Shayla Rivera is an Aerospace Engineer and former Rocket Scientist with NASA turned salesperson, corporate trainer, and now Int’l Keynote Speaker, TEDx Speaker, TV & Radio host, Emcee/Host, Comedian, Actor, Writer, Producer, Seminar Facilitator, Panel Moderator and as of 2017, Director of the ENGR[x] program and Professor of Practice with the College of Engineering at Texas A&M University.
Why you should book Shayla River for your next event
- Shayla Rivera is a Puerto Rican/American stand-up comedian who uses observational and self-deprecating humor to point out that the truth is the funniest thing out there.
- In 2004, Rivera received the “Mario Moreno Cantinflas Award” presented by the city of
Los Angeles in recognition of entertainers who “represent the Latino Community with the
same humor as the great Comedian Cantinflas did” and for her involvement in the
community.
- Rivera performs live stand-up comedy worldwide and is extremely proud of her comedy
and speaking tours for our servicemen and women stationed around the world in
Greenland, Diego Garcia, Asia, Europe, Central America and the Middle East.
Shayla Rivera best describes herself as a spiritually irreverent Mystic and Awareness Expert. What many would call a Renaissance Woman. Keynotes include subjects that span Inspiration, Motivation, Leadership, Diversity, Education, STEM Education, Awareness, Stress Management, Communication, and Self Growth, always using the power of humor and her life story.
Born and raised in Puerto Rico, Rivera grew up with an avid interest in human behavior, science, machinery and fixing things. Her parents always made it clear that going to college was the way to go in order to have a successful personal and professional life. Rivera attended Texas A&M University, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering with a great number of additional credits in her other passion, Psychology. After graduation she joined McDonnell Douglas Space Systems at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, where she worked on the NASA Space Shuttle and Space Station programs for five years.
Rivera left NASA to pursue her abiding interest in psychology, trying to figure out what makes people tick. This pursuit took her through several years in Technical Sales of environmental systems and water treatment chemicals, financial products and finally guiding her onto becoming a corporate trainer. Rivera began facilitating life-changing seminars on stress management for executives at companies around the country.
Shortly thereafter, she began giving motivational speeches. While conducting seminars and giving speeches, Rivera discovered her comedic skills. Encouraged by many of her clients she signed up for a weekend seminar on stand-up comedy, at the end of which she performed a five-minute routine. It was a personal turning point. “I knew I’d found what I was looking for,” Rivera recalled.
See keynotes with Shayla Rivera