When Maria first entered the world of poker in 2017, it was tough to predict that, within a year, she would have won a major title, made multiple final tables, and amassed close to $300,000 in live tournament winnings. But that’s precisely what happened. Today, in addition to her career as a journalist, Maria plays professionally, traveling the world as she seeks her next poker title in anticipation of her forthcoming book, The Biggest Bluff.
Maria’s journey has been featured in profiles all over the world, including recent features in the New York Times, the Times, the Columbia Journalism Review, the Wall Street Journal—and even Glamour magazine in Germany. And this is only the beginning.
A unique decision making perspective
Maria brings a unique background to her poker career: apart from being a bestselling author and award-winning journalist, she holds a Ph.D. in Psychology from Columbia University. Her doctoral work was on risky and emotional decision making in uncertain environments—the precise sorts of conditions you encounter at the poker table. Her theoretical findings, alongside her new practical experience, form a powerful combination for insight into the human decision making process in environments far removed from the poker table.
Apart from playing and working on her book, over the last year Maria has developed interactive decision making workshops that use poker as a tool to explore your own mind—and help you emerge with a more complete understanding of yourself and a roadmap for improving your thought processes going forward. (All, hopefully, while having some fun and learning some poker strategy!) She has successfully run these workshops everywhere from corporate retreats in Colorado to school classrooms to neuroscience meetings and investment conferences in New York City. Each workshop is customized to fit your needs. To find out more, and see if Maria could be a fit for your next meeting or event, email poker@mariakonnikova.com
To see Maria speak about poker and decision making, view her recent keynote at the World Economic Forum at Davos, or see some additional speaking highlights here.
