Facebook, Google and more? Never fear, we got you! Come and say HELLO WORLD today!

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