Michal Ziso is Founder & CEO of ZISO – Innovation + Architecture Lab, and The SLEEP – Revolutionizing Sleep, Recharge and Intimacy on Earth & Beyond. She is an Architect & Space Architect, expert of skyscrapers, large scale urbanism and inclusive human centered design.
Michal Ziso is a visionary architect, futurist space architect, and trailblazing design expert who spearheads inclusive, human-centered design on Earth and beyond. She is the founder and CEO of ZISO, an innovation + architecture lab, and a SpaceTech startup called The SLEEP, where she is leading the charge in cutting-edge deep-tech design.
Michal Ziso Lecture topics
- CHAOTIC OPTIMISM
The world around us is chaotic and confusing. A new perspective can be just the thing we are all looking for. How embracing and anticipating disruption in design, leadership and life can turn uncertainty into an optimistic advantage.
A mindset for leaders, creators and curious minds navigating an era of flux, showing how constraint breeds invention and collapse becomes catalyst.
- THE BOOMERANG EFFECT
What space teaches us about Earth, and how cosmic innovation reshapes industries, luxury, and life. From orbit to oceans, Michal reveals how space-driven technologies return home to redefine sustainability, creativity, and human potential, and how awareness of what is going on in the space industry can become a powerful competitive edge.
- SPACE ARCHITECTURE – MASTERCLASS
Design lessons from extreme environments for thriving on Earth. A deep-dive into how we design for the edge of survival — and what it teaches us about resilience, circularity, and reimagining our built world to create exponentially better lives for all.
Further topics of discussion:
- Architecture & Design (Space & Earth)
- Inspiration & Dhifting Perspectives
- Competitive Advantage
- Strategic Foresight
- Operational Resilience
- Innovation under Constraint
With over a decade of experience as an architect specializing in large scale projects such as skyscrapers, working from Tel Aviv to New York City, Michal noticed a lack of diversity and inclusivity in the field, which sparked her curiosity about the relationship between the designers of our built environments and the quality of life they provide. Through her research, she discovered that discrimination by design is a widespread problem and sought to promote change in the industry. When she encountered resistance to change, she turned her attention to the next frontier – outer space – where she researches and designs living environments for humans beyond Earth.
As a futurist Space Architect, Michal Ziso harnesses the extreme environments of space to drive innovation, disruption, and impact back on Earth. Today, she is a global expert in the New Space ecosystem and serves on the advisory board of Moon2Mars Ventures and Earth & Beyond Ventures + Incubator in collaboration with the Israeli Innovation Authority, while bringing back space ideas to tackle earth burning issues with work including being a management board member of SDG Branch – Environmental, Social, Governance Union at AEAI – Association of Engineers and Architects in Israel.
Michal Ziso is a two-time TEDx speaker, commanding the global stage as a frequent keynote and public speaker, sharing ideas with over 100,000 humans in the audience, and counting.
Her diverse list of clients includes NASA, the Israeli Space Agency, Parsons School of Design, Dubai Future Forum, and Wix. Michal Ziso is an expert in inclusive human-centered design on Earth and beyond, and a trailblazer in her field and a sought-after speaker on a range of topics, including inspirations from space to re:design optimism on earth, inspiration re:imagine ourselves and our careers as well as tools to re:start the way we approach decision making from an unbiased perspective.
Her exceptional achievements include being awarded a scholarship by the Israeli Space Agency to study at the International Space University, as well as being invited by NASA to speak to their engineers and scientists about her unique approach to space architecture. Additionally, Michal’s lab ZISO has been recognized by the United Nations as one of the top 10 global initiatives fighting for gender equality and has joined their 2019 UN SDG Action campaign.
Michal Ziso’s engaging talks, insights and thought-provoking ideas provide valuable insights into the intersection of innovation, D&I and sustainability, as she inspires audiences to dream big, think beyond boundaries and embrace new possibilities in all aspects of their lives. Her speeches are not only informative but also engaging and inspiring, leaving a lasting impact on her listeners.