Tiffany Shlain

Tiffany Shlain
Name	Tiffany Shlain
Birth date	15 October 1970
Birth place	San Francisco, California, U.S.
Occupation	Filmmaker, author, speaker
Education	University of California, Berkeley (BA), University of California, San Francisco (honorary doctorate)
Spouse	Ken Goldberg (m. 1999)
Website	tiffanyshlain.com

Tiffany Shlain. Tiffany Shlain is an American filmmaker, author, and founder of the Webby Awards. A pioneer in internet culture and media, she is known for her feature-length documentaries, bestselling books, and advocacy for a 24-hour weekly digital detox known as Technology Shabbat. Her work explores the intersection of technology, humanity, and society, earning her recognition as a leading thinker on the future of connection.

Early life and education

Born in San Francisco, she is the daughter of surgeon and author Leonard Shlain and artist Ina Gyemant. Her father's influential theories on the relationship between art, science, and the brain profoundly shaped her intellectual development. She attended University of California, Berkeley, where she studied under renowned scholars and graduated with a degree in interdisciplinary studies. Her early career was marked by a deep engagement with the nascent World Wide Web, leading her to co-found the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences. This institution would later establish the prestigious Webby Awards, honoring excellence on the internet.

Career

Shlain's career spans filmmaking, writing, and public speaking. She founded the production company Let it Ripple Studio, which creates films and digital projects focused on character-driven explorations of complex ideas. Her cinematic work, often created with her husband Ken Goldberg, has been screened at venues including The Sundance Film Festival, The Tribeca Film Festival, and the United Nations. A frequent speaker, she has delivered talks at global forums such as TED, the World Economic Forum, and Google. She is also a founding member of the Academy's Documentary Branch. Beyond film, Shlain is a prominent advocate for mindful technology use, popularizing the practice of a weekly Technology Shabbat to disconnect from digital devices.

Filmography

Her filmography includes award-winning documentaries that combine personal narrative with broader societal examination. Notable works include *Connected: An Autoblogography about Love, Death & Technology*, which premiered at The Sundance Film Festival and explores modern interconnectedness. *The Science of Character*, an exploration of human virtues, was released in partnership with YouTube. *50/50: Rethinking the Past, Present & Future of Women + Power* examines gender equality through history. Her series *The Future Starts Here* was commissioned by AT&T and the Tribeca Film Festival. More recent work includes *Brain Power: From Neurons to Networks*, which draws parallels between the human brain and the internet.

Awards and recognition

Shlain has received numerous accolades for her innovative work. Her films have won over 80 awards, including honors from film festivals worldwide. She was named by the U.S. Department of State as a Franklin Fellow and was appointed to the National Council on the Humanities by President Barack Obama. *Connected* was nominated for an Emmy Award. She has also been recognized with the Sloan Prize for science in film and her work is part of the permanent collection at The Museum of Modern Art in New York City. *Newsweek* magazine named her one of the "Women Shaping the 21st Century."

Personal life

She is married to artist and roboticist Ken Goldberg, a professor at University of California, Berkeley. They have two daughters and reside in the San Francisco Bay Area. The family observes a weekly Technology Shabbat, a practice she frequently discusses in her lectures and writings. Her father, Leonard Shlain, authored the bestselling book *The Alphabet Versus the Goddess*, and his intellectual legacy continues to influence her projects. She serves on the advisory board for the Center for Humane Technology.

Bibliography

Shlain is the author of the national bestselling book *24/6: The Power of Unplugging One Day a Week*, published by Gallery Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster. The book expands on her philosophy of digital disconnection, weaving together personal anecdotes, scientific research on neuroplasticity, and historical context. She is also a contributor to various anthologies and publications, including *The Atlantic* and *Harvard Business Review*. Her writings often explore themes of mindfulness, creativity, and the societal impacts of rapid technological change pioneered by figures like Steve Jobs and shaped by platforms like Facebook.

Category:American film directors Category:American women writers Category:People from San Francisco