Maria Laws

Maria Laws is a visionary leader at the forefront of education, learning design, and artificial intelligence. As Vice President of Learning & Development at Ahura AI, she leads the creation of AI-powered learning programs that blend cutting-edge technology with deep pedagogical expertise to support workforce transformation at organizations such as Salesforce, the World Economic Forum, and Wayfinder. With over two decades of experience as a K–12 educator, UC Berkeley Master Teacher Fellow, and university lecturer, Maria brings a powerful foundation in instructional design to her executive work in AI strategy and L&D innovation.

Her career spans roles in Fortune 500 companies and top-tier academic institutions, including Lockheed Martin, Genentech, Stanford, Harvard, and SFMOMA, where she has driven projects focused on digital fluency, data literacy, and scalable learning systems. Maria is also a recognized international speaker and author—most recently featured at SXSW 2025, SF Tech Week, and the WEWIN Summit in Paris—and was named a finalist for the Women in AI Awards North America 2025 in the Woman Executive of the Year category.

A passionate advocate for equity in education, Maria uses her platform to make AI more accessible, ethical, and empowering for diverse communities of learners. Her thought leadership has been featured on the “Data Driven” podcast and in global conversations around AI’s role in transforming how people learn, lead, and grow.