Gabi Zijderveld

Gabi Zijderveld is a seasoned technology executive with over two decades of experience in the high-tech industry.1 2 She served as the Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) and head of product strategy at Affectiva, a company specializing in Emotion AI technology.1

Career Highlights

At Affectiva: Zijderveld played a pivotal role in defining and establishing the new technology category of Emotion AI (artificial emotional intelligence).1 She successfully positioned Affectiva as a leader in this space through effective marketing strategies and high-volume press coverage.1 Additionally, she led the product management and launch of Affectiva's Automotive AI, an innovative in-cabin sensing solution that measures driver impairment and passenger mood using face and voice analysis.1

Previous Experience: Before joining Affectiva, Zijderveld held diverse marketing, product management, and international positions at various technology companies, including:

ON Technology
Dragon Systems
Be Free
Centra
Segue Software
IBM1

Education and Background

Zijderveld earned a graduate degree in art history and archeology from Utrecht University in The Netherlands.1 This unique background combines with her extensive tech industry experience, making her an international business geek and language aficionado.5

Current Ventures

In 2024, Zijderveld co-founded Blue Tulip Ventures, an early-stage venture capital firm, alongside Rana el Kaliouby, former CEO of Affectiva.3 This new venture aims to invest in AI startups with a focus on "human-centric AI" that can benefit humanity and the planet.3

Professional Interests and Advocacy

Zijderveld is passionate about building "new stuff," including products, markets, teams, and ecosystems.4 She is also an advocate for ethics in AI, emphasizing the importance of developing AI technologies that serve humanity responsibly.5

Gabi Zijderveld's LinkedIn username is gabiz.4