THE MORAL COMPASS

BAN KI-MOON for his election to Chair of the International Olympic Committee's Ethics Commission
"The program was fantastic!...SG Ban was a highlight. We really appreciate your help with securing [him]. I look forward to working with you on the next one!"

- SAP CEO Summit
"Even in a constrained position like the Secretary-General, Ban has been a force for progress at the UN and around the world."

 
- Mark Goldberg, Huffington Post
Among the most respected and well-known statesmen of his generation, Ban Ki-moon has traveled the world engaging in the highest levels of international dialogue and decision-making. Named a Top 100 Global Thinker by Foreign Policy for his unparalleled diplomatic work in helping to quickly ratify the Paris Agreement, Ban furthered his role as a global leader when he was named Chair of the International Olympic Committees's ethics commission, an honor that puts Ban at the helm of the Olympic's code of ethics and ongoing probes into cases of corruption. Recently sought-out for his transformative insights into "The Imperative for Global Leadership" at the Global Financial Leadership Conference, Ban illuminates the world's most pressing issues and shares a productive path forward at high-caliber events from the Swiss Economic Forum to We Day. Ban is already set to deliver key insights as the keynote speaker at UBS' Greater China Conference 2018
Learn more about Ban Ki-Moon >>
THE INNOVATOR

JIMMY WALES for founding Wikitribune, a groundbreaking news platform

"It was great. After we opened up the invitation, we filled the auditorium and had an overflow room. C-SPAN broadcast live. He was engaging and interesting. Thanks for working with us on it!"
 

-CATO Institute

"Jimmy was really great. Of course he is smart, thoughtful and visionary, all which worked well on our campus. But his presentation was well constructed, interactive and engaging. He definitely connected with our students... "

-Stanford University

Founder of Wikipedia, the world's 5th most-visited website, Jimmy Wales launched his next revolutionary project: an ad-free global news platform called Wikitribune that aims to address the idea that "the news is broken and we can fix it."  Instantly making headlines on every major news site, from The BBC and CNBC to TIME and Fox, Wales’ platform fulfills citizens’ demand for reliable, fact-based journalism amid increasingly uncertain and polarized political times. At the forefront of innovation, Wales breaks down the future of media and tech and shares insights into disruption in keynotes that are both deeply informative and engaging. Just in the past weeks, Wales was sought-out to shed light on "Business in a Connected and Collaborative World" at CoreNet Global's Annual Summit, provide a "Master Class in Disruption" at the Synergy Global Forum, and deliver keynotes at the re.comm Real Estate Leaders Summit and Fabbit Conference. 

Learn more about Jimmy Wales >>
THE DISTINGUISHED VOICE

PEGGY NOONAN for winning the 2017 Pulitzer Prize for Distinguished Commentary

"[Peggy Noonan] is writing with such transparent conscience that I believe that she captures the American condition and the American voice....Peggy Noonan delivers, weekly, a reasonable approximation of what the better angels of our nature may (or are supposed to) sound like. Hers is an exhortatory idealism tempered by a rare common sense. She is perceptive, persuasive, principled and patriotic."

Tunku Varadarajan, professor at NYU’s Stern Business School, on Forbes.com

Acclaimed journalist, bestselling author and Political Analyst for NBC News & MSNBC Peggy Noonan was awarded the 2017 Pulitzer Prize for distinguished commentary for her Wall Street Journal column Declarations.  Heralded “for her prescient pieces on Donald Trump and the political uprising his candidacy represented," the prize committee hailed Noonan, “for rising to the moment with beautifully rendered columns that connected readers to the shared virtues of Americans during one of the nation’s most divisive political campaigns.“ With experience working in the White House as a Former Special Assistant and Speechwriter to President Ronald Reagan, Noonan brings her sharp commentary and profound insights on Washington to each of her engagements. In 2018 she's already been sought-out to share her views on leadership and politics at the American Hospital Association's Annual Meeting and the Detroit Regional Chamber Mackinac Policy Conference

Learn more about Peggy Noonan>>
THE HUMANITARIAN 

AL GORE for his revolutionary documentary An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power 
2017 Ashden Awards Ceremony - Al Gore keynote speech

"People thoroughly enjoyed the conference and found Al Gore to be intellectually impressive, extremely knowledgeable and highly entertaining. What surprised most people was the passion in his delivery. The most commonly used description of his speech was 'inspirational.'"
 

-Merrion-Capital

"VP Gore’s appearance was excellent, his speech was very innovative and the way of giving this lecture, motivating and extraordinary. Our clients were very satisfied from the event and VP Gore’s point of view and inputs were very informative and gave a new dimension to our investors, for a sustainable future."

-Marfin Egnatia Bank

An environmental, business and tech visionary just honored with the humanitarian tribute at the Gotham Awards, Al Gore is at the undisputed epicenter of the global conversation surrounding climate change.  A decade after his Academy Award-winning documentary An Inconvenient Truth  drew millions to the box office and forever changed how the world thinks about climate change, Gore made history again with his much-anticipated An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power. Selected as a New York Times Critic's Pick and certified FRESH by Rotten Tomatoes, Gore’s documentary was a critical success that re-sparked the global conversation surrounding the climate crisis just as President Trump announced the U.S. would be withdrawing from the Paris Agreement. Sought-out for interviews by major outlets from NBC’s Today Show and Fast Company to CBS’s Sunday Morning and National Geographic, Gore delivers a powerful message of urgency and optimism: the sustainability revolution will not be stopped. In-demand at premier events, such as the recent Innovation and Breakthrough Forum, the Milken Institute’s Asia Summit and Women’s Leadership Summit, and the Ashden Awards Ceremony, Gore's keynotes are known to empower and generate legions of inspired tweets

Learn more about Al Gore>>
THE ACTIVIST

GLORIA STEINEM for empowering the next generation of feminists at the Women's March on Washington
5. Commencement Speaker, Gloria Steinem 2017

"Gloria Steinem was beyond gracious and captured everyone's heart today. Remarks were: "Today made a difference in my life." She had so much energy and didn't rush through her speech, questions or signing books. It was an honor to have her headline our annual luncheon."

-Margaux's Miracle Foundation

"All I can say is that the experience of having Gloria as our keynote was magical. She was gracious and warm and everyone just loved it!"

"Gloria was absolutely amazing. It was like an out of body experience to hear from her. Everyone was blown away."

-The Robert Toigo Foundation

An iconic visionary of the Women's Movement, Gloria Steinem's dynamite speech at the historic Women's March on Washington not only went viral-- racking up hundreds of thousands of views on Youtube and getting republished in countless outlets from The Los Angeles Times to TeenVogue-- but it captivated the next generation of feminists, providing guidance and inspiration for a path forward. Steinem brought the same passion, energy and wry wit to her commencement speech at New York's School of Visual Arts, which nabbed the top slot on Buzzfeed's list of the 9 Most Inspiring Commencement Addresses. Set to be the subject of a new biopic by legendary director Julie Taymor, Steinem's optimism, words of empowerment and perspectives on global feminism have been the subject of articles in Quartz and The New York Times as she remains an invaluable political activist and leader. As a recent Vogue headline succinctly summed up: “Gloria Steinem’s Advice for the Next Generation of Feminists Is a Must-Read for Our Time.”

Learn more about Gloria Steinem>>
THE ENTREPRENEUR 

ADAM BRAUN for launching MissionU, a college alternative for the 21st century 
5 Keys To Breakthrough Ideas - Adam Braun

"Adam’s talk was engaging, powerful and tailored to the audience he was a addressing. The reviews were overwhelmingly positive. He had the sell- out crowd of 700 people mesmerized- and that was at an early morning breakfast! Throughout the day, people were commenting and mentioning points that he made in his presentation. He had the right balance of information, tips, humor and stirring stories."

- United Way of Westchester and Putnam

"Adam Braun [was] fantastic! The audience had such positive feedback about [his] session. I luckily had the chance to attend Adam's session and was very inspired by Mission U. I think its going to be such a life changing cause that will have tremendous impact on many students..."

 

-Qudwa Global Teachers Forum

New York Times bestselling author and pioneer of the for-purpose industry Adam Braun launched his latest, groundbreaking project: MissionU, an educational model for the 21st century. With the same passion and sense of purpose that brought Braun tremendous success as the founder of Pencils of Promise—which has now helped build over 400 schools worldwide—Braun developed a revolutionary one-year college alternative that charges students $0 in upfront tuition, and prepares them for today’s most competitive and innovative jobs with a curriculum designed alongside startup power players such as Casper, Spotify and Warby Parker. Heralded for his entrepreneurial spirit and innovative thinking, Braun’s MissionU launch has been met with a flurry of media attention, including an article in CNNMoney, interview with Forbes Podcast, and a fascinating TodayShow segment. Recently sought-out for keynotes at the Association of Fraternity/ Sorority Advisors Conference, Marquette Associates Annual Investment Symposium and Florida International University, Braun shares inspiring, fresh, and impactful insights that resonate with the cutting-edge of both the business and academic world.

Learn more about Adam Braun >>
In a year where the news cycle was on overtime, these HWA Speakers broke through the noise as leaders and voices that mattered. Innovative, thought-provoking and inspiring, they delivered messages of urgency that resonated with audiences across industries and political affiliations. In 2018, they will continue to be the names that make more than just headlines. They make an impact.