TALKS, PANELS & LECTURES

I give talks on innovation (and specifically Israeli innovation), social initiatives, women in business, journalism-related topics, the culture of creativity, failure, wild ideas and more. From small audiences of two people to bigger audiences of 1,400 participants, I am always excited to lead a workshop, present a talk, and give a lecture to tourist groups, diplomats, entrepreneurs, investors, college and school kids and, really, everyone who wants to learn more. I create each talk or presentation anew. 

 

Coming up:
Poster presenter - CHI conference, New Orleans, May 2, 2022
https://doi.org/10.1145/3491101.3519924

Past talks:
Keynote Speaker

  • "Herzlian Dinner - An Insider's Look at Breakthrough Science, Medical Innovation and Technology from Israel and Its Impact on the Global Community" - online talk - Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix,  February 2021.

  • "Women. Innovation. Business: How Israeli Innovations Are Changing Our Lives” - 2019 Annual Women For Israel Luncheon, JNF, Boca Raton, Florida, March 2019. 

  • "Women. Innovation. Business" - H2H9 Heart to Heart: A Woman's Journey to Israel, Jewish Federations of North America's National Women's Philanthropy, Tel Aviv, February 2018.

  • "The Culture of Israeli Startups and the Wild Ideas that are Helping Change the World", Fourth Annual - Israel’s Challenges on Campus & Beyond 
    Onward to a Pro-Active Agenda, Neve Ilan, July 2018.

  • "Israeli Innovation in Global Health Sector" - Israel Speaker Series, JFNA, Rochester, NY, April 2015.

  • "Israel's Incredible Innovators" - JFNA, Atlantic City, NJ, December 2015.

  • "Israeli Innovation: Cyber" - JFNA, Rochester, NY, April 2015, Rochester, NY, December 2015.

  • "Israeli Innovation: Cyber" - The Jewish Federation of Springfield, Springfield, Illinois, December 2015.

  • "Israeli Innovation in Global Health Sector" - CJP, Boston, Massachusetts, December 2015.

​

Moderator and Panelist 

  • "The Amazing Adventures of Three Female Jewish Innovators" - 2019 ILOJC, Hollywood, Florida, January 2019.

  • "Israel: Present and Future" - Jewish Federation of Broward County, February 2018.

​

Guest Speaker

  • “A Deep Dive Into Israeli Innovation” - online lecture - Startup Israel 101 - The Peres Center for Peace and Innovation, July 2021.

  • "Yom Ha'atzmaut: Israeli Innovations" -- online lecture -- King David High School, Vancouver, Canada, May 2021.

  • "Israel: 73 years of Innovation (…and We’ve Only Just Begun)" - online lecture - Netanya AACI, April 2021.

  • "Social innovation in the times of social distancing" - online lecture - Onward Israel, January 2021.

  • לצלוח את הכישלון - סדנא בנושא למידה מטעויות - 
    January 2021 אמירים אור תורה בנות ירושלים - ינואר

  • "Israeli Innovation in the time of Covid-19" - online lecture - First Narayever Congregation, Toronto, Canada, June 2020.

  • "Innovation in the time of Covid-19" - online lecture - Zoom&Learn series, Congregation Beth Israel, Vancouver, Canada, April 2020.

  • "A Culture of Creativity" - JCRC Wisconsin State Assembly, Tel Aviv, November 2019.

  • "A culture of creativity" - Stephen Wise Free Synagogue, Tel Aviv, December 2018.

  • "Israel's Role in Driving the Next Generation of Tech" -CJP, July 2018

  • "70 Years: Israeli Creativity & Innovation" - First Narayever Congregation, Toronto, Canada, May 2018.

  • "Innovation - High Tech Israel" - JFNA, Omaha, April 2015.

​

Lecture-Discussion 

  • "The Art of Interviewing and telling a story," 4-class series, Reichman University, December 2021

  • "Israeli innovations in the time of Covid-19" - online learning initiative and discussion - Israel Engagement Associate: IACT, April 2020.

  • "כשטכנולוגיה, ספורט ובריאות נפגשים" - 
    מרץ 2020, רב תחומי עמל ליידי דייויס ת"א

  • "Israeli Innovations" - Da’at Educational Expeditions, Tel Aviv-Jaffa, December 2019. 

  • "Fact vs Fiction: Covering Israel" - Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications  - Northwestern University, March 2019.

ilojc pic.jpg
IMG_7322.jpg
stephenwise shul1.jpg

"Viva joined us in Florida at the 2019 International Lion of Judah Conference where she moderated a panel session on “The Amazing Adventures of Female Jewish Innovators” for 1,400 conference attendees. Viva is a pleasure to work with and is insightful, organized, responsive, and hilarious! I highly recommend her to speak on a diverse range of topics including Israel, women, innovation, technology, and more! She is a skilled moderator, conversationalist, panelist, presenter, and more!

​

Sarah Fels, Program Manager,
The Jewish Federations of North America

"To quote an overheard remark made by a few of the participants: “She was a ROCK STAR!” Viva Sarah Press wowed the audience with her presentation on high-tech medical advances coming out of Israel today."

 

Amy Zelenka, UJFT Women’s Campaign Director 
Norfolk, Virginia

"Our synagogue had the opportunity to learn with Viva over Zoom during the Covid-19 shutdown.  Her presentation was excellent and compelling.  She was insightful and engaging. The congregants loved her material and presentation style."

Rabbi J. Infeld, Congregation Beth Israel,
Vancouver, Canada
  

"Viva Sarah Press demonstrates a commanding and compelling grasp of Israeli technology and innovation and the ways they influence and impact a broader global society. Her wealth of experience and expertise is complemented by her dry wit and straightforward approach, all of which make her the perfect panelist or keynote speaker for any audience or occasion." 
 

Alison Goldstein Lebovitz, PBS host

"Viva Press brings both deep knowledge of the innovation scene in Israel and an engaging manner of presenting her material. One leaves her session both more knowledgeable and more optimistic about Israel's future."

​


Rabbi Ed Elkin, First Narayever Congregation, Toronto, Canada 

"Viva is a remarkable speaker! I have attended two of her talks - one for adults and another for teens. Her style is highly engaging and her materials are relevant, audience-specific, on-point and contemporary. She is absolutely riveting!"
 

 Diane Friedman, Co-chair King David High School PAC, Vancouver, Canada

Inquiries 
For more information on speaking engagements -- please be in touch!

Sample Topics

INNOVATION IN THE TIME OF COVID-19

The Covid-19 pandemic has been a catalyst to new creativity and innovation the world over.

In this live video lecture, I tell the stories of global collaboration now underway, and specifically turn the spotlight on Israeli innovation.

In Israel, the uniquely quick ability to adapt and pivot tech to new purposes is serving up groundbreaking emerging tech solutions.

I tell these stories of how researchers and entrepreneurs are creating borderless technologies to help suppress COVID-19 everywhere.  

Moderator and Panelist

While I love being the speaker at an event, I equally enjoy moderating and being a panelist as well. And specifically, when the discussion is on Israeli innovation. Whether giving a keynote, moderating or serving as a panelist, audience participation is always on my mind.