CBS Sunday Morning’s Jane Pauley is one of broadcasting’s most respected journalists and hosts. Prior to anchoring on CBS, Pauley spent over a decade on NBC's Today, was a co-founding anchor of Dateline NBC for over a decade, and hosted the daytime series The Jane Pauley Show. Pauley is the recipient of multiple Emmys, the Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Journalism, the Edward R. Murrow Award for outstanding achievement, and the Gracie Allen Award from the Foundation of American Women in Radio & Television. Pauley is a member of the Broadcast and Cable Hall of Fame. She is the author of two New York Times bestsellers: a memoir, Skywriting: A Life Out of the Blue and Your Life Calling: Reimagining the Rest of Your Life. A familiar face on television, Pauley’s celebrity fills the room with optimism, and audiences often ask her to return, citing their audiences’ warm reception.

Pauley is praised by audiences for her relatable and personal inspirational message. She advocates for people 50+ starting different careers, making a difference, and pursuing their dreams. She is also a highly regarded advocate for mental health, children’s health, and education issues. Pauley has shared her inspiring message with hosts including the American Academy of Physician Assistants, National Association of Community Health Centers, California State Association of Counties, and more.

Powerhouse Maria Sharapova is known not only as an international tennis star, but also as an inspirational leader and successful entrepreneur. Sharapova became a professional tennis player at age 14. She went on to win five Grand Slam titles (the first, Wimbledon, at age 17), became the 7th female player to complete the career Grand Slam, and rank #1 in the world on five separate occasions. She will be inducted into the Tennis Hall of Fame in 2025. Sharapova chronicles much of her tennis career in her New York Times best-seller, Unstoppable: My Life so Far. In her live engagements, Sharapova gives insight into the upbringing, mindset, and tools that made her amazing success possible.

Outside of tennis, Sharapova is an active founder, CEO, and business investor. Sharapova paved the way for athlete founders, creating and scaling her own premium candy line, Sugarpova. She is widely respected for her business acumen currently serving on the boards of Moncler and Wolf & Shepherd, a successful early investor in companies like Bala Bangles and Supergoop!, and was a guest judge on Shark Tank. Sharapova has also served as an investor and advisor to Bala as well as a board member of Moncler and Wolf & Shepherd. Now, Sharapova is using her experience on-and-off the court to inspire and empower audiences to achieve elite performance in all aspects of their lives, particularly women in business.

J.R. Martinez is a best-selling author, motivational speaker, advocate, wounded U.S. Army veteran, and actor who has been featured on All My Children, Dancing with the Stars, SAF3, and more.  

While deployed to Iraq, J.R. hit a roadside bomb while driving and became trapped in his burning vehicle.  He suffered smoke inhalation, severe burns, and had to undergo 34 different surgeries, including skin grafts and cosmetic surgery, in the years following his injury.  During his recovery, after a brief visit with another burn patient, J.R. realized that he'd made a positive impact on this individual and decided to use his own experiences to help others.  He continued to visit patients every day, sharing his story and listening to theirs. He learned that inspiration is often a two-way street.

A highly sought-after motivational speaker, Martinez travels the world spreading his message of resilience and optimism.  He has spoken to troops at various bases around the world, as well as to groups such as the Clinton Global Initiative, the Red Cross, and dozens of universities, non-profits, and Fortune 500 companies.  His New York Times best-selling memoir, Full of Heart: My Story of Survival, Strength and Spirit, details how he was able to take his personal tragedy and turn it into an inspiration for others, a message he also brings to worldwide organizations.  In May 2020, he launched his podcast, REBIRTH with J.R. Martinez, an ode to reinvention and the spirit of human resilience. In each episode, with his joyful effervescence, quick wit, and curious nature, J.R. takes listeners on a journey through conversations that explore what defines us, the moments that changed us forever, and the hope that propels us forward.

J.R.’s story is unique, but his message is universal: your path in life is decided by your own ability to adapt and overcome.

Captain Richard Phillips became the center of an extraordinary international drama when he was captured by Somali pirates who hijacked his ship, the first hijacking of a U.S. ship in more than 200 years.  Amid the standoff, he offered himself as a hostage. Captain Phillips authored A Captain's Duty: Somali Pirates, Navy SEALS, and Dangerous Days at Sea detailing his experience. This dramatic story was also transformed into an Academy-Award and Golden-Globe nominated film, Captain Phillips. President Barak Obama said, "I share the country's admiration for the bravery of Captain Phillips and his selfless concern for his crew. His courage is a model for all Americans."

Recognized as a national hero, Phillips now gives inspiring speeches on stepping up, finding courage within yourself, and putting your community first. He has been invited to share his message with hosts including General Mills, Constellation Brans, Houston Methodist Hospital, and more.

A New York Times bestselling author and global fashion icon with a remarkable rags to riches story, Dapper Dan pioneered streetwear in the early 1980s with his eponymous store on 125th Street. Co-opting luxury branding to design original garments with high-end detail, Dapper Dan first drew powerful New York City hustlers as clientele, who flocked to him thanks to his strong street reputation as a legendary professional gambler and dandy. He then went on to outfit the world’s top entertainers and celebrities, all leading to his notoriety. 

Dapper Dan’s incredible personal journey from a hungry boy with holes in his shoes, to a teen who gambled drug dealers out of their money, to a beloved legend in the worlds of Harlem, fashion, and hip hop, is chronicled in his New York Times bestseller, Dapper Dan: Made in Harlem. It’s a story that inspires and resonates with audiences worldwide, and is now being developed into a premium drama series and a documentary series. In his empowering and riveting remarks, Dapper Dan highlights the importance of tenacity, curiosity, and determination to make ones wildest dreams a reality.

Acclaimed chef, restaurateur, New York Times bestselling author, and beloved TV host Marcus Samuelsson inspires audiences with his powerful storytelling and engaging cooking demos. Samuelsson is the chef behind many renowned restaurants worldwide, including Red Rooster Harlem, Red Rooster Shoreditch, and Marcus B&P. Samuelsson was the youngest person ever to receive a three-star review from The New York Times. He has won eight James Beard Foundation Awards and was the guest chef for the Obama Administration’s first state dinner. Samuelsson is also the author of multiple books including the New York Times bestselling memoir Yes, Chef – which The New York Times called “one of the great culinary stories of our time,” Make It Messy, The Red Rooster Cookbook, and his latest groundbreaking cookbook The Rise: Black Cooks and the Soul of American Food. Through his insightful conversations and thoroughly delightful live demos, Samuelsson offers uplifting, entertaining, and though-provoking experiences that resonate with audiences of all kinds.

Samuelsson was crowned champion of the TV shows Top Chef Masters and Chopped All-Stars, and served as a mentor on ABC’s The Taste. His PBS series No Passport Required celebrates the wide-ranging diversity of immigrant traditions and cuisine woven into American food and culture. A committed philanthropist, he co-produces the annual week-long festival Harlem EatUp!, which celebrates the food, art, and culture of Harlem. Samuelsson serves as a UNICEF Ambassador, a member of the U.S. State Department’s Chef Corps, and as the co-chairman for the organization Careers Through Culinary Arts Program. He was selected as a guest chef at the White House under the Obama Administration, where he planned and executed the administration’s first state dinner honoring Prime Minister Singh of India. For his sought-after programs, Samuelsson receives consistent rave reviews: ”Wow! You were utterly amazing. Added such depth and perspective. We can't thank you enough! Hope you'll join another at some point in the future” (Crain’s New York Business) and ”Marcus was thoughtful, personable, and left us wanting more!” (Kraft Heinz Company)

Renowned communications expert, political strategist, and writer Jennifer Palmieri has been on the frontlines of national politics for more than two decades. Author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Dear Madam President, Palmieri served as White House Communications Director for President Obama and head of Communications for the Hillary Clinton presidential campaign. With her unparalleled level of knowledge and experience in the West Wing, she is sought-after for her shrewd insights about crisis management, voter mindset, and the media environment impacting current events.

One of the most accomplished communications advisors in politics today, Palmieri was the co-host of Showtime’s Emmy-nominated political docu-series The Circus, pulling back the curtain with insightful analysis and a unique perspective on the role gender plays in electoral politics and the media. She is a contributing editor to Vanity Fair and hosted the podcast Just Something About Her. After losing her sister to early-onset Alzheimer’s in 2017, she has written and spoken about her family’s experience in an effort to aid other families facing the same disease. In moderated conversations and engaging point-counterpoint debates, Palmieri has been in demand for events with groups like Starbucks, Google Zeitgeist in London, the Center for American Progress, the Bloomberg MAKERS Women’s History Month event, and more.

Olympia Snowe is recognized as a policy thought-leader in Washington. She is also an inspiration for the barriers she overcame to become one of the most powerful women in Washington. The Washington Post summed up Senator Snowe's powerful legacy as a politician, "with several historic distinctions to her name: She is the first woman in U.S. history to serve in both chambers of a state legislature and both chambers of Congress. She was the first Greek American woman to serve in Congress, the youngest Republican woman elected to the House and the first Republican woman to serve on the Senate Finance Committee." 

She made the decision not to seek a fourth term in the United States Senate when she arrived at a stark reality: that the excessive political polarization in Congress would not diminish in the short term.  As a result, she joined the Bipartisan Policy Center in Washington, to take her fight for bipartisanship in a different direction.  At the BPC, she serves as a Senior Fellow where she is able to harness her insider’s knowledge to promote change from outside of Congress.  

Dr. Margaret I. Cuomo is a foremost leader in the fight against cancer. She is a board-certified radiologist, teaching professional, and national advocate for the prevention of cancer, heart disease and diabetes. Her book, A World Without Cancer: The Making of a New World and the Real Promise of Prevention, presents a provocative and surprising look into the ways that profit, personalities, and politics obstruct real progress in the war on cancer. A trusted expert on health and wellness who empowers people to make lifestyle decisions to tangibly improve their health, Dr. Cuomo explores the ways in which lifestyle decisions not only promote general health and well-being but can also be used to treat and prevent a wide range of diseases.

A fearless advocate for the health of all people worldwide, Dr. Cuomo also addresses the power and necessity of STEM education and provides people with the tools and inspiration needed to transform their lives. She has spoken to the Houston City Council, Newark Academy, St. Vincent Hospitals, and many more.

Hadassah Lieberman charms audiences with stories from her extraordinary life, focusing on women’s health issues, assisting nonprofit organizations, and promoting international understanding. Ms. Lieberman successfully tailors her remarks to fundraising objectives that enable an organization to reach their goals.

When the challenges are steep and the competition fierce, Robyn Benincasa provides the tools individuals and organizations need to cross their most challenging finish lines. 

As a two-time World Champion Adventure racer, San Diego Firefighter, and CNN Hero, Robyn knows a thing or two about creating Human Synergy, or as she puts it, “That magic that allows ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary things together.” 

Through harrowing experiences in places like the jungles of Borneo and the Himalayan peaks, Robyn has studied the good, the bad, and the not-so-pretty of Extreme Teamwork. Her refreshing and unique techniques build and foster impactful, inspired teams that succeed against all odds and turn setbacks into comebacks. 

Robyn was named one of the "World’s Top 50 Keynote Speakers" in 2020 (Real Leaders Magazine), the "#1 Female Speaker" for Meetings.net, and is one of the "Top 10 Speakers" featured by Harvard Business Review. She has motivated countless leaders and teams for Fortune 500 companies, including IBM, Starbucks, Walmart, Boeing, Johnson & Johnson, HubSpot, Intel, and more. Her game-changing keynotes inspire us to grab life with one hand, our teammates with the other and create that special magic that makes each of us stronger together than we could ever be alone.

Christine Clifford's experience taught her how to sell products, services and herself. Now an Award-Winning, Professional Speaker, Bestselling Author of You, Inc. The Art of Selling Yourself and Not Now...I'm Having a No Hair Day!, and Industry-Leading Salesperson, Christine Clifford shares her experiences and successes with audiences worldwide.

Angela Davis offers thoughtful analysis of ongoing liberation efforts and insights on the intersectional struggle for racial, economic and gender equality.

Angela has been deeply involved in our nation’s quest for social justice. Her work as an educator – both at the university level and in the larger public sphere – has always emphasized the importance of building communities of struggle for economic, racial, and gender justice.

The author of nine books, including Freedom is a Constant Struggle: Ferguson, Palestine, and the Foundations of a Movement, she is now a Distinguished Professor Emerita of History of Consciousness, an interdisciplinary Ph.D program, and of Feminist Studies at the University of California, Santa Cruz.

Drawing upon her own infamous arrest, imprisonment and ultimate acquittal in the early seventies after being placed on the FBI's "Ten Most Wanted List,” Angela shares a powerful critique of racism in the criminal justice system. As both an observer and participant to consciousness-shifting global movements, she bridges the past and present with incisive insights on the interconnected fight for civil rights, feminism, and working class issues. Having helped to popularize the notion of a “prison industrial complex,” she now urges her audiences to think seriously about the future possibility of a world without prisons and to help forge a 21st century abolitionist movement.

A philosopher of life, Yossi Ghinsberg is a man of passion, fixed resolve and a connector of people. He believes that nothing promotes growth more than an unexpected experience and unconventional thinking. In these times of great challenge and change, his “Power to Survive” message is timely.

Not many living people know that survival is a choice as deeply and intimately as Yossi Ghinsberg. Having been lost for three weeks in the depths of the uncharted Amazon, in the midst of a raging rainy season, without companionship, food, weapon or fire, he survived against all odds. The most important thing he learned from this experience was that we all have the power to survive.

Advocate, activist, artist and philanthropist, Tipper Gore brings her warmth and kindness to communities around the globe. She has dedicated her life to giving voice to parents, children and families, those with mental health challenges, the homeless, and so many more. 

A Grammy and Emmy Award-Winning Songwriter, Composer and Actor and the original George Washington in the Tony and Grammy Award-Winning Broadway Musical, Hamilton; Christopher Jackson is currently the star of the hit CBS drama Bull, and most recently appeared in Ava DuVernay's Central Park 5 for Netflix.  His story is powerful and motivational, as he shares his remarkable journey from a small town in Illinois (population 3,000) to performing for a constantly-packed house on Broadway. From school plays, to Off-Broadway productions, to starring as George Washington in the revolutionary, critically-acclaimed musical Hamilton, Jackson reveals the lessons learned along the way and the mantras, moments, and mentors that made a difference. Taking audiences behind the scenes of Broadway's biggest hit-- sharing everything from befriending Lin Manuel-Miranda back in 2002, to performing for President Barack Obama-- Jackson also reflects on the social impact of Hamilton, addressing issues of inclusion and race. With talks as riveting as they are thought-provoking, Jackson leaves audiences inspired and empowered (and maybe with a song or two stuck in their head).  

Jackson is also a powerful advocate for social inclusion, the arts and autism. Since his son was diagnosed with autism in 2007, he has become a vocal and passionate supporter of Autism Speaks, KultureCity, and Sesame Street's autism outreach program.  In his speech “The Power of Kindness” he talks about his own family's struggle with more questions than answers and shares the challenges and opportunities that come with working with children on the spectrum. He opens up about the "beautiful struggle" of raising his own son, as well as ways to create acceptance and inclusion for all people with unique abilities. 

An entrepreneur in every sense of the word, Daymond John is CEO and Founder of FUBU, a much-celebrated global lifestyle brand, and a pioneer in the fashion industry with over $6 billion in product sales. He is an award-winning entrepreneur, bestselling author of five books including his most recent, Powershift: Transform Any Situation, Close Any Deal, and Achieve Any Outcome, and star of ABC's Shark Tank, where millions of weekly viewers tune into the show as John demonstrates his marketing prowess and entrepreneurial insights. His marketing strategies and ability to build successful brands has made him a highly influential consultant and motivational speaker today. 

Each of Daymond John’s keynotes are customized to fit your specific objectives. They are informative yet entertaining and involve: lots of humor, high-energy, and audience-speaker interaction. Daymond uses compelling stories from his rags-to-riches journey to illustrate his points and always leaves audience members with practical, tangible, and invaluable tools to incorporate into their professional as well as personal endeavors. With over twenty years of phenomenally successful business experience, Daymond has the ability speak on a wide-range of business-related matters.

NBA Hall of Famer and member of the original Dream Team, Earvin “Magic” Johnson has become one of the most powerful and respected African-American businessmen and philanthropists in the world. In 1991, he founded the Magic Johnson Foundation, which serves as a single-disease organization that works to raise funds for community-based organizations dealing with HIV/AIDS education and prevention programs. Celebrating over 20 years of success, the Magic Johnson Foundation has become one of the most recognizable philanthropic organizations around the world.

Beyond his philanthropic work, Johnson has successfully parlayed his skills and tenacity on the court into the business world. Johnson is the founder and CEO of Magic Johnson Enterprises (MJE), a global empire that is a catalyst for fostering community growth and economic empowerment through high-quality entertainment and products and services that answer the demands of ethnically diverse communities. MJE has a wide range of business endeavors ranging from sports ownership to food service and facility management, produces quality works in film, television and publishing, and represents the biggest names in media and entertainment. With his unique positioning as a businessman spanning multiple industries and generations, he aims to help companies expand and foster a positive impact domestically and globally.

During his athletic career, Johnson earned five NBA championship rings and led the Los Angeles Lakers to nine NBA finals. He has won three MVP awards and played in 12 NBA All-Star games. A member of the original Dream Team, he earned a gold medal at the 1992 Olympic Games. As a speaker, Johnson inspired audiences with the real-life story of his remarkable rise, his philosophy for success, and empowering message on how to create the best possible future.

As the oldest son of the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Mrs. Coretta Scott King, Martin Luther King III has seized the torch lit by his parents and is continuing their quest for equality and justice for all people. Whether speaking to an audience in Mozambique or Mississippi, Israel or Indiana, his vision of the future has touched thousands. Motivating audiences around the world with his insightful message of hope and responsibility for nearly twenty years, Mr. King's dedication to creating and implementing strategic nonviolent action to rid the world of social, political, and economic injustice has propelled him to the forefront as one of the nation's most ardent advocates for the poor, the oppressed, and the disillusioned.

The abduction of Elizabeth Smart was one of the most followed child abduction cases of our time. In the years after her rescue, Smart transformed from victim to advocate, traveling the country and working to educate, inspire and foster change. She has created a foundation to help prevent crimes against children and is a sought-after public speaker. But Elizabeth's message goes beyond "abduction" as she has become an incredible role model. Her message is about hope and stopping the brutal victimization of women and children around the world. The Founder of the Elizabeth Smart Foundation, she has also helped promote The National AMBER Alert, The Adam Walsh Child Protection & Safety Act and other safety legislation to help prevent abductions. Elizabeth’s inspiring remarks and spirit continue to motivate parents, law enforcement and leaders worldwide.

For almost three decades Dr. Nancy Snyderman has combined careers as a head and neck cancer surgeon, network television correspondent, and advisor to Fortune 500 corporations and is one of the most trusted voices in medical communication. As an award winning medical journalist, she has garnered several of the industry’s most distinguished honors including Emmy’s, DuPont, Edward R. Murrow, and Gracie awards. Dr. Snyderman has reported on wide-ranging topics affecting all strata of society and has traveled the world extensively, reporting from many of the world’s most troubled areas. She is routinely called upon to explain some of the most complicated scientific breakthroughs to the public via television, radio, and print.

Dr. Natalie Stavas serves as the Program Director for Child Protection Pediatrics at the University of California, San Diego. She specializes in work with vulnerable children, victims of abuse, and decreasing youth violence.

Described as a healer, educator, and Boston community leader she received the 2012 Change Maker award from The Boston Foundation.

On April 15, 2013, Dr. Stavas approached the finish line of her fifth Boston marathon. Just blocks away, she heard explosions and ran towards them. Arriving at the scene she went to work administering CPR, applying tourniquets, and triaging the wounded.

Following this event, President Barack Obama, Katie Couric, and Anderson Cooper honored her for her actions. Improper Bostonian magazine named Dr. Stavas one of “Boston’s Best” and The Boston Globe awarded her with “2013 Bostonian of the Year” – an honor bestowed upon those that shape the biggest story of the year in a remarkable way.

After the bombings, Dr. Stavas increased her efforts in preventing childhood violence. She became a weekly medical contributor for Boston’s Fox 25- discussing issues affecting children and young adults, a mentor for Sole Train- a non-profit guiding inner-city youth on a path towards their full potential through running. In early 2014 she helped partner Prescription for the Outdoors with Boston Medical Center’s pediatric team.

This advocacy goes beyond borders- traveling to Haiti throughout the year Dr. Stavas provided medical care to children and helped strengthen their fragile medical infrastructure. A documentary featuring this work as a medical pioneer premiered at the 2014 South by Southwest film festival.

Dr. Stavas is currently a leader in education and research. She serves as the Program Director for Child Protection Pediatrics at the University of California, San Diego. In this role she mentors medical students, residents, and fellows towards a path of fulfillment in medicine. Her research on caring for vulnerable children has won awards and been highlighted on multiple media outlets. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Stavas has focused her research on how COVID-19 is affecting children’s health as well as physical wellbeing.

Dr. Stavas has been featured in Runner’s World, The New York Times, LA Times, The Boston Globe, The New Yorker, Time, and People magazine.

From winning Survivor and founding an HIV/AIDS non-profit with the prize winnings to his battle with cancer, the texture of Ethan’s life story is illuminated in the dynamic speeches he gives to groups big and small around the country. Weaving humor, wit and honesty, Ethan addresses students and student athletes in high schools and colleges, as well as corporate and professional organizations, about how his life’s opportunities and challenges are two sides of the same coin. It’s the values that you strengthen along the way – like muscles – that really matter. Ethan offers a keynote that inspires audiences to respond to life’s setbacks with strength and conviction of character. If you are looking for a recognizable face to deliver a deeply-felt, personalized and meaningful lesson on cancer, HIV & AIDS, Leadership, Character Development, Social Entrepreneurship, Service, Personal Growth, Overcoming Challenges, Healthy Living, Sports and/or Jewish Identity, Ethan is the ideal choice.

Carey Lohrenz knows what it takes to win in one of the highest pressure, extreme environments imaginable: in the cockpit at Mach 2.  

As the first female F-14 Tomcat Fighter Pilot in the U.S. Navy, having flown missions worldwide as a combat-mission-ready United States Navy pilot, Lohrenz is used to working in fast moving, dynamic environments, where inconsistent execution can generate catastrophic results. The same challenges are found in business: markets change, customer needs evolve and if you do not adapt quickly your company is at risk.

In her motivating and engaging keynote presentations, Carey shares her fascinating experiences operating in one of the world's most challenging environments—an aircraft carrier. She has been requested by name from some of the top Fortune 100 businesses and is uniquely qualified in the fundamentals of winning under pressure, reducing errors and overcoming obstacles. Her mastery of these fundamentals can help your team triumph in this high-risk, time crunched world.

Her ability to connect with both an audience and on a one-on-one level, coupled with her knowledge and experience in leading high-performing, diverse teams, has made her highly sought after as a business consultant and speaker.

GUIDE / GĪD /NOUN : ONE WHO SHOWS THE WAY BY LEADING, DIRECTING OR ADVISING

Jeff reminds us that, in fact, we are all guides in some capacity… professionally and personally. By utilizing real life stories, vivid images and thrilling video from his adventures as an expedition leader and guide around the globe, Jeff is able to extract the impactful themes that are applicable for every audience member and weave them into memorable, humorous, thought-provoking and paradigm shifting keynotes.

For over 25 years, Jeff’s experiences have helped him master the skills of selfless leadership, teamwork, communication and trust. Many of these skills have been acquired through guiding blind climber Erik Weihenmayer on extraordinarily challenging objectives including the summit of Mt Everest and a 2nd place finish on ABC’s adventure series, Expedition Impossible. Countless other impactful stories were garnered from his experience as the co-founder and Expedition Leader for the injured US veteran program, No Barriers Warriors.

The culmination of Jeff's adventures, skills and messaging have been showcased in recent years as he has taken on the role as team lead and chief medic for multiple high intensity medical aid missions. From leading a search and rescue team of Sherpas and helicopter pilots on the flanks of Mt Everest rescuing climbers, to serving as the lead medic for a trauma team on the front lines of the war in Mosul, Iraq... Jeff has committed himself to taking his leadership, teamwork, trust and adversity messaging out into the world in a powerful and dynamic way.

Over the 20+ years of sharing his keynotes for hundreds of clients, Jeff has delivered his message to tens of thousands of audience members, impacted countless lives and changed the way we all approach our roles as guides within our work and family environments.

Bruce Feiler is an in-demand speaker on a variety of topics–work, family, transitions; health, wellness, and meaning. Drawing on insights from his seven New York Times bestsellers, including Life is in the Transitions, The Secrets of Happy Families, and Council of Dads, Bruce has given three TED Talks that have been viewed more than four million times and teaches the TED Course HOW TO MASTER LIFE TRANSITIONS. His work on transitions, begun with his 2020 bestseller book Life is in the Transitions, has created a global movement exploring how we can navigate life’s growing number of changes with purpose and skill. His latest book, The Search: Finding Meaningful Work in a Post-Career World (2023), extends that movement to the future of work, offering a bold new roadmap for how leaders and workers can adapt to the rapidly changing workplace.

Bruce tailors all his appearances to meet the specific needs of clients. Bruce has a zeal for life and a humorist’s ability to tell a good story. He leaves audiences both entertained and uplifted, with practical takeaways that prompt discussion and action in communities, businesses, and institutions he visits.

Col. Nicole Malachowski, USAF (Ret.) defies stereotypes. Yes, she was a jet fighter pilot, but if you think you know her based on that, you’d be wrong. A leader, a combat veteran, the first woman pilot on the Thunderbirds Air Demonstration Squadron, a White House Fellow, and an inductee into both the National Women’s Hall of Fame and the Women in Aviation International Pioneer Hall of Fame, Nicole’s distinguished 21-year Air Force career exceeded her wildest dreams. But the dream came to an end when a devastating tick-borne illness left her struggling greatly to speak or walk for almost nine months. An indomitable spirit, Nicole fought back against overwhelming odds and prevailed.

Drawing on stories from her career and personal life, Nicole inspires audiences to rethink the challenges they face every day. She urges them to go beyond resilience and become resurgent. Nicole empowers people with three key beliefs: failure and risk is the price of entry for achieving something great; sometimes you need to yield to overcome; and her personal mantra – “nobody wants to lead a scripted life.”

Mark Schulman is a monster drummer who's toured the world with some of the greatest rock and pop performers – before crowds as big as 225,000. He's played with P!NK, Billy Idol, Cher, Stevie Nicks, Foreigner, Simple Minds, and others over his 32-year touring career.

Mark is also amazing on another stage – as a speaker, where he delivers a rock show disguised as a keynote.

“I’ve learned about the importance of attitude as part of the touring family with these great performers,” Mark says as he unpacks the secrets of rockstar performance. His presentations translate lessons learned during his remarkable career into valuable tips for organizations, teams, leaders, and those who want to be their absolute best.

Mark Schulman is a brilliant storyteller and performer who inspires audiences to engage and unleash their inner rockstar. Mark's first book, Conquering Life’s Stage Fright, shows people how to harness doubt, fear, and anxiety to perform at their best when it matters most. His next book, The Attitude Equation, is slated for late 2023 release. Mark is also a judge and coach on an all-new original music competition television show called BANDED on AXS TV.

A courageous soldier who was once told he would never walk again after suffering severe wounds in Vietnam; against all odds, Rocky Bleier recovered and went on to become a legendary running back for the four-time Super Bowl Champion NFL team, the Pittsburgh Steelers. Rocky Bleier’s story - a gripping tale of courage on both the football fields of America and the battle fields of Vietnam - has held audiences in rapt attention for years. Yet, the motivational message behind it, detailing how ordinary people can become extraordinary achievers, defines success in the new American century.

With the same optimism, sense of humor and steadfast determination that were his trademarks as a Pittsburgh Steelers running back, Rocky Bleier takes audiences from his early years through his professional career and talks about the lessons he learned along the way….lessons that we all can benefit from.

Laurie Dhue is a Certified Recovery Specialist providing resources and support for individuals and families dealing with the disease of addiction. 

Prior to her work in the recovery field, Dhue enjoyed a distinguished career as an award-winning national news anchor who hosted shows on all three major cable news networks: CNN, MSNBC and Fox News Channel. She most recently served as lead news anchor for The Blaze TV. Her 25 years in news has included interviews with numerous world leaders, politicians, entertainers and prominent newsmakers as well as extensive reporting from the Middle East during the War on Terror.

Dhue has had the distinct honor or speaking at the White House in 2014 and 2017 on behalf of ONDCP. She was also a featured speaker at the inaugural UNITE to Face Addiction national rally in Washington, DC in 2015. Dhue appeared in the award-winning 2013 documentary “The Anonymous People” and the 2017 documentary “Reversing the Stigma”, produced in conjunction with OASAS (New York State’s Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse).

One of the nation’s leading recovery advocates, Dhue is in long-term recovery from alcoholism and drug addiction. She has worked closely with the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Faces and Voices of Recovery (FAVOR) and the National Council on Alcohol and Drug Dependence (NCADD). Dhue has spoken on behalf of many national recovery organizations including the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation and the Caron Foundation. She travels coast-to-coast giving speeches, emceeing events and moderating panel discussions, as well as offering commentary in national and international media.

A daring and world renowned explorer, Sir Ranulph Fiennes has persevered through physical and emotional hardship to push the limits of human endurance. The first to walk across Antarctica, running 7 marathons in 7 days on 7 continents after a heart attack, Sir Fiennes life speaks to the strength and courage inside everyone.

Michelle Gielan has spent the past decade researching the link between happiness and success. She is the bestselling author of Broadcasting Happiness: The Science of Igniting and Sustaining Positive Change and was named one of the Top 10 authors on resilience by the Harvard Business Review.

Michelle is an Executive Producer of “The Happiness Advantage” on PBS and a featured professor in Oprah’s Happiness course. She formerly served as anchor of The CBS Morning News, and her research has received attention from dozens of media outlets including The Washington Post, FORBES, and The New York Times.

John 'Jack' Horner is one of the world's foremost paleontologists, credited with finding the first dinosaur eggs in the Western Hemisphere, the first evidence of dinosaur colonial nesting, the first evidence of parental care among dinosaurs, the first dinosaur embryos, and serving as the inspiration for Paleontologist Dr. Alan Grant in Michael Crichton's Jurassic Park.

Aimee Mullins revels in the continuous exploration of what is possible—both for herself and those whose lives she touches. Aimée has developed her own unique formula for creating the “invented life,” fashioned from her undeniably unique combination of life experiences as on Olympic athlete, ground-breaking high fashion model, a beacon for design tech, dedicated advocate and avant-garde actor. Aimée has spoken multiple times at the world-famous TED conference, is a TED All-Star and her talks have been viewed nearly 5 million times. She delights in sharing what she has learned to help others shatter perceived limitations and reinvent themselves. In a warm, engaging and approachable style, Aimée offer insightful, actionable and powerful guidance to corporate and consumer audiences worldwide. Aimée is a born story-teller, Renaissance woman, and inspirational icon for achieving the “impossible.”

An influential voice in today's culture, she is regularly invited to share her ideas at various corporations and global conferences like TED and TEDMED. In addition to her professional career, Aimee serves on numerous boards and spends much of her time assisting various non-profit organizations, most notably the Women's Sports Foundation (WSF). She is a founding member of the Leadership Board to SPIRE Institute, the world’s largest and most diverse athletic development center.

David A. Paterson became New York's 55th Governor on March 17, 2008, the state’s first black governor and only the second legally-blind governor in the nation’s history. Throughout his career, Governor Paterson has demanded and achieved change, reaching across party lines and bringing people together. He has led the charge on several crucial issues, achieving legislation for a $600 million New York stem cell research initiative, putting forth a statewide renewable energy strategy, insisting on strong action to combat domestic violence, and serving as the primary champion for minority and women-owned businesses in New York.

Exoneree, journalist, and New York Times bestselling author Amanda Knox spent four years in an Italian prison and eight years on trial for a murder she didn’t commit. The scandal made headlines for nearly a decade, as Amanda – dubbed “Foxy Knoxy” – was exploited by the media and judged by the masses on a global scale. Though she was exonerated by Italy’s highest court, she was sentenced to life by the court of public opinion, forever branded as a killer despite her innocence. Since her exoneration, Amanda has fought to reclaim her identity and to find meaning in those stolen years and unjust incarceration, all while advocating for a more just legal system and a more ethical media.

Thoughtful, passionate, and revelatory, Amanda Knox has captivated audiences across the country and abroad, sharing the wisdom she learned the hard way about how to find resilience in the face of tremendous adversity. She is the author of the New York Times bestselling memoir Waiting to Be Heard and Free: My Search for Meaning as well as co-host – with her husband Christopher Robinson – of the podcast Labyrinths, which delves into stories of getting lost and found again through compassionate interviews, philosophical rants, and playful debate with fascinating people. Amanda sits on the board of the Frederick Douglass Project for Justice, serves as an Innocence Network Ambassador, and is an advocate for criminal justice reform and media ethics.

Media personality, philanthropist, and disability advocate Will Reeve offers a message of courage, perseverance, hope, and the power of giving back. Reeve is a passionate advocate for the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, an organization dedicated to curing spinal cord injury, honoring the legacy of his late parents. He is an ABC News Correspondent, appearing on all platforms and shows including Good Morning America, World News Tonight, and Nightline, after previously serving as a commentator with ESPN. With humor, authenticity, and gifted storytelling, Reeve leaves audiences of all kinds feeling inspired and empowered to overcome obstacles and make a difference.

Reeve serves on the Board of Directors for the Reeve Foundation and acts as the captain of Team Reeve – the Foundation’s athletic events-related fundraising arm – recruiting individuals around the country to join and support the Foundation’s community. His father – famed actor Christopher Reeve – experienced spinal cord injury, which gives him unique insight into the challenges face by the 5.4M Americans living with paralysis and empowers his work on the Foundation’s dual mission: Today’s care. Tomorrow’s cure. Reeve is also the recipient of the Experience Camps Champion for Children Award for his work in creating a more "grief-smart" culture for bereaved children. Reeve offers candid and inspiring remarks, garnering praise such as: "Our event with Will Reeve was wonderful! Will was so great and the crowd responded to him so well. He brings such humor and honesty and he was just the perfect keynote this year.” (Bo's Place)

Award-winning screenwriter and director, New York Times bestselling author, and U.S. Navy veteran Antwone Fisher is a renowned poet, storyteller, and advocate for children. Following eleven years of service in the U.S. Navy and an honorable discharge, Fisher began a decades-long career in Hollywood as an award-winning screenwriter, producer, and director. His autobiographical Antwone Fisher won numerous awards including AFI’s Movie of the Year, the renowned Humanitas Prize, and an NAACP Image Award. Fisher is the author of New York Times bestseller Finding Fish: A Memoir, Who Will Cry for the Little Boy?: Poems, and A Boy Should Know How to Tie a Tie: And Other Lessons for Succeeding in Life, which won an NAACP Award for Outstanding Literary Work. After his own time in the foster care system, which included being placed with an abusive foster family, Fisher became a passionate advocate for children, raising awareness about the adoption and foster care systems, and sharing his personal journey cultivating resilience, self-worth, and overcoming obstacles to lay a foundation for success.

Fisher was named one of Variety’s “Fifty People to Watch,” one of Fade In’s “100 People in Hollywood You Need to Know,” and received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters Degree from Cleveland State University. In 2013, he testified before the Senate Finance committee, at a hearing titled: “The Antwone Fisher Story as a Case Study for Child Welfare.” Fisher is a gifted keynote speaker, receiving rave reviews like: ”Antwone did an amazing job at our Hope Through Housing Gala. His speech was exactly what we envisioned. His contribution was invaluable to our success.” (Hope Through Housing Foundation)

Deshauna Barber is a dynamic international motivational speaker, Army veteran, former Miss USA and founder of the Women Veterans For Change. Renowned for her impactful and inspiring approach, Barber recently partnered with E.L.F. BEAUTY and Emerald Audio Network as the host of their new limited podcast series, Valor, to highlight the extraordinary stories of courageous servicewomen throughout history, celebrating their bravery and resilience. 

Leveraging her unique experiences as an Army officer, STEM graduate, and advocate, Deshauna exemplifies the power of perseverance and resilience. Her journey from a decorated military career to becoming a top- rated speaker, sought after by Fortune 500 companies, underscores her remarkable ability to inspire and motivate. In 2019, Deshauna made history as the youngest President and CEO of the Service Women’s Action Network (SWAN), a leading nonprofit dedicated to advocating for servicewomen and female veterans. During her tenure, she championed women’s rights and resources on Capitol Hill, making significant strides in support of our nation’s service members. She has also launched a speaker mentorship course called Thrive, a cohort-based training program with 18 aspiring students pursuing careers as motivational speakers. Deshauna holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from Virginia State University, a Master of Science in Computer Information Systems and Services from the University of Maryland University College, and a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion certification from Cornell University. Crowned Miss USA in 2016, Deshauna became the first soldier to win the title. She used her platform to advocate for increased support for soldiers with Post- Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

With over 11 years of military service, she continues to emphasize the importance of mental health for service members and veterans. A survivor of childhood sexual abuse, Deshauna channels her experiences into empowering others, dedicating her life to inspiring and uplifting those around her. As a motivational speaker and advocate, her global mission is to encourage, inspire, and strengthen individuals, embodying her commitment to making a positive impact in the world.

Phil Keoghan is arguably the most traveled host on the planet. After he started traveling around the world at the age of 2, he has been globetrotting ever since. Surviving a near-death experience at the age of 19, Keoghan wrote a list of things to do before he died and created a “BUCKiT: Tick-it Before You Kick-it!” philosophy which he turned into a best-selling book called No Opportunity Wasted. Visiting more than 100 countries, Phil has been sharing his stories in front of a TV camera for over 30 years. He is the host and an executive producer of CBS’ multi-Emmy Award-winning reality series The Amazing Race, host of National Geographic Explorer, and creator, show runner, and host of Tough as Nails.

As a proprietor of adventures, Keoghan loves to share his travel expertise with audiences. He has produced a line of NOW luggage and the NOW energy bar, travel-first products building on his “No Opportunity Wasted” philosophy. He has shared his stories and advice at Unicomm’s Travel & Adventure Show, Omni Technologies, the Anti-Defamation League, and more.

A multi-Grammy Award-winning, platinum selling artist, Lecrae has evolved into a New York Times best-selling author, entrepreneur, speaker, thought leader, philanthropist, and Co-Owner/President of Reach Records. Referring to himself as a ‘social anthropologist,’ Lecrae seeks social change through authentic connections and calls for redemption through positive change. This year, he’ll also release his second book, I Am Restored: How I Lost My Religion, But Found My Faith, a follow-up to his New York Times best-seller, Unashamed.

A catalyst for restoration in faith, music, and popular culture, Lecrae's viral TED Talk helped the public see beyond his music and focus on his message: what we say and do in hip-hop - and in the world - matters, so we should be thoughtful, careful, generous and respectful.  In countless interviews, in his music and in his writings, Lecrae continues the message in hopes of restoring faith. “We can change the narrative, empower the disenfranchised, and close wealth gaps and can restore the dignity stripped from us, but we can’t do that by separating ourselves. We need to connect with each other and lean on God to restore our sense of purpose and worth,” shares Lecrae. 

To date, he has sold more than 3 million copies and been nominated for 5 Grammy Awards including a win for Best Gospel Album, 15 Dove Awards, one Billboard Music Award, and received both a Soul Train Music Award and BET Hip-Hop Nomination. From his 2017 album, All Things Work Together, his single “I’ll Find You” ft. Tori Kelly, is now certified platinum by the RIAA (sold over 1 million copies) and “Blessings” ft Ty Dolla $ign is now Gold (sold over 500k).

Martin Short is a beloved Canadian-American actor, comedian, singer, and writer. Short has won fans and accolades in television, film, and theater since his breakout season on Saturday Night Live. Initially a professional stage actor, Short first appeared in a Toronto production of Godspell. He then joined The Second City improv company, making his Emmy-winning television debut on the Second City Television Network before joining Saturday Night Live as up-and-coming talent. Short made his film debut in Three Amigos!, a success followed with roles in globally-renowned films such as Clifford, Madagascar 3, Frankenweenie, and the Father of the Bride series, among others. Short has won a Tony award, Theatre World Award, and Outer Critics Circle Award for his work on Broadway in shows such as Little Me, The Goodbye Girl, and Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me.

Short’s Netflix special with Steve Martin, An Evening You Will Forget For The Rest Of Your Life, received 4 Emmy nominations. Their tours, Now You See Them, Soon You Won’t, and The Funniest Show in Town at the Moment, were smashing successes reflecting Short’s ability to connect with audiences worldwide. Martin and Short also star together in Hulu’s must-watch comedy series, Only Murders in the Building.

Short has been awarded the Order of Canada, a star on the Canadian Walk of Fame, and a Lifetime Artistic Achievement Award from the Governor-General of Canada. Short’s memoir, I Must Say: My Life as a Humble Comedy Legend, was a New York Times bestseller. A legendary performer with decades of blockbuster projects under his belt, Short speaks to a life of perseverance, dedication, and humor.

Esteemed broadcast journalist, sports anchor, and television personality Cari Champion has advanced the sports media industry for women today. For nearly a decade, she served as anchor and host at ESPN – her roles included co-hosting SportCenter’s Coast to Coast, hosting SportsNation, and moderating ESPN’s popular debate talk show, First Take. Champion’s influence resonates across mediums, and she is the host of the podcast Naked with Cari Champion, showcasing her authentic interview style that brings refreshing and nuanced conversations to the forefront from thought-leaders and culture-shifters within the entertainment industry. Champion recently hosted CNN's New Year's celebration and she can be seen frequently as a regular contributor to the network. She currently hosts TNT’s The Arena, creating a thought-provoking forum for provocative topics from the most popular voices in sports. She hosts the eponymous Cari Champion Show, which aired on Amazon. She served as co-anchor of NBC’s primetime studio show, Tokyo Tonight on NBC’s Peacock Channel during the 2020 Summer Olympic Games, as well as co-host of NBC’s reality competition series The Titan Games. Champion made history with her move to Vice TV, working alongside Jemele Hill as the first Black women to host a late-night cable show, Cari & Jemele: Stick to Sports. Champion shares her unparalleled insights about creating her own path to working at the top of her field, the intersections of race, ethnicity, and gender in sports and media, and how to cultivate leadership, teamwork, and perseverance at work and in life.

Champion has been profiled in Sports Illustrated, Vogue, Bustle, The Grio, Essence, and more, and she was honored by Essence at its inaugural Black Women in Sports event. She was selected to host the prestigious 2021 SI (Sports Illustrated) Awards. She is the Founder of Brown Girls Dream, a powerful mentorship network supporting high potential women of color, inspired by the mentorship she received early in her career. She also writes a bulletin for META, ‘I Said What I Said’, debunking harmful stereotypes and unpacking provocative stories. Champion is a gifted keynote speaker and moderator, getting to the heart and soul of today’s biggest issues, and making a lasting impact on audiences of all kinds.

Politician, author, and analyst Julián Castro has distinguished himself as a strong leader and successful public servant for nearly two decades. A former Democratic candidate for President, Castro served as the 16th Secretary of Housing and Urban Development under President Barack Obama from 2014 to 2017, and as mayor of San Antonio from 2009 to 2014. Today, Castro serves on the board of directors of the LBJ Foundation and is a political analyst for NBC News and MSNBC. Castro serves as CEO of the Latino Community Foundation, the nation’s largest Latino-serving foundation. From education to technology to safe and affordable housing, Castro has been at the forefront of some of the most innovative partnerships, programs, and achievements in the public sector.

His memoir, An Unlikely Journey: Waking Up from My American Dream, is a candid account of race and poverty in America. His views on equality, housing, and the future of America have been sought by America Votes, The National Association of Colleges and Employers, New York University, and more. In sharing lessons learned from the struggles and successes of his political journey, Castro gives audiences insight into how any group can make a significant change when it comes to America's most pressing issues.

Legendary baseball player and retired manager Dusty Baker shares his love and skill with sport for all. The future Hall of Famer dedicated 50 seasons to Major League baseball, 19 as a player, 5 as a coach and 26 as a manager. Over 26 seasons with the Houston Astros, he became the oldest manager in MLB history to take a team to and win the World Series as well as the first African-American manager to have 50 post-season wins. Dusty has been named to the All-Time Los Angeles Dodgers team as a player and the All-Time San Francisco Giants team as a manager. He was honored with Baseball Digest's Lifetime Achievement Award. The first MLB manager to reach the playoffs with five different teams, Dusty shares his expertise in motivational leadership, coaching a high-performing team, and winning under pressure.

Dusty is also a entrepreneur, media personality, and philanthropist. Credited with popularizing the high-five, Baker is highly influential both on and off the field. He is the founder of both Baker Solar Team and Baker Family Wines. He was a TV commentator and broadcast analyst for TBS. A survivor of an aggressive cancer diagnosis, Dusty has helped raise over $1.5M for cancer research and is a passionate advocate for cancer survivors everywhere. He has spoken for countless groups including Houston Methodist Hospital, California State Automobile Association, General Motors, SBC Global Services, and more.

Professional BMX athlete, creative, entrepreneur, and philanthropist Nigel Sylvester is one of the most culturally relevant cyclists today. Sylvester was catapulted to the forefront of the sports world due to his progressive riding style, innovative content creation, and one-of-a-kind artistic expression and style. He has been a Jordan Brand signed athlete, featured in countless global and digital campaigns. Sylvester created ‘GO Ride,’ hosting a first-of-its-kind transatlantic 30-mile bike ride in London and New York City in honor of World Bicycle Day. His drive to give back led him to start the Nigel Sylvester Foundation, dedicated to transforming the lives of underserved youth, uniting diverse communities, and more. Today, Sylvester is one of the most widely recognized athletes in the world.

Sylvester is known for his outspoken advocacy, grit, and innovative creativity. Sylvester was featured in ESPN’s ‘Body Issue’ and included in Forbes Magazine’s “30 Under 30” list. Sylvester has spoken to Nike, Samsung, Chase, UNLOQ, Fashion Tech Forum, eBay, StockX, Complex, Gillette, Oakley about his many achievements across sports, business, and media.

Actress, producer, and director Cheryl Hines is a two-time Emmy nominee for her role as Cheryl David on HBO's Golden Globe Award-winning series Curb Your Enthusiasm. Hines has starred in numerous feature films including A Bad Moms Christmas, RV, Wilson, and Waitress. Additional TV credits include starring roles on television comedy series Suburgatory, the animated series Son of Zorn, and 3Below: Tales of Arcadia. Hines has produced shows for major networks, including School Pride, Hollywood Residential, and the award-winning series Campus Ladies. She has directed many TV series, as well as the feature film Serious Moonlight. Heralded for her humorous and passionate delivery in speaking engagements, Hines inspires audiences with conversations about finding success in a career that mainly consists of rejection, upholding “dangerous optimism” throughout her life, and shares how to reframe the mindset to take life’s twists and turns as an opportunity for betterment.

Hines reflects on her successful creative career by giving actionable insights into attacking the problems we face head-on to move forward and how to let go of the things that don’t contribute to your happiness. She is an outspoken advocate for individuals with cerebral palsy, sitting on the Board of Trustees of United Cerebral Palsy, speaking at fundraising galas, and leading philanthropic efforts. Hines has addressed groups including The Channel Company, St. Joseph’s Hospitals Foundation, the Rancho Mirage Speaker Series, and more.

Beloved style expert, TV host, and author Stacy London is one of America’s foremost style experts and a pop culture icon. Best known as the co-host of TLC’s iconic show What Not to Wear for ten seasons, Stacy also hosted and executive produced Love, Lust, or Run. She is the New York Times bestselling author of Dress Your Best and The Truth About Style, and has served as a style correspondent for the Today Show, Access Hollywood, Rachel Ray, and The View. Throughout her career, Stacy has made her mark by raising the confidence of others through empowering and uplifting projects and speaking events.

In 2021, Stacy became the Founder and CEO of State of Menopause – a holistic product line for women which addresses the symptoms associated with menopause and perimenopause. By tackling this topic – which is wrapped in shame and stigma – Stacy is leveraging her expertise as a brand leader and continuing to help people from suffering silently, raising their confidence and self-esteem. In 2023, she sunset the company in favor of a long-term educational and advocacy platform about the culture of mid-life, aging, and menopause which she will debut in 2024. She currently advises several other brands on menopause and mid-life.

She previously hosted the mental health podcast Could Be Better, tbh, in collaboration with the Crisis Text Line and The Jed Foundation (JED). Stacy has spoken for groups including Harvard University, Meijer, Vassar College, The Global Wellness Conference, and Women in Retail Summit on the topics of style, self-esteem, and giving menopause the makeover it deserves!

Grammy Award-winning independent international superstar, education advocate, and entrepreneur Armando Christian Pérez – Pitbull – is a sought-after motivational speaker who invites disruption on a global scale. With billions of audio streams and videos views, plus hundreds of gold and platinum certifications, Pitbull has one of the most impressive careers in music history. Pitbull returned to the road in 2022 with the sold out North American Can’t Stop Us Now Tour along with his SiriusXM Globalization DJs packing amphitheaters and arenas coast-to-coast. From his danceable hit songs to his philanthropic actions, Armando shares a message of hope, hard work, and positivity that resonates worldwide.

Beyond music, Armando has leveraged his business acumen through a diverse portfolio of investments and partnerships. He is co-owner of the NASCAR racing team Trackhouse and has successfully developed other ventures including his own record label Mr. 305, Inc. and Voli 305 Vodka. Armando successfully established Sports Leadership Arts and Management (SLAM!) – tuition-free public charter schools across the country, recognized as one of the top school networks in the world. His next long-awaited Spanglish album, Trackhouse, releases Fall 2023 and Pitbull will join Enrique Iglesias and Ricky Martin on The Trilogy Tour. He has performed for millions worldwide, and even joined forces with the #1 life and business strategist, Tony Robbins, for a global motivational speaking tour. Sharing his uplifting journey to success, Pitbull emphasizes the power of learning from your mistakes – “must-takes,” as he calls them – and embracing a growth mindset to achieve your dreams.

Pitbull melds practical knowledge with personal experiences, ensuring that his talks are not just informative but also deeply resonant and inspirational. His multifaceted career and endeavors reflect a man who is not just an artist, but a leader, entrepreneur, educator, and philanthropist, making him an enriching speaker for a multitude of audiences and events.

Professional tennis player and ESPN commentator Monica Puig is celebrated as the first-ever Puerto Rican to win an Olympic gold medal. Monica’s professional career, which spanned for over a decade and with a career high ranking of #27, saw her win one WTA title (Strasbourg, 2014) as well as reaching the finals of four additional WTA events. Monica’s biggest victory, and the one that changed her life forever, was becoming the first ever gold medal winner for Puerto Rico by winning the women’s singles title at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. The win in Brazil captivated a nation and propelled her to overnight stardom both in her home country of Puerto Rico as well as in many other parts of Central and Latin America.

Monica announced her retirement from tennis in the spring of 2022 and has since transitioned into a role with ESPN and the Tennis Channel, where she covers a number of tennis events around the world as both a commentator, host, and guest analyst. She has also fulfilled roles for ESPN around the 2022 MLB All-Star Game and is expanding into other areas of sports, business, and the entertainment world. As part of her transition from a championed tennis player, Monica is competing in three marathons this year as well as the Augusta Half Iron Man. In engaging and motivational talks, Monica shares lessons in cultivating an athlete’s mindset, overcoming adversity, women in sports, and her historic Olympic win.

Writer, political activist, and feminist organizer Gloria Steinem is an iconic visionary of the women’s movement. She founded New York and Ms. magazines, and is the New York Times bestselling author of The Truth Will Set You Free, But First It Will Piss You Off!, Revolution From Within, Outrageous Acts and Everyday Rebellions, and My Life On the Road, which was named one of the “best books of the year” by both O: The Oprah Magazine and Harper’s Bazaar and became the basis for the biopic The Glorias, directed by Julie Taymor and starring Julianne Moore. One of the most visible symbols of the movement, Steinem continues to be an ever-present and sought-after speaker on all fronts of social activism.

Steinem is the recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, as well as the Freedom Award from the National Civil Rights Museum. For her writing, Steinem has received the Lifetime Achievement in Journalism Award from the Society of Professional Journalists, the Society of Writers Award from the United Nations, among many others. Steinem co-founded the National Women’s Political Caucus, the Ms. Foundation for Women, the Free to Be Foundation, the Women’s Media Center, Equality Now, Donor Direct Action, and Direct Impact Africa. She produced Viceland TV’s WOMAN, a series exploring human rights and violence against women around the world. As an in-demand speaker, Steinem consistently receives glowing reviews such as: "Gloria was absolutely amazing. It was like an out of body experience to hear from her. Everyone was blown away." (The Robert Toigo Foundation)

Criminal justice and foster care reform advocate Jarrett Harper is himself a survivor of the California foster care system and endured 20 years of mass incarceration. After experiencing unimaginable trauma and abuse, at 16, Jarrett took the life of his abuser to protect himself and his younger brother. A year later, he was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole plus ten years. Despite having no chance of release from prison, he found forgiveness and hope and transformed his own life by helping change the lives of other men in prisons who had the opportunity to get out. Jarrett regularly volunteers with Vista Del Mar Child and Family Services where he mentors foster youth involved in the criminal legal system. He is also the founder of Better Days, a youth advocacy organization. Harper shares his story in the hope of ending life sentences for children, developing better rehabilitation resources for those returning to society, and putting a stop to the foster care-to-prison pipeline.

After 20 years of creating and facilitating self-improvement programs for his peers, Jarrett’s sentence was commuted by Governor Jerry Brown through the tireless work of a group of dedicated advocates. On June 18, 2019, he was released from prison by Governor Gavin Newsom. Shortly after his release, Jarrett became an ambassador for Represent Justice’s “Just Mercy” campaign and quickly became a sought-after speaker, booking engagements for Verizon, Google, YouTube, USC, Princeton, Human Rights Watch, and many more.

Thanatologist, chaplain, deathworker, author, and entrepreneur Cole Imperi is one of America’s leading experts on death, dying, and grief. A triple-certified thanatologist, someone who studies death and dying, Imperi is the Founder of the School of American Thanatology, which serves students from 20 countries. She is has pioneered the fields of Thanabotany, Deathwork (including Death Championing), and developed Shadowloss, Shadowlight, and Dremains. She has also served as President of the Historic Linden Grove Cemetery & Arboretum, works with death-related businesses through her consulting firm Doth, and publishes death and loss-related resources. Prior to her work as a thought leader and entrepreneur, Imperi worked as a chaplain-thanatologist in one of America’s 25 largest jails, served as a mortuary college professor, a crematory operator, hospice volunteer, grief support group leader for children and adults, and served on the board of a green burial startup. Her first book, A Guide to Your Grief, walks everyone through what they need to know about loss. Imperi is a compassionate expert on death, grief, and loss, and offers practical advice about cultivating empathy and resilience to overcome adversity.

Physician and activist Dr. Lucy Kalanithi, MD, FACP is a public advocate for healthcare value, meaning in medicine, patient-centered care, and end-of-life care. She speaks at the cross-section of her career as a medical professional and her personal experience standing alongside her husband during his life, diagnosis, treatment, and death. Dr. Kalanithi is the widow of the late Dr. Paul Kalanithi, author of the #1 New York Times bestselling memoir, When Breath Becomes Air, for which she wrote the epilogue. Dr. Kalanithi’s humanistic approach to the heaviest discussions in healthcare showcases her empathy, drive, and commitment to stellar patient care.

Dr. Kalanithi explores issues of medicine and mortality in her Gravity podcast, where she shares personal reflections, poetry, and deep conversations. She has appeared on PBS NewsHour, NPR Morning Edition, and Yahoo News with Katie Couric, and has been interviewed for People, NPR, and The New York Times. Dr. Kalanithi has stepped forward as an advocate for end-of-life care, drawing on both her professional expertise and personal experiences to improve care access for patients worldwide.

Groundbreaking Hollywood visionary and power player Mara Brock Akil is the writer and producer of nearly 400 episodes of television, truly leaving her mark on the industry. A trailblazer in many ways, Akil created the seminal television series Girlfriends-- a witty, intelligent and honest exploration of the many facets of black womanhood. Additionally, Akil developed the spin-off series The Game, which became the most-watched scripted-series premiere ever on ad-supported cable. The series continued on for a total of 9 seasons, earning praise throughout its run for its verisimilitude and, during the reality television boom, as one of the few shows on television that felt truly specific to its moment. Akil is also the creative force behind BET’s Being Mary Jane, which further cemented her ability to tell powerful and engaging stories that speak to women through honest, true-to-life reflections, The CW’s Black Lightning, and OWN’s Love Is___. Now, she is co-executive producing Netflix's adaptation of Ibram X Kendi's three anti-racism books, which will be a mix of a documentary and scripted features. 

A regular on the Hollywood Reporter's Women in Entertainment Power100, Akil is a leader in her field. She's been honored with the prestigious Brandon Tartikoff Legacy Award; the American Black Film Festival's Industry Visionary Award, Essence magazine’s Visionary Award; named to Variety and The Hollywood Reporter’s Showrunner Power Lists; and been inducted into Northwestern’s Medill Hall of Achievement.  

As a passionate, dynamic, and empowering speaker, Akil has been sought-out to speak at Google, George Washington University, The Wing, and more. Akil shares remarks on self-growth and love, finding the power to be bold, loving life at every age, and breaking barriers in all facets of life. 

Three years ago, Raymond Braun had never run more than three miles and was struggling with debilitating Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. In February 2023, Raymond set two World Records by completing 7 Olympic Distance triathlons on all 7 continents in 7 consecutive days. This endeavor was part of his mental health recovery program and aimed to destigmatize conversations about therapy and grief, while honoring his late friend, Maya Amoils, a mental health advocate.

As an award-winning multimedia journalist, producer, and advocate, Raymond now facilitates open conversations on the connection between mental and physical health through documentary storytelling, public speaking, endurance events, and peer-to-peer counseling. He has spoken at prestigious events ranging from the White House to the Forbes CMO Summit, and been featured in numerous media outlets including the New York Times, CNN, and many more.

Raymond struggled with OCD-related challenges throughout his life, masking them behind professional achievements and accolades. He graduated as valedictorian for both his B.A. and M.A. degrees from Stanford University. He went on to hold leadership positions at YouTube and Bumble, founded a creative consultancy with prestigious clients like CHANEL and Google, and achieved recognition as a GLAAD Award-winning documentary host.

Raymond ultimately found solace and transformation through endurance sports and exposure therapy. He now focuses on mental health awareness, inclusivity in fitness, and sharing inspiring stories of mental and physical transformation to empower others. Raymond's ultimate mission is to prove that individuals possess far greater potential than their self-limiting thoughts, stereotypes, and societal pressures suggest.

A Phenomenon of Courage, Connection, & Change

Glennon Doyle isn’t just a speaker; she’s a phenomenon. With electrifying authenticity and unshakable honesty, she transcends traditional labels to become a voice of hope, empowerment, and transformation for millions. Doyle doesn’t merely tell people they can “do hard things”—she shows them how, using raw vulnerability, sharp wit, and deeply resonant stories that touch audiences across all walks of life. Her meteoric rise to global influence is no accident—it’s a testament to the power of her message and her extraordinary ability to connect on a profoundly personal level.

Doyle’s influence stems from her unique courage, relatability, and multi-platform presence. Her personal journey is a testament to resilience and authenticity, inspiring millions to live unapologetically. Her bestselling book UNTAMED, which sold over 2M copies, sparked a global movement, encouraging readers to break free from societal expectations and embrace their truest selves. Glennon doesn’t just speak about bravery—she lives it, becoming a living example of what it means to lead with heart and truth. Her most recent book, WE CAN DO HARD THINGS: Answers to Life’s 20 Questions, created with Abby Wambach, Amanda Doyle and Treat Media, is being hailed as “the guidebook for being alive.”

Her themes of authenticity, vulnerability, mental health, relationships, and social justice are not only timely but vital in today’s complex world. Glennon captures the spirit of the moment with unmatched clarity, offering solace, guidance, and inspiration in times of uncertainty. Her words are universal yet deeply personal, making her a beacon of hope for those navigating personal challenges, seeking social change, or striving for clarity amidst life’s noise.

Beyond the stage, Glennon’s impact extends through her bestselling books (UNTAMED, LOVE WARRIOR, and CARRY ON, WARRIOR) and her acclaimed podcast, WE CAN DO HARD THINGS. She is one of the 40 Most Powerful People in Podcasting. Her massive social media following and ability to trend with every new release have solidified her status as one of the most influential voices of our time. Whether making audiences laugh, cry, or feel seen, Glennon Doyle’s transformative impact is undeniable.

Glennon is more than a speaker—she’s a global movement. She’s the trusted friend, fearless leader, and relentless advocate for truth the world needs. Whether inspiring a room of 50, reaching thousands at a conference, or connecting with millions through her books and podcasts, Glennon leaves her audiences braver, stronger, and ready to embrace their own “hard things.” It’s no wonder she’s one of the most sought-after voices in the world today.

Glennon also speaks in conversation with Abby Wambach. 

Scott Samuel "Scooter" Braun is one of the entertainment industry’s biggest entrepreneurs and innovators. Braun is the founder of SB Projects, a diversified entertainment and media company with impact, and the CEO of HYBE-America, the North American subsidiary of South Korean entertainment company Hybe Corporation. After dropping out of college, Braun quickly became a rising star in the hip-hop world as a party planner. During his time as a talent manager, Braun broke countless household names, including Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande, and more. Braun proved to be the music industry’s ‘first-responder’ when he organized the One Love Manchester benefit concert and Hand in Hand: A Benefit for Hurricane Relief telethon, within just months of one another. Braun’s rich experiences make him an exceptional choice for hosts looking to educate and inspire culturally engaged audiences.

Also profoundly philanthropic, Braun serves as Chair of the Advisory Board of Pencils of Promise, a non-profit organization that builds schools in developing countries. He is also on the board of Fuck Cancer, an organization focused on the prevention and early detection of cancer, which his wife Yael Braun co-founded. Braun, his clients, and his companies have – together – granted more wishes for Make-A-Wish than any other organization in the history of the foundation. Braun’s undeniable impact on entertainment and society is undeniable.

Emmy Award-winning pop culture icon Ricki Lake has built an award-winning acting and producing career based on her graciously candid sensibility and authentic, relatable nature. After debuting as the original Tracy Turnblad in John Water’s Hairspray, Lake has starred in 50+ television and film roles, earning an Independent Spirit Award Nomination for Best Female Lead. Lake became the youngest talk show host in history with the launch of Ricki Lake, an unprecedented success that changed talk television forever and garnered a Daytime Emmy Award. Lake’s award-winning documentaries, The Business of Being Born and Weed the People, uncovered hidden truths of American pediatric care at the Tribeca Film Festival. Lake’s strength is undoubtedly her ability to share the truth through her unique but familiar lens.

Lake’s memoir, Never Say Never: Finding a Life That Fits, vulnerably recalls the ups and downs of her experience in the spotlight to remind audiences that life always hands you the unexpected. With her signature informative yet conversational delivery, Lake educates audiences on how to make informed choices when it comes to their physical and mental health, inspiring any group to let go of their fears to find happiness within themselves.

Emmy Award-winning journalist Jemele Hill is known for bringing a unique perspective to her analysis of sports and social issues. Hill’s 20-plus year journalism career has included stops at the biggest sports media network and several reputable newspapers. She is currently a contributing writer for The Atlantic, after rising to prominence through ESPN, where she provided undeniably fresh takes on sports content as a host of SportsCenter, First Take, Around the Horn, The Sports Reporters, and Outside the Lines. Her independent commentary took off with a weekly, late-night show on Vice Network called Cari & Jemele: Won’t Stick to Sports, co-hosted with Hill’s longtime friend, former ESPN anchor Cari Champion. As fans flocked to her personal brand, Hill’s podcast career launched with the two-time Webby award-winning podcast Jemele Hill is Unbothered, featuring in-depth, thought-provoking conversation with some of the biggest newsmakers across entertainment, culture, music, and politics. Previous guests include Vice President Kamala Harris, Ice Cube, Spike Lee, Chelsea Clinton, Stephen Colbert, Issa Rae, and more A-listers. Her memoir, UPHILL, one of Oprah Daily’s Best Nonfiction Books, reveals her tumultuous childhood, complicated family dynamics, and her life-saving journey into journalism. Hill explores topical and controversial issues with humorous, candid commentary.

Hill’s career emphasizes the power of dialogue and conversation in bridging divides, fostering understanding, and driving positive change within society. Hill founded a podcast network, Unbothered, and co-founded Lodge Freeway Media to empower other women of color in sports media production. She is a highly lauded journalist, honored with two NAACP Awards and the National Association of Black Journalists’ Journalist of the Year Award. Hill has been invited to speak at Harvard University, Stanford University, Google, and many more.

Three-time New York Times bestselling author, podcaster, and thought leader Dr. Lisa Damour is known for her critically acclaimed books Untangled, Under Pressure, and The Emotional Lives of Teenagers, which have been translated into twenty-three languages. She co-hosts the Ask Lisa podcast, works in collaboration with UNICEF, and is recognized as a thought leader by the American Psychological Association. Dr. Damour is a regular contributor to The New York Times and CBS News and the creator of Untangling 10to20, a digital library of premium content to support teens and those who care for them. Dr. Damour’s compassionate and actionable talks on adult mental health, managing anxiety and chronic stress, cultivating well-being, family life, and more have positively impacted audiences worldwide.

Dr. Damour serves as a Senior Advisor to the Schubert Center for Child Studies at Case Western Reserve University and has written numerous academic papers, chapters, and books related to education and child development. She maintains a clinical practice and also speaks to schools, professional organizations, and corporate groups around the world on the topics of child and adolescent development, family mental health, and adult well-being.

Olympic Gold Medalist and World Champion hurdler Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone has inspired millions on her path to become a top track and field athlete. The youngest U.S. Olympian to compete in track and field since 1972, McLaughlin set both junior world and NCAA records before winning two gold medals at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. Named the Gatorade National Girls Athlete of the Year two years in a row, McLaughlin-Levrone is known for her dedication both to sports and her ability to inspire. Her her status both as an athlete and a cultural icon. She expands on her uplifting story in her book Far Beyond Gold: Running from Fear to Faith and through her work as a brand ambassador for New Balance. In her motivational talks, McLaughlin-Levrone helps us see that our dreams are possible with hard work, perseverance, and determined pursuit.

Touching both on her faith and the obstacles she has faced on her way to success, McLaughlin-Levrone offers empowering and inspiring remarks on perseverance, learning and evolving from your mistakes, staying open to new experiences, and the pursuit of success. When recognized by TIME Magazine as an emerging leader, her teammate and world-record holder ALLYSON FELIX described her as someone with “a quiet confidence that demands your attention...[and] the potential to impact lives.”

Award-winning country music singer-songwriter, author, entrepreneur, and philanthropist Granger Smith has always had the power of music in his hands. A proud Texan, American, father, husband, and Christian, Smith has produced countless hit records and is also the co-author of the bestseller If You’re City, If You’re Country, under the name Earl Dibbles Jr. – his comic alter-ego. Alongside his brothers, Smith founded Yee Yee Apparel – a Texas-based, patriotic, outdoor apparel company. Fans gain insight into his family and country life through the mega-popular YouTube channel The Smiths, as well as Granger’s channel – which features impactful sermons about his journey through grief and the role of Faith in his life. He’s the host of the Granger Smith Podcast, a weekly advice show praised for his captivating storytelling, positive outlook on life, and the profound connection he makes with his audiences. 

In 2019, while Smith was at work on his 10^th studio album, tragedy struck – he and his wife Amber lost their 3-year-old son River in a drowning accident. After several months of mourning, he started to find healing through his music, and realized it could have the same impact for others going through grief as well. Through his music, beloved podcast, and speaking engagements, Granger inspires hope – showing people the way out of a tough spot and offering the connection that they are not alone.

Smith’s new book, Like a River: Finding the Faith and Strength to Move Forward after Loss and Heartache, will be published August 1^st, 2023 and focuses on his family’s journey of grief after the loss of River, and lessons learned along the way.

Dr. John Boockvar does not just play a doctor on TV; he is an internationally celebrated neurosurgeon. On-screen, Dr. Boockvar’s compassionate brain tumor care was highlighted in the critically acclaimed Netflix docuseries Lenox Hill and Emergency NYC. In real life, Dr. Boockvar is the vice chair of the Department of Neurosurgery at Lenox Hill Hospital and director of the department’s Brain Tumor Center, the Pituitary/Neuroendocrine Center, and the New York Head and Neck Institute at Lenox Hill and Manhattan Eye, Ear & Throat hospitals. He is also an investigator at the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, where he directs the Laboratory for Brain Tumor Biology and Therapy. Dr. Boockvar was appointed as an adjunct professor at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory thanks to his great advancements in understanding and treating brain cancer. He was elected to the prestigious Academy of Neurological Surgeons and was elected to the Senior Society of the American Board of Neurological Surgery. He has been repeatedly named to the lists of New York Magazine's Top Docs, New York SuperDoctors, America's Top Surgeons, and America's Best Doctors. Dr. Boockvar is also an honorary surgeon of the NYPD and the New York State Troopers.

Dr. Boockvar has been featured many times on TV and in print. Of note, he was featured on the Dr. Oz Show, ABC's Nightline, TMZ, CNN, Good Morning America, and the Today Show among others. Dr. Boockvar's work has been featured in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Newsday, New York Post, and many others. Dr. Boockvar is also an honorary surgeon of the NYPD and the New York State Troopers.

In his presentations, Dr. Boockvar shares his concept of gritflowness, which combines grit, flow, and mindfulness to help professionals perform at their best under pressure. He also covers timeless principles related to “how to be a hero” in the time of crisis; how to handle extreme stress during adversity; how to achieve work-life balance; and easy tips for basic stress management.

Award-winning science journalist, speaker, and author Catherine Price is a leading voice in the national conversation about digital devices and how to create healthy relationships with technology. Her books include her bestsellers, How to Break Up With Your Phone and The Power of Fun: How to Feel Alive Again, and Catherine and her work have been featured in outlets including, The Best American Science Writing, NPR, The New York Times, Good Morning America, The Wall Street Journal, Popular Science, The Los Angeles Times,  and TIME Magazine, among many others. She is also a former middle school teacher, the parent of a young child, and a core member of the team behind Jonathan Haidt's #1 NYT-bestselling book, The Anxious Generation. She writes the popular Substack newsletter, "How to Feel Alive," and her TED talk on fun has been viewed more than 5M times.

In all of her work, Catherine's ultimate goal is to help people of all ages scroll less, live more, and have fun.

Price is comfortable and experienced providing keynotes, participating in chats and panels, and leading interactive workshops—all both in-person and virtually. Having spoken in front of audiences and clients including TED, The Aspen Ideas Festival, Leadercast, SXSW, Intel, Cigna, the NSA, Hyatt, T. Rowe Price, Warburg Pincus, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Rancho La Puerta, Endeavor, Penguin Random House, Google, Livongo Health, The Marbles Children’s Museum, Miraval, Yale University, RSA, Oprah Winfrey, and more, Price is an in-demand speaker, consultant, and workshop leader who offers lively and uniquely tailored programs full of what she calls “science-backed self-help” that are compelling and actionable for audiences of all kinds.

"Catherine is a dynamic and engaging speaker who is able to connect with and inspire audience members from a broad range of backgrounds. She weaves together science, personal anecdotes, practical advice, and humor in a way that makes the subject matter approachable and actionable. Her virtual sessions have been among the best attended and most popular talks in our series, and people are still approaching me months later to thank me for bringing her to speak at our institution.” —Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

Former Chairman and CEO of CNN, author, and veteran executive producer Chris Licht is a titan of the television landscape. Licht joined CNN after serving in senior, transformational positions at CBS, CBS News, and MSNBC. Licht previously served as Executive Vice President of Special Programming at CBS and Executive Producer and Showrunner for The Late Show with Stephen Colbert – the most-watched show in late night television. Licht was also an Executive Producer on Stephen Colbert Presents Tooning Out the News on Paramount+. Prior to that, he served as Executive Producer of CBS’ critically acclaimed morning news program, CBS This Morning, which became the network’s most successful morning newscast in more than two decades. was the co-creator and original executive producer of MSNBC’s Morning Joe and was at the helm as the show garnered critical acclaim for its interviews with newsmakers and perspective on the top news stories. Drawing on his depth of experience, Licht shares key insights about building resilient teams, change management, and leading transformative large-scale organizations by leaning into innovation and empathy.

Licht has received numerous honors for his work. During his tenure as executive producer, CBS This Morning earned a prestigious Peabody Award, two News and Documentary Emmys, and one Daytime Emmy. Also, the broadcast and Licht were honored with an Alfred I. DuPont-Columbia Award as part of CBS News’ division-wide coverage of the shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. Licht’s first book, What I Learned When I Almost Died, tells the story of what happened after a near-deadly brain hemorrhage left Chris in a hospital bed over eight long days to think about how his life had almost been cut short. With warmth and candor, Licht shares the lessons he learned overcoming adversity, surviving a health crisis, and creating more balance in his life in motivational talks.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/post-next/interactive/2025/#kim-ghattasAward-winning journalist, author, and strategic advisor on geopolitics Kim Ghattas is an esteemed analyst with more than twenty years of experience covering the Middle East, international affairs, and U.S. foreign policy. Growing up in Lebanon during the civil war, Ghattas decided to become a journalist to make sense of the world and explain it to others. A renowned expert on the region, she covered the Middle East for the BBC and Financial Times, and was part of the Emmy Award-winning BBC team that covered the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah. Ghattas helped establish a news bureau in her home city of Beirut for the BBC in 2006 and ran news operations, in addition to leading her family business through Lebanon’s recent economic crisis, giving her a unique understanding of the intersections of business, crisis management, and global affairs. The former State Department correspondent is the author of the New York Times bestseller The Secretary: A Journey with Hillary Clinton from Beirut to the Heart of Power and Black Wave – a New York Times “Top 100 Notable Book” of 2020 – which has become a reference for universities and diplomats on the Saudi-Iran rivalry. Building on her first-hand knowledge of the Arab world and unique access to key players and decision makers in the region as well as the U.S., Ghattas provides incisive takeaways on international affairs, helping audiences connect the dots between global events and their impacts.

Ghattas is a contributing writer for The Atlantic, a contributing editor at the Financial Times, and a regular commentator on CNN, NPR, among others, and is a Distinguished Carnegie Inaugural Fellow, Columbia University. Ghattas was selected to Washington Post's 2025 list of "Next 50 Thought Leaders" for her groundbreaking work. She serves on the board of Trustees of the American University of Beirut, and chairs the board of directors of the organization of Arab Reporters for Investigative Journalism. Ghattas is leading voice on Middle Eastern affairs, her expertise on risk and opportunities in regional and geopolitical trends is sought after by policy makers and institutions in the region and in the U.S., and as an in-demand speaker she offers impactful keynotes to audiences of all kinds.

For more than eighteen years, Gabby Bernstein has been transforming lives—including her own. The #1 New York Times bestselling author has penned ten books, including Self Help, The Universe Has Your Back, Super Attractor, and Happy Days. Gabby was featured on Oprah’s SuperSoul Sunday as a “new thought leader.” The New York Times identified Gabby as “a role model for a new generation of spiritual seekers.” She is a regular guest on Good Morning America, Today, and Live with Kelly and Mark, among other leading media outlets. In 2023 she launched the innovative gabby coaching app to democratize spiritual self-help and be your coach—anytime, anywhere. In her weekly podcast, Dear Gabby, she offers up real-time coaching, straight talk and conversations about personal growth and spirituality.

From her start hosting intimate conversations with twenty people in her New York City apartment, Gabby has grown to speaking to tens of thousands in sold-out venues throughout the world. Through her presentations and generous Q&A sessions, Bernstein makes a major impact on individuals and organizations alike, and she has been sought-after by groups such as Google, the AOL Build Series, TED Talks, Through her presentations and generous Q&A sessions, Bernstein makes a major impact on individuals and organizations alike, and she has been sought-after by groups such as Google, the AOL Build Series, TED Talks, Oprah's Super Soul Sessions, and many more., and many more. Gabby is a highly sought-after keynote speaker, offering a profound message of peace that resonates with audiences of all kinds.

For more, visit gabbybernstein.com. 

Multi-Emmy Award-winning sportscaster Michele Tafoya joined the NBC Sports Group from 2011-2022 as a sideline reporter for Sunday Night Football after more than a decade at ABC/ESPN, as a reporter for Monday Night Football and ABC’s coverage of the NBA Championships. Tafoya was a part of NBC’s Olympic coverage and has served as the sideline reporter for NBC's coverage of Super Bowl XLVI, XLIX, LII, LVI, and ABC’s coverage of Super Bowl XL. Today, she provides political commentary via social media and her eponymous podcast, The Michele Tafoya Podcast.  

Tafoya has been honored for her broadcast work with various awards: The American Women in Radio, two Television Gracie Awards for “Outstanding Achievement by an Individual On-Air TV Personality,” and the Davie Brown Index’s “Biggest Trend-Setter.”

Founder, chief creative officer, best-selling author, and philanthropist, Kendra Scott, started her company in 2002, just three months after her first son was born. With only $500 and a tea box to carry her collection, she went store to store selling her designs. Her dedication to innovation, quality, customer service, and attention to detail has since transformed her small startup into a billion-dollar brand. Today, with over 2,600 employees and more than 140+ standalone stores, Kendra Scott is celebrated for its design and material innovation, vibrant use of color, and signature shapes. The lifestyle brand offers a diverse range of products, including fashion, demi-fine and fine jewelry, watches, engagement rings, home accessories, a men’s collection (Scott Bros. by Kendra Scott), and a western-inspired brand (Yellow Rose by Kendra Scott).

 As the brand continues to grow, Kendra and her company remain true to their founding philosophy of “Family, Fashion, and Philanthropy,” benefiting both customers and employees. Since 2010, Kendra Scott has donated over $70 million to local, national, and international causes supporting women and youth.

Driven by a deep-rooted passion for empowering the next generation of leaders, Kendra founded the Kendra Scott Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership Institute (KS WELI) at The University of Texas at Austin in 2019 to empower women and creatives looking to change the world through entrepreneurship. This interdisciplinary program, involving the College of Fine Arts, the McCombs School of Business, the College of Natural Sciences, the Cockrell School of Engineering and School of Undergraduate Studies, empowers, equips, and builds a community for creatives, founders and leaders.

 In 2023, Kendra furthered her commitment to philanthropy by launching the Kendra Scott Foundation. The foundation is dedicated to empowering women and youth in the areas of health and wellness, education, and entrepreneurship. Notable programs supported by the foundation include initiatives around breast cancer research and awareness, pediatric hospitals, and early education literacy.

Kendra is a reoccurring investor/guest Shark on ABC’s Emmy Award-winning show “Shark Tank”. Kendra also serves on the board of directors for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation and the Council of Fashion Designers of America, while maintaining her role as Executive Chairwoman and Chief Creative Officer of Kendra Scott, LLC. Today, the company continues to operate out of Austin, Texas, where Kendra resides with her family.

Founder, author, and soul-centered wellness innovator Dr. Elisa Hallerman, PhD, JD is the CEO of the first-ever Recovery Management Agency (RMA). After graduating from New York Law School and passing the bar, Elisa entered the entertainment business. Over the next decade she went from the talent agency mailroom to becoming partner and head of the talent department at United Talent Agency, later becoming a partner at William Morris Endeavor. Sober from drugs and alcohol for years, Elisa's interest in the recovery field drew her to take classes in drug and alcohol counseling at the University of California, Los Angeles. She uses her knowledge of depth psychology and her personal experience as a recovering addict to help audiences reconnect with soul, find meaning, and live with purpose.

Elisa is the Founder of Recovery Management Agency – the world’s first agency devoted to helping addicts heal their addictions by reawakening their souls. She holds a doctorate in Depth Psychology and Somatic Studies from Pacifica Graduate Institute, with a focus on neuroscience and trauma. She is the author of Soulbriety: A Plan to Heal Your Trauma, Overcome Addiction, and Reconnect with Your Soul, which was released to critical and popular acclaim. Elisa is a member of The Institute for Functional Medicine and was a visiting professor at Chapman University for film and media arts. Leveraging her expertise in crisis management, resilience, and personal transformation, Elisa shares her message of ‘Soulbriety’ with audiences looking to lead a meaningful and purposeful life.

"In this vividly written, page-turner of a memoir, Dr. Elisa Hallerman depicts how neither drugs nor glittering Hollywood glamour could satisfy her spirit’s longing for true freedom. With unsparing honesty, she chronicles her own soul’s journey home to itself from the depths of trauma and addiction, now enabling her to guide many others on their own path to liberation." ― Gabor Maté MD, author of The Myth of Normal: Trauma, Illness and Healing in a Toxic Culture

“Dr. Hallerman’s book is unflinching raw storytelling and experience, strength and hope honed by her deep seeing and learning. What I have learned and been helped by Dr. Elisa Hallerman to learn, is that in the end, it's about our Soul... Hallerman is a crucial voice for these unprecedented times,” Actor and Author, Jamie Lee Curtis 

Olympian, CBS sports analyst, and philanthropist Charlie Davies is passionate about uplifting others through inspiration and positive reinforcement. Davies has had an international career spanning twelve years, playing in Sweden, France, Denmark, and MLS, and represented the U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team at the 2008 Olympics. He currently serves as a broadcast analyst for CBS Sports, Major League Soccer, and the New England Revolution. Davies also co-hosts Call It What You Want, a U.S. soccer podcast for CBS. Davies is the Director of The ‘Quin Impact Fund, The ‘Quin House’s philanthropic arm. Leveraging his passion for creating a spark for change, he directs the club’s fundraising initiatives, programming, and fosters relationships with nonprofits and corporations. Davies is a motivating speaker on the topics of the power of a positive mindset, overcoming adversity and finding resilience, and philanthropy and the impact of giving back.

Passionately immersed in community service, Davies is a U.S. Soccer Foundation Ambassador, a New England Revolution Club Ambassador, focusing on sponsorships, fundraising, and community relations. He is a survivor of liposarcoma, a rare type of cancer, and is a spokesperson for the American Cancer Society’s “Real Men Wear Pink” campaign. He serves as a member on the Philanthropic Board of Advisors at Boston Children’s Hospital, on the boards of Beacon Academy, Boston’s Institute of Contemporary Art, in addition to volunteering with a myriad of organizations including The Steve Nash Foundation, the Boys & Girls Club of Boston, Horizons for the Homeless, and many others. In sought after engagements, Davies shares his personal story overcoming obstacles to become an Olympian, and how he uses his platform to make a difference.

Respected political correspondent and chief national affairs analyst Kasie Hunt has covered campaigns, Congress, and Washington for almost two decades, including three presidential campaigns. Kasie currently serves as a CNN anchor and the network’s chief national affairs analyst, after more than eight years at NBC where she anchored Way Too Early with Kasie Hunt, Kasie DC on MSNBC, and served as the Capitol Hill Correspondent. Kasie is widely respected for her hard-hitting exchanges with major players in Washington D.C., earning a reputation for adding fresh angles to the political news cycle. She is also a brain tumor survivor. Just 36 years old when she was diagnosed and underwent brain surgery, she brings a unique perspective on resilience in an unstable world. Kasie in in-demand with a wide range of audiences from students to advertising executives to major philanthropic groups, including events with the BUILD Series, SXSW, Politicon, and the George Washington Elliott School of International Affairs.

Hunt started her career in journalism as a print reporter, covering health policy for National Journal, including the passage of the Affordable Care Act, the 2012 presidential campaign of former Gov. Mitt Romney for the Associated Press, and the 2010 midterm elections for Politico. She has appeared regularly some of the nation’s most influential programs, including NBC’s Meet the Press, MSNBC’s Morning Joe, CNN’s Inside Politics, and PBS’s Washington Week. In 2018, Kasie led the NBC News investigative team that was awarded the Joan Shorenstein Barone Award for its reporting on sexual harassment allegations on Capitol Hill. In sought-after events, she offers rare behind-the-scenes insights into the inner workings of presidential campaigns and Congress, as well as the cutthroat world of TV news.

Michael Nutter served as the 98th Mayor of the City of Philadelphia, his hometown. He served 22.5 years as an elected official in Philadelphia, serving 14.5 years as a City Council member, and then 2 four year terms as Mayor, leaving office on January 4, 2016 due to term limits.

Mayor Nutter was considered one of the foremost leaders in innovation, tackling challenges of public safety, increasing funding for educating children, revitalizing the economy and spurring economic growth, restoring ethics and integrity to city government, ensuring fiscal discipline and making Philadelphia one of the great green and sustainable cities in America.

Known for keeping an active and engaged schedule as Mayor, Michael Nutter is doing the same as a private citizen. He's a Professor at Columbia University, a Senior Fellow with Bloomberg Philanthropies What Works Cities Program, Chair of the Mayors Advisory Board for Airbnb, and holds numerous Fellowships and Advisory positions in academic, political, non-profit and corporate entities. Mayor Nutter is actively engaged in the work of cities and trying to make them work better on behalf of their citizens.

Academy Award and Emmy-nominated writer and critically acclaimed actor and comedian Kumail Nanjiani is an incredible storyteller, prolific creative, and inspiring speaker. While he can still be seen regularly doing stand-up shows around some of LA’s greatest comedy theaters, Nanjiani was recently featured in Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, Migration, the Disney+ Star Wars prequel Obi-Wan, Marvel film The Eternals, and The Big Sick, which Kumail and his wife Emily V. Gordon received an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay. The Big Sick was chosen as one of AFI’s “Top Ten Films of the Year.” Nanjiani recently earned an Emmy nomination for his compelling portrayal of Chippendales Founder in Hulu’s limited series, Welcome to Chippendales, which he also served as an executive producer on. Nanjiani rose to fame when he starred as ‘Dinesh’ in the Emmy Award-winning HBO comedy series Silicon Valley. Additional television credits include Bless the Harts, The Twilight Zone, The Meltdown, Portlandia, Franklin & Bash, The X-Files, and Community. Nanjiani and his wife Emily V. Gordon currently serve as executive producers on the Apple TV+ series Little America, which received nominations at the Independent Spirit Awards and BAFTA TV Awards. In engaging moderated conversations, Nanjiani shares humorous and empowering insights about his experiences in Hollywood, the creative process, and more, making an impact with audiences of all kinds.

Nanjiani was named one of TIME’s “100 Most Influential People.” For his profile, Judd Apatow wrote: “Kumail is one of our most hilarious, unique stand-up comedians (…) We’re lucky to have Kumail. We need a thousand more.” Nanjiani is a gifted speaker who brings levity and insight to moderated conversations that make a memorable impact on audiences of all kinds.

Legendary NFL wide receiver, entrepreneur, Emmy-nominated TV personality, and philanthropist Brandon Marshall is a dedicated mental health advocate who continues to lead conversations promoting awareness, ending stigma, and sharing inspiration. After 12 years shattering records and collecting countless awards and accolades, Marshall is now a two-time Emmy-nominated sportscaster with Showtime’s Inside the NFL and FS1’s First Things First. Amassing over 30M views and 500K YouTube subscribers, he is also the creator and host of I AM ATHLETE podcast, moderating authentic conversations that make an undeniable impact. After winning his own battle with mental illness, Marshall has become the face of mental health awareness, sharing his personal experiences and struggles, and offering a message of resilience and hope that enables audiences of all kinds to unleash their full potential.

As the Founder and CEO of House of Athlete, a lifestyle wellness brand, Marshall leverages his years as a peak athlete and champion for mental fitness to support athletes at every level. As Executive Chairman and Co-Founder of PROJECT 375, a non-profit dedicated to unlocking human potential through conversation, education, and inspiration, Marshall embodies his commitment to the mental health community. He has appeared on The View, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, and more, and has been featured in The New York Times, People, Forbes, and many others. Marshall has participated in hundreds of speaking engagements, speaking to Fortune500 organizations, the Forbes Healthcare Summit, The Kennedy Forum, before the U.S. Senate, the Vatican, to NFL Owners & Coaches, and school kids, among others. In addition to championing conversations in the mental health space, Marshall is an in-demand speaker for his insights on teamwork, cultivating resilience, and developing values-based leadership within organizations and as individuals.

Hollywood icon, New York Times bestselling author, podcaster, and philanthropist Rob Lowe is a passionate advocate for resilience in the face of adversity and leverages his platform to make an impact on the world. Known for his decades-long career in film, television, and theater, Lowe has been nominated for numerous Emmy, Golden Globe, and Screen Actors Guild Awards, winning two. Notable roles include St. Elmo’s Fire, About Last Night, The Outsiders, The West Wing, and Parks and Recreation, as well as directing The Bad Seed and serving as executive producer for Holiday in the Wild and 911 Lonestar. He shares his complicated path to stardom in two New York Times bestselling memoirs, Stories I Only Tell My Friends and Love Life. He has taken his first memoir and made it into a touring show called Stories I Only Tell My Friends: Live! which has received rave reviews throughout the country and sold out in London. With his signature wry humor, candor, and moving personal anecdotes, Lowe is an in-demand speaker about his work in the fight against cancer, his journey to three decades of sobriety, and for his insights about overcoming obstacles, developing resilience, and finding joy.

Lowe hosts Literally! With Rob Lowe, irreverent yet thoughtful conversations with leaders in the world of business and entertainment like Oprah, Chris Pratt, Gwyneth Paltrow, Matthew McConaughey, Jennifer Aniston, Magic Johnson, and others. He is a gifted host, moderator, and keynote speaker, and regularly receives rave reviews such as: ”Everyone was THRILLED! Rob was warm, funny, gracious and a pleasure to work with. Thanks for making this so memorable.” (Memorial Sloan Kettering)

WWE Hall of Fame Inductees, entrepreneurs, philanthropists, and New York Times bestselling authors Nikki and Brie Garcia – The Garcia Twins – are legendary for fearlessly breaking barriers and building a global brand based on hard work, authenticity, and kindness. Nikki and Brie joined the WWE main roster in 2008 and became one of the best tag teams in the history of WWE and the first female twins to rise to international acclaim, earning a Divas Title reign apiece in 2011 and 2012. As sought-after motivational speakers as individuals and a tag team, The Garcia Twins bring a dash of ‘Twin Magic’ to every event, making a major impact with audiences of all kinds.

Brie became Divas Champion in 2011, and was named Diva of the Year in 2013, entertaining millions around the world with her athleticism, confidence, and genuine personality as a star on FOX’s The Real Dirty Dancing. Nikki, who earned the accolade Longest Reigning Divas Champion and the fan title ‘Fearless Nikki’, was seen as a judge on NBC’s America’s Got Talent Extreme, and is set to host the upcoming celebrity competition show Barmageddon for NBC. The Garcia Twins starred on E!’s hit reality TV show Total Divas, and executive produced and starred on six seasons of their spinoff series Total Bellas.

Their dual debut memoir, Incomparable, became an instant New York Times bestseller and revealed their journey to the pro-wrestling ring, the obstacles they overcame, and how they broke the glass ceiling in their sport to push female performers from divas to superstars. The Garcia Twins share their humor and uncensored insights with their massive audience as hosts of The Bellas podcast. Nikki and Brie are the founders of Birdiebee, Nicole + Brizee Beauty, Bonita Bonita Wine, and serve as investors and collaborators for Colugo. With their expertise in entrepreneurship, excelling in a male-dominated industry, and commitment to testing the limits, Nikki and Brie inspire audiences to dominate in their own lives and never give up.

Former professional basketball player Rex Chapman’s compelling journey from the court to the screen has made him a beacon of positivity and humor. Chapman was a standout basketball player at the University of Kentucky. He played twelve seasons in the NBA and served in the front offices of several NBA teams. With an illustrious basketball career spanning over a decade, Chapman transitioned seamlessly into his new role as a leading voice in the media, where he has amassed millions of followers.

Chapman has worked as a broadcaster for both professional and college basketball. He has hosted the CNN+ show Rex Chapman as well as the iHeart podcast Charges with Rex Chapman. He currently hosts the Smartless podcast Owned. His memoir, It’s Hard for Me to Live With Me, tells the story of his addiction and recovery in unflinching detail. Chapman’s speeches are a dynamic mix of personal anecdotes, motivational insights, and thoughtful reflections on overcoming adversity, making him an ideal speaker for audiences seeking inspiration and empowerment.

Emmy Award-winning journalist, documentarian, and author Laura Ling has dedicated her intrepid career to reporting from dozens of countries on the most critical issues facing the world today. As Head of Programming for Hearst Television’s Streaming Video Services, Ling oversees content development and strategy for Hearst’s new OTT platform Very Local. While Director of Development for Discovery Digital Networks, Ling produced and created original web series that received hundreds of millions of views. A consummate host and moderator, Ling helms the web series Going Off the Grid, Rituals with Laura Ling, the mini-documentary series The Power of Kindness, and her podcast Everyday Bravery, eloquently blending her principles of gratitude and perseverance. In 2009 while reporting on the trafficking of women, Ling was arrested and held captive in North Korea. She recounts her experience in a memoir written with her sister Lisa, Somewhere Inside: One Sister’s Captivity in North Korea and the Other’s Fight to Bring Her Home. Ling captivates audiences with anecdotes from her storied career and powerful lessons learned with a global perspective.

Ling has received many accolades for her work, including an Emmy Award and the prestigious Edward R. Murrow Award for her work as a correspondent for SoCal Connected and a Gracie Award. Under her leadership as Vice President of the journalism department, Current TV’s Vanguard received the prestigious Alfred I. DuPont Award and several Emmy nominations. Her work has appeared on ABC's Nightline, NBC, and PBS, and she has written editorials for the Los Angeles Times and CNN.com.

Former Rugby Union player, entrepreneur, and podcaster Jonny Wilkinson is widely regarded as one of the greatest players to ever play the game. After making his name as one of the shining lights of Rugby Union, Jonny was inducted to the World Rugby Hall of Fame in 2014. His services to the sport were recognized by Her Majesty the Queen, initially appointing him as an MBE, latterly upgraded to OBE and subsequently, CBE. In addition to his incredible achievements in sport, Jonny has become an advocate for mental wellbeing, healthy ways to deal with stress and the unknown, and shares his profound insights in impactful conversations.

Jonny was voted BBC Sports Personality of the Year in 2003 and World Rugby Player of the Year in Monaco in 2004. Off the pitch, he established the Jonny Wilkinson NSPiRED Foundation – a program designed to support those in teaching and coaching roles towards inspiring the younger generation to live their fullest lives. The six-week program is devoted entirely to the individual, their world, and their potential to perform, lead, and connect with others. Jonny is also the Creator and Host of the I Am… with Jonny Wilkinson podcast – which explores the remarkable transformations of pioneers and thought leaders around the globe. In powerful talks, Jonny shares his authentic journey learning to deal with pressure, overcome and release trauma, and developing a growth mindset.

Actress, entrepreneur, and New York Times bestselling author Jana Kramer is beloved by her fans for her honest vulnerability. She is best known for her TV appearances in One Tree Hill, Friday Night Lights, 90210, and Entourage. Kramer regularly stars in films such as 20th Century Fox’s Heart of the Country, Hallmark Channel's Love at First Bark, and Lifetime’s Christmas in Mississippi. A multi-hyphenate creative, Kramer’s musical career took off with her eponymous debut album, Jana Kramer. Seven of her singles charted on Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay. She won the Academy of Country Music’s “New Female Vocalist of the Year” award for her work.

In 2019, Kramer launched her award-winning iHeartRadio podcast, Whine Down with Jana Kramer, where she shares advice on love, life, and more. Audiences connect with the candid but uplifting transparency she carries through her work. Authenticity, vulnerability, and care are all central to her New York Times bestseller, The Good Fight: Wanting to Leave Choosing to Stay, and the Powerful Practice for Loving Faithfully and latest book, The Next Chapter: Making Peace with Hard Memories, Finding Hope All Around Me, and Clearing Space for Good Things to Come. Drawing on her personal relationships and experiences, Kramer provides spiritual guidance and practical advice to audiences worldwide.

Kramer’s wonderful stage presence, authenticity, and ability to connect with the crowd leaves audiences dazzled at every engagement.

Former White House Social Secretary and business executive Desiree Rogers has helped major organizations reinvent business models and reach new and more diverse audiences with tangible results. The first black CEO and Co-Owner of Black Opal Beauty and Fashion Fair Cosmetics, the first black female CEO of a Fortune 500 Company, and a former CEO of Johnson Publishing Company, Rogers is heralded for her uncanny business acumen and innovative approach to marketing and brand development. Beyond her experience in the private sector, Rogers was appointed by President Obama as White House Social Secretary, re-positioning the White House as the “People’s House” and implementing innovative events.

Named to the "50 Most Influential People in the Multicultural Market" by WWD, "Top 25 Women to Watch" by Crain's Chicago Business, and "Top 50 Most Powerful African American Business Women" by Black Enterprise, Rogers offers insights on everything from how to make marketing work in a digital and global age, to how to talk about race and foster a positive, inclusive work environment. Sought-out to speak at Chicago Ideas, TED, the Society for Human Resource Management, and more, Rogers has the unique ability to connect with her audience, energize and inspire teams, and illuminate new strategic pathways and operational approaches.

Country singer-songwriter and mental health advocate Chase Bryant shares his powerful journey surviving mental health crisis and suicide through stories and songs. Bryant grew up dreaming of a life in music, and by age 21 was known for multiple Top 10 singles and tours with Brantley Gilbert and Tim McGraw. But when he achieved early fame, he also struggled with anxiety and depression. He hit rock bottom in a gas station parking lot, and attempted suicide – but after pulling the trigger, he found he was miraculously still alive. Bryant began the long road to recovery from his mental health crisis, eventually writing his extraordinary album Upbringing, which received wide acclaim and was featured on NPR, in People, Taste of Country, and others.

In his songs and impactful speaking engagements, Bryant shares his inspiring message with audiences of all kinds: “they’re not alone in this fight, that somebody’s out there listening and has their back.” Through facing his demons head on, learning to be comfortable in his own skin, making peace with being alone, learning to be okay with not being okay all the time, Bryant has found strength and resilience. He regularly receives rave reviews for his authentic and uplifting speaking engagements, such as: “Everything went great! They loved him and he was so nice and gracious and inspiring. The kids at the Center loved him too.” (Clarity Child Guidance Center's Annual Summit)

CEO of the Daily Beast and New York Times bestselling author Ben Sherwood offers game-changing insights on bold leadership in times of disruption. Most recently, he was the founder and CEO of MOJO, a venture-backed tech and media platform, which quickly won the Webby Award for best sports app on the internet, was named one of the World’s Most Innovative Companies by Fast Company and recognized as one of the best employers in sports by Front Office Sports. In April 2024, IAC chairman Barry Diller announced a strategic partnership with Sherwood, naming him publisher and CEO of The Daily Beast, the digital news platform, and a significant shareholder in the company. Previously, Sherwood was co-chair of Disney Media Networks and president of the Disney ABC Television Group. There, he oversaw the company’s global television business with 12,000 employees, $12.5B in revenue and 25,000 hours of original programming per year. Before that, Sherwood served as president of ABC News, leading the organization to #1 in the ratings, every major award in broadcast journalism, record profitability, and groundbreaking strategic partnerships with Univision and Yahoo! A compelling keynote speaker, Sherwood regularly receives rave reviews such as: “Ben's message is deep, highly relevant, and of great intrinsic value. He hit the ball deep into the seats.” (The Masters Forum)

Sought after for his masterful storytelling, Sherwood shares the secrets to unleashing creativity and innovation, and leading through disruption. Sherman has also exec produced Good Morning America, senior produced NBC Nightly News with Tom Brokaw, and wrote a few bestselling books, including Charlie St. Cloud (which was made into a Universal feature film), The Man Who Ate the 747 (in development as a Warner Brothers Discovery feature film), and The Survivors Club: The Secrets and Science that Could Save Your Life, a New York Times nonfiction bestseller. Consistently ranked in The Hollywood Reporter’s annual list of “Most Powerful People in Entertainment,” Sherwood provides unparalleled insight into leadership, storytelling, and business.

Former NBA player turned philanthropist Alonzo Mourning focuses his energy on empowering others through advocacy, education, and enrichment. Mourning founded the Mourning Family Foundation, which has raised more than $25M for various programs that aid in the development of children and their families. He further contributes to family wellness as a member of the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition. He continues his involvement with basketball as Vice President of Player Programs and Development with the Miami Heat and Chair of the McDonald’s All-American Game Advisory Committee. A seven-time NBA All-Star and two-time Defensive Player of the Year, Mourning has been inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Shortly after winning an Olympic gold medal, Mourning was diagnosed with Focal Glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), a rare genetic kidney disease and underwent a successful kidney transplant. In addition to his philanthropy, Mourning is a highly respected business leader and has numerous business development projects in the Miami area. A leader in all his pursuits, Mourning’s inspiring story encourages audiences to dream big.

Consistently recognized for his charitable efforts, Mourning has received numerous awards, including the NBA’s Community Assist Award, National Urban League’s Outstanding Community Service Award, Silver Medallion Community Service Award by the National Conference for Community and Justice, and NBA’s J. Walter Kennedy Sportsmanship Award, The Children’s Trust Excellence Award for Public Policy, and more. Mourning has been sought after as an orator to inspire audiences ranging from sales teams to nephrologists.

Award-winning investigative journalist, producer, and documentarian Sahar Zand is highly regarded for her work on some of today’s most pressing topics: the Iran Nuclear Deal, mental health in Afghanistan, the refugee crisis, climate change, and many more. Zand has worked for the BBC, Channel 4, ITV, Vice News, and numerous other international media outlets, and her report “The Moroccan warrior women beating men at their own games” was chosen as one of the best reports by BBC reports in 2016. Her documentary Britain’s Virginity Clinics for ITV Exposure was nominated for many awards including the Royal Television Society Programme Awards, Amnesty Media, the BAFTAs, and a True Honour Award from the Iranian and Kurdish Women Rights Organisation, where she will also serve as their patron. Zand’s creative and disruptive style of journalism has earned her high praise within the industry, and she is a highly sought-after speaker on the nuances of major global issues of conflict and human rights.

Zand was born in Iran, fled the country to avoid political persecution, and overcame adversity once she found asylum in the U.K., which has given her an insight into marginalized communities that enables her to report from a unique perspective rarely seen in mainstream media. She has been personally affected by poverty, racism, and identity issues, and is a passionate advocate for raising awareness and championing the most marginalized. Zand is a prolific storyteller, and her immersive and impact-driven work connect with a global audience. Her insights about the role of journalism in the rising disinformation epidemic, her personal experience overcoming adversity, and finding strength and resilience are impactful for audiences of all kinds.

Award-winning journalist, sportscaster, and entrepreneur Jen Hale has won multiple Emmy, Edward R. Murrow, and Associated Press Awards for both her sports and new coverage. Currently in her eleventh season as a reporter for the FOX NFL season, Hale is also a frequent contributor on Fox & Friends Weekend, FOX Sports, and fills in as host of Skip and Shannon: Undisputed on FS1. After surviving cardiomyopathy, a genetic condition that often requires a heart transplant, she has gone on to serve as a spokesperson for the American Heart Association, appearing on numerous national programs to share her personal experience and raise awareness for cardiovascular health. The AHA awarded her with the Heart Ball Award in recognition for her efforts, and she shares her journey through diagnosis and recovery in powerful and inspiring talks that impact audiences of all kinds.

Hale is also the Founder and CEO of All Access Sideline Pass, an organization that focuses on educating and empowering young women in the New Orleans community through outreach, scholarships, and other community programming. She sits on the Board of Directors for LSU’s L Club, the French Quarter’s commercial economic engine The French Market, and owns Hale Historic Properties. She has received many accolades for her work, including the Alumni Achievement Award from The Fund for American Studies, being named New Orleans Magazine’s “Top Female Achiever” and to Gambit Magazine’s “Top 40 Under 40” list. Hale was the first woman to receive the Bob Roesler Award from the New Orleans Touchdown Club.

Investigative journalist Andrew Kaczynski is the Senior Editor and a founding member of CNN’s Kfile – the leading investigation team for the social, mobile generation. Widely praised as a “scoop team,” Kfile is known for breaking news by scouring the internet through research, fact-checking, and investigative reporting. Kaczynski joined CNN from BuzzFeed, where he started as a political reporter in 2011. He quickly built a reputation for unearthing newsworthy archival videos, many of which later went viral. Notable scoops include the revelation of President Donald Trump’s expressed support of the Iraq War in 2002 and evidence that Kentucky Senator Rand Paul plagiarized speeches. Kaczynski and Kfile have exposed some of the most controversial statements, deceptions, and hypocrisies from politicians – both in office and on the campaign trail – and their reporting of government officials has led to ten resignations or withdrawals of nomination. Kaczynski has been sought after for events with groups like the Albanian Institute Panel, SXSW, the C-Span Conference, and more.

Kaczynski's unique reporting tactics have earned him widespread recognition. He was named to Forbes Magazine's "30 Under 30: Media" list for 2017, and his use of social media earned him many awards, including The Daily Beast's 2013 "Beast Best" award for his Twitter Feed and New York Magazine's 13th most influential Tweeter in New York City in 2014. After the loss of his baby daughter to brain cancer, Kaczynski founded the Team Beans Infant Brain Tumor Fund at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, which has raised over $2.7M for infant brain tumor research. He is an advocate for awareness and education around ATRT brain tumors and other health adversities affecting young children and their families.

Paralympian, disability advocate, author, and philanthropist Dylan Alcott AO is one of Australia’s most successful and well-recognized Paralympians. A multisport Olympian, Alcott was the youngest member of the gold-medal winning team at the Beijing 2008 Paralympics, competing in wheelchair basketball. After winning silver at London in 2012, Dylan returned to wheelchair tennis, winning 15 Grand Slam tournaments as well as double Paralympic gold in Rio. In 2021, Dylan became the only male in any form of tennis to win the ‘Golden Slam’ – winning the Australian, French, Wimbledon, and US Open Championships. Dylan has been in high demand as a speaker, with powerhouse talks for TEDx, Johnson & Johnson, Oracle, Salesforce, McDonalds, Meta, LinkedIn, Deloitte, and more.

Alcott was named Australian of the Year in 2022, and GQ Australia called him “a champion for the ages.” In 2017, Dylan launched the Dylan Alcott Foundation with a mission to help young Australians with a disability achieve their goals in the workplace, on the sporting field, or at university. Alcott is also the Founder of Get Skilled Access – a consulting firm committed to making inclusion a reality for organizations of any size. Dylan was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in 2022 for distinguished service to Paralympic sport, particularly to tennis, and as a role model for people with disability, and to the community through a range of organizations.

Legendary sportscaster, veteran journalist, actor, author, and podcaster Stephen A. Smith offers powerful and humorous lessons from the world of sports – and beyond – on overcoming adversity, leadership, building a personal brand, and ethics. After getting his start in journalism working for the New York Daily News and the Philadelphia Inquirer, Smith transitioned to TV and landed at ESPN in 2003. Known for his memorable catchphrases and thought-provoking analysis, Smith is a host on ESPN’s First Take, an NBA analyst and insider on SportsCenter, and hosts his own weekly NBA show, SportsCenter with Stephen A. Smith. Smith released his bestselling memoir, Straight Shooter: A Memoir of Second Chances and First Takes, on January 17^th, 2023. As he does in sought-after events, Smith shares his personal journey to becoming a giant of sports media, the adversities he has overcome, and how sports became his salvation.

Smith is set to host a new podcast, Know Mercy, with Cadence13/Audacy and featuring a range of notable guests and thought leaders. The fan-favorite commentator and ‘The Face of ESPN’ will offer his candid perspective on politics, entertainment, social issues, criminal justice, business, and of course, sports. He is a proud HBCU graduate, a brand ambassador for HBCU Week, and his Mr. SAS Productions is in development for Black Excellence, a documentary series examining the legacy of Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Revered for speaking his truth and engaging audiences, Smith consistently receives rave reviews for his events, such as: ”Amazing! They loved him. He was the ultimate professional and inspiring at the same time. I’ve booked a lot of speakers, and I’d book him again and again. He knocked it out the park.” (Chrysler Minority Association)

Poet, philosopher, and spiritual teacher Mark Nepo has made a significant impact for over forty years as “one of the finest spiritual guides of our time,” “a consummate storyteller,” and “an eloquent spiritual teacher.” With over a million copies sold, Mark has moved and inspired readers and seekers all over the world with his #1 New York Times bestseller, The Book of Awakening. Renowned for his widely accessible work, he has published twenty-three books – which have been translated into more than twenty languages – and recorded sisteen audio projects. Recent work includes Surviving Storms (2022) and The Book of Soul, named by Spirituality & Practice as one of the Best Spiritual Books of 2020, and the Nautilus Book Award Winners Drinking from the River of Light and Things That Join the Sea and the Sky. Mark devotes his writing and teaching to the journey of inner transformation and the life of relationship, and has been highly sought after as an inspirational speaker for events with groups like the Chautauqua Institution, the Omega Institute, Sun Valley Wellness Festival, Mile-Hi Church, among many others.

In his 30s Mark was diagnosed with a rare form of lymphoma, a struggle which helped to form his philosophy of experiencing life fully while staying in relationship to an unknowable future. Mark has received numerous awards for his work, including AgeNation’s Life-Achievement Award, and has been named one of the 100 Most Spiritually Influential Living People by Watkins: Mind Body Spirit. He was chosen as one of OWN’s SuperSoul 100, a group of inspired leaders using their gifts and voices to elevate humanity, and has appeared several times on Oprah’s SuperSoul Sunday on OWN TV. Mark is a regular columnist for Spirituality & Health Magazine, and has been interviewed by Robin Roberts on Good Morning America, among many other media appearances. Audiences leave his talks feeling uplifted, more connected to what it means to be human, and with a fresh perspective on what it means to overcome adversity: "Mark was beyond wonderful! People fell in love with him and were truly and deeply moved by his teaching. I could not be more grateful!" (Chautauqua Institution)

Emmy-winning TV host, comedian, physician, and cancer survivor Matt Iseman is beloved for his energetic, charismatic style and empowering message of overcoming obstacles. When Matt quit medicine to pursue stand-up comedy, his dad – a world-renowned physician – gave him the advice that still guides him today: “Life is short, do what makes you happy.” Renowned as the host of the four-time Emmy-nominated American Ninja Warrior, Matt combines his winning sense of humor, unique experience, and perspective as a doctor-turned-comic to deliver high-impact events. He shared his medical expertise and health and wellness insights on Hallmark’s Home & Family, won an Emmy for his hosting on Style’s Clean House, has hosted numerous live specials including The Macy’s 4^th of July Special for NBC and Evel Live for History Channel and can be seen frequently as the in-house game show host for The Kelly Clarkson Show. Matt talks ninjas, tells jokes around the world and, in general, proves laughter is the best medicine.

Matt shares his inspiring story of battling Renal Cell Carcinoma and has become a spokesperson for the American Cancer Society. His ongoing battle with Rheumatoid Arthritis transformed him into a strong supporter of the Arthritis Foundation – for his work over the past decade and a half, Matt was named the 2018 “Arthritis Warrior of the Year.” Matt also supports the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and serves as an Ambassador for the Armed Services Arts Partnership. Sought after for events of all kinds, he is an in-demand speaker for both medical and business events including Texas Children’s Cancer Center, Feather River Hospital, Edwards Lifesciences, and CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, who raved: “Matt was fantastic! The audience really enjoyed his talk and he created the type of buzz we were looking for! He was also a pleasure to work with very energetic, kind, personable, and relatable. He hit all of the emotions, which was great!” His dynamic remarks cover everything from battling cancer, to overcoming obstacles, to the paramount importance of following your dreams.

As the world knows, Serena Williams is more than a record-smashing, boundary-breaking tennis champion. Serena has overcome insurmountable odds to win a staggering 23 career Grand Slams. Her remarkable tennis achievements, combined with her off-court success in business and fashion make her one of the most recognizable icons in the world and a powerful voice for women and mothers. Serena’s lifelong passion for design led her to fashion school, which she attended in between winning Grand Slams. In 2018, she launched her clothing line, S by Serena, designed to empower people to look and feel their absolute best. Focused on investing in companies that embrace diverse leadership and opportunity, Serena is effecting change in the financial investments sector with her venture capital firm, Serena Ventures, taking 14 startups to unicorn status. Serena has also flexed her star power in the media and entertainment worlds with roles in movies, series, music videos, and more. Her award-winning docuseries, Being Serena, continues to inspire people around the world. Her many philanthropic and world-changing endeavors, including the BirthFUND health initiative, prove Serena’s ability achieve anything she sets her mind to.

Serena’s strategic thinking, champion mindset, and transformative perseverance are palpable, lighting up the room. Representing a small portion of her accolades, Serena is the winner of the NAACP Image Award, the People’s Choice Game Changer Award, Associated Press’s Female Athlete of the Decade, and the Independent’s Woman of the Decade. She has also been named to TIME’s “Most Influential Women of the Past Century” list as well as Forbes’ “100 Most Powerful Women in the World” and “America’s Richest Self-Made Women.” Serena has inspired audiences live at LinkedIn, Adobe, Salesforce, and more. 

Home renovation expert, 10-year Goldman Sachs Executive, and viral content creator Galey Alix has curated a unique approach to reinvention that is winning over audiences. After a tough life experience, Galey decided to take a hiatus from social media and prioritize her mental health and wellness. When she logged back on several months later, she discovered her home makeover videos had gone viral, and seized the opportunity to found Galey Alix Design. As the CEO of her own company, Galey surprises deserving families with weekend home renovations – which has earned her 4.7M followers online. She is the Host of MAX's Home in a Heartbeat with Galey Alix. Galey is in-demand for her insights about finding your purpose, balancing professional opportunities with personal goals, and building a values-based business.

Galey and her work have been featured in Business Insider, Forbes, Vogue, Cosmopolitan, on The Today Show, Rachael Ray Show, Tamron Hall Show, the BEHIND THE BOSS Podcast, and more, and she has been ranked the 4th most influential designer in the world by Vogue. Beyond her wildly popular projects reinventing spaces, Galey is also an advocate for mental health and resilience, sharing her journey of overcoming an eating disorder and how she handles the cyberbullying she has faced as a viral content creator online. In powerful keynote speeches and conversations, Galey shares her message of the power of asking for help and the importance of prioritizing kindness no matter the obstacles you’re facing.

Youngest member of the U.S. Paralympic Track & Field Team Ezra Frech is not only an accomplished athlete but also a global advocate for the disability community. Frech, who was born with congenital limb differences, has used a prosthetic leg since he was 11 months and a running blade since he was 4 years old to fulfill his goals as an athlete. At age 14, Frech joined the U.S. Paralympic Track & Field Team, competing in three international events, including the Junior World Para-Athletics Championships, where he won 3 medals, the Para-Pan American Games where he won 2 silver medals, and the World Para-Athletics Championships, where he placed in the top 8 in all 3 of his events and was the youngest athlete out of 1,400 competitors. At age 16, Frech became the T63 National Champion in the 100M and Long Jump, set an American record in the long jump, and punched his ticket to Tokyo in the high jump by hitting the A Standard of 1.8 meters.  At the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games, Frech competed in the T63 Long Jump (making the finals and earning 8th place) and the T63 High Jump (placing 5th). Frech’s early and significant athletic successes have launched him onto the international stage as a motivational speaker.

Frech has been featured on dozens of radio and network television shows, including NBC, Forbes, and Good Morning America. Frech also gives back as the inspiration behind and co-founder of Angel City Sports, a high-growth, high-impact non-profit organization dedicated to providing the joy of sports to children and adults with physical disabilities. Frech has been invited to speak at the SXSW Equality Lounge, Young President’s Organization, United Through Sports, and many more. Through his charismatic delivery, Frech empowers listeners to unlock their full potential, reminding them that obstacles are merely stepping stones on the path to greatness.

Grammy-nominated recording artist, entrepreneur, and criminal justice reform advocate Robert “Meek Mill” Williams evolved from Philadelphia’s hottest underground rappers to one of the world’s preeminent musical artists. Meek has released a slew of smash studio albums and singles, including his last studio album, Championships, which debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s “Top 200 Albums” chart, marking his second chart-topper following his 2015 album, Dreams Worth More Than Money. Meek also serves as the President of Dream Chasers, his exclusive record label that is part of a joint venture with Roc Nation. Additionally, Mill is a co-owner of sports apparel retailer Lids, the largest retail seller of hats and licensed sports product in North America.

Meek is a powerful advocate known for his work in criminal justice, after being entrapped in the criminal justice system and shuffled through the prison system over technical probation violations – all despite never committing a crime as a probationer and a wrongful arrest. Meek maintained his innocence on all but one charge, but because of his arresting officer’s testimony (who has since been discredited) Meek was sentenced to 11-23 months in prison with probation that had been unreasonably extended for over a decade. His last incarceration in 2017 spurred the international #FreeMeekMill movement, which ultimately resulted in his release on bail in April 2018 and eventually led to his original conviction being overturned. Meek is the Co-Founder and Co-Chair of REFORM Alliance - an organization transforming probation and parole by changing laws, systems and culture to create real pathways to work and wellbeing. Through it all, Meek has since used his public platform to generate awareness around the problems within the criminal justice system and highlight how they disproportionately affect multicultural communities.

Critically acclaimed singer-songwriter, producer, and author Allison Moorer is a powerful storyteller known for her memoir Blood as well as I Dream He Talks to Me: A Memoir of Learning How to Listen. Through music and memoir, Moorer shares meditations of redemption, acceptance, and the power of healing through art. She has received numerous nominations, for an Academy Award for “Best Original Song,” a Grammy, an Americana Music Association Award, and from the Academy of Country Music Awards. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, American Songwriter, Guernica, No Depression, Literary Hub, and The Bitter Southerner, and she received the Hall-Waters Prize for Excellence in Southern Writing in 2020. A highly regarded memoirist, Moorer speaks with vulnerability and authority about how we can face life’s hardships and take ownership over our own stories, in keynotes and conversations that are riveting for audiences of all kinds.

Entrepreneur, influencer, model, and philanthropist Demi-Leigh Tebow utilizes her platforms as Miss South Africa and Miss Universe to educate and inspire on a global scale. While traveling the world and representing South Africa on an international stage, she witnessed the universal need for every individual to be heard, loved, and valued. Always a community-minded leader, Tebow aims to leverage her platform to fight for those who cannot fight for themselves. After surviving an attempted carjacking, she founded the #Unbreakable Campaign to educate, uplift, and empower women by equipping them with the skills and knowledge to be able to handle dangerous situations. Tebow shares her passion for living a values-driven life, her purpose inspired by her faith in God, and her insights about making an impact in sought-after keynotes and conversations.

Demi-Leigh lends her philanthropic vision to the Tim Tebow Foundation, working to raise awareness for the fight against human trafficking, providing support to children with medical needs, among other impactful mission work. Demi currently serves on the board for several organizations worldwide focused on supporting survivors of human trafficking and empowering them to find lasting independence. She is also an entrepreneur with a passion for supporting businesses that have ethical practices and use their platforms for impact. Tebow offers practical takeaways for those entering the entrepreneurial space, navigating their current careers, and audiences of all kinds looking to combine their business ventures with moral excellence.

Two-time Big 12 Coach of the Year Scott Drew has transformed the Baylor basketball team as their Head Coach, leading them to nine NCAA Tournaments and winning the 2021 National Championship. The unprecedented renewal of the Baylor team is a testament to Drew’s passion, positivity, and relentless pursuit of excellence, and he shares his strategies for team-building success with audiences who are invigorated by his authenticity and humility.

In rebuilding the team from the ground up, he has earned an array of individual accolades, including back-to-back Big 12 Coach of the Year awards and being named the 2020 NBC Sports National Coach of the Year. Drew has intentionally cultivated an unrivalled organizational culture and championship mindset, and is a celebrated expert in perseverance and servant leadership through faith, offering takeaways that will benefit every industry.

Over the past four decades, Rick Springfield has worn many hats as an entertainer and performer. The creator of some of the finest power-pop of the ’80s, he’s a Grammy-winning singer, songwriter, and musician who has sold 25 million albums and scored 17 U.S. Top 40 hits, including “Jessie’s Girl”, “Don’t Talk to Strangers”, “An Affair of the Heart”, “I've Done Everything for You”, “Love Somebody”, and “Human Touch”. He’s an accomplished actor who has starred opposite Meryl Streep in the feature film, Ricki and the Flash, gave a chameleonic performance as the creepy Dr. Pitlor in HBO’s prestige drama True Detective, earned great reviews for his portrayal of Lucifer on the CW hit, Supernatural, and most recently played Pastor Charles on American Horror Story: Cult. In 2014, Springfield was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, located around the corner from the first apartment he lived in when he first arrived in the U.S. from Australia in 1971.

Rick’s latest album The Snake King finds Rick travelling down a dusty dirt road to explore the blues side of his rock ‘n roll and marks a definite departure from the power pop he has been known for.

Lindsey Stirling is one of the biggest artist development breakthrough stories in recent years. An acclaimed violinist from Gilbert, Ariz., Lindsey has entered a futuristic world of electronic big beats and animation using her classical violin training to leap through the music industry with almost 13 Million YouTube subscribers, 3 Billion+ views on her YouTube channel, 2 Billboard Music Awards, Billboard chart-topping hits and albums, as well as sold out tours worldwide. She’s created a new music world where modern classical meets the infectious energy of dance and electronica. Lindsey Stirling embodies the true spirit of today’s independent recording artist whose symbiotic relationship with her fans has led to a worldwide audience filled with positivity. By using her own story to show young adults that confidence in the very thing that makes you unique is the key to success, she continues to be a light in today’s entertainment scene and brings her own brand of ‘Magic’ to the many lives she has touched.

Since the release of her 2012 self-titled debut, the electronic music impresario, violinist, dancer, and artist quietly and humbly became one of the 21st century’s most innovative stars by clinging to her groundbreaking vision of cinematic violin-driven electronic music. She has continued to build an impressive fan base that stretches across all demographics forging her own path for future young artists to emulate. 

Lindsey’s musical talent and success on YouTube also launched a successful career into television. Driven by a strong international fan base, Lindsey was runner-up on Season 25 of ABC’s hit show Dancing with the Stars with her partner Mark Ballas and did a stint on NBC’s America’s Got Talent as well.

Her highly anticipated fifth-studio album, Artemis, released in 2019 to critical acclaim and debuted at #1 on the Dance/Electronic Album Chart. In the wake of the cancellation of her 2020 tours due to COVID-19, Lindsey funded and directed a virtual livestream concert that received over 100,00 unique viewers. She started the 2021 year with the release of “Lose You Now”, a single featuring Artist/Producer Mako that reflects on loss. 

A motivational speaker in her spare time, recently through various podcasts and live audio chats, Stirling uses her own story to show that you’ve got to have confidence in the very thing that makes you unique – then wait for the world to catch up.

Olympian Missy Franklin was one of the best swimmers in the world. She began swimming competitively at the age of 5 and competed in her first international event at the age of 14. At 16, she launched to international fame when she won 5 medals, 3 gold, at the 2011 FINA World Championships. Franklin’s precocious success was followed by her appointment to the U.S. National Team, with whom she won 5 Olympic gold medals. After winning 6 more gold medals at the 2013 FINA World Championships, Franklin became the most decorated female swimmer in history. Franklin has been inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame for her outstanding successes in the pool. Touch the Wall, a documentary following her life and preparation for the Olympics, was released with two thumbs up from swimmers and non-swimmers alike. Franklin’s story has inspired millions globally.

Recognized for her bright smile and engaging personality, Franklin has been named “World Swimmer of the Year" and "American Swimmer of the Year" by Swimming World Magazine and earned the ESPYs for Best Female Olympian and Best Female College Athlete. Franklin now speaks on teamwork, excellence, and success while supporting awareness and fundraising efforts for genetic diseases.

James Blake inspired the world during an epic tennis career that featured 10 singles titles and a Davis Cup Championship. He is the author of two New York Times Best Sellers Ways of Grace: Stories of Activism, Adversity, and How Sports Can Bring Us Together and Breaking Back. In his speeches, he discusses the important issues of the day and the path ahead for a more inclusive, diverse and happier America.

James turned pro in 1999 while he was the #1 collegiate player at Harvard University. In 2004, James overcame a potential career ending injury and a case of the shingles that temporarily left his face paralyzed and blurred his vision. Just one year later, James climbed from outside of the top 200 in the ATP rankings to his career highest ranking of #4.

In memory of his father who lost a battle stomach cancer in 2004, James created the Thomas Blake Sr. Memorial Cancer Research Fund at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and holds an annual celebrity tennis and entertainment event, Serving for a Cure, to raise funds for cancer research and prevention.

Award-winning Broadway, television, and film producer Richie Jackson is best known as the author of Gay Like Me: A Father Writes to His Son (HarperCollins). Most recently, Jackson produced the Tony Award-nominated Harvey Fierstein’s Torch Song on Broadway and executive produced Showtime’s Nurse Jackie (Emmy and Golden Globe nominee for “Best Comedy Series”) for seven seasons. Jackson’s writing on LGBTQ+ issues and more have appeared in O: The Oprah Magazine, Out, Town & Country, and The Advocate. With a rich career spanning various facets of entertainment and activism, Jackson brings a unique blend of wisdom, passion, and authenticity to every event.

As an alumnus of NYU, Jackson endows a program at his alma mater to train the next generation of LGBTQ+ activists called the Richie Jackson LGBTQ+ Service Fellows. He and his husband, Jordan Roth, were honored with The Trevor Project’s Trevor Hero Award. Jackson’s speeches inspire individuals and communities to embrace their true selves, advocate for change, and build a more inclusive world.

Bestselling author David Kessler is the world’s foremost expert on grief and loss. He is the author of six books, including the #1 New York Times bestseller Finding Meaning: The Sixth Stage of Grief, inspired by the sudden death of his twenty-one-year-old son. Kessler is the Chief Empathy Officer of Empathy, an HR product companies offer to employees who are facing loss and grief. He is also the founder of www.grief.com. Kessler facilitates talks, workshops, and retreats for those experiencing grief.

For most of his life, Kessler has taught physicians, nurses, counselors, police, and first responders about the end of life, trauma, and grief. Kessler’s volunteer work includes serving as an LAPD Specialist Reserve for traumatic events and working with the Red Cross’s disaster services team. Kessler’s perspectives on grief have been sought by hosts including Coca Cola Company, California State University, Family & Children's Service, and more.

Former Green Beret, NFL player, and filmmaker Nate Boyer is what many would deem a renaissance man – he shares his motivational message with groups including Microsoft, Budweiser, USAA, General Mills, and more.

The Army Green Beret – who was deployed to both Iraq & Afghanistan over his ten-year military career – is also a philanthropist and humanitarian. Despite never playing a down of organized football prior to his time in the Special Forces, Nate played for the University of Texas Longhorns and became the oldest rookie in NFL history at 34 while playing for the Seattle Seahawks. As a member of the military veteran and athlete communities, he saw an opportunity to tackle their transition struggles together through Merging Vets & Players (MVP) – a charity he co-founded with Jay Glazer. Nate is sought-after by Veteran groups, athletic organizations, as well as business looking for a message of inspiration and motivation.

Nate is also an actor, writer, director, producer, and TV host. He co-created, executive produced, and hosted the NFL Network series Indivisible with Nate Boyer, discussing issues relevant to local communities and how football unites us all to solve these problems. Nate’s new film MVP is his directorial debut and tells a real-life story about the struggles of veterans and athletes who found purpose and renewed life together. Boyer’s belief that “Anything is Possible” has served him well throughout his life and students, veterans, businesspersons, athletes, and people from all walks of like can take something away from his unique story.

While most speakers have a story to tell, there are a select few with one so impactful and poignant that the audience is forever changed. That is what happens when Allison Massari speaks.

Hailed as “life-changing” “riveting” “extraordinary” “bold” and “deeply moving” Allison Massari’s work is a celebration of the power of the human spirit, and her journey is the quintessential story of courage and heart. Allison’s potent message has reached audiences in more than 75 countries and is a testament to hope, radical compassion, and indestructible perseverance. A top keynote speaker, Allison has been recognized with esteemed speaking engagements internationally. She has been featured on PBS, ABC, NBC, and FOX networks and also stars in the award-winning international documentary, Resolve (2015). Her diverse client list includes: Microsoft, GE Healthcare IT, Intel, MDRT, Capital One, Wells Fargo, Kaiser Permanente, 3M, Lilly, HIMSS/CHIME, Allscripts, Siemens Healthcare, and McKesson.

Allison’s unique history gives her compelling authority to address difficult issues with genuine sensitivity and profound insight. An interdisciplinary artist as well as an entrepreneur, Allison was preparing paintings for an important museum exhibition early in her art career when her world was shattered. Hit head-on at 60mph and trapped inside her car, she nearly lost her life in a fiery and explosive collision. Burned alive, conscious the entire time, Allison suffered 2nd and 3rd degree burns on over 50% of her body. Astonishingly, navigating the experience compelled her to discover an unshakeable strength and fortitude—and carefully learn the intricacies of what it takes to overcome adversity and live with heart. Through captivating, hope-filled stories, Allison shares her personal journey and elevates audiences, generating renewed excitement for their life and work. Her unforgettable keynote instills essential tools of self-leadership—teaching how to boldly access grace and resilience and be a dynamic force of goodness in the face of challenges. As Allison states, “We can each make a vigorous, life-changing choice to navigate our way through and beyond adversity and be a force of light for ourselves and others.”

Allison is passionate about tailoring her speech to address the specific issues affecting each market. She takes great care in getting to know her clients—their industry distinction, their mission, and their audience, including the pain points and what they are doing exceptionally well. Her incredible empathy and her capacity to precisely acknowledge and appreciate the work that is done in any organization provides extraordinary support, encouragement, and inspiration to audiences worldwide. Whether she is speaking to leadership teams or to your entire workforce, Allison compassionately highlights each person’s value and demonstrates how their work connects to the overall mission. In Healthcare, for instance, Allison’s groundbreaking program addresses the current challenges faced by the medical industry, including burnout, understaffing, time restraints, employee retention, compassion fatigue and everyday stresses. Audiences experience the far-reaching and vital impact of their work and walk away feeling more connected to their purpose and to each other.

Allison is also an award-winning visual artist. Her work has been sought out by museums and private art collectors internationally and is in the permanent collection of the Museum of Fine Arts in St. Petersburg, Florida. Her colorful and sublime visual art serves as a breathtaking backdrop to all of her keynotes.

Allison Massari’s keynotes are jaw-dropping, heartfelt, and deeply inspirational. She purposefully shares her message of resilience, courage and hope with sincere vulnerability—committed to her desire for no person to feel alone. Prepare to be taken on a journey.

Global Speaker, Best-Selling Author, Harvard Medical School Professor, Past President of the Anxiety and Depression Association of America

Dr. Luana Marques is a Harvard professor, best-selling author, and global keynote speaker specializing in high-performance leadership in uncertain times. As the creator of the Bold Move™ framework, she equips individuals and organizations with the tools to override hesitation, embrace discomfort, and take decisive action—especially when the path ahead is unclear.

With two decades of research on the neuroscience of avoidance and decision-making under pressure, Dr. Luana has partnered with Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, and top-performing teams to transform the way leaders approach risk, uncertainty, and rapid change. Her work has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, The New York Times, Good Morning America, and more.

Dr. Luana’s keynotes combine scientific insights, high-energy storytelling, and real-world case studies to help organizations move from hesitation to bold, strategic action—turning discomfort into a competitive edge.

In a world of constant burnout, uncertainty, and rapid change, hesitation isn’t an option for decisive leadership. Dr. Luana’s Bold Move ® methodology provides the tools and playbook to navigate challenges and thrive in today’s business landscape.

Beyond the Keynote: Bold Moves in Action

For Dr. Luana, the keynote is just the beginning. She is committed to creating moments that go beyond inspiration, ensuring attendees leave not just motivated but equipped with tools for real action.

Through book signings, meet-and-greet opportunities, and interactive discussions, she fosters deeper engagement, leaving a lasting impression on audiences. Her best-selling book, Bold Move: A 3-Step Plan to Transform Anxiety into Power, extends the impact of her keynote—giving attendees a science-backed framework to apply long after the event.

Dr. Luana collaborates with organizations to deliver a seamless and high-value experience, whether through bulk book purchases, customized signing sessions, or exclusive VIP engagements. More than just a speaker, she’s a strategic partner in ensuring your event drives lasting transformation.

Sara Hall has 10 US National Championship titles and is the only athlete in US history to win national titles in the mile and the marathon. She recently made history as the second fastest American marathon runner with a time of 2:20:32 shortly after placing 2nd at the London Marathon and being the first American woman on the podium in 14 years. Sara has run professionally ever since graduating from Stanford University in 2005 and has represented the US at 9 world championships, and was a Gold Medalist at the Pan-American Games in the steeplechase. She has been competing at a high level ever since she started the sport, where she was the 2000 high school national cross country champion.

Sara is married to 2-time Olympian and fastest American half marathoner and marathoner in history, Ryan Hall, and has 4 daughters the couple adopted from Ethiopia in 2015. Biological sisters, her daughters ages ranged from 5 to 15 years old at the time they joined the Hall family.

Sara has a powerful message of overcoming adversity and finding a way to thrive even amidst unideal circumstances. Her story went viral in 2020, where she had record-breaking races despite starting the year with the biggest disappointment of her career, as featured here in the New York Times.

Marc Polymeropoulos worked for 26 years at the CIA before retiring in July 2019 at the Senior Intelligence Service level. He was one of CIA’s most highly decorated operations officers who served in multiple field assignments for the U.S. government. He specialized in counterterrorism, the Middle East and South Asia, including extensive time in Iraq and Afghanistan. Prior to his retirement, Marc served at CIA headquarters and was in charge of CIA’s clandestine operations in Europe and Eurasia. He frequently comments on international events in the US media, to include the Washington Post, The New York Times, GQ, Yahoo, CNN, and MSNBC. He also writes a weekly column on intelligence as a Washington Examiner contributor.  

Marc has honed a unique leadership style based on nine core principles which he terms “Finding Clarity in the Shadows.” Each principle builds on the next and is designed for real world applicability, where one often operates under time constraints and with a lack of complete situational awareness. Marc describes how one must not fear but instead wildly embrace this ambiguity. His unique leadership style is based on years of hard time on the streets of the third world vice learning leadership from university lectures or books. The “Glue Guy,” “Winning an Oscar,” and “Adversity is the PED to Success” are just some of the principles that his clients will immediately relate to. Marc will provide real work vignettes from the world of intelligence and paramilitary operations, yet also stress that his principles can be used across the private sector in any profession. He also will provide a checklist for clients to immediately utilize and put his principles into practice. Marc also expounds on these principles in his book, Clarity in Crisis: Leadership Lessons from the CIA, published by Harper Collins in June 2021.

The child of drug-addicted parents who routinely ate from dumpsters and sought refuge at all-night subway stations to survive, Liz Murray was homeless at age 15—and fending for her life. Determined not to be defined by her circumstances, she recognized education as the key to a fresh beginning and a whole new way of living. She earned her high school diploma in just two years and won a scholarship to Harvard University that would turn her bleak circumstances into a future filled with limitless possibility.

With sincerity, maturity and graciousness, Murray takes audiences along on her personal journey from street smarts to classroom triumphs, instantly becoming an inspiration to both student groups and business audiences alike in need of the motivation to overcome their own obstacles. She is the author of Breaking Night: A Memoir of Forgiveness, Survival, and My Journey from Homeless to Harvard, which became the film Homeless to Harvard and was nominated for three Emmy Awards. Murray graduated from Harvard in 2009, and went on to receive her Masters in the Psychology of Education at Columbia University. Today, as co-founder of The Arthur Project, Murray is a passionate advocate for under served youth, working to end generational poverty through relationship-based learning.

College football analyst and former NFL linebacker David Pollack is an empowering speaker on the importance of faith, family, and community in building a successful career and life. Pollack played college football for the University of Georgia, where he was a three-time All-American, and was recognized as the top college defensive player in the nation. Pollack had 36 sacks during his collegiate career, third most in NCAA history. He was a first-round pick in the 2005 NFL Draft and played professionally for the Cincinnati Bengals. After suffering a career-ending neck injury in his second season with the Bengals, Pollack transitioned to a new path as a college football analyst for ESPN. For over a decade, he has connected with sports fans through his engaging presence and passion for what he does.

Pollack launched the Pollack Family Foundation to positively impact communities by empowering families in Athens and the Greater Atlanta area. The Foundation provides not only for basic needs but also creates opportunities for the community to flourish through unique fundraising experiences and intentional acts of community service. The organization’s work reflects Pollack’s personal values, which he shares in uplifting and motivating talks: Love, Integrity, Family, and Excellence (LIFE).

Coach, sportscaster, Emmy Award-nominated filmmaker, podcaster, and New York Times bestselling author Yogi Roth is known for his relentless positivity, vital insights about the role of masculinity in sports, and powerhouse motivational keynotes. After coaching college football, he co-authored the New York Times bestseller Win Forever with Pete Carroll and his memoir From PA to LA. He is currently the lead analyst for the Pac-12 Network and has also worked as host and analyst for ESPN, FOX, and as a correspondent for CBS’ Entertainment Tonight, and has hosted the Elite 11 on ESPN, Bleacher Report, the NFL Network, and YouTube. A gifted storyteller, he has executive produced and hosted The CW’s All American Stories, and produced and directed numerous documentaries with the NFL Films, Bleacher Report, and ESPN, as well as the docuseries ProtectHer. A prolific creative, Roth has produced or directed numerous documentaries, including the Emmy-nominated Keep Climbing: 2013 Elite 11 and the LA Emmy Award-winning feature Fight On: A Jackson Family. He was the co-founder of Win Forever, which was dedicated to developing coaches hone their coaching philosophy. He is a gifted speaker, sharing insights about how finding our unique story can help us make an impact in our lives, communities, and the world.

Roth is an in-demand speakers for events with Nike, World Surf League, JC Penny, Dignity Health, IMG College, Capital One, the TEDx Austin Women’s Conference, and many more, and he spoke at the SXSW Festival addressing masculinity in sports. He hosts the podcast The It Factory: Pac-12 Football, where he interviews esteemed guests about their journeys to success, and co-hosted Season of Sam. He partnered with One World Play Project as a Story Ambassador, celebrating teams that demonstrate resiliency, and is the cofounder of Win Forever, which is dedicated to developing coaching philosophy. Roth inspires individuals and organizations to explore their potential, and maximize it by striving together to achieve goals.

Golf Major Champion, Olympian and Ryder Cup Captain Padraig Harrington has a career total of more than 30 victories around the world, and has achieved great distinction in the sport, not only for his titles, but also for his work ethic, affability, and dogged determination. As the Irish Times said, "Harrington’s discipline, earning him the reputation as the hardest working player on tour, almost always the last to leave the practice range, stood him well." The New York Times points out that Harrington "Chooses to Believe" and credits his hard work, tenacity and attititude in achieving such high ranks in the sport.

Padraig’s professional career began in 1995, when he secured his European Tour card, shortly before gaining his maiden tour victory at the 1996 Spanish Open after only 10 events as a professional. In 1999 he fulfilled one of his career ambitions, qualifying for the European Ryder Cup team, thus beginning an association with the famous trophy that continues to the present day. Three Major victories in the space of 13 months helped him to reach a career high of third in the World Rankings and earned him the European Tour, PGA Tour and PGA of America Player of the Year awards. In addition, he won the Golf Writers’ trophies on both sides of the Atlantic and the European Tour Shot of the Year. Padraig represented Ireland at the 2016 Olympics.

Padraig is actively involved in many charities including the Special Olympics and cancer awareness. Padraig's father died from oesophageal cancer and now helps to raise awareness about cancer signs and treatments, saying: "When you get a symptom, don't ignore it. Do something about it."

Clune Construction sums up hosts' reaction to an event with Padraig: “We have had the pleasure of engaging Padraig for a number of our corporate events and while his golf was the draw, the highlight on each occasion ended up being his speech presentation and interaction with our clients “

Kelly Yang is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of over 14 books for children, teens and adults, including The Take, the Front Desk series (Front Desk, Three Keys, Room to Dream, Key Player, Top Story, and Chef’s Secret), New From Here, Finally Seen, Finally Heard, Parachutes, Private Label, as well as the picture books Yes We Will: Asian Americans Who Shaped This Country and Little Bird Laila.

With over 2 million copies sold to date, the Front Desk series has changed the landscape of children’s literature. Based on Kelly’s childhood experience living and working in a motel as a first-generation immigrant child from China, the Front Desk series authentically describes the immigrant experience through its heart-warming, spunky protagonist, 10-year-old Mia Tang. Named “one of the 30 most influential children’s books of all time,” Front Desk has won some of the most prestigious awards in literature, including the 2019 Asian Pacific American Award for Literature, the Parents' Choice Gold Medal, was the 2019 Global Read Aloud, and many other honors.

Kelly immigrated to America when she was 6 years old and grew up in Southern California, where she and her parents worked in three different motels. She went on to attend college at the age of 13 and law school at the age of 17. She is a graduate of UC Berkeley and Harvard Law School, where she was one of the youngest women ever to graduate. Her experience going to school early provided Kelly a unique perspective on aging, which she used to write The Take, her adult debut novel, forthcoming in Spring 2026 from Berkley/Penguin in the US, and Little, Brown in the UK. The Take is about two women, a young Asian American writer in her 20s, struggling to be taken seriously, and a white powerful Hollywood producer in her 50s, clinging to relevancy. Both are tired of being judged by society for their age. They make a deal that upends their lives. The Take interrogates not just the way we look at aging, but how it intersects with power, privilege and race. 

Kelly is the founder of The Kelly Yang Project in Hong Kong, the leading writing and debating program for kids in Asia. She’s written op-eds for The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Atlantic. In addition to being a novelist, she is also a screenwriter. She has written screenplays and television pilots for Netflix, CBS Studios, and the CW. She has three children and lives in Los Angeles. In 2023, she served as the Honorary Chair of the American Library Association for National Library Week.

A passionate and dynamic speaker, Kelly has appeared on Good Morning America, NPR, NBC, ABC, and frequently gives interviews to The New York Times, Oprah Magazine, as well as many other publications.

Over the past decade, Brandon P. Fleming has become one of the most highly awarded and sought-after educators, entrepreneurs, authors, and speakers in the world. Fleming’s miraculous story of transformation, captured in his book Miseducated, has become such a national hit that it is currently being optioned for television and film, and it is in the process of becoming a major theater production.

An at-risk youth and college dropout turned award-winning educator, Fleming is a former debate coach at Harvard University and Founder & CEO of the Veritas School of Social Sciences, a prestigious private school in Atlanta, GA.

In 2017, Fleming was recruited to become Harvard University’s assistant debate coach at the age of 26. Fleming soon made history at Harvard as the founder of the first pipeline program called the Harvard Debate Council Diversity Project, which was designed to increase Black and brown enrollment at Harvard’s residential debate program where hundreds of gifted young scholars from over 25 different countries study and compete in an international academic debate competition.

Over seven years, Fleming has raised millions of dollars to enroll more than 250 students of color into Harvard’s summer debate residency on full scholarship. But there was one challenge that Fleming faced: How would he take Black and brown youth from mostly under-resourced schools in Atlanta, who had never been exposed to the rigors of academic debate, and prepare them in just one year to compete against some of the most elite debaters from across the globe? Fleming created a transformative curriculum that is designed to level the playing field for underserved students. And it did. For seven consecutive years, since the program’s inception in 2017, every cohort trained by Fleming has won the international competition as seven-time consecutive champions. News of the achievement has gone viral and broke national headlines, being featured on CNN, Good Morning America, the Steve Harvey Show and many more.

Fleming’s school has gained the financial backing of Fortune 100 companies such as The Coca- Cola Company, UPS, Chick-fil-A, and many more.

As a renowned speaker, Fleming has keynoted for international governmental organizations such as the United Nations. Fleming has spoken at the nation’s most prestigious colleges, universities, and K-12 conferences. Fleming has also keynoted conventions for corporate executives at the nation’s largest brands such as Walmart, Bank of America, Air BnB, McDonald's, and more. At the age of 29, Forbes Magazine named Fleming to the Forbes 30 under 30 list. In 2020, The Root Magazine named Fleming one of the top 100 most influential African Americans in the United States. And in May 2021, North Carolina Wesleyan College bestowed upon Fleming the honorary Doctor of Humanities degree.

The most successful quarterback in the history of the Washington Redskins, Joe Theismann is also a world-class entrepreneur whose positive, high-energy presentations provide audiences with expert strategies for handling trying circumstances and dealing with unforeseen change. Voted the NFL’s Most Valuable Player, inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame and twice named both the Pro Bowl’s Most Valuable Player and the NFL’s Man of the Year, Theismann led his team to the Super Bowl XVII championship. After a serious injury abruptly ended his football career, Theismann learned firsthand how to think, analyze and reinvent in the face of adversity and change. An Emmy award-winning analyst for two decades on ESPN’s critically acclaimed, Sunday Night and Monday Night NFL broadcasts, Theismann challenges audiences to recognize the potential that lies within—as individuals and as members of a team. He always goes the extra mile to inspire your team to excellence, showing how passion, leadership and teamwork all combine to create a comprehensive game plan for success.

Dr. Willie Jolley is a world renowned speaker, singer, author and media personality. In 1999 he was named “One of the Outstanding Five Speakers in the World” & “Motivational / Inspirational Speaker of The Year” by the 175,000 members of Toastmasters International. 

In 2005 he was inducted into the prestigious Speaker Hall of Fame. In 2015 he replaced the legendary Zig Ziglar on the national Get Motivated Tour! And in 2017 he was named “A Legend Of The Speaking Industry!”

Dr. Jolley is the host of the #1 Motivational Show in America on Sirius XM and is heard daily with his Motivational Minute on WHUR FM preceding Steve Harvey. He also has a popular podcast on IHeart Radio.  He is the author of several international best-selling books including It Only Takes A Minute To Change Your Life, A Setback Is A Setup For A Comeback, Turn Setbacks Into Greenbacks , An Attitude of Excellence and his new marriage book with his wife, Dee, entitled Make Love, Make Money, Make It Last!  

No matter the venue, from his exciting One Man Show that was recently recorded for a national television special, to his Get Motivated tour appearances, to his #1 Rated Sirius/XM radio show, Dr. Willie Jolley keeps it moving with high energy and enthusiasm, as he delivers nuggets on how every person can live a better life, one day at a time!

Amy B. Chesler is an author, podcaster, speaker, survivor, and victim advocate from Los Angeles, California.

Her training in the arts and public speaking began in childhood, but it wasn’t until losing her mother to domestic violence in 2007 that she found her true calling: trauma-informing the public, and inspiring legal and social change. Her advocacy-related work has been seen on IDtv’s Evil Lives Here and in Chicken Soup for the Soul (several times over), The New York Post, Scary Mommy, Something Was Wrong podcast, and many more major platforms. Amy was even gifted the BlogHer honor of Voice of the Year in 2017, and became emcee of the popular Moms Meet conference in 2018 & 2019.

In April of 2021 she celebrated the release of her true crime memoir, Working for Justice, and in 2023 she launched the chart-topping true crime/self-help podcast, What Came Next with Tiffany Reese of Something Was Wrong. Utilizing her experience in the education and the criminal justice systems, as well as her degree in Psychology, Amy often speaks about parenthood, grief, domestic violence, the nature of abuse, trauma healing, and ethics in the genre of true crime. 

Pro Football Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez is an actor, author, and entrepreneur. He shares lessons he’s learned throughout his storied career about overcoming the fears and obstacles holding you back from your goals to lead an enlightened existence, with actionable takeaways that will be meaningful for any audience.

Gonzalez currently stars as Desmond Porter in Spectrum Originals’ drama series Long Slow Exhale. Set in the high-stakes world of women’s basketball, Gonzalez portrays a former professional football player who struggles with a medical condition. In fall 2022, Gonzalez joined Amazon Prime Video’s Thursday Night Football as an NFL analyst. He worked previously as a sports analyst for CBS’s The NFL Today, FOX NFL Kickoff and FOX NFL Sunday, as well as the Sports Emmy Award-nominated Thursday Night Football pregame show. As an actor, Gonzalez has appeared on NCIS and in the film xXx: Return of Xander Cage, and he and his brother were featured in the documentary Play it Forward. He has written numerous books, and has developed multi-media programs that celebrate and advocate sports for children in an educational format. While Gonzalez is best known for ‘getting open’ on the field, his podcast Wide Open with Tony Gonzalez is a deep dive into conversation with the brightest minds in the worlds of business and entertainment, discussing health, wellness, and mindset, and how to embrace revolutionary change.

Gonzalez’s philanthropic endeavors include a partnership with the Boys and Girls Clubs; Shadow Buddies, an organization that provides emotional support through education and being named an ambassador for Scholars’ Hope. He is also involved with Give Power, a non-profit organization that develops clean water and energy systems, and won a Presidential Volunteer Award for his work with the Books and Buddies Project.

Known for his starring role as George Washington in Hamilton: An American Musical on Broadway, Bryan Terrell Clark shares life-changing lessons from his career on Broadway and work in arts education and philanthropy to empower young people to leave their mark on the world.

An actor and singer-songwriter, Clark's numerous acting credentials span theater, television and movies. He starred in the iconic role of Marvin Gaye in Motown: The Musical and starred opposite Laurence Fishburne and Angela Basset in The Pasadena Playhouse production of Fences. Bryan has also appeared in numerous television shows including NCSI: New Orleans, Blue Bloods, Empire and Ava DuVernay's Central Park 5 for Netflix. In addition, Clark appeared in the film Collateral Beauty. Musically, he has written for such artists as Mary J. Blige, and he has performed with Brandy, Patti LaBelle, Ciara, and Michael Bublé. He is now in the studio recording his solo album.

Terrell co-founded the lifestyle brand inDEFINED, created to inspire and teach youth through the arts. The online apparel brand raises money for various charities and philanthropic organizations and supports arts education for at-risk youth.

In keeping with the theme of his life’s work, Bryan has made it his mission to help as many young people as possible find their unique purpose in life. He connects his experiences on Broadway and the entertainment industry to relatable, real-life issues, like tackling insecurity and finding motivation, while inspiring audiences to use their past to fuel their future and discover the best version of themselves.

Scott Hamilton is the living example that good guys CAN finish first! He is an Olympic Champion, cancer survivor, television broadcaster, motivational speaker, author, husband/father and eternal optimist. During his figure skating career, Hamilton’s list of achievements includes his Olympic gold medal, over 70 titles, awards, and honors. In 1990, Hamilton was inducted into the United States Olympic Hall of Fame and in that same year, he became a member of the World Figure Skating Hall of Fame. Following his mother’s passing from and his own survival of testicular cancer, Hamilton launched the Scott Hamilton CARES Foundation (Cancer Alliance for Research, Education and Survivorship) in 2014, with a mission to improve cancer patient survivorship by supporting world class cancer research and the highest quality patient treatment and care. The same year, he founded the Scott Hamilton Skating Academy, in partnership with the NHL’s Nashville Predators, at Ford Ice Centers in Antioch and Bellevue, TN, to offer students programs to help them fall in love with ice skating.

Scott recently launched Live Your Days - a call to being present and not let day after day pass, just going through the checklist of life. It is about putting down your phone to enjoy the people and moments that God has given you, because we don’t control the number of days we have on this earth, we only control what we do with them. The online platform includes a weekly podcast interview, 30-day life challenges with easy to implement tips and merchandise, with proceeds benefitting the Scott Hamilton CARES Foundation.

Emmy®-nominated and best-selling comedian Chonda Pierce, or “the country comic” as Billboard Magazine dubbed her, has been making audiences laugh for more than three decades with her winning combination of fierce wit and southern charm. A stand-up comedian, television hostess, author and actress, Pierce has channeled her life experiences into positivity, bringing laughter to audiences around the country. As the RIAA’s number one selling female comedian of all time, her hilarious take on life is easily relatable as she publicly opens up to her listeners about times of darkness and depression in her own life, drawing humor and good from every situation.

Pierce is a frequent guest at the famed Grand Ole Opry and has served as host of the Inspirational Country Music Awards and Christian Music Hall of Fame Awards and also co-hosted the GMA Dove Awards in 2012. She has also appeared on Entertainment Tonight, The View, Fox News Channel, Wanda Sykes, Hallmark Home & Family, NY1, CNN’s History of Comedy, How The States Got Their Shapes, and her comedy is regularly featured on XM and Sirius satellite radio. Variety raved about her ability to draw audiences for an encore performance for Chonda Pierce: Laughing in the Dark.

In addition to her comedic work, Pierce has used her success to help others, and in 2006 founded Branches Recovery Center, which offers counseling and treatment to those with depression, anxiety, addiction, regardless of their ability to pay. She has also raised millions of dollars for international relief organizations Compassion International, WorldVision, Food for the Hungry and Feed the Children.

Today, as the RIAA’s best-selling female comedian, Pierce continues to bring the laughs with her unique blend of music and comedy.

Alexis Abramson, Ph.D., is a trailblazing gerontologist, sought-after thought leader, and mesmerizing keynote speaker who has revolutionized the nexus of ‘aging and business’ for over two decades. With an unparalleled ability to captivate audiences and empower them to reframe their perspectives on aging, Dr. Abramson's expertise is indispensable in navigating today's rapidly shifting demographic terrain. TIME magazine said: “Few entrepreneurs have focused more sharply on the needs of multi-generations than Dr. Alexis Abramson.”

Dr. Abramson's impressive roster of consulting and speaking clients includes distinguished brands and institutions such as L’Oréal Paris, Walmart, Philips, COMCAST, Marriott, ADP, Duracell, Ameriprise, AARP, Humana, AIG, National Golf Foundation, Kroger, Harvard, BMO Private Bank, Kimberly-Clark, Siemens, AAA, Comfort Keepers, Northwestern Mutual, P&G, Beltone, Subway, Genworth, Arthritis Foundation, and countless others.

As a charismatic speaker and fervent advocate for multi-generations, Dr. Alexis will impart her vast knowledge and experience at your upcoming event. Her keynote presentations offer an exceptional blend of innovative and practical strategies, scientific depth, and real-world insights that inspire transformative change in how we perceive and address aging. Seize this unparalleled opportunity to learn from one of the most dynamic thought leaders in gerontology as she guides you on a journey to redefine aging.

An award-winning television journalist, New York Times bestselling author, sought-after motivational and keynote speaker, successful entrepreneur, and one of America’s most recognized and trusted television personalities, Joan Lunden is one of the most visible women in the country.  In her refreshingly straightforward style, she shares the candid advice that has motivated her throughout her career, inspiring audiences to take charge of their health, their happiness, and their success.  s a moderator, Lunden is a seasoned veteran and is known for making panelists feel comfortable with her warmth and her natural way of guiding a discussion. Lunden has an unparalleled ability to bring her own insight to a panel discussion, while skillfully navigating the personalities of many experts on one stage.

Brandon Farbstein is an empowerment speaker, activist, and author. He inspires millions of people across the globe with his universal message of living life on your own terms and building the framework for self-acceptance. Recognized as one of the most booked Gen Z speakers in the world, he captivates audiences of all walks of life - from 10,000 financial professionals to 1.3 million virtual students and educators.

Born with an extremely rare form of dwarfism (metatropic dysplasia), Brandon has turned his life experience of suffering, isolation, and victimhood into empowerment, impact and influence. After a severe battle with cyberbullying in high school, he decided to share his story to both offer hope and to enact change. Brandon was the driving force behind two new pieces of legislation that were signed into law in Virginia by the time he turned 18. The first addresses bullying prevention and the other requiring empathy and emotional intelligence to be taught in all K-12 classrooms across the state.

Whether sharing his message with thousands of students at a time, empowering readers with his books Ten Feet Tall & A Kids Book About Self-Love, or working with Fortune 100 companies like Meta, HP, and Marriott, Brandon consistently delivers tools to audiences of all ages to shatter limiting beliefs, elevate their mindset, and create an amplified life.

He frequently advises foundations, boards, and large-scale organizations on their belonging + social impact efforts, especially towards the disability community - the largest minority group in the world comprising 15% of the global population. Brandon currently serves on multiple boards in addition to being a Founding Member of Daniel Lubetzky’s Starts With Us movement.

Brandon continues to break barriers and pave the way for people who often feel invisible. In 2020, Brandon made his runway debut at NY Fashion Week wearing Tommy Hilfiger Adaptive and has become a sought-after voice for inclusion. With his mission to Elevate Empathy®, Brandon was named Instagram’s #19under19 as one of the most influential young people in the world. Most recently, LinkedIn recognized Brandon as a Top Voice for global disability advocacy.

Jay Williams is CEO of Improbable Media, a next generation production and brand consulting company he co-founded in 2024 with NBA superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Improbable harnesses the power of content and storytelling to support elite talent and brands in developing and expanding their ecosystem. Jay’s versatility extends from business to broadcasting as one of ESPN’s top on-air talents. He is the host of the network’s award-winning College GameDay show and frequently contributes to ESPN’s signature shows First Take and Get Up.

On the court, Jay is one of the most decorated and prolific players in college basketball history, winning the National Championship at Duke University and being inducted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame. He was the second overall selection in the NBA Draft and played for the Chicago Bulls.

His autobiography, Life is Not an Accident: A Memoir of Reinvention, is a New York Times Bestseller.

Matt Doherty is a nationally recognized motivational speaker, bestselling author, media personality, and executive coach. In 2022 he was named the Vistage Rookie of the Year and won the Chair Excellence Award.

He guides corporations, C-suite managers, sales executives, and business and sports coaches to develop their leadership skills and team dynamics.

Since being a part of the 1982 National Championship team with Michael Jordan at UNC. His journey has included Head Coach at Notre Dame and the UNC Tar Heels, 2001 ACC Regular Season Championship. AP National Coach of the Year in 2001, Head Coach at FAU and SMU, in addition to working with ESPN, the Indiana Pacers, and the Atlantic 10 Conference.

In 2003, he embarked on a mission to "Learn & Grow" by beginning a leadership journey that took him to the UVA Darden School of Business and The Wharton School.

Coach Doherty is committed to sharing universal teachings and actionable ideas that will work for anyone.

Zahra Al-Harazi is among Canada’s most successful entrepreneur and leadership expert known for her exceptional keynote addresses that have motivated and inspired the world’s largest organizations.
She embodies her message of growth and resilience through the power of purposeful leadership and developing a winning attitude in both business and life. 

A survivor of two civil wars, and both a refugee and an immigrant, Zahra landed in Canada with her three children with no education or connections. Her entrepreneurial spirit quickly led her to start her own company, Foundry Communications, which, within a few years, went on to become an internationally recognized design agency. 

Since then, she has been honoured with accolades including the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, One of Canada’s 100 Most Powerful Women by WXN, RBC’s Top 25 Immigrants to Canada, and Canada’s Top 40 under 40. Zahra has served as a former UNICEF Ambassador, and delivered her first Ted Talk in 2017. She also became a HarperCollins Best Selling Author in 2020 with her book, What It Takes. 

Currently, she is building her third company, Skillit, an online skill-sharing marketplace. Zahra also serves as a consultant, working with Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, entrepreneurs and professional organizations. Zahra has overcome decades of cultural and societal challenges to become a successful entrepreneur who found her own voice. Having spoken to audiences of thousands in over twenty countries, she is continuing to build and inspire. She currently sits on the Opportunity Village board and the Greater Good council.

Chris has been a commercial diver for over 18 years, and currently specializes in deep sea saturation diving, operating almost exclusively in the oil and gas industry. This highly specialized form of diving involves living in the claustrophobic confines of a decompression chamber for up to 28 days at a time, commuting daily to the seabed in a diving bell, and working at depths of up to 900 feet for 6 hours at a time.

In September of 2012, a freak failure of the dynamic positioning system of the vessel he was working under, resulted in the umbilical which provides him with breathing gas, light and heat being severed completely. He was left on the seabed, in complete darkness 300 feet below the surface, with only the 5 minutes of breathing gas he carried in the emergency tanks on his back, and no way to protect himself from the freezing temperatures. It took his heroic rescuers over 40 minutes to come back and fetch him, and his miraculous survival story has baffled experts ever since.

His extraordinary story was subsequently immortalized in the hit Netflix/BBC documentary Last Breath, a Hollywood movie starring Woody Harrelson, Simu Liu and Finn Cole.

A recognized national and international expert in the areas of gun violence and crime prevention, Dr. Thomas Gabor has published over 200 books, research reports, journal articles, and media articles. He has written five books on gun violence, including the acclaimed Confronting Gun Violence in America (2016) and the recent bestseller, AMERICAN CARNAGE: Shattering the Myths That Fuel Gun Violence, co-authored with Fred Guttenberg, father of Parkland school shooting victim Jaime Guttenberg. He has been a contributing writer to Fortune Magazine and is a regular opinion writer for a number of newspapers. He has also contributed a chapter on Firearms and Violent Crime to the Encyclopedia of Criminology. 

Dr. Gabor has also served as a consultant to many international and national organizations. He has provided advice to the United Nations, Lord Cullen’s Inquiry on firearms policy in the United Kingdom, the Department of Justice Canada, the Canadian Firearms Centre, Palm Beach County’s Criminal Justice Commission (Florida), League of Women Voters of Florida, Public Safety Canada, Canada’s Border Services Agency, and the Correctional Service of Canada. He has testified in front of the House of Commons Justice Committee and the Canadian Senate and in a number of criminal and occupational safety cases. Dr. Gabor has appeared on numerous television and radio programs and podcasts, such as Deadline: White House, Morning Joe, Andrea Mitchell Reports, Canada AM and his views have been widely cited in the print and electronic media—e.g., BBC, Daily Telegraph, Fortune Magazine, LA Times, Toronto Star, Montreal Gazette, Ottawa Citizen, Miami Herald, Orlando Weekly, Tampa Bay Times, Palm Beach Post, and the South Florida Sun Sentinel. 

Dr. Gabor is President of Thomas Gabor, LLC, a criminal justice consulting firm based in Florida. He is a frequent speaker on gun violence and has spoken to organizations/groups such as: Johns Hopkins University’s Bloomberg School of Public Health, The League of Women Voters, Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, March for Our Lives, the National Council for Jewish Women, Indivisibles, as well as religious and interfaith groups, Democratic Party clubs, organizations, and numerous community groups. 

Damon West, M.S. Criminal Justice, is a college professor, internationally known keynote speaker and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of The Coffee Bean: A Simple Lesson to Create Positive Change, which Forbes’ listed in the “Top Twenty Books You Need to Read to Crush 2020.”

His autobiography, The Change Agent: How a Former College QB Sentenced to Life in Prison Transformed His World, vividly tells how he transformed the pot of boiling water that is a Texas maximum-security prison into a pot of coffee.

At 20 years old, he was a Division 1 starting quarterback at the University of North Texas, when he suffered a career ending injury. He turned to hardcore drugs to cope with disappointments of life. After graduation, he worked in the United States Congress, was a national fundraiser on a U.S. Presidential campaign and eventually trained to be a stockbroker for United Bank of Switzerland (UBS). One day at UBS, he was introduced to methamphetamines; he became instantly hooked—and the lives of so many innocent people would forever be changed by the choices he made in order to feed his insatiable meth habit.

After a fateful discussion during his incarceration with a seasoned convict, Damon had a spiritual awakening. He learned that, like a coffee bean changing with the application of heat and pressure, he was capable of changing the environment around him. Armed with a program of recovery, a renewed faith, and a miraculous second chance at life, Damon emerged from over seven years of prison a changed man. His story of redemption, grit and determination continues to inspire audiences today.

The Coffee Bean message has inspired thousands. Damon’s clients include such companies as Walmart, AIG, Chick-fil-A, Southwest Airlines, and sports teams like the Dallas Cowboys, Minnesota Timberwolves, Clemson, Alabama and Georgia. The U.S. Army has even incorporated the #BeACoffeeBean mindset into their resilience training. Damon’s story has been featured both nationally and globally.

He is passionate about the Coffee Bean message and loves sharing how it changed his life and how it can change yours, too.

LGBTQ Civil Rights advocate and nationally-recognized gun safety activist Brandon Wolf is a dynamic public speaker with a powerful personal story of community, love, and resilience in the face of adversity. 

On June 12th, 2016, life changed for Brandon. He crouched in a bathroom while a gunman opened fire at Orlando’s Pulse Nightclub, killing his best friends, Drew Leinonen & Juan Guerrero, and 47 others. Rather than be swallowed by the anger and fear of tragedy, Brandon set out to honor the victims’ legacies with action. In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, Brandon co-founded The Dru Project, a nonprofit organization that works to empower youth and provide future leaders in the LGBTQ community funding for higher education. To date, the organization has given over $100,000 in college scholarships to rising leaders. He also became an outspoken activist in the gun violence prevention movement, partnering with March For Our Lives, Everytown, Giffords, and others to demand legislative solutions to the epidemic. In 2019, he became the first survivor of the tragedy at Pulse Nightclub to testify before Congress.

A powerful public speaker, Brandon serves as the Press Secretary for Equality Florida, the state's LGBTQ civil rights organization. Wolf is a frequent guest on MSNBC (The Reid Out & American Voices), CNN, and in print publications (CNN.com, USA Today, Newsweek, Teen Vogue, Washington Post, The Advocate, Out Magazine) weaving his story into calls to action. He has been recognized by HuffPost as one of “30 modern-day LGBTQ pioneers” and Business Equality Magazine as one of 40 LGBTQ Leaders Under 40. Brandon's debut book, A Place For Us, is an unforgettable memoir of getting through the darkest times with healing, hope, and resistance. “With our backs against the wall,” he writes, “we find a way out together.”

Captain Sandy Yawn continually uses her experience and life’s trials and tribulations to educate and help others. She survived a life-threatening motorcycle accident, a fire onboard a super yacht in the Red Sea, pirate invasion, and cancer. You may know her from her numerous television appearances including The Steve Harvey Show, and the Emmy Award-winning talk show The Doctors. She has come to share her personal experiences and to inspire you on and demonstrate how to navigate the many challenges that life presents.

Yawn’s current role is as Captain on the hit reality show Below Deck Mediterranean, on the wildly successful Bravo Network. Yawn’s unique life experience and spirited style of overcoming adversity embracing “teachable moments” help her to continuously improve her circumstances in life, train and educate her crew and earned her distinction and acclaim in a male dominated industry. Yawn is a hands-on Captain who leads by example and is not above doing whatever it takes to get the job done.

Captain Sandy’s resilience and drive has not only propelled her to the top of the super yacht industry allowing her to focus on philanthropic causes including ocean advocacy and projects near to her heart like children’s education, and programs for children with learning disabilities. Fifty percent of all sales from the Captain Sandy merchandise line is donated to The Jacksonville School for Autism, a non-profit organization that Yawn’s sister founded for the captain’s nephew, Nicholas. 

New York Times bestselling author and psychotherapist Amy Bloom has been described by The New Yorker as getting “more meaning into individual sentences than most authors manage in whole books.” Bloom is the author of the NYT bestselling novels White Houses, Lucky Us, and Away, and Love Invents Us, a National Book Award Finalist. She has written the critically acclaimed short story collections Where the God of Love Hangs Out, Come to Me, a National Book Award nominee, and A Blind Man Can See How Much I Love You, a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award. Her most recent book, the widely acclaimed New York Times bestselling memoir In Love, has been described as "the most heartbreaking, honest and funniest" writing about life, offering profound insights about grief, loss, and cultivating resilience.

Bloom’s work has appeared on numerous “Best of the Year” lists including The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Boston Globe, The Washington Post, Financial Times, Real Simple, and O: The Oprah Magazine. Her writing has appeared in The New Yorker, The New York Times Magazine, The Atlantic, The London Times, The Guardian, and from Shanghai to Seville. Her work has been translated into 18 languages. A practicing psychotherapist for four decades, Bloom’s first book of nonfiction, Normal, is a staple of university sociology and biology classes. From the intersection of her expertise as a writer and psychotherapist, Bloom offers hilarious and compelling takeaways about building community, creating (and surviving!) change, balancing home and work, and mastering effective communication, that make an impact on people of all kinds, from diverse backgrounds, bringing together an unusually wide audience.

After surviving a brutal upbringing of being enslaved as a female in Yemen, forced into arranged marriage twice, surviving multiple death threatening situations, and two civil wars before arriving in the U.S., Maha Bodhi, M.A. found her freedom and true self through the practice of ancient yogic and modern neuroplasticity techniques. She is a living example of the hero's journey and is dedicating her entire life to spreading the transformational techniques that saved her life.

Renowned anchor Bob Woodruff joined ABC News in 1996 and has covered major stories throughout the country and around the world for the network. He succeeded Peter Jennings as anchor of ABC World News Tonight in December 2005. On January 29, 2006, while reporting on U.S. and Iraqi security forces, Woodruff was seriously injured by a roadside bomb that struck his vehicle near Taji, Iraq.

In February 2007, just 13 months after being wounded, Woodruff returned to ABC News with his first on-air report, “To Iraq and Back: Bob Woodruff Reports.” The hour-long, prime-time documentary chronicled his traumatic brain injury (TBI), his painstaking recovery and the plight of thousands of service members returning from Iraq and Afghanistan with similar injuries.

Since returning to the air, Woodruff has reported from around the globe. He has traveled to North Korea eight times, investigating the growing nuclear threats in the hands of Kim Jong Il and then his son Kim Jong Un. Since 2015, Woodruff has been ABC’s primary correspondent throughout Asia, especially China, reporting on topics ranging from the controversial treatment of Muslims in the Xinjiang province to the United States’ presence in the South China Sea. In 2008, ABC News aired his critically acclaimed documentary “China Inside Out,” which examined how China’s global rise impacts what’s being called the “Chinese Century.” On the streets of Manila, he has seen the rising violence and murders following President Rodrigo Duterte’s drug policies. He traveled to Japan in the wake of the devastating natural disasters to report on the stabilization of nuclear reactors in the country.

Woodruff and his wife, Lee, co-wrote a bestselling memoir, In an Instant, chronicling his injuries in Iraq and how their family persevered through a time of intense trauma and uncertainty. The Woodruff family established the Bob Woodruff Foundation (BWF) to raise money to assist injured service members, veterans and their families.

Tara Schuster is a bestselling author, playwright, and accomplished television executive. Schuster served as Vice President of Talent and Development at Comedy Central where she was the Executive in Charge of the Emmy® and Peabody Award-winning Key & Peele, the Emmy® Award winning @Midnight, and Lights Out with David Spade. For her work on Key & Peele, Jordan Peele remarked that Schuster is “ahead of her time...she sees the future a little bit.” Her book, Buy Yourself The F*cking Lilies, debuted as the #1 New Release in Humor Essays and Self-Help on both Audible and Kindle. It was a finalist for Goodreads Best Nonfiction Book of 2020 and has been chosen by InStyle, Real Simple, People Magazine, Cosmopolitan, BuzzFeed, Goop, and many others as a must read. It has sold over 130,000 copies and is translated into five languages.

Sam Bloom is a two-time World Para Surfing champion, global keynote speaker, bestselling author and inspiration behind the #1 Australian box-office and international global Netflix hit movie Penguin Bloom starring Naomi Watts as Sam.

The movie is adapted from the international bestselling book, Penguin Bloom: The Odd Little Bird Who Saved a Family. Published in 13 languages, Penguin Bloom is a collaboration between Sam’s husband Cameron, a professional photographer, and New York Times bestselling author Bradley Trevor Greive. A second book, Sam Bloom: Heartache & Birdsong, picks up the story where Penguin Bloom ended, and shares Sam’s personal perspective on facing and overcoming adversity.

Jarring, beautiful, and real, Sam’s presentations are unlike anything your audience has seen or heard before. A refreshingly honest and deeply engaging speaker, Sam takes you on an intimate, visual journey against the backdrop of her husband Cameron’s stunning video and imagery, leaving audiences deeply moved and truly inspired.

Sam shares the extraordinary highs and painful lows of life before, during and after the accident that changed her life forever, leading us on the journey back from the edge of a deep depression that almost claimed her life.

Purposeful and raw, Sam speaks from the heart and delivers her powerful message with clarity and purpose, reminding her audience that we must make the best of the present as we never know what tomorrow will bring.

Valorie Kondos Field is the retired head coach of the seven-time NCAA Champion, 22-time Regional and 18-time Pac 12 Champion UCLA Women’s Gymnastics team. Inducted into the UCLA Athletic Hall of Fame in 2010, the four-time “National Coach of the Year” was also named “West Region Coach” of the Year and Pac 12 “Coach of the Century” for her solid track record as a preeminent coach.

Affectionately known by her gymnasts as “Miss Val,” her reputation is only one reason that 46 former US national team members came through her program and why half of the last two Olympic teams committed to UCLA. Known as the nation’s foremost gymnastics choreographer, Valorie’s coaching success can be attributed to her extraordinary leadership and mentorship of young student-athletes, and the way in which she used gymnastics as an avenue through which to teach valuable life lessons, while encouraging individuality and joy. Valorie has mentored hundreds of elite athletes including Olympic champions Simone Biles, Jordon Wieber, Kyla Ross, Madison Kocian and Laurie Hernandez, along with viral sensations Katelyn Ohashi and Nia Dennis. 

She is a dynamic and charismatic speaker with an extensive schedule of “Corporate Coaching” events for national companies including JP Morgan Chase, General Electric, Jackson National Life Insurance and Gucci, and has contributed to various panel discussions including Bustle’s “Rule Breakers” and the ESPNW Summit. In her TEDWomen 2019 talk, Miss Val inspires people to reevaluate their definition of success.  She maintains that real success is developing champions in life, and that in order to motivate success, we need to inspire those whom we lead without compromising the human spirit.

As a recent breast cancer survivor, Valorie’s positive outlook and hope-filled message is impactful. She has empowered her athletes to use their voices, to celebrate themselves, and to enjoy the elite sport that has damaged so many in the past. She shares her motivating and inspirational messages with the world, with her book, LIFE IS SHORT, DON’T WAIT TO DANCE: Advice and Inspiration from the UCLA Athletic Hall of Fame Coach of 7 NCAA Championship Teams. It expounds on her life philosophy: “Don’t wait to see what life is going to hand you, take control of your life and design ~ choreograph it exactly how you want it to turn out.” 

As an adventurer and explorer, and the first Spanish woman to summit Mt. Everest, Araceli Segarra's great skills as a communicator and her wide thematic spectrum make her an excellent transmitter of concepts that fit both the business world and the personal world. Her talent to personalize these themes gives her an adaptability that pleases business, university or women's empowerment audiences.

Araceli Segarra's talks are authentic, humble, engaging and passionate.

In her motivational talks, she uses climbing as a metaphor to value the different aspects of human nature, in which these conditions are pushed to the limits. Araceli shares the analogies that exist between the complicated ascent of a mountain and the challenges facing businesses.

She personalizes and adjusts every talk for each company to relate her experience during the shooting of the famous IMAX documentary movie Everest, and the rescue, climbing in Patagonia or giving up the summit of K2. 

We all face challenges and obstacles in pursuit of our personal and business dreams. For most of us, those are day to day frustrations to which we often attribute far more weight than we should. For others, like Dan Cnossen, those adversities can be life threatening and life changing. A mountaintop bomb in Afghanistan nearly took his life, forcing him to endure over 40 surgeries to survive. His life and dreams turned upside down in an instant. In this not-to-be-missed session, Dan shares the lessons learned amidst brutal Navy SEAL training, fighting for his life after the accident, and representing Team USA on the world’s biggest sporting stage. This inspiring and powerful presentation of persistence, perspective and passion will redefine how you perceive disability.

Brian Eisch grew up in the state of Wisconsin and joined the Army in 1992 at the age of 17 as an infantryman. He served in various duty positions over his 20 year career including Scout, Senior Scout, Radio Telephone Operator, Team Leader, Squad Leader, Instructor, Drill Sergeant, and Platoon Sergeant.

In 2010, The New York Times and Netflix began a 10 year journey following Brian throughout his deployment during the war in Afghanistan and filming the effects it had on him and his young sons back home in Wisconsin. While in the field in Kunduz Province Afghanistan, Brian was shot 3 times in his legs while attempting to save a wounded Afghan policeman.

Brian will be the first to say “this is not the worst thing that has ever happened to me.” After enduring debilitating pain and eventual amputation of his leg, Brian suffered an even greater loss when, in 2015, Brian’s son Joey, aged 12, was killed by a truck while riding his bike. Throughout this decade on film, we see Brian navigate pain, love and loss, and the rebuilding of a new normal.

In his speeches, Brian epitomizes the strength, perseverance, and humor it takes to not only pull a team through combat, but also a family through tragedy. His outstanding military record reflects his innate ability to lead, communicate through crisis, and inspire teams. Brian’s story not only inspires other veterans, but anyone else who has found themselves needing to find new purpose, inspiration out of tragedy, and the strength to overcome.

Renowned for their personal documentation of their experience in gender transition, Chella Man is celebrated for their motto, "be your own representation." As a deaf, genderqueer, Chinese, and Jewish individual, Chella found they didn’t have role models to look up to, and so they became a voice and a true representation for himself and for others. With over 257K subscribers and many millions of views on their YouTube video entitled "One year on testosterone: voice updates," Chella is normalizing the conversation around gender issues for disabled and LGBTQ+ youth. 

A New York-based artist, director, and author, Chella's work features the continuums of disability, race, gender, and sexuality. They blend the genres of painting and performance art while simultaneously exploring sculpture, writing, and live workshops. They are currently a mentor and resident at Silver Art Projects located in The World Trade Center. Man has shown at institutions such as the Brooklyn Museum, Mana Contemporary, and will be exhibiting at The Pacific Design Center, and The Abrons Arts Center this coming year. They were an artist-in-residence at the Palazzo Monti in Brescia, Italy in 2020. Man published their first book, Continuum, with Penguin Publishing, highlighting how to heal from systemic oppression and the revelations they have come to growing up. 

Marissa Orr is a former Google & Facebook executive, bestselling author, and leadership speaker. Spending 15 years working at today’s top tech giants, she has conducted talks for thousands of people in the US, Europe, and Asia-Pacific, at companies and universities such as Google, Twitter, Pace University, New School, American Express, and more. Originally from Miami, Orr received her Master’s degree in Decision and Information Sciences from the University of Florida. Her debut book, Lean Out, The Truth About Women, Power, & the Workplace, was released by Harper Collins Leadership in June of 2019 and is an Amazon bestseller.

Featured in Forbes, Fox, Yahoo! Finance, and CNBC, Lean Out is not simply a retort to Sheryl Sandberg’s Lean In, but a revolutionary path forward with the power to change the lives of men and women in the corporate world and beyond. With Lean Out, Orr provides a fresh voice for a new generation of thinkers.

Award-winning actor, director, speaker, and activist, Aaron Wolf uses his creative voice to tell stories from the heart, that entertain and matter. He is co-founder of Howling Wolf Productions. Some of his work includes the Academy Award® shortlisted film Restoring Tomorrow, award-winning films Guest House, starring Michael Gross and Heather Lind, and The Walk, starring Wolf and Emmy nominee Peter Riegert.

Having toured around the country with his feature, Restoring Tomorrow, Wolf’s personal journey of rediscovery comes alive in this extraordinary story of a treasured Hollywood landmark and local temple built by the original Hollywood moguls, near demise, and a community’s determination to achieve the impossible. "Sharing his story to build his dream was so inspirational and informative, with some big laughs to go with it. He got us all on our feet...His unique innovative and new vision of how he develops engaging stories stimulated us to further ours’." (Adobe Systems)

The film received extensive coverage in publications such as The Los Angeles Times, New York Times, Tablet Magazine, Guideposts and The Times of Israel. Wolf was featured on everything from CNN to Fox News. The film became a movement, inspiring other communities, to set out to recognize and rebuild their places that matter. "Aaron’s voice and work are changing this country for the better. His strong beliefs about bringing communities together are the same as the core values of our company. We’ve never had a standing ovation in this setting for anything, but Aaron got it and deserved it. Powerful can’t even describe the evening we spent with him." (Home Depot)

Based on the hit film, Wolf will launch the original television series Restoring Your Tomorrow, continuing his personal journey overcoming tragedy while chronicling the revitalization of other important communities across the world.

Currently, Wolf is in production on the comedy LD University and its companion documentary entitled We Are All (dis)ABLED, drawing from his personal experiences, allowing audiences insight into his struggle to tackle the urgent topic of learning disabilities and de-stigmatize people deemed disabled. For Wolf, this is one the most critical civil rights issues currently being overlooked and misunderstood by society and he is on a quest to use his voice and work for positive change.

Clint Pulver is a motivational keynote speaker, author, musician, and workforce expert.

He’s also fun, dynamic, entertaining – and the no-stress speaker clients love to work with.

He has been a Professional Drummer for over 20 years, having played for various professional musicians and in venues like the Vivint Arena, the Stadium of Fire, and the Kodak Theater in Hollywood. In 2010 he founded the UVU Drumline known as the Green Man Group, which he directed for 6 years. He then continued on to direct the Drumline for the NBA’s Utah Jazz until 2015. Clint was recently featured in Business Q Magazine as one of their “Top 40 under 40” as a premiere Corporate Keynote Speaker. He has appeared on America’s Got Talent and in several different Feature Films with actors like Jack Black (School of Rock) and John Heder (Napoleon Dynamite).

Known as “The Millennial Speaker”, Clint Pulver helps organizations that want to retain, engage and inspire their people. As the president and founder of The Center for Employee Retention, Clint has transformed how corporations like Keller Williams, AT&T and Hewlett Packard create lasting loyalty through his work and research as “The Undercover Millennial”. For over a decade, he has been a self-motivated Entrepreneur who is well versed in business start-up, sales management, management training, and growing multi-million dollar accounts. Clint understands first hand that relationships are based on trust, service, support, connection and consistent follow-through.

Clint strongly believes that a single moment in time can change a person’s life. He has traveled the world speaking to youth and adult audiences alike, challenging them to dream, excel, connect, and believe--both in themselves and in the power of others. For over a decade, Clint has dedicated his heart to helping organizations understand the younger generation and helping the younger generation understand themselves through living a life of significance, instead of just a life of success: “It’s not about being the best in the world…it's about being the best FOR the world”.

Coach Paul Assaiante knows how to motivate teams for success. As the current coach of the Men’s Squash team at Trinity College and the former Men’s Tennis team coach, Paul has motivated top athletes from around the world. He is known for his unique achievement as the “winningest coach in college sports history”, winner of 17 NCAA Championships titles, and 22-year dedication as squash coach. Paul’s core belief is the need to embrace fear in order to remove obstacles blocking success. He shares his experience and lessons on building teams of champions in his book, Run to the Roar: Coaching to Overcome Fear. Paul brings together the best players from around the world and demonstrates how teammates from diverse cultures, religions, and ethnicities can unite as a winning team year after year. He uses his experiences to help leaders in any field embrace collaboration, cultural diversity, and leadership models that encourage employees to give everything they have- every day and build winning teams.

Navi Radjou is a Silicon Valley-based innovation and leadership thinker who has advised senior executives worldwide on breakthrough growth strategies over the past 25 years. A Fellow at Cambridge Judge Business School, Navi has served on the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Innovation & Entrepreneurship. Previously, he served as vice president at Forrester Research, a leading technology research and advisory firm. In 2013, Navi won the prestigious Thinkers50 Innovation Award – given to a management thinker who is re-shaping the way we think about and practise innovation. He delivered a talk at TED Global 2014 on frugal innovation (over 1.7 million views). Navi co-authored Frugal Innovation: How To Do Better With Less, published by The Economist in 2015, as well as the global bestseller Jugaad Innovation (over 200,000 copies sold worldwide). He is working on his next book Conscious Society: Redefining Who We Are. Reinventing How We Consume, Work, Relate, and Live. He is a sought-after keynote speaker and widely quoted in international media. Born and raised in Pondicherry, India, he holds dual French-American citizenship. He attended Ecole Centrale Paris and Yale School of Management. 

Janet M. Stovall has flourished in the highly competitive corporate FORTUNE 500 world. A long history of driving change and building culture in large, complex organizations has given her deep expertise around DEI practices and principles, especially in the area of communications. In fact, she broke barriers as one of the few Black C-level speechwriters in the Fortune 100. 

A self-described diversity pragmatist, Stovall is best known for her TED talk challenging business to get serious about inclusion. Collectively, Stovall’s three TED presentations have nearly 3 million views. 

Stovall is Global Head of DEI at  the NeuroLeadership Institute, a global think tank, consultancy, and research organization that uses neuroscience to improve business performance. A firm believer in action over aspiration, intent over impact and objectivity over subjectivity, Janet works with organizations and leaders that truly value diversity as an asset. Her consultancy, Pragmatic Diversity, helps them unlock that value through accountable inclusion and equity. Through direct consultation with leaders, teams and individuals, as well as keynote speeches and workshops, she helps business get real about DEI and dismantling systemic inequity.

On stage, her approach tackles workplace inequity head-on with a straightforward formula for creating an inclusive workplace that unlocks the power of diversity. Her superpowers? Applying objective solutions to solve subjective DEI challenges, building actionable DEI frameworks and strategies, and brokering honest DEI conversations among top leaders.  

Co-author of The Conscious Communicator: The Fine Art of Not Saying Stupid Sh*t, Stovall also speaks to challenges of communicating authentically about DEI and social justice. Her groundbreaking book introduces a framework and practical tool to help leaders shape DEI and social justice and visions and messages aligned with organizational mission, vision, and values – consistently,  proactively,  and in ways that are powerful rather than performative.

Nobuki Sugihara is the son of Chiune Sugihara, a Japanese diplomat who in 1940, in Kaunas, Lithuania, defied his government's orders to stop issuing visas to Jews trying to flee Nazi persecution. It is estimated some 6,000 Jews escaped death due to Chiune Sugihara's actions.  Nobuki Sugihara speaks to and keeps alive his father's legacy, and meets first hand with survivors and the growing community of thousands of children and grandchildren begotten since - a community sometimes called "Sugihara Jews."

Souad Mekhennet is an award-winning journalist and book author who defies simple characterization. Her significant contributions to public discourse and global understanding are uniquely forged through a combination of her professional acumen and pathbreaking determination as a German woman of Moroccan and Turkish parentage. Souad’s immense cultural fluency sheds light on the evils of our time, but also support justice. Her dangerous encounters read like scenes from an action thriller, but also portray unparalleled humanity. Whether in the remote tribal regions of Pakistan, attending global gatherings in Dubai or Switzerland, on the streets of European capitals, or visiting mosques and synagogues across the United States, Souad’s reporting consistently challenges assumptions and breaks down barriers between people.

Based in Washington and Frankfurt, Souad Mekhennet is a national security Staff writer for The Washington Post where she was part of the reporting team recognized as Pulitzer Prize finalists in 2019. Souad first reported for The Post in the immediate aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, delving into the background of the Hamburg cell and writing on the threat al-Qaeda posed in Europe, North Africa and the Gulf. She was part of The Post’s coverage of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq. In 2004, she began a long interlude at The New York Times where she produced some of the most defining insights into the Bush administration’s war on terrorism, most notably the CIA’s botched rendition of Khalid el-Masri, a German citizen. Souad returned to The Post in 2014 and helped unmask the identity of terrorist Jihadi John. Known for closely monitoring activity within terror networks, she has many times been the first to break news and publish front page stories, such as reporting the death of Abdelhamid Abaaoud, the leader of the group behind the 2015 Paris attacks, 15 hours before government confirmation and other media.

In her deeply reported memoir, I Was Told to Come Alone: My Journey Behind the Lines of Jihad, Souad recounts how she went to jihadi strongholds to interview the leaders of and the converts to terrorist organizations like al Qaeda and the Islamic State. A product and champion of liberal democracy who is culturally and linguistically at home across the Arab world, Mekhennet is fair-minded and fearless as she seeks to find out who these people are and what motivates them. The book provides offers unique access and insight across countries.

Loung Ung was only 5 years old when the Khmer Rouge soldiers stormed into her native city of Phnom Penh. Four years later, in one of the bloodiest episodes of the 20th century, some two million Cambodians – out of a population of seven million – had died at the hands of the infamous Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge regime. Among the victims were both of Loung’s parents, two sisters, and 20 other relatives. In 1980, Loung, her older brother Meng and his wife, escaped by boat to Thailand, where they spent five months in a refugee camp before relocating to the United States in Vermont.

Loung Ung is now a bestselling author, activist, and co-screenplay writer of First They Killed My Father, the critically acclaimed 2017 Netflix Original Movie produced and directed by Angelina Jolie, based on Ung's bestselling memoir, now streaming on Netflix in 190 countries. On November 5, 2017 with the start of the awards season, the film received the “Hollywood Foreign Language Film Award" at the Hollywood Film Awards.

Loung’s bestselling memoir, First They Killed My Father: A Daughter of Cambodia Remembers, was a 2001 recipient of the Asian/Pacific American Librarians’ Association award for Excellence in Adult Non-fiction Literature, is widely taught in high schools and universities across the U.S. and internationally, and has been translated into 15 languages, including Khmer, German, Dutch, Norwegian, Danish, French, Spanish, Italian, and Japanese. 

Since 1995, Loung has made over thirty trips back to Cambodia and has devoted herself to helping her native land heal from the traumas of war. She has worked as an activist to end violence against women, child soldiers, and the Campaign for a Landmine Free World, serving as its spokesperson from 1997-2005 before leaving to focus more on her writing and restaurant business.  In 2013, Loung expanded her activism reach as one of the writers for Girl Rising, a groundbreaking documentary film directed by Academy Award nominee Richard Robbins. 

The World Economic Forum selected Loung as one of the “100 Global Youth Leaders of Tomorrow.” Among the publications, television and radio shows she has been featured on are The New York Times, Washington Post, USA Today, People Magazine, CNN, Nightline, the Diane Rheme Show, Fresh Air with Terry Gross, and The Today Show, among others. In addition, she has been the subject of documentary films broadcast by German ARTE, Japanese NHK, and the New England Cable Network (NECN).

Michele Rigby Assad began her career in the government relations department of an international relief and development organization in Washington, DC, in 1995. She joined the CIA in January 2002 to work as an intelligence officer in the Directorate of Operations, the covert arm of the agency. Specializing in counterterrorism and counterintelligence issues, Michele worked in Iraq and other secret Middle Eastern locations. After a decade of government service, Michele left the undercover life to serve as a public speaker, author, trainer, and international security consultant focused on the Middle East, North Africa, and Europe.

Her book, Breaking Cover: My Secret Life in the CIA and What It Taught Me about What's Worth Fighting For, released in 2018, is currently in production to be made into a major motion picture.

Michele holds a master's degree in contemporary Arab studies from Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service and a political science degree from Palm Beach Atlantic University.

Michele credits student-led mission trips to Egypt, Russia, and Ukraine and a study abroad program in Egypt, Israel, and the West Bank as being the catalysts for her passion for foreign cultures and international travel. The year she spent studying in the Middle East changed the course of her life, taking her from rural central Florida to the front lines of the war on terror.

Michele is motivated to use her unique platform to educate and inspire, showing how critical courage is to live a life of impact and purpose. Michele writes about her many passions at her website, where she features articles on counterterrorism, personal security, the Middle East, faith, and inspiration.

Molly Birkholm is a speaker, consultant, published author, international show host, teacher trainer, and trauma educator. Molly’s stress management programs, resilience training, and trauma treatment programs are used by leaders and top organizations around the world, including the US Department of Defense, McKinsey & Company, and the Young Presidents' Organization.

She is the co-founder of Warriors at Ease, which has trained over 2000 teachers and brought yoga and meditation to 65 military bases and VA Centers. She helped pioneer evidence-based yoga and meditation programs for PTSD in the military and other communities affected by trauma, including human trafficking survivors and homeless communities. She is also an iRest Yoga Nidra teacher trainer. Molly teaches trainings and retreats around the world and also online on The Great Courses and as a Featured Teacher & the host of the Women’s Empowerment Initiative on Yoga International.

Molly Bloom is an inspirational keynote speaker, entrepreneur, and bestselling author of Molly’s Game. She is best known for her memoir, Molly’s Game, which was adapted into an award-winning film of the same name by Aaron Sorkin. Bloom’s memoir chronicles her journey from college student to LA waitress to building and operating the largest and most notorious private poker game in the world. Her games featured hundreds of millions of dollars and players like Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire, A-Rod, and Ben Affleck.

Bloom began her career as a world-class skier. While training as a pre-teen she was diagnosed with severe scoliosis and had to undergo surgery that the doctors said would end her athletic career. A year later, fully recovered, she was back on the slopes. She later joined the U.S. Ski Team and at 21 years old was ranked No. 3 in North America in moguls, but her Olympic dreams would go unrealized as she left the team to pursue other projects. This led her to what she thought would be a year sabbatical in LA.

Bloom was finishing her degree in Political Science from the University of Colorado-Boulder, and was in the process of applying to top tier Law Schools, when her assistant job turned her into an accidental entrepreneur, running one of the most exclusive, high-stakes underground poker games in the world, pulling in as much as $4 million per year. What happened next is where her story truly begins. The film Molly’s Game, written and directed by Aaron Sorkin, stars Academy Award winner for Best Actress, Jessica Chastain (as Molly), Idris Elba, Kevin Costner, Michael Cera, Brian d’Arcy James, and Chris O’Dowd. Featured on Daily Hive and the New York Times as a ‘must watch’ movie, Molly’s Game is now available to stream on YouTube TV.

Bloom has appeared on numerous shows and in media outlets such as Ellen, Vice, The Los Angeles Times, NPR, Vulture, and has been asked to speak at Fortune’s Most Powerful Women, for companies like Blackrock Financial, SiriusXM Radio, and delivered the 2018 commencement speech at Colorado State University.

Currently, Molly is focusing her energy on uplifting and mentoring other women after having been the mentee of amazing, dynamic women herself. In 2020, she launched the One World Group to support women facing various challenges, especially those exacerbated by the global pandemic. In 2022, she launched TORCHED, a new podcast about Olympic controversies.

Fortune 1000 Events - Since 2021 began, Molly Bloom has given keynote presentations to Fortune 1000 companies Comcast (three times!) and US Bank.

Undersized and overmatched, at 5'8" Justin Forsett had plenty of reasons to give up on becoming a full-time NFL starter. It wasn't until 2014 at age 29 that Forsett "came out of nowhere" and proved them all wrong. 

Forsett spent parts of four seasons (2008-11) with Seattle and the 2012 season with the Texans. He played in nine games for the Jaguars in 2013 before injuring his foot, forcing him to miss the remainder of the season. Forsett spent more than two seasons with the Ravens, including one Pro Bowl year in which he took the league by storm in 2014.  He was named to the Pro Bowl in 2015 following his most successful season in the NFL, and ranked #65 on the NFL's Top 100 Players of 2015. 

After breaking his arm midway through the 2105 season, recovering, and playing just nine more games with the Ravens, the Detroit Lions, and the Denver Broncos, Forsett announced his retirement from the NFL on May 3, 2017.
 
Justin, however, will be defined by much more than his stats.  Justin was a cherished fan favorite and big part of the community. He spent much of his time spreading advice and encouragement to his teammates and anyone he worked with. A Christian man of integrity, he was extremely active in volunteering to help those in need, the Baltimore community in particular, who embraced him back.

When speaking to audiences, Justin has a genuine desire to positively impact others with his message of perseverance through life’s disappointments. His witty and down-to-earth personality engages audiences from corporate environments to youth groups as he shares his inspirational journey of hope, focus, determination, and the importance of legacy.

Michael Veltri is a leadership expert, battle-hardened business executive, and Nationwide Bestselling author. Recognizing that success in business and life is created by the daily decisions we make, Michael elevates teams, fuel-injects leadership, and improves business performance through better decision-making practices.

From ancient Japanese warriors to brain science, from business titans to academic research, Michael tapped wide-ranging resources to develop a groundbreaking model for better decision making that leads to exponential leadership growth and peak performance with balance, not burnout. Simple, elegant, and effective, Michael's approach has positively impacted some of the world’s most successful organizations, brands, and leaders.

Michael is also a cancer survivor, decorated U.S. Marine veteran, and master-instructor in classical Japanese martial arts. He brings his business savvy, martial arts discipline, and Marine Corps leadership to every keynote speech inspiring, motivating, and educating audiences worldwide.

Mike Massimino is a former NASA Astronaut, a New York Times Bestselling Author, a Columbia University Professor, a media personality, and the first person to tweet from space. He is a four-time spacewalker on two missions to the Hubble Space Telescope, including the final Hubble servicing mission which has been called the most dangerous and complex mission in space shuttle history. Mike has made numerous television appearances, including a recurring role as himself on the hit sitcom The Big Bang Theory, has hosted educational television programs, and provides expert commentary on morning shows and network and cable news programs.

He has been called the real-life astronaut who inspired George Clooney’s role in the movie Gravity. He uses humor and his unique storytelling ability to inspire audiences to identify the passion in their work, to use teamwork and innovation to solve problems, to provide leadership in the face of adversity and crisis, and to never give up when pursuing a goal. 

“Isaac Lidsky may possess the most eclectic resume in business,” according to Inc. Magazine. He is the CEO and co-founder of ODC Construction (Florida’s largest residential shell contractor) and author of the New York Times best-selling book Eyes Wide Open: Overcoming Obstacles and Recognizing Opportunities in a World That Can’t See Clearly (March 14, 2017, Penguin Random House). A dynamic speaker whose viral TED Talk reached more than 1 million views in 20 days, and a graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Law School (magna cum laude), Isaac is the only blind person to serve as a Law Clerk for the U.S. Supreme Court. As a child actor, he played “Weasel” on NBC’s “Saved By The Bell: The New Class.” 

Dispelling any notion of disability, or the acceptance of self-imposed limitations among any of us, Isaac has forged a true vision for leading and living Eyes Wide Open and mastering your own reality. In his talks to corporate audiences, entrepreneurs and associations around the world, Isaac provides his philosophy and actionable principles for individuals and leaders to build more accountability and courage into how they interact and engage with themselves, others, the world and their highest aspirations.

Combat tests you. Being a beat cop tests you. Life tests you. Three brothers and being the only girl...tests you. Vernice “FlyGirl” Armour has been tested her whole life. A gutsy trailblazer, her resume is an impressive collection of “firsts” including America’s first Black female combat pilot. She served two tours of duty in Iraq as a Marine. She was also a diversity liaison officer to the Pentagon for Headquarters Marine Corps. After her military service, FlyGirl revved up her career in the private sector as an entrepreneur, consultant to business, and author of Zero to Breakthrough: The 7-Step, Battle-Tested Method for Accomplishing Goals that Matter.

As a speaker, FlyGirl unleashes hard-hitting advice and amazing anecdotes from her adventures on the battlefield and in business. She helps individuals and organizations Get Gutsy and build a sustainable inner force and conviction, that results in accomplishing significant goals.

Through her talks, writing, television appearances and book, EMMA SEPPÄLÄ has now inspired 1000s of people to live happier and more compassionate lives. A graduate of Yale, Columbia and Stanford, Seppälä is an expert at translating the science of happiness and success to any audience. Passionate about sharing the science of what makes us thrive, Seppälä founded the popular news site Fulfillmentdaily.com. She has dedicated part of her research career to helping veterans overcome trauma and her research is featured in documentary film Free the Mind. Her research has also been featured in the New York Times, ABC News, Forbes, The Boston Globe, U.S. News & World Report, The Huffington Post, Inc., and Fast Company. She has appeared on Good Morning America, ABC News and FOX News and a number of other documentary films. She is a frequent contributor to Psychology Today and Harvard Business Review.Her book The Happiness Track: How to Apply the Science of Happiness to Accelerate Your Success is currently being translated into a dozen foreign languages. Seppälä is fluent in English, German and French.

Most people are familiar with this couple from watching their life stories unfold during their seven year stint as reality stars on the Giuliana and Bill show. Dynamic and highly sought after as speakers, Giuliana and Bill travel around the world focusing on topics that continue to inspire and motivate audiences of all sizes.

Giuliana is a force both on-camera and off. Giuliana is a leader in the fashion industry with her continued success of her clothing line G by Giuliana as well as her home goods line August & Leo on HSN.

Continuing his commitment to entrepreneurship, Bill speaks to business, organizations and universities. His formula for success is sought out by major corporations throughout the world.

Together Bill and Giuliana are partners in the RPM Restaurant Group located in Chicago, Las Vegas and Washington D.C. as well as partners in Giuliana Prosecco.

They are involved in many Breast Cancer Charity Organizations as well as the Mercy Home for Boys in Chicago. Bill and Giuliana currently reside in Austin Texas with their 10 year old son Duke.

Dave Zilko founded his first specialty food company more than 20 years ago on a $2,500 credit card loan. While today Dave remains an equity partner in several food-oriented enterprises, he recently exited active involvement in the industry when he engineered the sale of Garden Fresh Gourmet, makers of the number one brand of fresh salsa in North America, to the Campbell’s Soup Company for $231 million. Dave was a partner at Garden Fresh for 13 years, serving as Vice Chairman with primary responsibility for strategy and sales.

Today Dave has an equity stake in and is CEO of FUEL Leadership—a digital media property that also organizes business events featuring an exclusive list of rock star-level speakers—a roster that spans the spectrum from business to entertainment.

Dave is also an operating partner at Huron Capital, a Detroit-based private equity firm with over $1 billion under management. He serves on the boards of the $60 million Grow Michigan venture fund, of Jimmy Buffett's charitable foundation, "Singing for Change," and is on the executive board of the largest food rescue organization in the country, Forgotten Harvest. Dave graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in finance and earned a Master of Business Administration in marketing from The George Washington University. 

After suffering years of sexual abuse and rape as a child Erin Merryn she broke her silence and found her mission in life. Erin began a crusade her senior year of high school in 2004 to end the silence and shame around sexual abuse by publishing her childhood diary into a book. She has overcome many obstacles from child abuse, a learning disability, and living daily with epilepsy. In 2010 she became the force behind Erin’s Law. A law that requires public schools to teach children on age appropriate sexual abuse prevention curriculum. More than half the country has either passed or are voting on Erin’s Law.

In November 2012 Glamour Magazine named her Woman of the Year and she was honored in Carnegie Hall before 3,000 people. People Magazine named her a HEROES Among Us in April 2013 and listed her as one of fifteen women changing the world in June 2014. She has made numerous media appearances including, Oprah, Oprah Winfrey’s Network, Katie Couric, CNN, Good Morning America, MSNBC, Fox, Jane Velez Mitchell, Montel, and Al Jazeera. She has appeared in People Magazine, Time Magazine, USA Today, London Times, Glamour Magazine, Huffington Post, Cosmo Girl Magazine, among others.

For nearly 20 years, tennis great Chris Evert provided fans throughout the world with one guarantee - she gave every match all she had. She was always more than just the best tennis player in the world. Evert was ranked number one for seven years and had a 90 percent win average spanning her 17 year career as a pro. She won 18 grand slam titles including three Wimbledons, seven French Opens, two Australian Opens, and six U.S. Opens.

Since retiring in 1989, the Hall of Fame tennis player has become active in more than a dozen organizations including the National Committee to Prevent Child Abuse, Save the Children, The American AIDS Association, and the Make-A-Wish Foundation. She founded Chris Evert Charities, Inc. which has raised over fifteen million dollars to combat substance abuse and to assist neglected, drug-exposed, and abused children.

Chris is also a partner and coach at Evert Tennis Academy in Boca Raton, Florida, which she opened in 1996. The Center offers junior and adult programs for all skill levels from beginning to professional. Active in all aspects of the junior tennis program, Chris founded the academy to give something back to junior tennis and to ensure that the tradition started by her father will continue in South Florida. The Evert Tennis Academy quickly became, and continues to be, the home to countless national and international junior champions and some of the world’s finest pros. The Academy has recently been chosen as a USTA National Training Center. Chris works with global brands such as Wilson and Nike and is also the publisher of Tennis Magazine.

Of all of her accomplishments, she considers being the mother of 3 children to be her greatest.

Today, Chris Evert remains one of the most prominent female athletes of our time as well as one of the most recognizable women in the nation. 

John O'Leary was nine years old when he accidentally set a massive explosion in his home and was only given a one percent chance to live. Today, he is an award-winning motivational speaker. He is consistently given industry-defying gold stars across the board for his emotional storytelling, genuine humor and ability to empower his audiences to take back their lives and change their world. John intimately illustrates how the greatest challenges can be transformed into outstanding growth. His presentations are described as “captivating, amazing and life-changing.” 

Lady (Michelle) Mone, Baroness of Mayfair, OBE is the founder of Ultimo - the UK’s leading designer lingerie brand. Honoured by Her Majesty the Queen with an OBE in 2010 for her outstanding contribution to business, Lady Mone is now Start-up Business Csar for the British Government and the UK’s No.1 female speaker. 

Lady Mone is regularly listed as one of the UK’s top female entrepreneurs and has been steadily building her empire, encompassing over 15 patented inventions, businesses & brands over the last two decades.

Michelle is an expert in business, motivation, fashion, health & well being.

Dara Torres is a 12-time Olympic medalist in swimming and arguably the fastest female swimmer in America. A top-selling author, her memoir, Age is Just a Number: Achieve Your Dreams at Any Stage in Your Life, was listed as one of the top 25 best-selling business books just two months after publication. Her second book, Gold Medal Fitness: A Revolutionary 5-Week Program is a New York Times bestseller. She is currently a correspondent on CBS Sports' women's show We Need to Talk. 

She entered her first international swimming competition at age 14 and competed in her first Olympic Games a few years later in 1984. At the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008, Dara became the oldest swimmer to compete in the Olympic Games

Ashley Rhodes-Courter is a child welfare activist and New York Times bestselling author of Three Little Words, a memoir based on her childhood in Florida's fostercare system. Since the age of 14, Ashley has advocated for the half-million children still in foster care in America by giving speeches throughout the U.S. and abroad. Ashley has turned her pain into power and she has a passion to share her story with those who have experienced adversity. She strives to encourage education, compassion, community involvement, and positive outcomes for youth and families.

Internationally recognized, Ashley has been featured on The Today Show, Good Morning America, Nightline, Nancy Grace, ABC Primetime, Montel Williams, and other national media outlets. She has spoken on Capitol Hill, has been invited to the White House, and has taught at numerous colleges and conferences for elected officials, judges, social workers, policy makers, and families.

Wendy Booker is on an amazing journey. Not only has she tackled marathons, mountains and ice… she’s doing it with multiple sclerosis. Diagnosed with relapsing-remitting MS in 1998, Wendy did not consider herself an athlete. She did however know that she was not going to take her diagnosis sitting down—she wanted to fight back!

Her real adventure began by a girlfriend’s invitation and challenge to run with her in the Boston Marathon. Wendy ran the marathon and never looked back. Since then she has run twelve marathons, climbed the Seven Summits of the world—attempting Everest twice in the process, mushed to the North Pole and skied to the South Pole—setting records and breaking through barriers all the way.

Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor is a Harvard trained and published neuroanatomist. In 1996 she experienced a severe hemorrhage in the left hemisphere of her brain causing her to lose the ability to walk, talk, read, write, or recall any of her life. Her memoir, My Stroke of Insight, documenting her experience with stroke and eight-year recovery spent 63 weeks on the New York Times nonfiction bestseller list, and is still routinely the #1 book about stroke on Amazon.

Dr. Taylor is a dynamic teacher and public speaker who loves educating all age groups, academic levels, as well as corporations about the beauty of our human brain and its ability to recover from trauma. In 2008 she gave the first TED talk that ever went viral on the Internet, which now has well over 26 million views. Also in 2008, Dr. Taylor was chosen as one of TIME Magazine's “100 Most Influential People in the World” and was the premiere guest on Oprah Winfrey’s “Soul Series” web-cast.

Hollye Jacobs is a sought after speaker, nurse, social worker, child development specialist, and the best selling author of The Silver Lining, A Supportive and Insightful Guide to Breast Cancer. Published in 2014 by Simon and Schuster, the book quickly reached the New York Times, Washington Post and LA Times Bestseller lists.  
 

Izzy Ezagui, a decorated squad commander in the Israel Defense Forces, is the only soldier in the world who lost an arm in combat and returned to the battlefield.

In 2011, former President Shimon Peres awarded him one of Israel's highest military honors. While he continues to serve in an elite unit in the reserves, Izzy delivers inspirational talks across the United States and internationally.

He has appeared on Huffington Post Live, Al Jazeera America, and Fox News.

The Algemeiner chose Izzy as one of 100 people positively influencing Jewish life. He also raises millions of dollars for hospitals, rehabilitation programs, and other charities, such as the Birthright Foundation.

He has worked with amputee organizations, schools, colleges, universities, hedge funds, and corporate events for companies such as Nike and Apple. 

Shawn Achor is the New York Times bestselling author of The Happiness Advantage and Big Potential. Shawn graduated magna cum laude from Harvard and earned a Masters from Harvard Divinity School in Christian and Buddhist ethics. After spending 12 years at Harvard, Shawn traveled to 50 countries studying how to create an interconnected approach to potential and happiness. He has now worked with over a third of the Fortune 100 companies, and at places like NASA, the NFL, and the Pentagon. Shawn has battle-tested his research in high-challenge environments from working with all the public schools in Flint Michigan, to six battalions of Marines at Camp Pendleton, to government leaders at Camp David, to students in a shantytown in Soweto South Africa, to hospitals in the wake of a mass shooting in Orlando and the Boston bombing. In every place, Shawn has found the optimism can be increased through mindset and behavioral change, and that by creating an interconnected approach to happiness and success, we shine brighter together. Shawn’s research made the cover of Harvard Business Review, his TED talk is one of the most popular of all time with over 20 million views, and his lecture airing on PBS has been seen by millions.

Doc Hendley is founder and president of Wine To Water, a non-profit promoting clean water resources in poverty stricken countries worldwide. His is a captivating story of an ordinary bartender who's changing the world through clean water. He never set out to be a hero. In 2004, Hendley launched a series of wine-tasting events to raise funds for clean-water projects and to bring awareness to the world's freshwater crisis. He planned to donate the proceeds through traditional channels, but instead found himself traveling to one of the world's most dangerous hot spots: Darfur, Sudan. He braved tribal warfare and natural disasters, and encountered fascinating characters in far-flung regions of the world. He gives an authoritative account of a global crisis and his inspirational tale proves how ordinary people can improve the world. Today, Doc and Wine to Water continue to help stricken peoples repair and maintain water- containment systems in places like Darfur, Cambodia, Uganda, and Haiti.

Chosen as one of the best books of the year by the The New York Times, Chicago Tribune, USA Today, Washington Monthly, and Booklist, Ron Suskind’s book, A Hope in the Unseen: An American Odyssey from the Inner City to the Ivy League chronicles undergraduate Cedric Jennings' transition from inner-city high school achiever in Washington, D.C., to culture-shocked survivor at an Ivy League university.

Mia Farrow has appeared in more than forty films but she is equally known as an fierce advocate for human rights. She has served as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador since 2000, with a focus on children in conflict zones, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. 

She is active on Twitter and her website contains entries from Darfur, Chad, Rwanda, Central African Republic, Uganda, Congo, South Sudan, Kenya and the Syrian border in Lebanon. Her op-ed pieces and photographs have appeared in the Wall Street Journal, Boston Globe and numerous publications and exhibitions around the world. She has traveled to the Darfur region of Sudan 13 times and spoken extensively about genocide and human responsibility across the United States as well as at Senate and Congressional hearings and at the United Nations Security Council.

In 2008 Mia Farrow was selected by Time magazine as one of the’ most influential people in the world. She has been the recipient of numerous humanitarian awards including the Refugees International McCall-Pierpont Award for “extraordinary services to refugees and displaced people," the Tiananmen Square Award, the Leon Sullivan International Service Award, and the Marian Anderson Award in 2010.

Her ongoing project , The Darfur Archives, documents the cultural traditions of Darfur’s major ethnic tribes.  It is preserved at the Dodd Research Center at the University of Connecticut.

A champion on and off the court, Martina Navratilova is not only a tennis legend, but an inspirational leader who demonstrates wit, candor and sheer motivation.

Irish driving legend Derek Daly is the epitome of the complete champion. From the victory circle to the announcer’s desk, Hall of Fame race car driver and network television color analyst Daly has spent nearly three decades as the face of the motorsport world. Derek’s professional racing career spanned 17 years and his experiences are nothing short of breathtaking. Derek literally wrote the book on how to become a "Complete Champion." Race To Win: How to Become a Complete Champion was heralded a “future classic” by the Irish Times. Derek has taught the timeless principles of his most valuable asset—speed to audiences around the world. Companies like Xerox, Bayer, Deloitte, Growmark, USDA, Department of Defense, Federal Reserve Bank, Pepsico, State Farm, Zurich Insurance and Gallo wines have depended on Derek’s Complete Champion Model to motivate, inspire and enlighten their teams.

Irish tenor, recording artist, physician, and champion disabled athlete Ronan Tynan moves audiences like few others can. His stirring performances and personal story of triumph have brought him international fame. The New York Times called him “the closest thing this country has to an official Meistersinger.”

Tynan has performed at historic events including Ronald Reagan’s funeral and the Inaugural Prayer Service at the National Cathedral. His memorable renditions of “God Bless America” have been heard at the World Series, The Belmont Stakes, and other momentous events.

Profiled by ABC’s 20/20, People magazine and CBS Sunday Morning, Tynan was born with a lower limb disability and had his legs amputated at age 20. Within a year, he was competing in the Paralympic Games, both in track and field and as an equestrian. He won 18 gold medals and set 14 world records, nine of which are still in place today.

The first disabled person ever admitted to Limerick’s National College of Physical Education, Tynan became a physician specializing in orthopedic sports injuries and was the subject of the BBC documentary, Dr. Courageous.

In 1992 less than one year after he began studying music, Tynan won the John McCormack Cup for Tenor Voice. He shot to stardom two years later after winning the BBC talent show, Go For It. A recording contract with Sony Music and sold-out concerts around the world soon followed. His debut album, My Life Belongs to You, released in 1998, jumped to number five on the charts. That same year, Tynan joined Anthony Kearns and John McDermott as The Irish Tenors, an instant worldwide sensation.

Tynan’s album Ronan debuted at #2 on Billboard’s Classical Crossover Chart. He put out Sing Me an Irish Song, a collection of Irish favorites in 2009 and his latest album, All Kinds Of Everything, features classic performances from his musical career. Tynan captivates audiences with his humor, lively spirit and inspirational message about overcoming obstacles and living life to the fullest.

Few journalists in America’s history have had the impact on their era and their craft as Carl Bernstein. For forty years, from All the President’s Men to A Woman-In-Charge: The Life of Hillary Clinton, Bernstein’s books, reporting, and commentary have revealed the inner-workings of government, politics, and the hidden stories of Washington and its leaders.

In the early 1970s, Bernstein and Bob Woodward broke the Watergate story for The Washington Post, leading to the resignation of President Richard Nixon and setting the standard for modern investigative reporting, for which they and The Post were awarded the Pulitzer Prize.

Since then, Bernstein has continued to build on the theme he and Woodward first explored in the Nixon years – the use and abuse of power: political, media, financial, cultural and spiritual power. Renowned as a prose stylist, he has also written a classic biography of Pope John Paul II, served as the founding editor of the first major political website, and been a rock critic.

Star Parker founded the Coalition on Urban Renewal & Education, CURE, to provide a national voice of reason on issues of race and poverty in the media, inner city neighborhoods, and public policy.

Before Roger Crawford inspired others as a bestselling author and Hall of Fame speaker on center stage, he achieved phenomenal success on center court—despite a physical challenge.

Although born with ectrodactylism, a rare birth defect, Roger not only became the only athlete with four impaired limbs to compete in a NCAA Division I sport, he also became a Hall of Fame Division I athlete. His compelling story of how he became a tennis champion communicates and demonstrates the power of an “I Can!” attitude to redefine the possible!

Roger has been inducted into the National Speakers Association Hall of Fame in recognition of his highly successful speaking career spanning two decades. As an in-demand Hall of Fame speaker, Roger Crawford uses his remarkable journey and inspirational keynote speeches to empower audiences to redefine what is truly possible! Named by Sports Illustrated as “one of the most accomplished physically challenged athletes in the world,” Roger’s message has instant credibility because he has lived the power of “I Can.”

Roger’s presentations can help create an “I Can” culture in your organization. Such a culture increases the level of performance individually, collectively and as a result, increases the bottom line.