Marra B. Gad

  • Award-Winning Author of 'The Color of Love: A Story of a Mixed-Race Jewish Girl'
  • President, Egad! Productions
  • Recipient of the Women's Empowerment Award, Women of Reform Judaism
  • Advocate for Mental Health, Racial Equity, and Adopted Children and Families

Award-winning author, filmmaker, and advocate Marra B. Gad offers powerful insights about belonging, overcoming bias, and finding unity in keynotes and conversations that are tailored to each audience. Gad is the author of THE COLOR OF LOVE: A Story of a Mixed-Race Jewish Girl, a powerful memoir about her experience as a transracial adoptee, which won the 2020 Midwest Book Award for autobiography. Describing herself as ‘a grateful child of adoption’, she is a gifted storyteller who shares her experiences being a Black and Ashkenazi Jewish child adopted by a White and Jewish family in 1970. Gad is an in-demand speaker on topics of diversity and inclusion, mental health awareness, and the power of embracing one’s personal history to find belonging.

Gad is a Women’s Empowerment Award recipient from Women of Reform Judaism, which honors “those who strengthen the voices of others, empower women, and promote progress Jewish values,” and served on the inaugural Inclusivity Board for SOHO House International. She is the Founder and President of Egad! Productions, overseeing the development and production of scripted TV series and films across genres. Gad is deeply committed to expanding and exploring the notion of belonging across multiple spectrums, and has shared her uplifting message with groups like SOHO House, the St. Louis Jewish Book Festival, University Synagogue in LA, the University of Maryland Panhellenic Association, FCB Global, and more.

 



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Marra B. Gad headshot
Past Hosts Include:
  • Student, The Baldwin School
  • Shaare Emeth
  • Temple Sinai
  • FCB Global
  • University of Maryland Panhellenic Association
  • B'nai B'rith Youth Organization International Convention
  • The American Conference of Cantors Annual Conference - National
  • University Synagogue - Los Angeles
  • Oakwood School, Los Angeles
  • St. Louis Jewish Book Festival
Rave Reviews About Marra B. Gad as a Speaker
On behalf of FCB, I wanted to let you know how delighted we were with Marra Gad. Her presentation was powerful, meaningful and actionable. Her incredibly personal anecdotes had a large audience riveted from her opening reading through her last moment in the building. In 20+ years in the business, I have never seen a more attentive audience – or more appreciative. There were tears in the audience as advertising professionals engaged with her content. Then, in the 1:1s at the reception following, the personal interactions were deeply meaningful as well, with employees reacting to Marra as a mentor, leader and friend. We had the most participation of any event this year, and I have heard nothing but wonderful feedback. I would highly recommend Marra for any corporate event. Her preparation was evident, her message is powerful and needed, and her performance skills make for a one of a kind presentation.

Marra B. Gad - Finding the grace in my identity | FCB - Get Sharable Link
Talks & Conversations with Marra B. Gad
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Vulnerability and Identity

Award-winning author MARRA B. GAD speaks directly to the role that vulnerability plays in her life and the importance of standing tall through a number of lenses, including her unique identity being Black and Ashkenazi (Eastern European) Jewish, as an author and public speaker and how our bodies def ...

Award-winning author MARRA B. GAD speaks directly to the role that vulnerability plays in her life and the importance of standing tall through a number of lenses, including her unique identity being Black and Ashkenazi (Eastern European) Jewish, as an author and public speaker and how our bodies define us through her recent experience losing 125 pounds. 

DEIB Program: Intersectionality and Belonging

Award-winning author and filmmaker MARRA B. GAD has been sought after for her profound insights and expertise leading conversations about belonging, equity, inclusion, supporting organizations and companies in their goal of building greater acceptance and connection in the workplace. Sharing her per ...

Award-winning author and filmmaker MARRA B. GAD has been sought after for her profound insights and expertise leading conversations about belonging, equity, inclusion, supporting organizations and companies in their goal of building greater acceptance and connection in the workplace. Sharing her personal experience as a Black and Ashkenazi Jewish child adopted by a White and Jewish family in the 1970s, Gad unpacks the toll of racism, bias, and rejection on mental health, offering an unparalleled perspective on the reality of corporate DEI efforts. Gad tailors her talk to each audience and focuses on a powerful theme: how to expand the idea of what it means to belong and come together to embrace our differences and build more welcoming and resilient cultures.

Author Talk: The Color of Love

Based on her award-winning memoir, THE COLOR OF LOVE: A Story of a Mixed-Race Jewish Girl, author and advocate MARRA B. GAD shares the powerful story of her experience as a transracial adoptee. Winner of the 2020 Midwest Book Award for autobiography, Gad is ‘a grateful child of adoption’, a gifted s ...

Based on her award-winning memoir, THE COLOR OF LOVE: A Story of a Mixed-Race Jewish Girl, author and advocate MARRA B. GAD shares the powerful story of her experience as a transracial adoptee. Winner of the 2020 Midwest Book Award for autobiography, Gad is ‘a grateful child of adoption’, a gifted storyteller, and a thought leader on the expansiveness of identity and what it means to find belonging. For groups and organizations looking to engage on topics of resilience, inclusion, and to cultivate hope, Gad delivers a compelling and inspiring event.

Alzheimer’s and Caregiving

Award-winning author MARRA B. GAD chronicles her experience as a caregiver for her great Aunt Nette, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, in her memoir THE COLOR OF LOVE. Gad overcame a strained familial relationship to provide this care and shares profound insights about the transformational nature ...

Award-winning author MARRA B. GAD chronicles her experience as a caregiver for her great Aunt Nette, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, in her memoir THE COLOR OF LOVE. Gad overcame a strained familial relationship to provide this care and shares profound insights about the transformational nature of this disease on both the patient and for their loved ones. Gad’s message of resilience and her focus on embracing the possibility of change is uplifting for groups of all kinds.

Adoption Advocacy: A Constantly Evolving Experience

As a grateful child of a transracial adoption, award-winning author MARRA B. GAD celebrates her family and speaks intimately to the constantly evolving experience of adoption and being raised in a transracial family. As a Black and Ashkenazi Jewish child adopted by a White and Jewish family in the 1 ...

As a grateful child of a transracial adoption, award-winning author MARRA B. GAD celebrates her family and speaks intimately to the constantly evolving experience of adoption and being raised in a transracial family. As a Black and Ashkenazi Jewish child adopted by a White and Jewish family in the 1970s, Gad unpacks her experience navigating her world and shares an uplifting message of embracing our differences to find belonging.

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Speaker News
<p><strong>Author and mental health advocate Marra B. Gad shares a profound message that resonates with college audiences</strong></p>

Author and mental health advocate Marra B. Gad shares a profound message that resonates with college audiences

The award-winning author of THE COLOR OF LOVE: A Story of a Mixed-Race Jewish Girl MARRA B. GAD shares a powerful message of resilience and belonging that resonates deeply with college and university audiences. Student audiences connect deeply with her experience of intersectionality – she is a Black and Ashkenazi Jewish woman who was adopted by an Ashkenazi Jewish family – as well as her authentic and courageous insights about mental health awareness. For groups and organizations looking to engage on topics of resilience, inclusion, and belonging, Gad delivers a compelling and inspiring event.

When Gad spoke at the University of Maryland Panhellenic Association, they shared this rave review:

"Although Marra is not the typical speaker that is brought to Greek Life across the country, she perfectly delivered a perspective that inspired my community to want to be better in our efforts of combating racism and other forms of exclusion that have existed in Greek Life for over a century. Marra engaged beautifully on what it means to belong and how to accept the honest truth when sometimes that is hard, especially for young adults. Through sharing personal experiences, truly being an open book, and answering any questions that came her way, Marra instilled confidence in me as a leader and in my community."

Watch Marra B. Gad on The Resilience Series >>

<p><strong>Success Story: Award-winning author Marra B. Gad received a glowing review from her event with FCB Global</strong></p>

Success Story: Award-winning author Marra B. Gad received a glowing review from her event with FCB Global

Award-winning author MARRA B. GAD joined global agency network Foote, Cone & Belding (FCB) for a fireside chat and made a major impact on their team. In a talk titled ‘Between Three Worlds: Featuring Marra Gad’, the author of THE COLOR OF LOVE: A Story of a Mixed-Race Jewish Girl delved into her story of transracial adoption, and shared key actionable takeaways for the advertising industry about representation and cultivating inclusion in the workplace. As with all her sought-after events, Gad tailored her remarks for maximum resonance with the audience of 200 FCB employees, receiving a glowing review:

“On behalf of FCB, I wanted to let you know how delighted we were with Marra Gad. Her presentation was powerful, meaningful, and actionable. Her incredibly personal anecdotes had a large audience riveted from her opening reading through her last moment in the building. In 20+ years in the business, I have never seen a more attentive audience – or more appreciative. There were tears in the audience as advertising professionals engaged with her content. Then, in the 1:1s at the reception following, the personal interactions were deeply meaningful as well, with employees reacting to Marra as a mentor, leader, and friend. We had the most participation of any event this year, and I have heard nothing but wonderful feedback.

I would highly recommend Marra for any corporate event. Her preparation was evident, her message is powerful and needed, and her performance skills make for a one-of-a-kind presentation.” (FCB Global)

Watch Marra B. Gad at the ACC National Convention >>

<p>Marra B. Gad candidly discusses mental health and resilience</p>

Marra B. Gad candidly discusses mental health and resilience

As a Black and Ashkenazi Jewish woman, MARRA B. GAD has experienced a lot of criticism, harassment, bullying and hate because of her identities and their intersections. Gad candidly shares her experiences with audiences about how the harassment led her to having suicidal thoughts as early as her teen years and connects her story to how belonging impacts mental health. This realization led her to become deeply committed to expanding and exploring the notion of belonging across multiple spectrums. Gad’s story is one of true resilience-  being surrounded by negativity and both overt and “discreet” discrimination her entire life, growing through years of therapy, and finding her own happiness to become the person and advocate she is today. Audiences come away with powerful insights about mental health and personal growth, with a more empathetic perspective of those around them. 

<p>Marra B. Gad helps organizations have complicated conversations that move us closer to inclusivity and belonging</p>

Marra B. Gad helps organizations have complicated conversations that move us closer to inclusivity and belonging

With the state of the world today, many organizations are thinking about diversity, inclusivity, and belonging, but don’t know where to begin in making real change. MARRA B. GAD understands the power a thoughtful conversation can have in creating unity, educating, and making positive changes. 

A person with many marginalized identities as a Black and Ashkenazi Jewish woman adopted at birth, Gad is keenly aware that she doesn't fit into what are considered to be the traditional boxes we typically expect of people, overtly or subliminally. And she acknowledges that it can be challenging to talk about it. Instead, she encourages us all to take a step back from these boxes and look at each other as human beings with unique, nuanced experiences in life, but also with so much in common. Through disarming conversations and keynotes, Gad shows audiences that having these complicated conversations does not have to be all that complicated – we just have to start – and that examining our biases to become more inclusive is something we all have to do, no matter our identities. 

From conversations on college campuses to discussions with corporations about where to start with inclusivity, Gad tailors her talk to each unique audience, but always shares one underlying theme – expanding on the idea of what it means to belong in order to come together based on our differences, embrace them, and embrace each other. 

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Biography

Marra B. Gad is an award-winning author, speaker and independent writer/producer. As president of Egad! Productions, she oversees the development and production of scripted television series and films. 

A grateful child of adoption, Marra speaks internationally about her transracial adoption in 1970, and her experiences being Black and Ashkenazi Jewish through the lens of her debut memoir, THE COLOR OF LOVE: A Story of a Mixed-Race Jewish Girl, winner of the 2020 Midwest Book Award for Autobiography/Memoir.

Marra holds a BA from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and an MA in Jewish History from Baltimore Hebrew Institute at Towson University.  Deeply committed to expanding and exploring the notion of belonging across multiple spectrums, Marra is a member of Soho House International’s inaugural Inclusivity Board and a proud recipient of the 2022 Women of Reform Judaism's Women of Empowerment Award.