Julia Shaw

Julia Shaw

Dr. Julia Shaw: Pioneering Psychological Scientist, Memory Expert & Tech Entrepreneur

Core Intelligence Domain: Psychology & Human Behaviour
Location: London, United Kingdom | Languages: English, German
Representation: Represented globally by PSpeakers Global Intelligence

Dr. Julia Shaw is an internationally recognised psychological scientist, bestselling author, and tech entrepreneur whose groundbreaking research into human memory and criminal psychology has fundamentally reshaped our understanding of cognitive reliability. Renowned for her pioneering work on the malleability of memory, Dr. Shaw provides global business leaders and organisations with critical insights into human behaviour, decision-making vulnerabilities, and the mitigation of unconscious bias. By bridging the gap between rigorous academic research and practical corporate application, she equips modern enterprises with the strategic foresight required to build more resilient, ethical, and psychologically safe workplace environments.

Groundbreaking Research in Cognitive Psychology

As an Honorary Research Associate at University College London (UCL), Dr. Shaw has conducted world-leading research in the areas of memory and criminal psychology. She is best known for her landmark studies demonstrating how easily false memories of committing crimes can be implanted into the minds of healthy adults. This extraordinary research has profound implications for the legal system, corporate compliance, and leadership, highlighting the fragile nature of subjective truth and the critical need for objective data frameworks in decision-making processes.

Artificial Intelligence and Workplace Innovation

Beyond her academic achievements, Dr. Shaw is a forward-thinking entrepreneur who sits at the intersection of psychology and artificial intelligence. She is the co-founder of Spot, an innovative AI-driven platform designed to help employees anonymously report workplace harassment and discrimination. Utilising cognitive interview techniques, Spot removes the human bias often present in HR reporting, empowering organisations to address toxic behaviour effectively while fostering a culture of profound psychological safety and accountability.

Bestselling Authorship and Global Media Presence

Dr. Shaw is a prolific writer and communicator. Her international bestselling book, The Memory Illusion: Remembering, Forgetting, and the Science of False Memory, has been published in over 20 languages. She is also the author of Evil: The Science Behind Humanity’s Dark Side, which explores the psychology of workplace psychopathy and unethical behaviour, and Bi: The Hidden Culture, History, and Science of Bisexuality, a vital text for contemporary diversity and inclusion strategies. Furthermore, she co-hosted the highly acclaimed BBC Sounds podcast Bad People, where she applied her forensic psychological expertise to dissect real-world cases of criminal and transgressive behaviour.

Primary Speaking Themes

• The Memory Illusion: Understanding the fallibility of human memory, cognitive biases, and why leaders must rely on objective frameworks rather than subjective recollection.
• Artificial Intelligence and Psychological Safety: How AI can be leveraged to eliminate bias, encourage reporting, and build safer, more inclusive corporate cultures.
• The Psychology of Unethical Behaviour: Deconstructing the concept of ‘evil’ to understand the psychological drivers of workplace toxicity, fraud, and misconduct.
• Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging: Insights into the hidden culture of bisexuality and strategies for authentic LGBTQ+ inclusion in the modern workplace.
• Transformational Leadership: Utilising cognitive science to enhance executive decision-making, mitigate unconscious bias, and lead with empathy and evidence.

Key Takeaways

• Memory is Reconstructive: Human memory is highly malleable; leaders must understand cognitive vulnerabilities to make better, evidence-based strategic decisions.
• AI as an Ethical Tool: Implementing intelligent systems can bypass human prejudice and fundamentally improve how organisations handle sensitive internal reporting.
• Redefining Workplace Culture: By understanding the psychological roots of dark or unethical behaviour, companies can proactively design compliance structures that prevent toxicity.
• Data-Driven Inclusivity: True diversity goes beyond surface-level metrics, requiring a deep psychological understanding of marginalised identities to foster genuine organisational belonging.