Emil Michael

Emil Michael

Keynote Speaker: Angel Investor, Strategic Advisor, Former Chief Business Officer at Uber, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of DPCM Capital

Emil Michael Biography

One of the tech world's most accomplished leaders and businessmen, Emil Michael is widely recognized for his pivotal role in scaling Uber into the most valuable private tech company in history. As the former Chief Business Officer at Uber from 2013 to 2017, he was instrumental in increasing the company's valuation from $350 million to $70 billion and led its expansion from 50 to over 1,000 cities across 70 countries. Currently, he serves as the Chairman and CEO of DPCM Capital, guiding the company's strategic direction while maintaining active roles on several tech company boards including D-Wave and Loft.

Emil Michael's career is marked by significant achievements in negotiation and capital raising, having been central to securing nearly $15 billion in capital for Uber alone—the most raised by any private startup in history. His strategic acumen is also evident in his steering of Uber's merger with Didi Chiuxing in China and his role in establishing impactful partnerships with major corporations like American Express, AT&T, and Toyota. Furthermore, Michael initiated UberMilitary, a successful program that has generated over $300 million for more than 50,000 military veterans and members.

Beyond his corporate achievements, Michael is an angel investor and strategic advisor to over 50 startups worldwide, leveraging his extensive experience in business growth, corporate culture, and international market expansion. Committed to philanthropy, he supports various organizations, including the Innocence Project, and serves on the board of Design Miami and as an advisory board member at Culture Shift Labs. Holding a B.A. from Harvard University and a J.D. from Stanford Law School, Emil Michael's journey from immigrant roots to tech mogul is a compelling narrative of determination, innovation, and leadership.

Contact a speaker booking agent to check availability on Emil Michael and other top speakers and celebrities.

Emil Michael Speaking Topics

Fireside Chat with Emil Michael

Turning a Team from a Tribe and into a Civilization

When survival of a start-up is its chief mission, the team you assemble and the values you adopt are tribal. There is much less focus on the individual employee and much more focus on the existential mission to grow the business. Every employee pitches in to put out fires and everyone gives their opinion on what to do next. You are the underdog and you need a tribal mentality to make it.

However, when the company has found a product that consumers want and how to deliver it efficiently, the company has to change. At that point, having structures, systems and, yes, some ‘bureaucracy’ is needed. Jobs have to be more defined, processes to allocate capital efficiently etc. The stakeholders become more diverse…and like any civilization, your concerns extend beyond survival. Usually, companies make this transition smoothly. However, in the hyper competitive and hyper growth areas in the tech segment, this change has to happen faster than is natural to do.

As important, this maturation can’t go so fast that the company actually slows down and faces the Innovator’s Dilemma. This is the central challenge for high growth companies in tech today.

Relentless: How to Build a Great Team

First, you have to identify what kind of leader you are: Do you want to hire ‘spikes’ or do you prefer a ‘generalist’ approach to team building? How do you create a great team if your team members are all over the world? When you’re a small startup with less than 50 people, it’s easy to hire high-quality people who share the company’s values. But how do you keep the quality and values consistent when you’re not doing the hiring personally any more? While working as Chief Business Officer for Uber, Emil was responsible for keeping the values consistent as he helped open Uber locations all over the world. In this insightful talk, Emil will share how he built a resilient culture of relentlessness. Audiences will come away learning how to develop a consistent process for hiring, how to communicate cultural values, and how to adapt them to different countries and, most importantly, how to manage a team full of spikes or a team of high-performing generalists.

"Don't Read Negotiation Books" and Other Top Tips from a Legendary Negotiator

“Most negotiation books teach you a methodology that’s anti-humanist. The most successful negotiations are all about understanding the human beings on the other side,” says Emil Michael, the legendary tech entrepreneur who has raised over $25 billion in capital and closed high-profile deals and partnerships around the world. This included negotiating an $8 billion deal in China in only 60 days, where Michael’s hard work understanding of the culture and nuances of doing business—right down to researching the right drink to order with dinner—was integral to success. “You have to invest the time to really understand what motivates people,” he says. “Are they trying to get promoted? Is the company doing well? How’s their family life? And in the case of doing business with another culture, how to meet them where they are and show respect.” In this essential talk, Emil Michael walks you through the most successful negotiations of his career—from turning a $300 million deal with Microsoft into an $800 million one to introducing Uber to local markets around the world. His fascinating stories and invaluable lessons on focusing on the human factors at play will forever change the way you think about—and most of all, prepare for—successful negotiations.

Emil Michael Videos

The Rise of a Dealmaker: The Emil Michael Story at Uber | EP 37 ...
Former Uber SVP Emil Michael on the company: I still hold the stock ...

How do I book Emil Michael to speak at my event?

Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Emil Michael for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Emil Michael, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Emil Michael or any other speaker of your choice.

How much does it cost to book Emil Michael for a speaking engagement?

Speaking fees for Emil Michael, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fee for a live event is $50,000 - $100,000. For the most current speaking fee to hire Emil Michael, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.

What topics does Emil Michael speak about?

Emil Michael is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Business, Technology, Leadership, Business Leadership, Business Growth, Peak Performance, Entrepreneurship, Human Resources, Teamwork & Teambuilding, Finance, Negotiation and Executive Leadership.

Where does Emil Michael travel from?

Emil Michael generally travels from Miami Beach, FL, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.

Who is the agent for Emil Michael?

AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Emil Michael for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Emil Michael for your next private or corporate function.

What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Emil Michael or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.

Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.


Emil Michael is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics including Business, Technology and Leadership. The estimated speaking fee range to book Emil Michael for live events is $50,000 - $100,000. Please contact us for virtual event fees. Emil Michael generally travels from Miami Beach, FL, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Spencer Rascoff, Daymond John and Sallie Krawcheck. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Emil Michael for an upcoming event.

Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 15/04/2025.

Emil Michael Speaking Topics

  • Fireside Chat with Emil Michael

  • Turning a Team from a Tribe and into a Civilization

    When survival of a start-up is its chief mission, the team you assemble and the values you adopt are tribal. There is much less focus on the individual employee and much more focus on the existential mission to grow the business. Every employee pitches in to put out fires and everyone gives their opinion on what to do next. You are the underdog and you need a tribal mentality to make it.

    However, when the company has found a product that consumers want and how to deliver it efficiently, the company has to change. At that point, having structures, systems and, yes, some ‘bureaucracy’ is needed. Jobs have to be more defined, processes to allocate capital efficiently etc. The stakeholders become more diverse…and like any civilization, your concerns extend beyond survival. Usually, companies make this transition smoothly. However, in the hyper competitive and hyper growth areas in the tech segment, this change has to happen faster than is natural to do.

    As important, this maturation can’t go so fast that the company actually slows down and faces the Innovator’s Dilemma. This is the central challenge for high growth companies in tech today.

  • Relentless: How to Build a Great Team

    First, you have to identify what kind of leader you are: Do you want to hire ‘spikes’ or do you prefer a ‘generalist’ approach to team building? How do you create a great team if your team members are all over the world? When you’re a small startup with less than 50 people, it’s easy to hire high-quality people who share the company’s values. But how do you keep the quality and values consistent when you’re not doing the hiring personally any more? While working as Chief Business Officer for Uber, Emil was responsible for keeping the values consistent as he helped open Uber locations all over the world. In this insightful talk, Emil will share how he built a resilient culture of relentlessness. Audiences will come away learning how to develop a consistent process for hiring, how to communicate cultural values, and how to adapt them to different countries and, most importantly, how to manage a team full of spikes or a team of high-performing generalists.

  • "Don't Read Negotiation Books" and Other Top Tips from a Legendary Negotiator

    “Most negotiation books teach you a methodology that’s anti-humanist. The most successful negotiations are all about understanding the human beings on the other side,” says Emil Michael, the legendary tech entrepreneur who has raised over $25 billion in capital and closed high-profile deals and partnerships around the world. This included negotiating an $8 billion deal in China in only 60 days, where Michael’s hard work understanding of the culture and nuances of doing business—right down to researching the right drink to order with dinner—was integral to success. “You have to invest the time to really understand what motivates people,” he says. “Are they trying to get promoted? Is the company doing well? How’s their family life? And in the case of doing business with another culture, how to meet them where they are and show respect.” In this essential talk, Emil Michael walks you through the most successful negotiations of his career—from turning a $300 million deal with Microsoft into an $800 million one to introducing Uber to local markets around the world. His fascinating stories and invaluable lessons on focusing on the human factors at play will forever change the way you think about—and most of all, prepare for—successful negotiations.

Emil Michael Videos

The Rise of a Dealmaker: The Emil Michael Story at Uber | EP 37 ...
Former Uber SVP Emil Michael on the company: I still hold the stock ...
  • How do I book Emil Michael to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Emil Michael for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Emil Michael, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Emil Michael or any other speaker of your choice.
  • How much does it cost to book Emil Michael for a speaking engagement?

    Speaking fees for Emil Michael, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fee for a live event is $50,000 - $100,000. For the most current speaking fee to hire Emil Michael, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
  • What topics does Emil Michael speak about?

    Emil Michael is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Business, Technology, Leadership, Business Leadership, Business Growth, Peak Performance, Entrepreneurship, Human Resources, Teamwork & Teambuilding, Finance, Negotiation and Executive Leadership.
  • Where does Emil Michael travel from?

    Emil Michael generally travels from Miami Beach, FL, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.
  • Who is the agent for Emil Michael?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Emil Michael for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Emil Michael for your next private or corporate function.
  • What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Emil Michael or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
  • Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

    If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.
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EMIL MICHAEL

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