“Working with Xyla was an absolute pleasure from start to finish. Her flexibility and genuine openness in engaging with our campus community made a lasting impression. Xyla’s natural ability to relate to and connect with our audience during her keynote made her message resonant and impactful. She and her team were fantastic partners throughout every step of the event, and we couldn't have asked for a better experience!” 
—Christina Leedham
Assistant Director, PASCAL Center

Featured Topics

Xyla adjusting a camera on a tripod in her workshop

Storytelling in Science

Why is storytelling an important part of the scientific process? Xyla covers the value of scientific narratives and how to use storytelling to share technical work with a broader audience. In this talk, we examine the intersection of arts and sciences, how they support one another, and how we can tell the story of our scientific work to best express our interests, curiosities, and explorations.

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Speaking History

Keynote highlights

11Keynotes delivered
since 2017
Jul 2026 · Oshkosh, WI

EAA AirVenture: WomenVenture Keynote

May 2026 · Seattle, WA

The Museum of Flight: Beyond the Horizon

Mar 2024 · Atlanta, GA

WorkBenchCon 2024

Oct 2026NBAA-BACESession with Dr. Susan Northrup, Newsmakers Luncheon Q&A, Creator Studio interviewLas Vegas, NV
Aug 2026ETEC Nuclear Opportunities WorkshopKeynote · Nuclear industry workforceKnoxville, TN
Jul 2026EAA AirVenture: WomenVenture KeynoteKeynote · "Design. Build. Test."Oshkosh, WI
Jul 2026EAA WomenVenture Wednesday Night PanelPanelOshkosh, WI
Jun 2026Cannes Lions with PMG Digital Voices, AI & Tech SandboxPanel, "The Creator Divide: How to Navigate a World of AI Slop," with Tom Scott, Aimee of Odd Muse and Jennifer Quigley-JonesCannes, France
May 2026The Museum of Flight, Beyond the Horizon Speaker SeriesInaugural speaker · Fireside chat, Q&A and all-ages workshopSeattle, WA
May 2026BattleBots Pro LeagueGuest co-judgeLas Vegas, NV
Apr 2026Los Angeles Maker FaireWomen in STEM panelLos Angeles, CA
Feb 2026Colorado School of Mines, PASCAL Center Limitless Leaders SeriesKeynote · Students and aerospace alumniGolden, CO
Jan 2026Astro Awards (Everyday Astronaut)Panel, "Wacky Space Concepts," with Scott Manley, Joe Barnard, Amy Teitel and Jack BeyerAustin, TX
2026Sloan Science Prizes for YouTube (IMI)Jury member
20262025 Robert J. Collier Trophy, National Aeronautic AssociationSelection committee judge
Nov 2025Science Philanthropy Alliance Members MeetingPresentationLos Angeles, CA
Nov 2025IMI Fest 2025Host and moderator, Local x Global premiere discussion with Grady Hillhouse and Sarah Qari (Radiolab)Austin, TX
Jul 2025Women in Aviation International, AirVenturePanelOshkosh, WI
Apr 2025Pilot Mental Health Campaign Advocacy DayKeynote · Pilot mental health reformWashington, DC
2022–25Reinvented Magazine Space GalaHost and emcee, every edition
Jan 2025Astro Awards (Everyday Astronaut)Panel, "Making Rockets at Home"Austin, TX
Oct 2024Illinois State University, BuildersSTAGEFeatured panelist alongside Destin Sandlin and Grady HillhouseNormal, IL
Mar 2024WorkBenchCon 2024Keynote · Makers and woodworking creatorsAtlanta, GA
Nov 2023Western Wall and Ceiling Contractors AssociationKeynote · Mental health in the construction industryAnaheim, CA
Nov 2023Autodesk University 2023PanelLas Vegas, NV
May 2023Maker's Central 2023Main-stage talk, "The Joy of Never Making the Same Thing Twice"Birmingham, UK
May 2023Mastercam Momentum Reseller ConferenceFeatured speakerMontville, CT
Mar 2023Cal State Fullerton Social Justice Engineering CompetitionKeynote and competition judgeFullerton, CA
Feb 2023EXP 8th Annual Women in STEM Career DayOpening keynote for high-school studentsLong Beach, CA
2020Make48 (PBS)Host
Nov 2018TEDxCWRUTEDx talk, "Running out of Runway: Venture Capital vs. Emotional Capital"Cleveland, OH
Sep 2018World Maker Faire New YorkPanel, "Part Disruption, Part Filling the Void," on engineering, making and femininityNew York, NY
Sep 2017MHacks X, University of MichiganKeynote · Student hackersAnn Arbor, MI
Jul 2017Global Conference on Educational RoboticsKeynote · "Why the only thing better than success is failure"Norman, OK
2016SPARC Annual ConferenceTalk, "From LO to Nowhere: the Next Frontier in Internet Based Communications"Cleveland, OH

Testimonials

  • “This was an excellent event and I appreciate the Foundation reaching out to the aerospace-interested alumni. Mines has a strong and growing presence in the space industry so being able to excite undergrads via the Rocket Club and Xyla is absolutely the sort of thing CSM should be doing. I look forward to more!” 
    -- Eric Wilson BS CEPR '94 MS ETM '04 PhD Space Resources 

  • “I am glad that I had the opportunity to attend. Very inspirational and entertaining.” 
    -- Steve Chase, UG Student

  • “Xyla was amazing! It’d be wonderful to have her give another presentation at Mines.”
    -- Mihai Ziu, UG Student

Awards and Recognition

2026

Webby Award

Creators: Social Impact

2026

Barron Hilton Aviation Inspiration Award

Living Legends of Aviation

2026

Forbes 30 Under 30

Social Media

2025

Shorty Impact Award

Creator of the Year: Mental Health

2024

Sloan Science Prize for YouTube

Documentary