Payhuan Shiao

Payhuan Shiao is a cultural futurist and serial media entrepreneur shaping the future of storytelling. As Founder and CEO of Immortal Studios, he leads the creation of the first interconnected Wuxia (martial arts fantasy) storyverse—blending ancient Chinese heroism with transmedia, AI innovation, and community-driven engagement. His mission: to awaken the hero in everyone.

Born in Taiwan and raised in Hollywood, Payhuan was inspired by the martial arts novels of his father, Wuxia legend Shiao Yi. His life’s work bridges East and West, myth and modernity, media and spiritual purpose. Before launching Immortal, he produced the first U.S.-China film co-production (Restless), led cross-sector initiatives under California’s China partnerships, and collaborated with the Shaolin Temple to modernize Kung Fu’s spiritual teachings.

He is also the creator of The 7 Cultivations, a personal development system and forthcoming book that distills Chinese wisdom into a modern path of transformation.

Featured by The Economist, Forbes, and Harvard Business School, Payhuan speaks on cultural innovation, storytelling, AAPI identity, and personal growth. A UCLA alum and CA Senate Fellow, he continues to study Shaolin Kung Fu and Kriya Yoga while building a global movement at the intersection of myth, tech, and inner power.

KEYNOTE TOPICS

• The Hero’s Code: How Ancient Wuxia Stories Unlock Modern Resilience and Purpose
• The 7 Cultivations: A New Framework for Personal Mastery and Conscious Creativity
• AI and the Future of Storytelling: Reimagining Culture in the Age of Machines
• From Shaolin to Silicon Valley: Building an Authentic East-West Narrative for a New World Order
• Immortal Storytelling: Creating Scalable IP with Soul in a Saturated World