Taylor Rooks
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Emmy Award-nominated sports journalist Taylor Rooks is an acclaimed interviewer whose probing questions give rise to some of today’s most pressing discussions beyond the game. Rooks is the Host and Executive Producer of Take It There With Taylor Rooks, her interview show for Bleacher Report, among other duties for Turner Sports. She is the Primary Host of Amazon Prime Video's NBA coverage and Feature Reporter of Amazon's Thursday Night Football. Previously, she worked as a host, reporter, and correspondent for the Big Ten Network and as a sideline reporter for CBS Sports Network. She is known for asking daring questions that lead to revelatory conversations with some of sports’ biggest stars.
Praised in a profile by the New York Times: “Taylor Rooks gets the interviews that go viral.” She shares meaningful insights about succeeding in her industry by focusing on making connections and honoring the humanity of the players, as well as understanding the larger context behind the game. With her incomparable coverage of the NBA season during the pandemic, Rooks was tapped as featured writer for GQ’s “Men of the Year” issue. She offers unparalleled analysis based on her expertise in media as a keynote speaker, host, or interviewer to amplify meaningful events for audiences.
Olivia Munn
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Olivia Munn is an actor, activist, and mother who was recently named to 2024’s "TIME: 100 Most Influential People." Earlier that year, Munn posted the story of her ongoing battle with breast cancer; urging women to advocate for early detection by taking a Breast Cancer Lifetime Assessment risk test. The National Cancer Institute said that Munn’s outreach “led to a surge in visits to the Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Tool site.” The rate of women taking this formerly little-known test increased 4000%. For her advocacy, Munn was honored with the Woman of Impact Award at InStyle's Imagemaker Awards.
Best known for her brilliant work across three seasons of Aaron Sorkin’s The Newsroom, Olivia Munn also starred in such iconoclastic films as Magic Mike, The Predator, X-Men: Apocalypse, and Office Christmas Party. Munn was then hired as the first East Asian Correspondent on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and appeared on the show for two Emmy-winning seasons. Olivia Munn was an early and active Silence Breaker in the #MeToo movement. She exposed predatory behavior in Hollywood and championed other victims who came forward to share their stories. For her efforts to shed light on abusers and give voice to victims, Munn was honored by the United Nation Foundation. After a startling rise in Anti-Asian violence following the COVID-19 outbreak, Munn, who is half Chinese-Vietnamese, tackled the issue on multiple fronts. She became a leader in the #StopAsianHate movement; raising money, filming public service announcements, and coordinating with mayors and police departments throughout the United States. She was invited to the White House by President Biden to be in attendance when he signed the COVID 19 Hate Crimes Act into law. Whether discussing the challenges of Hollywood, the power of authenticity, or her advocacy work, Munn’s discussions resonate deeply and provide valuable perspectives that inspire positive change.
Gabrielle Bernstein
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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.
Fawn Weaver
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Fawn Weaver is CEO of Uncle Nearest, the best-selling Black-founded spirit brand in history. A TED speaker, two-time New York Times best-selling author, and Harvard-certified director, she’s among just five Black women to lead a $1B+ U.S. company and served on the board of Endeavor Group Holdings (NYSE: EDR). Weaver is a highly sought-after voice in conversations about accelerating growth without sacrificing values, inclusive organizational strategy, and leadership, making an impact with audiences of all kinds.
Stacey Abrams
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Political leader, business owner, and bestselling author Stacey Abrams is heralded for her candid insights on politics, leadership, entrepreneurship, social justice, and being a true force for change. A tax attorney by training, Abrams served eleven years in the Georgia House of Representatives, seven as Minority Leader, and became the Democratic nominee for governor in 2018 and 2022. She has launched multiple nonprofit organizations devoted to democracy protection, national and local voter engagement, tackling social issues, and building a more equitable future in the South.
An incomparable entrepreneur, Abrams has built a remarkably broad portfolio across nonprofit, political, and business sectors. She co-founded financial services firm NOWaccount Corp., Nourish, Inc. – a beverage company with a focus on infants and toddlers, and Insomnia Consulting to specialize in development, investment, and consulting for complex infrastructure projects, including transportation, waste-by-rail transfer, energy, facilities, and water. Abrams and her business partner published Level Up – a guidebook for entrepreneurs.
Abrams is also the CEO of Sage Works Productions, Inc., an entertainment production company. She conceptualized and produced the Academy Awards-shortlisted documentary All In: The Fight for Democracy and wrote the New York Times bestselling books Our Time is Now and Lead from the Outside. She is also the author of the political thrillers While Justice Sleeps and Rogue Justice, two children's books, and several romantic suspense novels, three of which are under development. She has been nominated for an Emmy and received the NAACP Image Award in 2021, 2022, and 2023.
Sought-out to speak everywhere from TED, where her talk has almost 7M views and counting, to college campuses, to corporate board rooms, to the Commonwealth Club and Chatham House, Abrams is a powerful and passionate speaker. As TIME wrote of her, "People tend to remember the first time they heard Stacey Abrams speak, and it’s easy to see why."
Carli Lloyd
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Two-time Olympic gold medalist, two-time World Cup champion, and New York Times bestselling author Carli Lloyd is an iconic American soccer star heralded for her contribution to U.S. and world soccer history. Lloyd is the two-time recipient of the highest, most prestigious award in soccer: FIFA World Player of the Year. She played for the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team for 17 years (2005-2021). Lloyd is a two-time Olympic gold medalist and a bronze medalist. She is the only American player to score in four different Olympics and holds the record for All-time leading scorer in USWNT Olympic history with 10 goals. She also competed in four Women’s World Cup tournaments and is a two-time World Cup Champion. She became the first player in FIFA Women’s World Cup to score a hat trick in a World Cup final. She was awarded the Golden Ball (MVP) and Silver Boot at the 2015 World Cup. Carli has played in more World Cup (25) and Olympic matches (22) than any other USWNT player. She has scored 134 goals across in 316 games, ranking 3rd of all-time for men and women internationally. Carli currently runs her own CL10 Soccer Clinics. She is also a minority owner in her prior NWSL club, Gotham FC, making a splash in investing, entrepreneurship, and team ownership. Her own grit was proved yet again while winning FOX’s Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test, proving toughness is a mindset. Lloyd’s career has been marked by consistent production over the course of her career, her extreme dedication to the game, and her relentless pursuit of self-improvement.
Carli is a role model who empowers and inspires others to be “Better Every Day” and to never give up on achieving their goals. The New York Times bestselling author of When Nobody Was Watching, Carli empowers audiences to find their own success with lessons from both in and beyond the world of sports. She has spoken to audiences at Golden Sachs, Bank of America, Cornell University, Microsoft, Intuit, and more.
Allyson Felix
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Athlete icon, entrepreneur, and advocate Allyson Felix is the most decorated Track & Field Olympian in U.S. history. An eleven-time Olympic medalist. Seven-time Olympic Champion. World Record Holder. She has won a mind-blowing thirty-one global medals at the Olympics and World Championships. Felix has redefined athletics as she continues to cement her iconic status on and off the track. She is an investor in multiple companies, serves as an advisor to a female-led and focused venture fund, and is the Founder of her own shoe company for women, Saysh. Sought after for her empowering insights about striving for greatness in business and in life, Felix has captivated audiences across industries.
Felix has been featured in major publications including Forbes, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, Vogue, Glamour, Essence, Self, O Magazine, Sports Illustrated, and Elle. Her documentary "She Runs the World," which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival, follows her success and track and field alongside her battle with Nike.
She is passionate about her community and serves on the Board of Directors for &Mother, Right to Play, and others, and through partnerships with Voice in Sport, the Women’s Sports Foundation, and more. Felix has received numerous accolades for her athletics and her advocacy, including being named to TIME’s “100 Most Influential People of the Year” in both 2020 and 2021 as well as the Sports Illustrated ‘Unrelenting List’. In demand with groups such as Trellance, Princeton University, Paypal, and World 50, Inc., to name a few, Felix consistently receives rave reviews for her speaking engagements: “The event with Allyson Felix was a great success! She presented such a genuine, focused, inspirational story that displayed her journey of ups and downs; her great lessons and appreciation of what teamwork can bring. A true champion.” (ATG Global Entertainment)
Deshauna Barber
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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.
Lindsey Stirling
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Lindsey Stirling is an extraordinary talent whose meteoric rise in the music industry is matched by her massive fan base and social following. A classically trained violinist, Lindsey has seamlessly merged her classical roots with the progressive world of electronic beats, creating a sound that’s uniquely her own. With over 28M followers across all social platforms, including 13M subscribers and over 3B views on YouTube, as well as a series of chart-topping hits, Lindsey is a global force whose performance artistry has captured the hearts of millions. Her multiple sold-out world tours, two Billboard Music Awards, and a series of critically acclaimed albums – including her fifth studio album, Artemis, which debuted at #1 on the Dance/Electronic Album Chart, earning critical acclaim – reflect her groundbreaking success and influence.
Through her personal journey and a unique gift for connecting deeply with her audience, Lindsey encourages others to find confidence in what sets them apart, empowering, uplifting and inspiring her fans all over the world. A true independent artist, Lindsey’s influence extends beyond the music world – she is a New York Times Bestselling author, was a runner-up on ABC’s Dancing with the Stars in 2017, as well as a notable guest on NBC’s America’s Got Talent, and her success in all these realms has further cemented her status as a multi-dimensional talent.
In response to the pandemic, Lindsey took her artistry to new heights, funding and directing a virtual livestream concert that garnered over 100,000 unique viewers. She also created The Upside Fund, her nonprofit dedicated to helping fund and advocate for accessibility in all areas of healthcare and mental health.
In addition to her musical, on-camera, writing and philanthropic achievements, Lindsey is a sought-after motivational speaker, continuing to use her story to inspire others. She lives and teaches the importance of embracing one’s unique qualities, reminding audiences that individuality is the true key to success. Lindsey Stirling continues to shine as a beacon of light and positivity in today’s entertainment industry, bringing her own brand of “magic” to all she touches.
Missy Franklin
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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.
Glennon Doyle & Abby Wambach
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What does it mean to achieve global success without compromising your sense of self?
Abby Wambach and Glennon Doyle are the powerhouse couple redefining courage, resilience, and leadership in today’s world. A world champion Olympian and a #1 NYT bestselling author, Abby and Glennon put the “can do” in We Can Do Hard Things. Together, they bring their unmatched energy and transformative wisdom to inspire millions through their stories of triumph, vulnerability, and reinvention.
Abby, a soccer legend, World Cup champion, and two-time Olympic gold medalist, knows what it takes to overcome obstacles and lead with courage. Her groundbreaking approach to leadership—“leading from the bench”—shows how true leaders lift others and create space for collective success. Ohio State University said, “I just wanted to let you know the event went AMAZING! … Abby's message was so powerful and truly impacted those in attendance.”
Glennon, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of UNTAMED and host of the wildly popular We Can Do Hard Things podcast, is a global voice for authenticity, mental health, and social justice. With her signature mix of humor, honesty, and profound insight, she empowers people to embrace their truth and live boldly. Microsoft said, “From the moment she stepped on stage you could feel the energy in the audience. She caused people to think and look at the world a little differently, which is exactly what we were striving for. She did a fantastic job for us.”
Together, Glennon and Abby direct audiences toward the internal alignment tools that lead to external success. Audiences leave with the roadmap necessary to pursue their dreams by cultivating a connection to their authentic selves.
Zozibini Tunzi
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A powerful and versatile speaker, Zozibini Tunzi first gained national attention after delivering a memorable winning answer to host Steve Harvey during the 2019 Miss Universe competition, wherein she rallied young women to “take up space.” Before becoming Miss Universe, Tunzi worked for a global advertising agency and has a huge passion for music and the arts. She spoke frequently about women’s empowerment, diversity and inclusion in the beauty industry, media, and other industries during her reign as Miss Universe. Tunzi will invariably inspire your audience with her journey from South Africa to the global stage, emphasizing the importance of authenticity and self-love.
Tunzi uses her platform to speak out against gender-based violence and push forward gender equality. She currently sits on panels across the world, and advocates for organizations including U.N. Women’s #HeForSheCampagin, Latino Commission on Aids, and Smile Train International. She has presented at the Forbes Women Summit, “This Girl Wins” Annual Empowerment Summit, and many more.
Taylor Cassidy
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Content creator and activist Taylor Cassidy teaches unsung Black history with quick wit and strong passion. As seen in her series Fast Black History and Black Girl Magic Minute, she uses her platform to advocate for inclusion, representation, and love for one’s culture. Cassidy currently is a correspondent on Nickelodeon’s Nick News, a radio host for Sirius XM's TikTok Radio Channel, and recently became the first youth speaker at the United Nations International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade. Cassidy’s Ted Talk, “Why Real Change is About More Than Just Going Viral,” invites listeners to rethink impact both on and offline.
Cassidy has been widely recognized as a premier creative. In 2020, she earned a Creator Honor from Liza Koshy at the Streamy Awards and was featured on TikTok's Top 100 list as one of 10 "Voices of Change: Most Impactful Creators." Cassidy has also been named to Teen Vogue's "21 under 21" and Forbes’ “30 Under 30” lists. Generous with sharing her story on Black identity and finding her creative voice, Cassidy is passionate about encouraging others to dream bigger for themselves.
Jen Hatmaker
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New York Times bestselling author, award-winning podcaster, and community creator Jen Hatmaker inspires audiences to show up genuinely for their own lives – and believes this will change the world. Jen is the author of 14 books including the NYT bestsellers For the Love, Of Mess and Moxie, and Fierce, Free, and Full of Fire. Her latest book, Feed These People: Slam Dunk Recipes for Your Crew, is jam-packed with easy recipes, big flavors, and Southern wit. Jen is the founder and delighted curator of the Jen Hatmaker Book Club, host of the award-winning For the Love podcast, and she leads a tightly knit online community where she reaches millions of people each week.
A highly sought-after motivational speaker, Jen shares uplifting messages about leadership, well-being, authenticity, and finding yourself that resonate with an audience of millions.
Jana Kramer
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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.
Alex Guarnaschelli
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Iron Chef Alex Guarnaschelli is a world-renowned chef and one of Food Network’s top stars. Guarnaschelli first appeared on the network in 2006 and has since been part of hundreds of episodes of programming on the network, including as a judge on Chopped, co-host of The Kitchen, host of Supermarket Stakeout, and star of Alex vs America. As a competitor, she beat nine rival chefs to win The Next Iron Chef: Redemption, joining the ranks of Kitchen Stadium Iron Chefs. She also hosts the award-winning digital series, Fix Me a Plate, and is the author of the cookbooks Old-School Comfort Food: The Way I Learned to Cook (2013), The Home Cook: Recipes to Know by Heart (2017), and most recently Cook with Me: 150 Recipes for the Home Cook (2020).
Guarnaschelli attended La Varenne Culinary School in Burgundy, France and began her international culinary journey training in Paris and New York with some of the world’s most acclaimed chefs including Guy Savoy and Daniel Boulud. In 2003, Guarnaschelli was given the opportunity to expand her repertoire and become the executive chef at Butter in New York City, where she has since created her own eclectic American and green-market inspired menu. In sought-after keynotes and live demonstrations, Guarnaschelli provides lessons from a life steeped in culinary education and adventure, her own travels, and experiences as a mother and in world-renowned kitchens.
Guarnaschelli is regularty a guest on national television shows such as Today, Good Morning America and Live with Kelly & Ryan and has also been featured in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times and Food & Wine. A popular mainstay on social media and Head of Twitter’s Food Council, Guarnaschelli also premiered her one-woman live comedy show Busting My Chops at Caroline’s on Broadway. A passionate and dynamic speaker, Guarnaschelli enjoys serving as an emcee and provides engaging cooking demonstrations to the delight of audiences.
Elizabeth Nyamayaro
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Elizabeth Nyamayaro is an award-winning humanitarian, author, and former United Nations Senior Advisor on gender equality. Born in Zimbabwe, Elizabeth has worked at the forefront of global development for over two decades improving the lives of underserved populations, and has been instrumental in fighting global inequalities, advancing social justice, and challenging the status quo to accelerate women’s rights around the world – through her leadership roles at the World Bank, World Health Organization, UNAIDS, UN Women and the United Nations World Food Programme. Elizabeth is the mastermind behind HeForShe, a United Nations global solidarity movement for gender equality that took the world by storm, generating more than 1.2B conversations on social media and galvanizing men in every single country in the world in just five days. Her book Human Skills is a guide to strengthening relationships and leading a fulfilling life.With her TED Talk garnering more than 1M views in its first weeks alone, Elizabeth is a prominent thought-leader and has engaged at global forums such as World Economic Forum in Davos, Cannes Film Festival, Skoll World Forum, Harvard, Oxford, the British Parliament, among others.
Named as Apolitico’s "100 Most Influential People in Gender Policy" in 2018 & 2019, Elizabeth has been touted by The New York Times as “one of only two women transforming Davos.” She has been featured in Vogue, Fast Company, Wired, Fortune, Elle, BBC, and CNN. She has also served as a Glass Lions jury at Cannes Lions and has received the PR Council Trailblazer Award for Social Impact and the Feminist Majority Foundation’s Global Women’s Rights Award. A Political Scientist by training, Elizabeth holds a Masters of Science in Politics from the London School of Economics & Political Science and leadership education from the Harvard Business School.
Venus Williams
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Legendary tennis champion, New York Times bestselling author, and entrepreneur Venus Williams has made a lasting impact on and off the court with her entrepreneurship, advocacy, and fight for equality. Venus has won 7 Grand Slam titles, 5 Wimbledon championships, and 4 Olympic gold medals, and was formerly ranked No. 1 in the world. One of the most accomplished and inspiring women in the history of sports, she has been a steadfast advocate for equal pay, women’s empowerment, and social justice. Venus is also the New York Times bestselling author of Come to Win. Venus shares her insights in motivational speaking events for groups including Capital One, Ernst & Young, Infor, Gannett, and many more.
Heralded for her innovative business acumen, Venus is the Founder of V Starr, a full-service commercial and residential design firm. She has expanded her portfolio with the launch of her plant-based protein company Happy Viking. Venus recently served as the Executive Producer on the Academy Award-winning Warner Bros. biopic King Richard – which told the story of her father’s impact on her childhood and career as she became a tennis icon and changed the sport for generations to come. Venus has been honored with Variety’s “Power of Women” Award, as Glamour Magazine’s “Woman of the Year,” CARE Impact Award for Gender Equality, ESPN’s “WTA Player of the Year,” and one of Forbes’ “Celebrity 100.”
Venus consistently receives glowing reviews for her events, such as: “Venus was absolutely incredible. Everyone is still talking about her fireside chat. She was so gracious with her time and brought such amazing energy to the event.” (eXp World Holdings)
Glennon Doyle
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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.
Jillian Turecki
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Jillian Turecki is a renowned relationship expert, NY Times bestselling author, and host of the podcast, Jillian On Love. Fueled by an insatiable curiosity about what makes a relationship thrive, Jillian has helped millions over the last 20 years through her teachings, courses, social media, and writing to revolutionize their relationship with themselves so that they transform their external relationships. She teaches that the single most impactful step toward healthier relationships—strengthening the relationship with yourself.
In her compelling talks, Jillian equips audiences with the tools to build self-awareness, strengthen communication, and create deeper, more resilient connections. Perfect for leadership events, corporate wellness programs, and any organization committed to fostering authentic, emotionally intelligent teams, Jillian’s message is both timely and timeless: when we change how we show up for ourselves, we change everything.
Bozoma Saint John
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A trailblazing and genuine change-agent, Bozoma “Boz” Saint John is a Hall of Fame Inducted Marketing Executive, author, and entrepreneur who is worthy of the Harvard Business School case study written about her career, titled “Leading with Authenticity and Urgency.” Few people have the depth and breadth of experience that Boz has. Her remarkable success at Netflix, Pepsi, Apple, Uber; the Endeavor brands (WME | IMG, Miss Universe, Ultimate Fighting Champion, Professional Bull Riders, and more); and her own haircare and wig brand, Eve by Boz, proves her to be one of the most effective marketers of any generation. On February 21, 2023, Viking Books published her memoir, The Urgent Life.
With almost 20 years of experience that spans multiple industries including digital music and entertainment, consumer packaged goods, fashion, sports and automotive, Bozoma is a leader heralded for her bold thinking and cutting-edge ideas. Prior to Netflix and Endeavor, she served as the Chief Brand Officer at Uber, where she was tasked with telling the stories of millions of riders and driver-partners across over 600 cities, and as the Head of Global Consumer Marketing for Apple Music and iTunes, where she built and launched Apple Music, as well as spearheaded campaigns geared towards growing consumer brand recognition, loyalty, and equity around the world.
Recognized for her breakthrough work by both the industry and her peers, Boz is a member of the Billboard Hall of Fame, the American Advertising Federation Hall of Achievement and American Marketing Association Hall of Fame. She has been the recipient of numerous awards, named Forbes #1 Most Influential CMO in 2021, Executive of the Year by Billboard Magazine, and featured in lists such as Fortune’s "Most Influential CMOs," Fast Company’s and Ad Age’s "100 Most Creative People," and more.
Hailed as the "coolest person to ever go on stage at an Apple event,” by Buzzfeed, Bozoma brings unparalleled energy, transformative thinking, and innovative ideas to each engagement.
Catherine Price
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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
Sue Bird
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After a celebrated career spanning three decades, Sue Bird left her mark on the WNBA, women’s basketball, and the broader world of women’s sports.
Bird retired in 2022 after a historic run as the world’s premier point guard, during which she won five Olympic gold medals, four World Championship medals, two NCAA championships, and four WNBA titles. She is also a five-time EuroLeague champion, a thirteen-time WNBA All-Star, the 2021 USA Basketball Female Athlete of the Year, the WNBA’s all-time leader in assists, and was voted by fans as one of the WNBA’s Top 15 Players of All Time.
In 2024, Sue’s jersey was retired by the Seattle Storm (making her only the second player in franchise history to receive that honor) and she officially joined the team’s ownership group. Bird will be inducted into both the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame and the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame this year and it was recently announced that she will serve as the first-ever Managing Director of USA Basketball for the upcoming Olympic cycle.
In 2021, Bird co-founded TOGETHXR—a women-centered media and commerce company—alongside Alex Morgan, Simone Manuel, and Chloe Kim, to further the progress, culture, representation, and coverage of all women and girls in sport. Through TOGETHXR, Sue produced Power of the Dream, a documentary by director Dawn Porter on the WNBA’s fight for social justice, which had a significant impact on U.S. politics in 2020; Row of Life, a feature documentary following Angela Madsen—a former Marine, three-time Paralympian, and renowned ocean rower—on her attempt to solo row unsupported from Los Angeles to Hawaii; and the six-part podcast series Summer of Gold, which chronicled the American female athletes who dominated the 1996 Atlanta Games. It was recently announced that Summer of Gold will be adapted into a television limited series, with Bird serving as one of the executive producers.
Last year, Sue hosted Sue’s Places, a basketball-focused take on Peyton Manning’s signature ESPN+ original series, where she explored the history and traditions of college basketball. Over the past several years, she and best friend Diana Taurasi have co-hosted the popular ‘alterna-cast’ The Bird & Taurasi Show during coverage of the Women’s Final Four and Sue Bird: In the Clutch, a documentary chronicling her groundbreaking career, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and is currently streaming on Netflix.
At the end of 2022, Sue and her fiancée, soccer legend Megan Rapinoe, launched A Touch More, a production company focused on elevating stories about revolutionaries who move culture forward. The company champions narratives centered on identity, activism, and underrepresented communities. Their first scripted TV series, Playing the Field—based on the bestselling novel Cleat Cute—is currently in development. The ensemble series is set in the world of women’s soccer and follows a young player navigating life as a rookie, her dream of making the national team, and a budding romance with the team captain.
Bird and Rapinoe re-launched their podcast, A Touch More: The Podcast, last year. Originally an Instagram Live series that began during the height of the pandemic, the show quickly gained a large following for its candid and wide-ranging conversations, which has continued since the re-launch of the show. Sue and Megan serve as executive producers of the podcast through their A Touch More banner. The show was recently named one of Apple’s “Shows We Love” for 2024 and won the Webby Award for Best Sports Podcast this year. Bird just launched her first solo podcast, Bird’s Eye View, focused on the upcoming WNBA season.
Sue has quickly established herself as a trailblazer among former athletes transitioning into mainstream media. Her sharp perspective and vocal advocacy for racial, gender, and LGBTQIA+ equity have made her a cornerstone in athlete representation and allyship. She continues to be a visible and outspoken activist for Black lives, LGBTQ+ rights, gender equality, health and wellness, and expanding opportunities for girls and marginalized communities.
Bird currently resides in both New York and Seattle.
Megan Rapinoe
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Two-time World Cup Champion and Olympic Gold Medalist, Megan Rapinoe is a true soccer legend.
A vocal leader in every aspect of her life, Megan helped lead the US Women’s National Team to the 2019 Women’s World Cup Championship, where she took home the tournament’s two top honors – the Golden Boot for top scorer, and the Golden Ball for the best player in the tournament. Megan retired in 2023 and among numerous soccer accolades, is also a New York Times Best-Selling author, one of Time100’s Most Influential People, and a recent Presidential Medal of Freedom award recipient. Rapinoe had her jersey retired by the OL Reign (the first player in franchise history and the second player in the entire NWSL to have this honor) and was inducted into the University of Portland Hall of Fame.
At the end of 2022, Megan and her fiancé, basketball icon Sue Bird, launched A Touch More, a production company focused on elevating stories about revolutionaries who move culture forward. The company champions narratives centered on identity, activism, and underrepresented communities. Their first scripted TV series, Playing the Field—based on the bestselling novel Cleat Cute - is currently in development. The ensemble series is set in the world of women’s soccer and follows a young player navigating life as a rookie, her dream of making the national team, and a budding romance with the team captain.
Rapinoe and Bird re-launched their podcast, A Touch More: The Podcast, last year. Originally an Instagram Live series that began during the height of the pandemic, the show quickly gained a large following for its candid and wide-ranging conversations, which has continued since the re-launch of the show. Megan and Sue serve as executive producers of the podcast through their A Touch More banner. The show was recently named one of Apple’s “Shows We Love” for 2024 and won the Webby Award for Best Sports Podcast this year.
Megan is renowned for her advocacy in LGBTQ+ rights, racial equality, and gender equity and has been able to intersect her passion for humanity and authenticity.
Emmy Rossum
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Emmy Rossum – Actress, Activist, Artist
Emmy Rossum is a dynamic force in the entertainment world whose influence extends far beyond the screen. Best known for her unforgettable role as Fiona Gallagher in the acclaimed series Shameless, Rossum is a classically trained opera singer, accomplished actress, director, and passionate advocate for social change.
A compelling and articulate speaker, Emmy brings a rare blend of artistic insight, personal authenticity, and advocacy to every stage. She speaks candidly about her journey in Hollywood, the pressures of fame, the power of storytelling, and what it means to take control of your narrative as a woman in a male-dominated industry. Her work off-screen is equally impactful—championing causes including women's rights, animal welfare, and environmental sustainability.
Whether discussing creativity, resilience, or activism, Emmy Rossum inspires audiences with her thoughtful perspective, emotional honesty, and unwavering dedication to making a difference. Her voice is one of empowerment, transformation, and purpose.
Zarna Garg
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Achieving the impossible is just a normal day’s work for Zarna Garg, whether it’s escaping an arranged marriage at 14, or most recently, selling out theaters across the country as a stand-up comedian while building a lucrative social media empire–after raising her kids as a stay-at-home mom for 16 years!
Zarna is here to tell you that whatever your dream is, the time to achieve it is now, and she can share some of the strategies she’s developed to get there.
Zarna Garg is “One in a Billion,” and that's not the just name of her first comedy special. She’s also the only Indian mom comedian taking on her mother-in-law. Her memoir, This American Woman, is a laugh-out-loud, deeply honest exploration of identity, belonging, and the courage it takes to finally become who you were always meant to be. She was recently profiled as one of the gutsiest women in comedy on Apple TV’s new “Gutsy Women” series, and featured on “This American Life” with Ira Glass. When she’s not doing 15 shows a week at Comedy Cellar in New York City, she is touring the world with her show. She is the winner of Kevin Hart's Lyft Comics, the winner of the 2021 Ladies of Laughter Award, and has over a million followers across social media platforms. Her debut feature screenplay, Rearranged won Top Comedy Feature award at Austin Film Festival in 2019 and was a 2019 Nicholl Fellowships Semi-Finalist. Zarna proudly performs clean family-friendly comedy while wearing her kurta and bindi on stage and draws you into her authentic Indian world full of ironies, merciless maternal advice, and fresh observations on American life. Visit zarnagarg.com for more details.
Stacy London
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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.
Stacy London is best known as the co-host of the iconic TLC show What Not To Wear. She was a regular correspondent on Today, The Oprah Winfrey Show, Access Hollywood, The View, and Rachael Ray for many years. Amazon has announced her new TV show with Clinton Kelly called Wear Whatever The F You Want, slated to air in 2025. She served as the spokesperson for Pantene, Dr. Scholl’s, Lee Jeans, and Woolite. Her book, The Truth About Style, was a New York Times bestseller. Throughout her career, Stacy has made her mark by raising the confidence of others through empowering and uplifting projects and speaking events.
Stacy also co-founded the brand State Of Menopause to address issues surrounding the menopause experience. She is an advisor to Evernow, a telehealth and menopause treatment platform, and Flow Health, a media platform for women’s health. She is on the Board of Directors for two non-profit organizations, Chronicon Foundation and Glam4Good. Her experience in the women’s health space propelled her back to fashion to help people in mid-life find a new sense of self-esteem and power in aging. She currently has a fashion brand exclusive to QVC. 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!
KJ Rose
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Artist Development & Performance Director Keanna "KJ Rose" Henson, author of The Rose Effect: Eight Steps to Delivering The Performance of Your Life, is a powerful change agent with real world experience. KJ delivers real world results. KJ worked with Clive Davis at J Records and coached Lil Nas X, the Lumineers, 24k Goldn, The Kid Laroi, Rubi Rose, Justine Skye, Polo G., and others. She also performed with Justin Timberlake, Britney Spears, and Janet Jackson. KJ directed talent on national campaigns such as Doritos (Lil Nas X, Billy Ray Cyrus, Sam Elliot) Uber Eats (Lil Nas X & Elton John), Taco Bell (Lil Nas X) & Roblox (Lil Nas X)
KJ Rose has shared her expertise on WGN America, NBC's News Now, Bloomberg News, and NBC's California Live. Additionally, KJ contributed by coaching talent on shows that include Saturday Night Live, The Voice, The Grammy Awards, MTV Music Video Awards, BET Awards, Amazon Music Holiday Plays, American Music Awards, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, and The Ellen DeGeneres Show. KJ currently works as an actress on TriDestined Studios & BET+ The Family Business. KJ's dedication to excellence catapulted her to influencer status and creative innovator for initiatives led by TikTok, Janie and Jack, Harlem Fashion Row, REVOLT, and BET.com.
KJ's compelling creative destiny and infectious energy lead brands such as Adidas, L'Oreal, Google, Pandora Media, Omnicom, Nickelodeon, Sony Music, Columbia Records, TriDestined Studios and Disney to deem her to be the "ultimate solution" to motivate and encourage their pool of talented employees.
Erica Keswin
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Bestselling author and workplace strategist Erica Keswin has spent the past twenty years working with some of the most iconic brands in the world as a consultant, speaker, writer, and professional dot-connector. Her book Bring Your Human to Work: Ten Sure-Fire Ways to Design a Workplace That is Good for People, Great for Business, and Just Might Change the World became a Wall Street Journal bestseller in its first week, serving as a powerful guide to a workplace revolution that honors relationships and puts people first. Her book Rituals Roadmap: The Human Way to Transform Everyday Routines into Workplace Magic is a #2 Wall Street Journal bestseller and an indispensable guide to taking your employee engagement to the next level. The Retention Revolution: 7 Surprising (and Very Human!) Ways to Keep Employees Connected to Your Company is a game-changing playbook filled with accessible and actionable case studies and research that will prove how transforming old ideas into new beginnings is good for people, great for business, and just might change the world. In Erica's game-changing keynotes, she highlights how relationships are the most powerful driver of success for individuals and companies striving to attract and retain talent and loyal customers.
Keswin and her work have been featured in Harvard Business Review, Forbes, Huffington Post, O Magazine, Better Homes and Gardens, Mogul, and Conscious Company, among others. She is also the Founder of the Spaghetti Project, a platform devoted to sharing the science and stories of relationships at work. Leaving audiences deeply informed and engaged, Keswin reveals her tried-and-true, human roadmap for people seeking a more meaningful and connected work life, and provides actionable insights on everything from how to cultivate a work culture of diversity and inclusion, to how to connect with customers in an authentic way.
Kendall Toole
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Athlete, community builder, and mental health advocate Kendall Toole is a lightning rod of energy and natural-born fighter who knows how to harness the collective attention in any room. A top Peloton fitness instructor, Kendall is also a content creator and lifestyle entrepreneur on a purpose-driven mission to empower others. Kendall is passionate about destigmatizing mental health and is an ambassador for the National Alliance on Mental Illness, and considers her own mental health journey a part of what makes her powerful.
Kendall spent time as a multi-sport athlete, amateur boxer, and actress, and realized her drive to change culture and empower communities, particularly women, to step into their light. This ultimately led Kendall to her tenure at Peloton, which catapulted her into pop culture stardom and viral reach on social media. Kendall has quickly become one of the most influential names in health & fitness and has amassed a loyal fanbase through her ability to stay “Never Knocked Out.” Through her in-demand classes, content, and speaking engagements, Kendall leaves a positive mark on her audiences by motivating those around her to find their voice and believe in their inner strength.
Blair Braverman
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Adventurer, dogsledder, and author Blair Braverman is a riveting storyteller and expert in perseverance. She and her team of dogs have traveled through thousands of miles of wilderness in Alaska, the Yukon, and Scandinavia, and completed the famed Iditarod race. Braverman is the author of Welcome to the Goddamn Ice Cube, which was called “stunning and sharp” by The New York Times Book Review, and indie bestsellers Dogs on the Trail and Small Game. She shares epic stories and practical takeaways about developing a practice of grit and courage, working as a team to thrive in high-pressure situations, and breaks down common misconceptions about what makes a powerful leader.
Braverman is a contributing editor for Outside magazine, and her writing has been featured in The New York Times, Vogue, and on the This American Life podcast. She and her dog team have been featured on The Today Show and in O: The Oprah Magazine, The Washington Post, TIME, Teen Vogue, and on NPR. In 2023, she hosted a series on animal-human relationships for BBC Radio 4. An in-demand speaker on cultivating bravery and embracing the unknown, Braverman regularly receives rave reviews such as: “My team at Microsoft was incredibly impressed with Blair’s passion, her depth of knowledge, and her storytelling. Over a year later, we still quote Blair about how there is always a way to get something done. She inspired the team in ways I had not predicted.” (Microsoft)
Serena Poon
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Serena Poon, CN, CHC, CHN is a certified nutritionist and celebrity chef, Reiki Master, and the wellness and longevity advisor to A-list clientele, from Tom Brady to Kerry Washington. Serena Loves, LLC was launched in 2019, a wellness brand, supplement line, blog, and TV show that encompasses all the pillars of optimal health, well-being, and longevity. This is achieved through her method of Culinary Alchemy®, which is a combination of education, integrative and functional nutrition, and healing energy. She is also the founder of Just Add Water®, a line of super nutrient foods and supplements, and co-founder of Fully Aligned Co, LLC with Professor David A. Sinclair, a conscious company backed by research, with the intentions of Bridging the Science and Soul of Well-being™.
Abby Wambach
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Legend, Leader, & Changemaker
Named one of TIME Magazine's "100 Most Influential People in the World," Abby Wambach has built her legacy as a transformational leader. With two Olympic gold medals, a World Cup victory, and a record-breaking career as one of soccer’s greatest goal scorers, Abby’s impact on the field and the stage are undeniable. Momentive Inc. said "She was OUTSTANDING! The team felt so inspired and energized after her conversation. I think we could have listened to her for 5 hours."
Her legacy reaches far beyond the pitch; Abby is one of the 40 most powerful people in podcasting, putting the “can do” in We Can Do Hard Things. This guide to life empowers audiences to turn challenges into opportunities for growth, rooted in Abby’s personal experience as an elite global athlete. In her bestselling books, Forward and Wolfpack, Abby shares powerful lessons on leadership, authenticity, and creating lasting change. A masterclass in resilience and reinvention, Abby redefines leadership as empowering others, building trust, and amplifying every voice.
Abby Wambach proves that doing hard things isn’t just about overcoming challenges—it’s about breaking barriers, rewriting the script, and inspiring others to believe in their strength. Whether uniting teams or challenging injustice, Abby brings the same passion and grit that made her a legend into every arena she enters. Her journey sparks change and empowers everyone she touches. Beloved by hosts across industries, Dell Technologies said, "Abby was fantastic" and LeadingAge raved, “Best keynote ever.”
Kim Ghattas
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Award-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.
Annika Sorenstam
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Hall of Fame golf legend, entrepreneur, and philanthropist Annika Sorenstam is regarded as one of the greatest female golfers of all time, and has shifted her competitive edge to building a business empire. During her fifteen year career at the top of her sport, she amassed over 90 worldwide victories, including 72 on the LPGA and 11 Major Championships. Sorenstam is a ground-breaking player, and continues to change the way women’s golf is played, viewed, and covered. Notably, she received international media attention when she became the first woman in 58 years to play in a PGA Tour men’s event. After stepping away from the course, she has founded numerous businesses under her ANNIKA brand, including a collection of high-end apparel, a wine label, a fragrance, a golf academy, as well as her golf course design business, through which she continues to break barriers and challenge stereotypes. Called the “First Lady of Golf” by the PGA, Sorenstam is an in-demand speaker for her insights from her legendary golf career, business ventures, and staying at the top of your game in any field.
Sorenstam has been profiled in Forbes, Vanity Fair, The New York Times, and received numerous awards, including a Presidential Medal of Freedom, becoming the first female golfer and only the third female athlete to receive the honor. She holds a record eight Rolex Player of the Year awards, six Vare Trophies for the lowest scoring average in a season, and is the only female golfer to break 60 in an official event, earning her the moniker ‘Ms. 59’. Sorenstam created the ANNIKA Foundation, which provides golf opportunities at the junior, collegiate, and professional levels while teaching young people the importance of a healthy lifestyle. An ambassador for her sport, Sorenstam is a powerful advocate for equal opportunity, an entrepreneurial mogul, and an expert in developing a champion’s mindset, building a brand with integrity, and overcoming obstacles to exceed expectations.
Qian Julie Wang
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Civil rights litigator and New York Times bestselling author Qian Julie Wang uses her unique gift for storytelling to transcend the business, legal, political, and literary worlds and focus on the humanity at the heart of these issues.
Qian Julie’s debut Beautiful Country: A Memoir became an instant New York Times bestseller, and was heralded as “an incandescent debut from an astonishing new talent.” Lauded as an “essential book for our times” and named one of the New York Times Book Review’s “Notable Books of 2021,” Beautiful Country is a poignant and heartrending literary memoir that intimately retraces Qian Julie’s childhood footsteps where at age seven, she moved from China to Brooklyn, New York with her parents, and overnight went from being the daughter of professors to being deemed “illegal.” As a litigator, Qian Julie has been praised by clients as "exceptionally talented" and "exemplary.” For a decade, she has represented Fortune 500 corporations, governmental entities, and individuals in complex civil litigation. Qian Julie is now a managing partner at Gottlieb & Wang LLP and is dedicated to advocating for marginalized communities' education and discrimination rights.
Qian Julie’s writing has been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Cut, Elle, Harper’s Bazaar, and she has appeared on PBS Newshour, ABC News, NPR, BBC World Outlook, C-SPAN, The TODAY Show, among many others. A highly sought-after keynote speaker, Qian Julie is in demand for events with groups like the Association of Small and Rural Libraries, Datadog, the Nantucket and Savannah Book Festivals, Sentara Healthcare, and Central Synagogue, to name a few. For her open heart and strong passion for advocacy and bringing awareness to marginalized communities, she regularly receives rave reviews, such as: “Thanks to Qian Julie for a tremendous program last night. She gave such a beautifully crafted, powerful talk that had the audience alternatively chuckling, nodding, wiping their eyes, and occasionally even startled… Qian Julie is a supremely talented writer and thinker, and I am sure she will continue to challenge the world with her sharp and nuanced insights. And she couldn’t have been nicer and more gracious to staff and guests and trustees alike." (Museum of the City of New York)
Stephanie Izard
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Award-winning chef Stephanie Izard is a pioneer in her field. Chef Izard is the first woman to win the title of Top Chef, an Iron Chef champion, and the Executive Chef and Owner of five Chicago restaurants (Girl & the Goat, Little Goat, Duck Duck Goat, and Cabra), the bakery Sugargoat, and two Los Angeles restaurants *Girl & the Goat LA and Cabra LA). She has authored two cookbooks: Gather & Graze and Girl in the Kitchen. Izard also created a retail product line called “This Little Goat,” consisting of globally inspired cooking sauces, spice mixes, and crunches for home cooks. Izard jumped back into television in 2023 with the release of The Curious Chef, a Tastemade television series where she visits home cooks to get a taste of their time-honored recipes and traditions, alongside numerous appearances, as both a competitor and a judge, on shows including Tournament of Champions, Hell’s Kitchen, Superchef: Grudge Match, Guy’s Grocery Games, Chopped, and more.
Izard speaks on her experiences of passion, craft, and finding her to the top of a notoriously difficult industry. An inspiration not only to aspiring culinary professionals but anyone looking to break glass ceilings and fulfill their potential, Izard’s grit is a motivational force electrifying audiences nationwide.
Selma Blair
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An iconic figure in entertainment, Selma Blair is known for her impact on screen, in fashion, and as an activist. Blair’s film career began with her comedic roles in pop culture classics Cruel Intentions and Legally Blonde. Her film credits include Todd Solondz’s Storytelling, Roger Kumble’s The Sweetest Thing, Robert Benton’s Feast of Love, and John Water’s A Dirty Shame. Selma has reprised her role as “Liz Sherman” in Guillermo del Toro’s Hellboy II: The Golden Army, after starring in the original Hellboy. On television, Blair played “Kris Jenner” in FX’s The People vs. OJ Simpson: American Crime Story. On stage, Blair starred in Gruesome Playground Injuries and was nominated for a Grammy Award for “Best Spoken Word Recording” for her reading of The Diary of Anne Frank. On Season 31 of Dancing with the Stars, Blair won the award for The Competition Contestant of 2022 at the People’s Choice Awards. She released her first memoir to critical acclaim, The New York Times bestseller, Mean Baby. Blair can also be seen on screen as the subject of the award-winning documentary feature Introducing, Selma Blair. In 2024, Blair was celebrated as one of British Vogue's 40 “Megastars.” Beloved by audiences globally, Blair’s work across several high-profile projects has solidified her reputation in Hollywood.
Today, Blair is the Chief Creative Officer of Guide Beauty, a multi-award-winning cosmetics company, and a tireless advocate for the causes close to her heart such as disability justice and diversity in media. For her advocacy, Blair was honored with the Equity in Entertainment Award by The Hollywood Reporter, the SAG-AFTRA Harold Russell Award, and the Media Access Visionary Award. She has also been honored with Glamour's esteemed Women of the Year award for her courageous commitment to challenging norms and shattering barriers. Blair has been recognized as one of TIME Magazine’s People of The Year, further solidifying her impact on social change. Blair has shared her vision for a better world with hosts including the Massachusetts Conference for Women, TBC United Nations, the University of Buffalo, and many more.
Jemele Hill
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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.
Lindsay Gottlieb
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Lindsay Gottlieb is a groundbreaking figure in the world of basketball, whose leadership and expertise have left an indelible mark on both college and professional sports. Currently the head coach of the USC Lady Trojans, Gottlieb is dedicated to honoring the storied legacy of the program with her deep knowledge of the game, unwavering passion, and authentic approach to leadership.
Her journey has been defined by excellence, including seven NCAA tournament appearances and a Final Four run with the Cal Bears women's team. As the first NCAA women’s head coach to join an NBA staff, when she was hired by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2019, Gottlieb continues to break barriers and redefine what is possible for women in sports. In 2025, Gottlieb was both the Big 10 Conference Champion and Big 10 Coach of the Year. Her remarkable career speaks not only to her success but also to her role as a trailblazer, making her a compelling and inspiring speaker who can share powerful insights on leadership, resilience, and the power of authenticity in achieving success.
Becky Hammon
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Two-time Olympian and Women’s Basketball Hall of Famer Becky Hammon made history when she became the first woman to coach full-time in the NBA for the San Antonio Spurs. Hammon had a successful career as a player, including two Olympic appearances, an Olympic medal, a six-time WNBA All-Star, and being named one of the leagues “Top 15 Players of All-Time.” No stranger to breaking barriers in the sports world, Hammon joined the Spurs in 2014 in a leadership role as assistant coach. When Head Coach Gregg Popovich was ejected in the second quarter of a Spurs game, she made history again as the first woman head coach to lead an NBA team in a regular season game. Hammon is now the Head Coach of the WNBA Las Vegas Aces, back to back WMBA Champions. She is the first rookie WNBA coach to be named "WNBA Coach of the Year." She is joining ESPN as an Analyst, and will contribute to the network’s signature NBA shows, including Get Up, First Take, SportsCenter and NBA Today. Hammon offers her unique perspective as the first female coach in a men’s league, offering takeaways for those looking to become game-changers at work and in life.
Hammon has been inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame, and named to the Sports Illustrated “Unrelenting List,” the most powerful, influential, and outstanding women in sports right now. She is included on The W25, a list of the 25 most influential players in WNBA history. In impactful keynote speeches and moderated conversations, Hammon shares her journey to the NBA, revealing vital leadership lessons and inspiring audiences to pursue their dreams relentlessly and stand up for what they believe in.
Emily Oster
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Economist, academic, and New York Times bestselling author Emily Oster brings a data-driven focus and champions a strategic approach to today’s most important questions. Oster holds a PhD in Economics from Harvard University, and is a Professor of Economics at Brown University. Known for her New York Times bestselling books The Family Firm, Expecting Better, and Cribsheet, Oster proposes a classic business school framework for making decisions thoughtfully and deliberately – which she says is less about a specific answer and more about taking the right approach. She is a highly sought-after speaker for events with groups like Spotify, Athena Health, Capital One, and more.
Oster’s thought leadership is featured in her twice-weekly newsletter ParentData, which has over 100K subscribers on Substack, as well as her contributions to The Atlantic. She is an in-demand voice on health economics and statistical methods, and has been featured in The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Slate, The Cut, and others. Oster was named to TIME’s list of “The 100 Most Influential People of 2022, and the profile by Steven Pinker described her work saying: “Oster shows how ‘data’, a scary word, can be a humanizing force.” Though her approach discusses parenting specifically, her talks offer a smart and winning guide on how to think clearly – and with less stress – about any key decisions in life, for both organizations and individuals.
Austin Channing Brown
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New York Times bestselling author, media producer, and sought-after speaker Austin Channing Brown is a leading and inspired voice on racial justice in America. Austin is known for her New York Times bestseller I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness, which was a Reese’s Book Club pick, and her adaptation with new stories for young readers, I’m Still Here: Loving Myself in a World Not Made for Me. I’m Still Here shot to the top 20 of Amazon’s bestsellers list, has been featured in all major publications, and received acclaim from Kirkus, Publisher’s Weekly, Booklist, and more. Austin’s workshops and talks are incisive, fun, disarming, and above all, transformative. She’s been sought-after by groups including Wells Fargo, Elon University, the Coalition of Black Social Workers, and many more.
Austin is also the Founder and CEO of Herself Media, and creates content that centers the experiences of Black women, dismantling the foundations of white supremacy. She is also the Executive Producer and Host of The Next Question – a web series that imagines how expansive racial justice can be. Her nationally-celebrated first season of TNQ featured MacArthur Genius Nikole Hannah-Jones, NYT bestselling authors Brené Brown, and Jasmine Guillory. In addition, Austin is a co-host of the Full Reset podcast. By using an intentional mix of humor, pop-culture, story-telling, and audience engagement, she awakens people to the current realities of systemic racism and the everyday actions which allow racism to thrive. Austin evokes thought, feeling, and action as she celebrates Blackness and the possibility of justice in our organizations and communities.
Amanda Knox
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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.
Cori Close
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From UCSB Gaucho to UCLA Head Coach – A Journey of Passion and Leadership
Cori Close ’93 has woven basketball into every part of her life, from her days as a student-athlete at UC Santa Barbara to her current role as head coach of UCLA Women’s Basketball. Close was named The Michael Price Family UCLA Women’s Head Basketball Coach on April 21, 2011, and is the winningest coach in UCLA Women’s Basketball history with 305 wins, after surpassing Billie Moore’s record of 296 wins. She was named the 2025 Naismith Coach of the Year and AP Coach of the Year after leading UCLA to their first-ever Final Four appearance and Big 10 championship in the 2024-2025 season, their first conference tournament title since 2016. Her dedication on the court set the stage for a 30-year coaching career that has shaped the lives of countless athletes. With years of coaching experience, Close offers insights on building high-performing teams, fostering resilience, and developing a winning mindset.
As a Gaucho, she embraced the work-hard, play-hard mentality, balancing academics, athletics, and beachside moments. Close’s journey began immediately after graduation when she joined UCLA as an assistant coach (1993-1995). She then returned to UCSB for nine seasons, helping build a competitive program before spending seven years at Florida State. In 2011, she returned to UCLA as head coach, where she led the Bruins to multiple NCAA Tournament appearances while prioritizing player development and mentorship. While winning championships and coaching NCAA Tournament games has been rewarding, Close finds the most fulfillment in mentoring young women, watching them grow, graduate, and face life’s challenges beyond basketball. Close's talks emphasize personal and professional growth, sharing strategies on how to push past limits, embrace challenges, and develop self-discipline.
Margaret Trudeau
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Margaret Trudeau is celebrated for her role as a respected mental-health issues advocate and proponent of living a vibrant, joyful life especially as we age. From becoming the Canadian prime minister’s wife at a young age, to the loss of both her son and her former husband, to living with bi-polar disorder, Margaret shares her personal stories to remind others of the importance of nurturing the body, mind, and spirit.
Dr. Mae Jemison
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American icon Dr. Mae C. Jemison broke more than the sound barrier in 1992 when she climbed aboard the space shuttle Endeavour – she became the first woman of color to travel into space. Dr. Jemison was NASA’s first Science Mission Specialist, performing experiments in material science, life science, and human adaptation to weightlessness. She now leads 100 Year Starship (100YSS), a bold, far reaching nonprofit initiative to assure the capabilities exist for human travel beyond our solar system to another star within the next 100 years. Dr. Jemison is a highly sought-after speaker on issues of health care, social responsibility, technology, education, STEM, and motivation.
Dr. Jemison is the Founder and President of The Jemison Group, Inc. (JG) – a technology consulting firm integrating critical socio-cultural issues into the design of engineering and science projects, as well as BioSentient Corporation - a medical devices and services company focused on improving health and human performance is such a company. An inductee of the National Women’s Hall of Fame and the International Space Hall of Fame, she is the author of Find Where the Wind Goes: Moments from My Life and editor of 100 Year Starship Canopus Award Anthology. Dr. Jemison is in demand with groups including DePaul University, MKTG, Girl Scouts of the USA, Qatar Foundation, among many others.
Naomi Osaka
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Tennis icon, founder and serial entrepreneur, and philanthropist Naomi Osaka has transformed the world of sports with her outspoken advocacy for racial justice and player wellbeing. Ranked No. 1 in the world, the four-time Grand Slam Singles Champion made history as the first Japanese tennis player to win a Grand Slam and the first Asian player to hold a top ranking. The proud daughter of a Haitian father and Japanese mother, Naomi has used her platform to bring attention to racial inequality and police brutality, and sparked a global conversation about mental health awareness.
Naomi is the Founder of KINLÒ, a functional skincare solution for melanated skin and underserved communities, the co-founder of sports representation company Evolve and media company Hana Kuma, and has equity in more than a dozen brand partners, including Hyperice, Sweetgreen, and the crypto exchange FTX, in addition to being an early investor and advisory board member for Tom Brady’s NFT platform Autograph. Renowned for her advocacy for mental health, Naomi has partnered with Modern Health, a mental health resources company, as the company’s chief community health advocate. Her decision to take a break from tennis sparked an international conversation about the wellbeing of athletes, and of women of color in the workplace, and she became the leader of a movement for greater mental health care and awareness that continues to make an impact today.
Naomi has written powerful pieces for The New York Times, TIME, Esquire, and been profiled in countless publications, including Vogue, which heralded her as “the people’s champion.” She has been named to the TIME 100 three years in a row – in his profile for her, Russell Wilson wrote: “But sometimes, someone’s sphere of influence is so great, they can change a culture, change a society, change a whole world. Naomi Osaka has the power to do that.” She has been named a Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year, received the Laureus Breakthrough of the Year Award as well as the Laureus Sportswoman of the Year Award, and was chosen as the AP Female Athlete of the Year, among numerous honors.
Sara Evans
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Multi-platinum entertainer Sara Evans is at the top of her game. As one of the top five most-played female artist on country radio in the last two decades, she has five No. 1 singles including “No Place That Far,” “Suds In The Bucket, “A Real Fine Place To Start,” “Born to Fly,” and “A Little Bit Stronger,” which spent 2 weeks in the top spot and was certified platinum by the R.I.A.A. She has garnered such honors as ACM's Female Vocalist of the Year, CMA's Video of the Year, named one of People Magazine's ""50 Most Beautiful People,"" and the first country star to compete in ABC's Dancing with the Stars.
Sara continues to forge a bold, creative path with the launch of her label Born to Fly Records, and as the bestselling author of her memoir Born to Fly, as well as a series of entertaining novels. Those who know Sara as a storyteller through music connect with her personal and humorous stories in Born to Fly, in which she tells the narrative about her life and how faith and music brought her through some of her darkest hours.
Sara has been honored for her philanthropic work and was presented the NAB Education Foundation’s Service To America Leadership Award. A Red Cross ambassador, Sara received the national Crystal Cross award for her work with the disaster-relief organization.
Sara is praised for her humorous, real and inspiring talks in which she reminds us of the important things that matter: faith, love and family.
Landyn Hutchinson
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Since Landyn Hutchinson launched her lifestyle brand, Living with Landyn, she has cultivated a highly engaged audience of women (and men!) that she affectionately refers to as her Tribe. Landyn throws a party like no other. Audiences feel refreshed, inspired, and ready to make positive life choices. Most importantly, Landyn is there to remind them that even though life may look pretty in photos, it isn’t always picture-perfect: It’s Authentic.
A dynamic and beloved speaker, Landyn's live show allows her to connect with her highly engaged audience directly, quickly transforming followers into friends. From marriage and parenting to health and beauty to interior design and style, there is no topic that Landyn doesn’t cover with her laid-back, honest conversation. Through various on-stage segments and giveaways, Landyn makes sure that everyone in the audience is engaged and having fun.
Victoria Eady Butler
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Award-winning whiskey master blender Victoria Eady Butler is one of the key women behind the fastest-growing whiskey brand in U.S. history, Uncle Nearest, Inc. A relatively new face in the spirits world, whiskey is definitely in her blood. Butler is the great-great-granddaughter of the first known African American master distiller Nearest Green and carries on her family’s legacy first-hand. An Imbibe 75 alumnus, Butler was concluding a successful career as an analytical manager for the Regional Organized Crime Information Center in Nashville when Uncle Nearest Whiskey Founder and CEO Fawn Weaver invited her onboard. Butler quickly transitioned to master blender after curating a definitive batch of whiskey for the brand, which sold out immediately and won numerous awards, including two double-golds at international competitions.
Butler is a member of the executive team, and oversees the blending process of the core and Master Blend portfolios for the many-time award-winning Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey. Butler has been sought after to speak for groups including the Bourbon Women Association, the Vibe Conference, The Mercantile Library, Tennessee Whiskey Festival, the Black Bourbon Society, to name a few.
Butler is one of Imbibe Magazine’s “75 People to Watch,” and has been featured in Wine Enthusiast Magazine, The New York Times, Garden & Gun, Food & Wine, and many more. Butler currently oversees the Nearest Green Foundation, a 501(s)(3) non-profit organization that provides scholarships to Nearest Green’s descendants, which is funded by the sales of Uncle Nearest whiskeys. An industry trailblazer, she was the first female to be awarded Master Blender of the Year at the American Icons of Whisky Awards and in 2022, she became the first person in history to win that title back-to-back. In compelling keynotes, moderated conversations, and Q&As, Butler shares her incredible journey to the top of her industry and her insights about building a purpose-drive and profitable brand.
Cari Champion
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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.
Olympia Snowe
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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.
Jeannie Mai
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Emmy-Award winning host Jeannie Mai can be seen each weekday on the nationally syndicated talk show The Real. Mai and her fellow The Real co-hosts received a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Talk Show Host, received multiple Daytime Emmy nominations for Outstanding Talk Series, and received an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Talk Series. Mai also serves as a sideline correspondent for ABC’s extreme mini-golf competition series Holey Moley, and competed on season 29 of the hit series Dancing with the Stars. Mai’s presentations are both inspiring and relatable, offering insight into building resilience, embracing cultural identity, and harnessing personal strength to achieve success.
Deeply committed to charities that advance women’s interests, Mai serves as a board member for various organizations, including Dress for Success and Same Sky. Mai has served as an advocate to fight human trafficking and has been an ambassador for the Pacific Links Foundation, Step Up, Nightlight International, Not For Sale, and Heartbeat Vietnam. Mai has been honored for her activism work in the AAPI community as a part of the A100 list, highlighting the most influential Asians within their respective industries. Audiences leave Mai’s talks feeling motivated to take control of their lives with renewed passion and purpose.
Eva Longoria
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Award-winning actor, serial entrepreneur, and New York Times bestselling author Eva Longoria is paving the way for future women and minority producers, directors, and industry leaders in Hollywood and beyond. Since her rise to fame in ABC’s Desperate Housewives, Longoria has established herself as an in-demand director for television and a media trailblazer through her UnbeliEVAble Entertainment production company, which focuses on purposeful projects that accurately represent stories of the Latinx and other underrepresented communities. Longoria is also a partner in The MACRO Episodic Lab Powered by The Black List, which seeks to discover, support, and empower storytellers of color who typically do not have access to the traditional Hollywood system.
A dedicated philanthropist and activist, Longoria was named one of People Magazine’s “Women Changing the World.” She lends her voice to issues from immigration to reproductive rights, co-founded the nonprofit Eva’s Heroes, and established the Eva Longoria Foundation to help Latinas build better futures through educational programs, scholarships, mentorship, and entrepreneurship. Longoria is a co-founder of the Latino Victory Fund, a movement building political power in the Latinx community, and She Se Puede, a digital lifestyle community and media platform. She is the New York Times bestselling author of cookbooks Eva’s Kitchen and My Mexican Cookbook. Longoria empowers audiences of all kinds with stories of her personal journey and insights about fearless, values-driven leadership.
Judit Polgár
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Chess Grandmaster Judit Polgár is the International Chess Federation's official greatest female chess player of all time. At the age of 12, Polgár took the lead in the adult women’s world ranking, which she would hold for the next 26 years. By 14, she was already a two-time Women's Chess Olympic Champion (1988, 1990). Polgár won two further silver medals as member of the Hungarian men's team. At the age of 15 years and 4 months, she became a male international grandmaster, breaking Bobby Fischer's age record. In October 2005, Polgár ranked 8th in the absolute world ranking, as the first and, to date, the only female top 10 chess player. Polgár gave the informative and entertaining TED Talk “Giving checkmate is always fun,” and her talks on breaking the glass ceiling and strategic decision-making have delighted audiences worldwide.
Since retiring, Polgár has focused on the international promotion of the sport of chess, writing, and the Judit Polgár Chess Foundation. The World Chess Hall of Fame inductee has authored many books on chess, including Chess Palace, the Best European Learning Materials award-winning program now used by 40K children daily. Polgár has been an expert commentator at major international tournaments. Polgár has spoken at TED Conference, Morgan Stanley, CITI Bank, Exxon, the Warwick Economics Summit, and McKinsey: “We collectively think the speech Ms. Polgar gave during her presentation at our Executive event in September was excellent.”
Jessie James Decker
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Country music singer-songwriter, style entrepreneur, and TV personality Jessie James Decker is a New York Times bestselling author with over 7M social media followers. Signed to Warner Music Nashville, Jessie’s passion for music has made the multi-talented artist one of music’s true breakout firebrands. The singer’s authentic style immediately captivated listeners everywhere on her 2009 self-titled debut. She continued to keep it real with her second studio album, 2017’s Southern Girl City Lights, which debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart. Jessie is a four-time host of Dick Clark’s Rockin New Year’s Eve, Presenter at the American Music Awards 2022, and beloved contestant on Dancing with the Stars.
Decker is the Founder and Designer of Kittenish – a playful fashion line inspired by her personal style. Decker and her brand were profiled in Forbes, which raved: “country star Jessie James Decker was born to hustle.” The multi-hyphenate is also a multi-time New York Times bestselling author. Decker’s first book, Just Jessie, is her guide to love, life, family, and food. In Just Feed Me, Jessie shares her favorite recipes of her family – her husband, retired NFL player Eric Decker, their three children, and now a fourth one on the way. Jessie’s newest cookbook Just Eat is set to release Fall of 2023. An unstoppable force of talent and energy, Decker’s fans love to connect with Jessie through her brands, music, and in unforgettable events.
Cheryl Hines
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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.
Ziwe
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Comedian, writer, and actress Ziwe has captured audiences with her signature candor, wit, and salient commentary on race and politics in America. Ziwe hosted the A24 produced late-night variety sketch show, Ziwe, which was heralded by audiences and critics alike. As one of TIME’s 100 Next Gen Leaders, her refreshing approach to broadcast journalism represents the renaissance of late-night. Her guests have included Fran Leibowitz, Gloria Steinem, Stacey Abrams, Chet Hanks, and Julia Fox, among others. Ziwe is the author of a much-anticipated book of essays, Black Friend.
Hailed as the multi-hyphenate comedic voice to emerge from social media, Ziwe garnered attention during the early months of the pandemic with her provocative and hilarious interviews on her Instagram Live & YouTube talk series, Baited. The show featured interviews full of hard truths with the likes of Caroline Calloway, Alison Roman, Rose McGowan, and Jeremy O. Harris. She has released an album of songs from her Showtime show, Ziwe: A Famously Iconic Soundtrack, and has been featured as an actor on Succession, The Great North, Dickinson, and more. Ziwe’s iconic comedic voice, balanced with her incisive perspective as a cultural critic, ensures a memorable event that will resonate with audiences of all kinds.
Anita Elberse
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World-renowned, award winning professor of business administration Anita Elberse is acclaimed for her publications on products in the entertainment, media, sports, and other creative industries, using econometric modeling techniques and case studies to examine media-industry problems. Professor Elberse teaches an MBA course covering the "Businesses of Entertainment, Media, and Sports," which ranks among the most sought-after courses at HBS and chairs an eponymous executive education program. Professor Elberse has published her case studies on dozens of entertainment companies, personalities, and other entities across major industry publications, such as the Harvard Business Review, Marketing Science, the Journal of Marketing, and several other journals. Several of her case studies are described in her bestselling book, Blockbusters: Hit-making, Risk-taking, and the Big Business of Entertainment.
Professor Elberse is acclaimed for her work on furthering equality in sports media. She chairs a semester-long mentoring program, "Crossover Into Business," specifically designed for professional athletes and leads the Summer Venture in Management Program for college students from minority backgrounds. Poets & Quants named her one of the "World's Best Business School Professors Under the Age of 40," and she has received teaching awards on multiple occasions from both students and Harvard Business School itself. Professor Elberse provides actionable takeaways for organizations to effectively manage products and talent in media, reflecting her fruitful work on digital-media strategies. As a speaker, Professor Elberse provides insightful stories, commentary, and case studies unpacking the best of sports, media, and pop culture.
Billie Jean King
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As one of the 20th century's most respected and influential people, Billie Jean King has long been a champion for social justice and equality. She has created new inroads for both genders in and out of sports during her legendary career and she continues to make her mark today, primarily through the Billie Jean King Leadership Initiative, which is dedicated to promoting equality and inclusion in the workplace.
King, who won an astounding 39 Grand Slam tennis titles during her career, blazed trails for women everywhere in 1970 when she became one of nine players to break away from the tennis establishment and accept a one dollar contract to compete in the newly created Virginia Slims Series. The revolt led to the birth of women's pro tennis and the formation of the Women's Tennis Association. King went on to star in one of the greatest moments in sports history when she defeated Bobby Riggs in the famous match dubbed “The Battle of the Sexes,” which was immortalized on the silver screen in the film of the same name. Her memoir, ALL IN: An Autobiography, published by Knopf in August 2021, is garnering rave reviews.
Named one of the "100 Most Important Americans of the 20th Century" by Life, King is a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Sports Illustrated Muhammad Ali Legacy Award, and France's Légion d'honneur. King moves audiences with empowering lessons on leadership, inclusivity, equality, and finding your purpose.
Elaine Weiss
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Award-winning journalist and critically acclaimed author Elaine Weiss is a trusted expert on women’s history and political activism, voting rights, and civic engagement. With warmth, humor, and inspiring clarity, Weiss connects with any group, making historical events relevant to today’s most controversial issues. Weiss is the author of The Woman’s Hour: The Great Fight to Win the Vote (Viking/Penguin), hailed as a “riveting, nail-biting political thriller” with powerful parallels to today’s political environment. An insightful and entertaining work of narrative history, The Woman’s Hour was a GoodReads Readers’ Choice Award winner, was short-listed for the 2019 Chautauqua Prize, and received the American Bar Association’s highest honor, the 2019 Silver Gavel Award. It has also been adapted for young readers and used in schools and libraries nationwide. Her latest book, Spell Freedom, is already gathering critical acclaim.
Weiss is a frequent media commentator, appearing on CBS Sunday Morning, PBS, NPR’s All Things Considered, and C-Span, and many public radio stations. She has also been featured as an expert analyst in several major documentaries, and has published op-eds and essays in The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Christian Science Monitor, and other publications, offering a historical perspective on timely topics. Weiss also served as a historical advisor to the NYC Public Theater’s production of the historical musical SUFFS.
In presentations that are enlightening, empowering, and eye-opening, Weiss inspires audiences with conversations about what it takes to make social and political change, the power of civic engagement, and the origins of the ongoing struggle over women’s rights and voting rights.
Rave reviews include “Elaine did an amazing job of bringing the history to life and connecting it with our organization today” (Women's League of Voters) and “In this crazy world we live in, we need more people like [Elaine] inspiring others to be good people!” (The Tennessee Municipal League)
Ann Curry
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Seven-time Emmy-winning journalist Ann Curry is a cornerstone of U.S. news and journalism. Her reporting is raw, bold, and deeply personal, fueled by human connections. She has appeared before the camera on some of America’s largest networks, including NBC News, PBS, TNT, and more. Her TED talks have been viewed around the world. Curry brings the same deep meaning, message, and sharp intellect to her speaking events as she does her iconic interviews.
Curry is recognized not only as a journalist but also as a humanitarian. Her work has garnered honors such as the Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Award for Global Citizenship, the Simon Wiesenthal Center's Medal of Valor, the NAACP's Excellence in Reporting Award, the Centre for Responsible Leadership's Truth in Media Award, the Edward R. Murrow Lifetime Achievement in Journalism Award, and more. Hosts such as Colgate University, the Holocaust Memorial Center, the National Court Reporters Association and more have been captivated by her memorable stories.
Monica Puig
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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.
Gloria Steinem
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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)
Lena Waithe
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Lena Waithe is an award-winning writer, creator, producer, actor and CEO establishing herself as a Hollywood powerhouse, who expertly taps into emerging cultural sensibilities with a sharp wit and unique perspective, challenging audiences to think outside conventional norms. Lena became the first Black woman to win the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series for her work on the critically acclaimed Netflix series Master of None. She continues to grow her body of work with diversity, charisma, and comedy.
Beyond the screen, Lena’s production company Hillman Grad Productions has partnered with Indeed to launch Rising Voices, a $1.35M investment in BIPOC filmmakers to fight against the status quo by giving marginalized storytellers the opportunity to access the industry and tell their stories. A tireless advocate for representation, Lena was honored at the 2020 Essence Black Women in Hollywood event, took home a Gracie Award for her Showtime series The Chi, and was featured on the 2018 TIME 100 list in a tribute written by Vice President Kamala Harris. Lena is a sought-after leader in the entertainment industry, speaking to the endless possibilities of intentional collaboration that centers under-represented voices.
Catherine Coleman Flowers
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Internationally recognized environmental activist, author, and MacArthur “genius” grant recipient Catherine Coleman Flowers has dedicated her life’s work to advocating for environmental justice. Founder of the Center for Rural Enterprise and Environmental Justice (CREEJ), Flowers has spent her career promoting equal access to clean water, air, sanitation, and soil to reduce health and economic disparities in marginalized, rural communities. Her leadership and fervor in fighting for solutions to these issues led her to one of her most notable appointments yet — Vice Chair of the Biden Administration’s inaugural White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council. Flowers is the author of the acclaimed and award-winning book Waste: One Woman’s Fight Against America’s Dirty Secret, in which she shares her inspiring story of advocacy, from childhood to environmental justice champion. Whether addressing equal access to water, the effects of climate change on different communities, or the effect of history on today's inequities, Flowers' lens of leadership in environmental justice and climate change engages and inspires attendees with tangible solutions and ways to take action.
Flowers serves as Rural Development Manager for Bryan Stevenson’s Equal Justice Initiative (EJI), is a Board Member for the Center for Earth Ethics at Union Theological Seminary, and sits on the Board of Directors for the Climate Reality Project and the Natural Resources Defense Council. Flowers is also Co-Chair of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences Commission on Accelerating Climate Action and Practitioner in Residence at Duke University. She has written powerful pieces for the New York Review of Books, The Guardian, The New York Times, and Frontline Magazine, and has been profiled by 60 Minutes. Thought-provoking and informative, Flowers’ talks have left lasting impressions at the American Institute of Architects, the Triple Bottom Line Americas Conference, the Bloomberg Green Festival, the Global Philanthropy Forum, Georgetown University, Wheaton University, and more.
Cole Imperi
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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.
Lucy Kalanithi
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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.
Janelle Monáe
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Multi-talented and award-winning musician, actor, activist, fashion icon, and bestselling author Janelle Monáe is a uniquely original artist whose work examines questions of identity, power, and belonging. Following her critically acclaimed album Dirty Computer, Monáe recently released her album, The Age of Pleasure. They serve as a co-chair to Michelle Obama’s When We All Vote, and has established their own initiative, Fem the Future, which aims to create opportunities for not just fellow creatives but society. Monáe is known for starring roles in Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, Hidden Figures, Homecoming, Antebellum, and the Best Picture Oscar-winner Moonlight, to name a few. Heralded for their artistry and activism, Monáe is a vocal advocate for the LGBTQ+ community and social movements toward justice and the end of systemic prejudice and racism. Their debut book, the Afrofuturist story collection The Memory Librarian: And Other Stories from Dirty Computer, became an instant New York Times bestseller and captures Monáe’s mesmerizing gift of storytelling and boundless creative voice.
Monáe has received countless Grammy nominations, and has won an MTV Video Music Award, the Critics Choice's SeeHer Award, the ASCAP Vanguard Award, Billboard’s Women in Music Rising Star Award as well as the Trailblazer of the Year Award, and a Hugo Award nomination for the short film for her album Dirty Computer. She has been recognized as the Trevor Project’s Suicide Prevention Advocate of the Year. She has been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and appeared on The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, Amanpour, Washington Post Live, and many more. A global icon, Monáe is sought after for captivating and profound conversations about artistry, activism philosophy, challenging the status quo, and the future.
Whoopi Goldberg
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Legendary artist and creator Whoopi Goldberg is one of an elite handful of entertainers and the first Black woman to achieve the EGOT status by winning an Academy Award, an Emmy Award, a Grammy Award, and a Tony Award. She has also won the prestigious Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. She is also a prolific producer, and successful entrepreneur, and she is recognized worldwide for her humanitarian endeavors. Goldberg is a New York Times bestselling author of numerous books for children and adults, including The Sugar Plum Ballerinas series, Whoopi’s Big Book of Manners, and retrospective memoirs reflecting on her illustrious life and career. She is the moderator of ABC’s Emmy Award-winning The View.
Beyond her remarkable film, theater, and television career, Goldberg is equally well-known for her humanitarian efforts on behalf of children, the homeless, human rights, education, substance abuse, and the battle against AIDS. Among her many charitable activities, Goldberg is a Goodwill Ambassador to the United Nations. Her engaging stage presence, inspiring story, and signature wit have been sought out by 92Y, Kean University, DragCon NYC, Goodwin College, and more.
Mara Brock Akil
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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.
Ricki Lake
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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.
Gail Simmons
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Gail Simmons is a trained culinary expert, food writer, and dynamic television personality. Since the show’s inception in 2006, she has lent her extensive expertise as a permanent judge on Bravo’s Emmy-winning series Top Chef. Now entering its 21st successful season, Top Chef is rated the #1 food show on cable television. She was most recently co-host of The Good Dish, and was formerly host of Top Chef Amateurs, as well as Iron Chef Canada. From 2004 to 2019, Gail served as special projects director at FOOD & WINE. Gail’s first cookbook, Bringing It Home: Favorite Recipes from a Life of Adventurous Eating, was released by Grand Central Publishing in October 2017. Her first book, a memoir titled Talking With My Mouth Full, was published by Hyperion in February 2012. Gail is the co-founder of Bumble Pie Productions and sits on the board of several other nonprofit organizations including Children in Conflict, City Harvest and Hot Bread Kitchen.
Simmons' background in both media and culinary spaces affords her the fantastic rhetorical skill of a food writer paired with the expertise of a head chef, making for educational, enriching live engagements. She makes frequent television appearances on NBC’s TODAY, ABC’s Good Morning America, CBS’s The View, and the Tamron Hall Show, among others. She has been featured in publications such as People, New York magazine, Women’s Health, Travel + Leisure, GQ, Entertainment Weekly, US Weekly, Los Angeles Times, and was named the #1 Reality TV Judge in America by the New York Post. She has received the Award of Excellence by Spoons Across America, a non-profit organization dedicated to educating children about the benefits of healthy eating.
Dr. Lisa Damour
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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.
Tracee Ellis Ross
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Tracee Ellis Ross is an award-winning actress, producer, founder, and CEO.
For eight seasons, Ross starred in ABC’s SAG and Critics Choice Award-nominated and Emmy, Golden Globe, NAACP Image Award, and Peabody-winning comedy series “black-ish.” She also starred in the Emmy and GLAAD Award-nominated and NAACP Image Award-winning series “Girlfriends” for eight seasons. Ross has received numerous accolades throughout her career, including a Golden Globe Award, nine NAACP Image Awards, and the 2020 People’s Choice Awards “Fashion Icon Award.” She was also named a Disney Legend for making an extraordinary contribution to The Walt Disney Company.
Ross is the owner, founder, and co-CEO of PATTERN Beauty, the global multi-million dollar brand she created for the curly, coily & tight-textured community in 2019. PATTERN is the #1 BIPOC brand and #2 curl brand sold at ULTA Beauty. PATTERN is also sold at Sephora, Nordstrom, Target, Macy’s, and Amazon, in the US; Sephora in Canada; and Boots, Look Fantastic and Cult Beauty in the UK. With PATTERN, Ross is changing the paradigm of how the textured hair community is marketed to and supported. The company's content and messaging are a celebration of Black beauty & joy. PATTERN proudly supports organizations and programs that empower women and people of color.
Ross will next be seen in season 7 of the critically acclaimed Netflix series “Black Mirror.” In addition to Ross, the new season also features Paul Giamatti, Jesse Plemons, Rashida Jones, Chris O’Dowd and Emma Corrin, among other returning cast favorites. The new season will stream on April 10th.
Ross is currently in post-production on her Roku original series “Solo Traveling with Tracee Ellis Ross.” The series will chronicle Ross as she meticulously, laboriously, and sometimes ridiculously prepares for and travels solo to spectacular locations. Ross will serve as an Executive Producer on the docu-series under her banner Joy Mill Entertainment. Joy Mill Entertainment has a deal with 20th and is dedicated to telling joyful, fun, and grounded stories exploring how we see ourselves and how we connect to one another. “Solo Traveling with Tracee Ellis Ross” will premiere later this year.
Ross recently wrapped production on “Blow The Horn,” an indie psychological drama from Nacho Arenas. The project is an adaptation of “Bajo Terapia,” the acclaimed Argentinian play by Matias del Federico, which has previously been adapted by Spanish filmmaker Gerado Herrero. Others in the cast include Lake Bell, Wrenn Schmidt, Dallas Roberts, Joshua Boone and Ken Leung. In addition to starring in the film, Ross also serves as an Executive Producer.
Ross was last seen opposite Jeffrey Wright in the Oscar-winning drama “American Fiction,” directed by Cord Jefferson. It was nominated for Golden Globe Awards, Screen Actors Guild Awards, and Independent Spirit Awards, and was named one of AFI’s movies of the year. Last December, Ross was seen starring opposite Eddie Murphy in Amazon’s holiday film, “Candy Cane Lane.” The film became the most-watched Amazon movie debut in the U.S. and among the top 10 worldwide film debuts ever on the service.
Earlier this year, Ross starred in the thriller “Cold Copy” and is currently lending her voice to Amazon’s animated comedy “The Second Best Hospital in The Galaxy,” alongside Keke Palmer, Kieran Culkin, Maya Rudolph, and Natasha Lyonne.
Ross advocates for joy, self-acceptance, inclusivity, and equity. In 2017, Ross gave a powerful speech about claiming your own life at Glamour’s Women of the Year Summit that went viral. In 2018, Ross opened the TED Conference, the first Black woman to do so, with a speech about the wisdom of women’s fury.
In 2022, Ross was given the “Racial Justice Trailblazer” Award by The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law for her demonstrated commitment to racial and social justice and upholding values that promote an inclusive democracy. She has also moderated stops on both of Michelle Obama’s book tours. Ross recently received a 2023 Webby Special Achievement Award for her ingenious use of the Internet to share multidimensional stories of belonging, increasing Black representation in the beauty industry, and serving as a constant, positive force on the Internet, and was named a 2023 Cosmetic Executive Women Female Founder honoree. She was recently honored with the Trailblazer Award by 15 Percent Pledge, as a 2024 CNBC Changemaker, and was given the 2024 Achievement Award for Excellence in the Arts by the National Museum of Women in the Arts for being a leader in the entertainment industry and a passionate advocate for gender equity.
Ross received honorary Doctorate degrees from Spelman College in 2023 and Brown University, her alma mater, in 2015.
Aliyah Boston
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Rising WNBA star Aliyah Boston is a trailblazer in the new generation of athletes. From an early age, Aliyah has courageously pursued her dream of a future in basketball. At the age of 12, Aliyah and her sister Alexis moved to Massachusetts from their hometown St. Thomas, USVI to live with their aunt and pursue more basketball opportunities. Aliyah joined USA’s national basketball team, was a McDonald’s All-American in high school, and led the University of South Carolina’s program to their 2nd national championship – winning both the SEC Player of the Year and the SEC Defensive Player of the Year as the most decorated player in program history.
Aliyah was the #1 overall draft pick in the 2023 WNBA season, joining the Indiana Fever as the team’s centerpiece. A celebratory New York Times profile declared that Boston “has already become the face of the WNBA just months into her professional career.” She is the only player ranked in the top 20 in both offensive and defensive win shares, demonstrating her dominance on both ends of the court. And Boston is the youngest player and only the eighth rookie ever to start a WNBA All-Star game. Aliyah’s outgoing personality is showcased in everything she does, including her role as NBC Sports’ lead women’s college basketball studio analyst for the network’s Big Ten women’s basketball coverage. Sought-after for her motivational story, Aliyah speaks about staying true to yourself, focusing on faith and family, and how to apply teamwork on and off the court.
Ashley Judd
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Actor, activist, and New York Times bestselling author Ashley Judd is heralded for her unforgettable performances and tireless advocacy work. From starring roles in box office hits and award-winning independent films, Judd’s films tell very personal stories that tap into larger issues, and she brings this gift for storytelling to all her speaking engagements. A voice for the often voiceless, she shines an illuminating light on the vulnerable and the at-risk. Judd has traveled the world with her international public health work, from maternal health to child survival, human rights to disease prevention and treatment. She has been working with NGO’s, grass roots organizations, governments, and supranational bodies since 2004, and detailed her experience in her New York Times bestselling book, All That Is Bitter and Sweet. For her sought-after speaking engagements, Judd regularly receives glowing praise such as: “Ashley Judd walked onto the Ford Hall Forum stage and hit it straight out of the park from her first word to her last. She is not only incredibly intelligent and a top-notch presenter, but also thoroughly knowledgeable and committed... It was clear that the audience found Judd completely captivating and a true inspiration.” (Ford Hall)
Judd was named one TIME’s “Persons of the Year” for her role as a silence-breaker and change-maker of the #MeToo movement, shifting the culture and conversation around sexual abuse and harassment. She is a sought after public speaker and frequent OpEd author on topics as diverse as conflict mineral mining and child marriage. She serves as the Global Goodwill Ambassador for UNFPA, the Global Ambassador for Population Services International, and is Chairperson of the Women’s Media Center Speech Project: Curbing Abuse, Expanding Freedom. She has received the Muhammad Ali Kentucky Humanitarian Award and her alma mater, the University of Kentucky, established the Ashley T. Judd Distinguished Gradate Fellowship in the Office for Policy Studies on Violence Against Women. Judd illuminates topics of women’s rights, mental health, the environment, and more with her indelible storytelling and global experience, and hosts rave about her impact: "Ms. Judd was the perfect choice for the closing keynote. She had obviously done her homework on the ATHENA leadership principles because she connected her remarks directly to them. She was intelligent, thought provoking, humorous, sincere, warm and extremely engaging. Conference attendees raved about her and she and her staff were delightful to work with. I would highly recommend her as a speaker." (Güd Marketing | Marketing That Matters)
Please visit ashleyjudd.com to learn more about Judd's latest projects and advocacy work.
Martina McBride
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Martina McBride is not only one of country music's most iconic voices but also a powerful advocate for positive change, making her an inspiring speaker for any event. With over 23M albums sold, 20 Top 10 singles, and six #1 hits, she has earned the respect of fans and critics alike, earning more than 15 major music awards and multiple Grammy® nominations. Her journey in music has been marked by extraordinary achievements, such as winning the Country Music Association's Female Vocalist of the Year four times and receiving the Academy of Country Music's Top Female Vocalist award three times. In 2021, Martina unveiled her first exhibit in the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, titled “The Power of Her Voice.” Beyond her musical career, Martina is a passionate humanitarian, having been honored with the Covenant House Beacon of Hope Award and the 2015 Harry Chapin Memorial Humanitarian Award for her advocacy against domestic violence. Her philanthropic work continues through her charity, Team Music Is Love, where she dedicates her time to causes that are close to her heart.
Martina’s story of resilience, success, and giving back is a powerful message for any audience. She brings a wealth of experience and insight on leadership, perseverance, and the importance of using one’s platform for good. If you’re looking for a speaker who can inspire, connect, motivate, and bring your event to life with live music, Martina McBride is the perfect choice.
Ilana Glazer
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Comedian, writer, producer, actor, and activist Ilana Glazer is known for her work as co-creator and co-star of the critically acclaimed Comedy Central series Broad City. Glazer is also known for her debut stand-up comedy special The Planet is Burning and her role in Apple TV+’s The Afterparty. She is the star, co-writer, and producer of the film False Positive, an A24 psychological thriller, which has received rave reviews. She is the Founder of Starrpix, a creative development and production company, through which she launched the digital stand-up series Tight Five and the original, one-hour comedy special Comedy on Earth on Comedy Central. With her trademark humor and authenticity, Glazer shares insights about her career in Hollywood, her advocacy work, and the creative process in honest, memorable conversations.
Glazer has been featured in The New York Times, Entertainment Weekly, Salon, The Cut, and more. She is the Co-Founder of Generator Collective, a non-profit working to humanize policy and lower the barrier of entry to understanding how the government can work for the people. A committed activist and advocate, Glazer is passionate about social change and inspires audiences of all kinds to be true to themselves.
Gretchen Rubin
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People expert, podcaster, and six-time New York Times bestselling author Gretchen Rubin is the perfect speaker for audiences looking to leadership, communication, team dynamics, and productivity. The author of several books including the blockbuster NYT bestsellers The Happiness Project, Outer Order, Inner Calm, Better Than Before, Happier at Home, and The Four Tendencies, which have sold more than 3.5M copies worldwide in more than thirty languages.
Rubin relentlessly explores human nature to understand how we can create happier, healthier, more productive, and more creative lives. Rubin’s Four Tendencies framework has been adopted by business across industries, offering a practical and immediately applicable tool for improving leadership, communication, team dynamics, and productivity. Her latest book, Secrets of Adulthood, was chosen by Oprah Daily as one of the most useful guides coming out in 2025. One of today’s most influential and thought-provoking observers of happiness and human nature, Rubin is known for her ability to distill and convey complex ideas with humor and clarity, in a way that’s accessible to a wide audience.
Rubin has addressed corporate audiences at places such as GE, Google, LinkedIn, Accenture, Procter & Gamble, as well as university audiences such as Yale Law School, Harvard Business School, and Wharton. She has appeared at numerous conferences as a featured speaker or keynoter, including SXSW, World Domination Summit, the 92nd Street Y, 5×15, TEDx, BlogHer, The Atlantic, Alt Design, Q Cities, Behance’s 99u, Mom 2.0, West Point, Lucid, and the Texas, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania Conferences for Women. A former regular contributor to CBS News, she hosts the top-ranking, award-winning podcast Happier with Gretchen Rubin. Her weekly emails reach more than one million readers. Rubin provides surprising insights and practical strategies that resonate with individuals and organizations in the pursuit of happiness.
Lindsey Vonn
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Olympic gold medalist and one of the most successful skiers of all time Lindsey Vonn also a New York Times bestselling author, sports broadcaster, and mental health advocate. Following a stellar career as an alpine skier, Vonn pivoted to lend her knowledge of the sport to NBC’s coverage of the Beijing Olympics, appearing on the Today Show, in the studio, and as an alpine analyst sharing her many insights. She is the New York Times bestselling author of several books, including Strong is the New Beautiful and her memoir, Rise: My Story. An elite athlete, Vonn is a clear example of how leadership and determination lead to winning results. She is the Founder of the Lindsey Vonn Foundation, an organization established to empower young girls, and launched "Lindsey Vonn's Virtual Career Day" which brings together young scholarship winners from the Lindsey Vonn Foundation with an expert in their intended field. Vonn speaks authentically about her career and her challenges, sharing insights and takeaways about resilience, risk-taking, and overcoming adversity that empower audiences of all kinds.
Ellie Kemper
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Known for her television roles on the American version of The Office and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Ellie Kemper is an actress, writer, comedian, and the author of My Squirrel Days, a collection of personal essays that detail her journey from adolescence to Emmy-nominated actress.
In conversations that are equal parts funny and inspiring, Kemper shares behind-the-scenes stories from her time on two of America’s most beloved modern shows; her rise from a struggling actor to a television star; the importance of mentorship in her career; balancing her acting career, publishing a book and having a child in the span of two years; how to keep a positive outlook when facing the challenges of the modern world; and how to effectively follow your dreams.
Eden Grinshpan
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Chef, funny mom, and Host of Top Chef Canada Eden Grinshpan is the author of Eating Out Loud: Bold Middle Eastern Flavors for All Day Every Day. With her relatable, sincere, and humorous personality, Eden is loved for her approachable cooking and entertaining videos. While pregnant with her daughter, Eden created a viral social media trend by posing with outrageous food stacked on her baby belly. She became an advocate for women, mothers, and breastfeeding, posting multiple videos of dancing while pumping breast milk. Eden has built a strong connection with her dedicated followers through her positive, inclusive, and high-energy approach, spreading joy and laughter while showcasing delicious food and fun lifestyle content.
Eden has been featured on the Forbes' "30 Under 30" List, and has been highlighted by various media outlets, including Elle, Cosmopolitan, Cherry Bombe, parents.com, Glamour, The Daily Mail, and many others. She has cooked in restaurants across Europe, India, Southeast Asia, and Israel, and co-founded DEZ – a Middle Eastern fast-casual restaurant in the heart of NYC, inspired by her Israeli heritage. Her debut cookbook, Eating Out Loud, is an Editor’s Pick on Amazon and was named one of the best cookbooks of the year by Delish and Library Journal. Eden is currently working on her second cookbook, set to release in the Spring of 2025.
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone
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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.”
Sasha DiGiulian
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Elite professional rock climber Sasha DiGiulian is constantly pushing the boundaries of possibility. An Female Overall World Champion, three-time U.S. National Champion, and decade-long undefeated Pan-American Champion, DiGiulian has traveled to over 50 countries while accomplishing 30+ First and First Female Ascents. As a woman making a career within a traditionally male-dominated space, DiGiulian stands for equality in sport, access, pay, and treatment of female athletes.
DiGiulian’s amazing story has been recounted in her memoir, Take the Lead, and the HBO Documentary on her life, Here to Climb. She has been featured in or on the cover of Oprah, Good Morning America, The Today Show, 60 Minutes Sports, Nightline, CNN, BBC, Vogue, TIME, and many more. Deeply focused on giving back to her community, DiGiulian sits on the board of the Women’s Sports Foundation and Ascend Afghanistan and is an ambassador for UN Goodwill, Protect Our Winters, and Right to Play International. She has testified in front of the US House Committee of Natural Resources to support the EXPLORE Act. In motivational talks, DiGiulian offers inspirational and actionable strategies for setting and achieving courageous goals for individuals, teams, and organizations.
Reba McEntire
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The “Queen of Country Music,” Reba McEntire, is a true multi-media mogul. From the top of the Country charts to the Broadway stage, she has repeatedly demonstrated her ability to inhabit any endeavor with the authority and passion that has made her a household name from stage to screen.
Recognized as a powerhouse vocalist whose talent transcends musical boundaries, Reba has scored 35 No. 1 singles and sold more than 56M albums worldwide to be deemed one of the most successful recording artists in history. The Country Music Hall of Fame, Grand Ole Opry and Hollywood Bowl member has also won 16 ACM Awards, 15 American Music Awards, 9 People’s Choice Awards and 6 CMA Awards. Reba is also an acclaimed actress with 11 movie credits to her name, who has also been a leading lady on Broadway in Irving Berlin’s Annie Get Your Gun, a judge on The Voice, and eponymous star of the six-season television sitcom Reba. She was also the first female and musician to portray KFC’s iconic founder Colonel Harland Sanders. Reba’s phenomenal career has been characterized by her sharp business sense, indelible wit, and commitment to excellence – the same values she brings to inspirational speaking engagements.
With faith and family as Reba’s foundation, her legacy extends beyond the stage. Her leadership and philanthropic endeavors have been recognized with the Andrea Bocelli Foundation Humanitarian Award, the Leadership Music Dale Franklin Award, the Minnie Pearl Humanitarian Award, the Music Biz Chairman’s Award, the National Artistic Achievement Award from the U.S. Congress and induction into the Horatio Alger Association. Reba was also named Billboard magazine’s first-ever Woman of the Year. Reba’s impact can be felt worldwide, and audiences everywhere look to the country superstar not only as a musical genius, but also philanthropist, entrepreneur, and aspirational icon.
Candace Parker
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Entrepreneur, activist, sports analyst, and two-time Olympic Gold Medalist Candace Parker is one of the most influential athletes of this generation and one of the most decorated women’s basketball players of all time. A legendary basketball star, Parker has won two WNBA MVP Awards, is a two-time NCAA Champion, as well as a three-time WNBA Champion, leading both the Los Angeles Sparks and the Chicago Sky to victories. She is the only player in WNBA history to win three championships with three different franchises. She is also the first woman and WNBA player to appear on the cover of an NBA 2K game as the central athlete of the WNBA 25th Anniversary Special Edition. Since her retirement from basketball, Parker has stayed close to the game, working as a sports analyst and commentator for the NBA on TNT, NBA TV, and NCAA Tournament coverage. She hosts the podcast Moments with Candace Parker, which celebrates the victories, messy failures, and brave decisions of parenthood. Her book, The Can-Do Mindset: How to Cultivate Resilience, Follow Your Heart, and Fight for Your Passions, shares the mindset that’s served her through many life phases, anchoring her through choppy waters. Parker is a highly sought-after speaker offering bold and inspiring thought leadership and passionate insights about the importance of women’s rights, voting rights, mental health awareness, racial justice, and Black Lives Matter.
Parker was the first woman to join the Social Change Fund, which invests in organizations working to make a greater impact in underrepresented communities of color. She was featured in the Disney+ docuseries Becoming, profiles for The New York Times, Forbes, and more, and was named to TIME's list of the "100 Most Influential People in 2022." Parker launched her media company Baby Hair Productions, and has produced a documentary exploring the impact of Title IX. Expanding her entrepreneurial portfolio, Parker and her daughter became co-owners of the Angel City FC National Women’s Soccer League expansion team. Parker gave an electrifying TEDWomen Talk How to break down barriers and not accept limits that went viral instantly with over 1M views, sharing her journey as a trailblazing sports icon, what it takes to break barriers, and the lesson she learned from her daughter about not accepting limitations.
Mika Brzezinski
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The co-host of MSNBC’s Morning Joe, founder of Know Your Value, and New York Times bestselling author Mika Brzezinski is a celebrated, go-to voice on current events, world affairs, and women's empowerment. A former anchor of CBS Evening News Weekend Edition and CBS News correspondent who frequently contributed to CBS Sunday Morning and 60 Minutes, Brzezinski has covered some of the most pivotal moments of the 21st century, from the September 11 attacks to multiple presidential elections. Brzezinski is also the author of seven bestselling books that serve as essential and inspiring guidebooks for empowering women, offering encouragement and practical advice on claiming and communicating their worth. As a speaker, Brzezinski brings a powerhouse combination of journalistic integrity, leadership insights, and empowering advocacy to your event.
Brzezinski offers empowering insights into women's equality and work-life balance as well as a dynamic perspective on the current political and media landscape, which she has shared with hosts including Harvard University, the Mortgage Bankers Association, and the Lake Nona Institute.
Damaris Phillips
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A celebrated Food Network Star, chef, and entrepreneur, Damaris Phillips brings an irresistible blend of warmth, humor, and culinary expertise to the stage. Phillips is a speaker who inspires others to live their best, most fulfilling lives. Known for her modern takes on Southern comfort food, Damaris has become a Food Network favorite, hosting shows like Outrageous Pumpkins and Summer Baking Championship, and appearing as a judge on Beat Bobby Flay and Chopped. She’s passionate about health, wellness, and the power of food to bring people together. With a passion for innovation, diversity, and mentorship in the culinary world, she offers inspiring insights on breaking barriers, building a personal brand, and reimagining food as a storytelling tool.
A champion for female entrepreneurship, Phillips co-founded Bluegrass Supper Club, a catering company that celebrates Kentucky’s local farmers, and Pixilation Productions, a media company specializing in social media marketing. Through Pixilation, Phillips helps brands build their digital presence and engage with audiences in creative ways, empowering women in the media and marketing space.
Damaris also co-hosts the podcast That’s Fun with Nikki Dinki, where they explore how to embrace more joy and adventure in your 40s. Her message is simple: live with intention, cultivate meaningful connections, and make room for fun.
As a guest speaker, Phillips brings a refreshing perspective on health, business, and personal growth, offering actionable advice on entrepreneurship, building strong relationships, and living a vibrant, purposeful life.
Joanne Lipman
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Powerhouse journalist Joanne Lipman has transformed newsrooms across the country – and now she’s turned her keen eye to transforming work and life in the post-pandemic era. In her blockbuster new book, Next!: The Power of Reinvention in Life and Work (March 2023), she offers a deeply reported, delightfully readable look at how to change your life, your workplace, or your career -– and how to inspire innovation in others. It follows her No. 1 bestseller That’s What She Said, about achieving gender equity at work and at home, inspiring men as well as women to join together to promote diversity, innovation and excellence.
One of the nation’s most prominent journalists, Lipman is the former editor-in-chief of USA Today and the USA TODAY Network, Conde Nast Portfolio, and The Wall Street Journal Weekend Journal, leading those organizations to six Pulitzer Prizes. Dubbed “innovator in chief” by The New York Times and “star editor” by CNN, Lipman began her career at The Wall Street Journal, where she rose to become the highest-ranking woman in the paper’s history. Lipman has been in-demand with groups such as Motorola, Google, Aetna, Chevron, NBC Universal, among many others.
Lipman is sought after for her insights, appearing on ABC, CNN, MSNBC, NBC, and CBS, and is an on-air contributor at CNBC. Her work has appeared in publications including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, TIME, Fortune, and Harvard Business Review. She teaches a popular Yale University course on Media & Democracy, focused on issues including polarization and combatting misinformation. A lively and entertaining speaker, Lipman offers action-oriented insights and critical analysis into issues ranging from workplace culture, to personal and business growth and transformation, to fostering diverse and equitable organizations, and more.
Michele Tafoya
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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.”
Stephanie Shepherd
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Stephanie Shepherd is an environmental advocate and social entrepreneur. Formerly the Chief Operating Officer of Kardashian West Brands, she has since established her own platform. With close to 2 million followers, Stephanie's expertise is leveraging her social influence to inspire global activism.
In addition to co-founding Future Earth, Shepherd is an ambassador for “Days For Girls International,” “The Environmental Working Group,” and a board member of Former Vice President Al Gore’s “The Climate Reality Project.” She also recently joined "World War Zero," a climate change initiative led by Former Secretary of State, John Kerry. Through her advocacy, Shepherd has generated millions of dollars and thousands of volunteer hours for organizations who, like her, relentlessly pursue human flourishing and environmental preservation.
Erin Brockovich
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Say the name Erin Brockovich and you think, strong, tough and stubborn. Erin is all that and more. A formerly-unknown legal researcher who became a 20th century icon overnight thanks to Julia Roberts Oscar-winning tour de force, Erin’s dogged persistence was the impelling force behind the largest medical settlement lawsuit in history.
And she’s kept fighting for the people one town at a time. In her latest book, Superman’s Not Coming, she brings to light the stark truths of America today: resources are exhausted; corruption is rampant; infrastructure is outdated; water and health issues affect us all - rich and poor, Republicans and Democrats. Erin gives permission and empowers people to take action so that they can save their families, their communities, and the planet.
Erin uses her life experiences to motivate and bring inspiration to audiences worldwide, providing lessons on her four steps to success, her motto for resilience and perseverance, and advocacy for the causes that matter. Her motto comes from famed biologist Rachel Carson: "We are challenged as mankind has never been challenged before to prove our maturity and our mastery, not of nature, but of ourselves."
Erin teaches that it will be up to us, we the people, to change our course.
Camille Kostek
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Model, actress, and entrepreneur Camille Kostek is known as the host of NBC’s Dancing with Myself and co-host of the top-rated TBS reboot Wipeout alongside John Cena and Nicole Byer. Kostek gained international prominence after landing the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition cover in 2019 alongside Tyra Banks, after winning the first-ever SI Model Search the previous year. She’s been featured in ELLE and on the covers of Haute Living, Ocean Drive, and BELLA, among others. In addition to her work on some of today’s favorite TV shows, Kostek starred in the feature films Free Guy and I Feel Pretty. She has appeared on Good Morning America, Access Hollywood, EXTRA, E! News, SI TV, and co-hosted shows on SIRIUS XM radio to millions of listeners. Kostek has hosted many red-carpet events, including the Sports Illustrated Sports Person of the Year Awards, SXSW, Maxim Hot 100, and the Sports Illustrated correspondent at Super Bowl LLI for the NFLPA carpet, among many others, and has spoken at Providence College, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Northeastern University, University of New England, and more.
After growing up as a trained competitive dancer, Kostek took her passion professional, joining the NFL cheer squad for the New England Patriots. Camille shares her love of dance on social media, and her catchphrase ‘Never Not Dancing’ has gone viral. Her message of positive movement and self-love inspired her to launch an annual OWN IT tour, where her motivational events with college students touch on body positivity, self-acceptance, mental health, and manifesting your life. As an entrepreneur, Kostek has launched ‘The Camille Collection with Swimsuits for All and Dune Jewelry. As a dedicated philanthropist, her endeavors include Boston Children's Hospital, Gronk Nation Youth Foundation, and advocating for 4Ocean – a public benefit corporation and Certified B Corp committed to ending the ocean plastic crisis. Kostek is passionate about using her platform to continue spreading self-love and inner strength at highly inspirational events for audiences of all kinds.
Kendra Scott
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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.
Pamela Brown
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Award-winning CNN Anchor and Chief Investigative Correspondent, Pamela Brown inspires audiences to advocate for themselves and stay the course when someone tries to shake them off. Brown began her career at ABC7/WJLA-TV and NewsChannel8 in Washington D.C., where she became a Sunday evening anchor and an Emmy®-nominated special projects reporter covering several national and international stories. Known for her journalistic tenacity, Brown now anchors CNN Newsroom. Brown previously served as the network's Justice and Supreme Court correspondent covering law enforcement, as well as issues related to the Department of Justice and the U.S. Supreme Court.
As a speaker, Brown is a stellar moderator and provides her personal experiences with working motherhood, Alzheimer’s, and the many groundbreaking stories she has aired. Brown has delighted hosts including J.P. Morgan, The Aspen Institute, Salesforce, and more.
Dr. Elisa Hallerman, PhD, JD
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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
Lisa Ling
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Emmy Award-winning journalist and bestselling author Lisa Ling has spent more than two decades focused on groundbreaking storytelling. Lisa is a contributor for CBS and previously served as the host and executive producer of the acclaimed series This is Life on CNN and Take Out on Max. Throughout her career, Lisa has reported from dozens of countries around the world, covering issues and highlighting voices that are too often ignored. For her sought-after events, Lisa consistently receives rave reviews: "Lisa was absolutely outstanding! She was so interesting and provided such great commentary on our questions. Feedback from our attendees was outstanding and we had great engagement with 15+ questions from the audience. Definitely one of our favorite speakers for this series!" (SAP NS2)
Lisa is the co-author of Mother, Sister, Daughter, Bride: Rituals of Womanhood, and Somewhere Inside: One Sister’s Captivity in North Korea and The Other’s Fight to Bring Her Home, which she penned with her sister Laura. She is an advisory board member for Fostering Media Connections, The Amani Project, and a Baby2Baby angel. Lisa has spoken for groups including American Express, the AARP Purpose Prize, Capital One, the Dallas Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of Independent Schools, and American Express, who said: “We had a great event with Lisa. She has such amazing energy and opened up in a very real and personal way. The feedback we received from colleagues was exceptional.”
Jane Pauley
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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.
Thai Randolph
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Thai Randolph was most recently CEO of Kevin Hart’s global media company HARTBEAT, fundraising over $100M. As an award-winning marketer, business leader and architect of NextGen media companies, Thai has been honored on Variety and Entrepreneur's "Women of Impact" lists and AdAge's "40 Under 40," to name a few.
She has built her career at the intersection of content, commerce, and community and led the launch of Women Write Now – a first-of-its-kind screenwriting fellowship developed in partnership with the Sundance Institute and HARTBEAT to champion the next generation of Black women in comedy through mentorship, advocacy, production, and exhibition. Continuing her mission to carve out spaces for overlooked – yet influential – voices in the industry, Randolph and co-founder/actress Tika Sumpter also launched Sugaberry, an audio-first media company for and by Black women – and co-host the Gracie-award winning podcast, The Suga.
Thai’s leadership perspective is in demand at high profile events such as Advertising Week, CES, Sundance, SXSW, Cannes Lions Festival, The Wrap’s TheGrill, Variety’s Inclusion and Entertainment Summits, Future of Television Conference, Digital Entertainment World, Adobe’s Digital Marketing Conference, YouTube's Publisher Summit, Cynopsis’ Big TV Conference, and Streaming Media East, among others. As a result-focused and empathetic leader, she continues to advocate for inclusive representation in entertainment and advertising, pay equity across industries and maternal and mental health for women and people of color.
Gina Belafonte
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Social justice leader, change maker, and artivist Gina Belafonte has spent her life at the intersection of arts and activism. As Co-Founder and Executive Director of Sankofa, she embodies her father Harry Belafonte’s work to educate, motivate, and activate artists and allies in service of grassroots movements and equitable change. Belafonte and Sankofa enlist the support of today’s most celebrated artists and influential individuals, in collaboration with grassroots partners, to elevate the voices of the disenfranchised and promote peace, justice, and quality, as well as cultural and civic engagement. She is also the Lead Producer of the award-winning and internationally acclaimed documentary Sing Your Song, among countless other projects. Most recently, Belafonte expanded her work for equity rights by launching a virtual reality mental health program, expanding access to this vital care using cutting edge VR/AR technology. She is a visionary, drawing on a powerful legacy and building community to focus on the most pressing issues of our time.
Belafonte and her work have been profiled in Elle, AfroTech, Essence, for Newsy, and more. Her arts and activism initiatives include directing the award-winning hip-hop spoken word musical Lyrics From Lockdown, which addresses mistaken identity, mass incarceration, and police brutality, and producing the Many Rivers to Cross Social Justice Arts and Music Festival, uniting 40 artists and 50 social justice organizations to center voting rights, mass incarceration, and poverty. Her collaborations include: For Freedoms on the 50 State Initiative and the reimagining of Norman Rockwell’s Four Freedoms, INTO ACT!ON, and many more. A gifted moderator and inspiring keynote speaker, Belafonte shares lessons from her ground-breaking work and empowers audiences of all kinds to embrace the opportunity to be a force for positive change.
Kasie Hunt
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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.
Jennifer Palmieri
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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.
MJ Acosta-Ruiz
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Emmy Award-winning journalist and trailblazing sportscaster MJ Acosta-Ruiz is an acclaimed sportscaster and anchor on SportsCenter, ESPN's flagship show. Fully bilingual in English and Spanish, she is also the Monday Night Football sideline reporter for ESPN Deportes. She has covered sports, entertainment, and breaking news for over a decade following her tenure as a Miami Dolphins cheerleader. Acosta-Ruiz joined NFL Network in 2018 from NBC and Telemundo in San Diego where she covered the Chargers, Padres and international soccer for three seasons in both English & Spanish language broadcasts as the lead sports anchor. Prior to joining NBC and Telemundo, Acosta-Ruiz spent three years as a reporter for WPLG, the ABC affiliate in Miami and Fort Lauderdale, covering sports, entertainment and breaking news. In her reporting, moderating, and as a keynote speaker, Acosta-Ruiz shares her insights on overcoming obstacles, embracing your authentic self as part of the path to success, and amplifying the voices of marginalized communities to create a more just world.
In addition to her work as an award-winning journalist, Acosta-Ruiz works as an advocate for women’s empowerment and representation and equity for marginalized communities. She works closely with women’s empowerment groups such as A Seat at the Table and is on the Board of Health in the Hood, a non-profit helping to close the gap of food inequity/insecurity in South Florida. Acosta-Ruiz is a sought-after speaker, sharing her inspirational journey and takeaways about strategizing for success, embracing what makes you different, and breaking barriers in her empowering talks.
Charli Turner Thorne
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Legendary basketball coach Charli Turner Thorne has been sharing her expertise on leadership and inspiring people to be all they can be for the last 25 years. As the winningest coach in ASU women’s basketball history, Turner Thorne holds the second-most career wins in the Pac-12, has received the Pac-12 “Coach of the Year” award twice, and has been inducted into the ASU Hall of Fame. In addition to tremendous success on the court, she has been heralded for her impact beyond basketball – embracing the community and building a program that motivates her team in every aspect of life. In entertaining and informative presentations, Turner Thorne tailors her remarks to businesses and organizations of all kinds, speaking to the unique goals of her audience.
In her coaching and consultations, Turner Thorne is sought-after for her insights on building a Championship Culture. She has used her ability to manage her large and diverse staff – and consistently field winning teams at the highest level – to help numerous corporate clients, leaders in education, and other eclectic populations create winning strategies to have a healthy culture and maximize success. Turner Thorne shares practical takeaways and actionable strategies for values-discovery, setting high standards, improving communication skills, and maintaining mental and emotional wellbeing that resonate with audiences of all kinds.
Nicole Byer
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Comedian, actor, TV host, and award-winning podcaster Nicole Byer is one of the most versatile and recognizable voices in comedy today. An early standout on MTV’s Girl Code, Byer is known for Lady Dynamite, Brooklyn 99, The Unicorn, Black Lady Sketch Show, Bojack Horseman, Tuca & Bertie, and 30 Rock. She produced and starred in the MTV/Facebook Watch series Loosely Exactly Nicole, co-created the Above Average web series Pursuit of Sexiness with Sasheer Zamata, and is the author of #VERYFAT #VERYBRAVE. Byer hosts Netflix’s Nailed It!, which earned her back-to-back Emmy nominations – she made history as the first Black woman to be nominated in the “Outstanding Host” category – and co-hosts TBS’ Wipeout alongside John Cena. The multi-hyphenate creative, whom Variety called “a star of uncommon charisma,” is one of the most sought-after performers in the industry and makes an impact with audiences of all kinds.
Byer has been featured in The Hollywood Reporter, Paste Magazine, Variety, NPR, the Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post and more, and has appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel Live, The View, Peace of Mind with Taraji, among others. She is the award-winning host of multiple podcasts: Why Won’t You Date Me?, Best Friends, Newcomers, and 90 Day Bae, and is the two-time consecutive winner of the iHeartRadio Podcast Award for “Best Female Host.” Following her critically acclaimed first hour-long comedy special on Netflix, Nicole Byer: BBW (Big Beautiful Weirdo), Byer stars in Peacock’s The Grand Crew, as well as Netflix’s highly anticipated animated comedy series Bad Crimes. In addition to bringing star power and levity to any event, Byer shares insights about her career journey, how she balances her countless projects, and connects with audiences for a memorable event.
Tika Sumpter
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Actor, producer, entrepreneur, and podcaster Tika Sumpter is a Hollywood mogul and savvy entrepreneur. Sumpter began her career as a TV personality and host of The N’s Best Friend’s Date, and went on to memorable roles on ABC’s One Life to Live, which garnered her an NAACP Image Award nomination, The CW’s Gossip Girl, and films like Stomp the Yard: Homecoming, Think Like a Man, A Madea Christmas, and more. She is known for OWN’s The Haves and the Have Nots, ABC’s Mixed-Ish, and is establishing herself as a sought-after producer with projects with Southside with You, co-produced with John Legend, and The Nomads, which won the Philadelphia Film Festival Award for Best Feature Film. Southside with You received significant acclaim at the Sundance festival, due in large part to Sumpter’s breakout performance as former First Lady Michelle Obama. She stars in Sonic the Hedgehog and Sonic the Hedgehog 2, and the new season of Run the World on Starz. Sumpter shares her inspiring personal story of grit and resilience, empowering audiences of all kinds to make their dreams a reality.
Inspired by her own experience with pregnancy and the lack of nuance and community in conversations for Black moms, Sumpter co-created and co-founded Sugaberry, a lifestyle brand and audio-first media company for and by Black women. She is focused on creating media and meaningful spaces of connection for moms of color, and co-created and co-hosts the Gracie Award-winning podcast, The Suga. Sumpter is an in-demand speaker for her insights about inclusion, creating a values-led business, and cultivating an entrepreneurial mindset in talks that impact audiences of all kinds.
Alanis Morissette
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Award-winning musician, singer-songwriter, actor, and activist Alanis Morissette is an enduringly popular artist whose celebrated body of work stems from a fierce commitment to authenticity. Her breakthrough album Jagged Little Pill – which earned four Grammys and sold more than 30M records – spawned a worldwide fanbase and became a hit Broadway musical, earning fifteen Tony Award nominations. As an actor, Alanis’s film and TV projects include Dogma, Sylvia, De-Lovely, Sex and the City, Curb Your Enthusiasm, and Weeds, among others. On stage, she has starred in The Vagina Monologues and The Exonerated.
Beyond the entertainment world, Alanis is an avid supporter of mental health, women’s empowerment, as well as spiritual and physical wellness. She supports numerous causes that focus on empowerment, art, and environmental causes, and touches on these important issues in her insightful events. Alanis is the recipient of the Global Tolerance Award from the United Nations and Rock the Vote’s Patrick Lippert Award for her dedication to making the world safer for young people. Her uplifting keynotes have connected with audiences at events including the Wisdom 2.0 Festival, UCLA, The Embodiment Conference, and the Engendering Love Summit, where the host raved, “It was a delightful conversation, and I got tons of good feedback how much people appreciated it and Alanis’s insights. Please pass my deep heart felt gratitude to Alanis.”
Jenna Fischer
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Actor, author, and podcaster Jenna Fischer is best known for playing Pam Beesly on the acclaimed TV series The Office, for which she received an Emmy nomination for Best Supporting Actress and two SAG Awards for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble Comedy. Fischer and The Office cast-mate and real-life best friend, Angela Kinsley, host the wildly popular podcast Office Ladies, which won iHeart Radio’s Podcast of the Year award in 2021. The pair co-authored the instant #1 New York Times bestseller Office BFFs: Tales from The Office From Two People Who Were There. In memorable and highly engaging moderated conversations, Fischer shares her journey to becoming part of one of the most beloved television shows, behind-the-scenes memories from the set of The Office, and inspiration for audiences of all kinds.
After wrapping The Office, Fischer went on to star in the Off-Broadway play Reasons to Be Happy, as well as the world premiere of Steve Martin's newest play Meteor Shower for a record-breaking run at the Old Globe Theatre. Her film credits include Brad's Status (opposite Ben Stiller), Clint Eastwood’s The 15:17 to Paris (with Michael Dougals), The Giant Mechanical Man (which she also produced), the Farrelly Brothers’ Hall Pass; Solitary Man, Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story from producer Judd Apatow, The Promotion, Are You Here; and Blades of Glory opposite Will Ferrell. Other TV credits include starring in ABC’s Splitting Up Together, FOX’s The Grinder, and Comedy Central’s Drunk History, among others. Fischer’s first book, The Actor’s Life, was published in 2018. She received the Screen Actors Guild Emerging Actor Award at the St. Louis Film Festival in 2004. With her characteristic warmth and humor, Jenna offers an authentic perspective on creativity, grit, and following your dreams that resonates across industries.
Nikki and Brie Garcia
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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.
Jenna Elfman
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Famed Golden Globe-winning actress, podcaster, and philanthropist Jenna Elfman is perhaps best known for her roles on Fear the Walking Dead and Dharma & Greg. Elfman also starred in ABC’s Imaginary Mary and made critically-acclaimed guest appearances on Shameless and Damages. Her film credits include Barry, Friends with Benefits, Keeping the Faith, and the cult classic Can’t Hardly Wait, among others. Elfman brings Hollywood star power to events with groups such as Habitat for Humanity, Association for Better Living and Education, the United Nations, and numerous panels focused on women breaking barriers, career longevity as a woman, inspiration, and more.
Jenna, who is a mother of two, co-hosts a hit comedy podcast with her husband Bodhi, Kicking and Screaming. Jenna and Bodhi discuss marriage, life, and annoyance (not necessarily in that order) and offer an authentic and entertaining glimpse into their lives and work. With her signature and beloved humor, insight, and compassion, Elfman shares her one-of-a-kind perspective in events that resonate with audiences of all kinds.
Jordan Lee Dooley
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Jordan Lee Dooley is a National Bestselling Author, Speaker, Creative Business Educator, and Host of the Top Rated Podcast, SHE. Her mission is to help people find and live their purpose, and she does that through a variety of avenues including her education platform called The Own It Academy, which is designed to help creative women start and grow small businesses from home. She also sits on Liberty University’s School of Business Board of Advisors, and has been featured on Forbes, Inc Magazine, SUCCESS Magazine's 30 Under 30 List, and more. Jordan is an Indiana native, an advocate of working in your slippers, and a happy wife to her college sweetheart, Matt.
Felicia Day
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Award-winning actress, New York Times bestselling author, podcaster, and digital creator Felicia Day shares an empowering message about finding your community and being unapologetically yourself. As an actress, Day is known for her fan-favorite roles on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Supernatural, and Mystery Science Theater 3000. She is the creator of The Guild, a hit web series about gamers, which won numerous awards and was adapted into a hit comic book series of the same name. Day, whom the New York Times referred to as “queen of the geeks,” is the founder of Geek & Sundry, a self-proclaimed geek hub and digital production studio which was acquired by Legendary Entertainment, and has hosts panels and events for Netflix’s Geeked.
Day is the author of the instant New York Times bestsellers You’re Never Weird on the Internet (Almost), which Forbes called “relentlessly funny and surprisingly inspirational,” and Embrace Your Weird: Face Your Fears and Unleash Creativity. She is the host of several podcasts, including Felicitations!, Undressing with Felicia Day and Tom Lenk, and 'The Official The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Podcast'. Day launched a series on Twitch called WomenR, which highlights diversity among creators in a broad spectrum of entertainment fields and ensures women and girls can see people like them being successful in the creative tech world. In sought-after talks that make an impact with audiences of all kinds, Day shares her personal stories and hard-won wisdom about embracing yourself and making your dreams come true.
Cheryl Burke
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With over 25 years dancing experience and several championship titles under her belt, Emmy nominated professional dancer Cheryl Burke, tangoed and sambaed her way into the hearts of millions through the hit ABC television show Dancing with the Stars becoming champion twice with Emmitt Smith in Season 3 and Drew Lachey in Season 2.
Cheryl has been named one of People Magazine’s Most Beautiful and often appears on Maxim’s Hot 100 List. In 2008, Burke was awarded an Asian Excellence Award and in 2010, she made a much talked about appearance in the music video for Ne-Yo’s Camera Phone. In addition to her onscreen roles, Burke is a noted motivational speaker. Having been publicly attacked about her weight and battling body image issues her entire life, Burke often speaks at medical conferences, women’s conventions and to school age children about self-esteem and having a healthy body image. She also speaks about being a survivor of domestic sexual abuse. Her accomplishments in entertainment were celebrated in 2020 with an induction into the Robert Chinn Foundation’s Asian Hall of Fame.
For Cheryl, dancing is a way of life. It provides a medium for her to express her inner feelings and passions all while maintaining focus and composure during extremely high-pressure situations. It is dancing that has made her such a competitor, both on and off the floor, and made her strive for perfection in anything that she sets out to do.
Laura Ling
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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.
Kristi Yamaguchi
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Olympic Gold Medalist, two-time World Champion, and U.S. and World Hall of Fame figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi is a powerful force of nature both on and off the ice. Yamaguchi has appeared as an NBC Olympics broadcast analyst for NBC’s Universal Sports Network, a special correspondent for the Today Show, and was the celebrity champion of ABC’s Dancing with the Stars. Throughout her career, Yamaguchi has been a highly sought-after corporate spokesperson, working with Kellogg’s and the American Lung Association, Celanese Acetate, as well as serving as the Goodwill Ambassador for the 2002 Olympic Winter Games, performing at the opening and closing ceremonies. She has been invited to speak to Marriott International, Illinois Libraries Present, Philips Oral Healthcare, and many more.
Yamaguchi’s philanthropic passions include promoting early childhood literacy through her Always Dream, which finds innovative ways to improve access to books, technology, and family engagement strategies for children of historically and intentionally excluded communities. Yamaguchi authored the New York Times bestselling children’s books Dream Big, Little Pig! and It’s a Big World, Little Pig!, among other titles. She has received the Inspiration Award from the Asian Excellence Awards, the Women's Sports Foundation Flo Hyman Award, the Heisman Humanitarian Award, and the USPOC Jessie Owen’s Olympic Spirit Award. Yamaguchi’s commitment to excellence, clear vision, and uplifting message provide inspiration to all audiences.
Hannah Beachler
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Hannah Beachler is an Academy Award-winning production designer and curator known for blockbuster projects like Black Panther and Beyoncé’s stunning visual concept albums Lemonade and Black is King. She became the first African American to win an Academy Award for Production Design for her work on Black Panther. Hannah designed the interstitials for Beyoncé and Jay-Z’s mega tour OTRII, and was tapped by the Metropolitan Museum of Art to curate and design the exhibit “Before Yesterday We Could Fly: An Afrofuturist Period Room.” Other notable film designs include Fruitvale Station, Creed, Miles Ahead, No Sudden Move, Dark Waters, and Moonlight.
Following her groundbreaking Oscar Award, Hannah was named one of Fast Company’s “100 Most Creative People in Business,” one of Marie Claire’s “50 New Guard,” Ellevate’s International Woman of Change, and was listed on Elle’s “2019 Women in Hollywood’s Power List” and InStyle’s “50 Badass Women List.” She is a sought-after speaker for events, engaging audiences at Google, Ford’s World Symposium, Detroit CityLab, UX Week 2018, MoMa NYC, World 50, Inc., Harvard University Graduate School of Design, and United Nations African Descendants. Hannah offers insights about her work in the film industry, the power of storytelling, and the role of art and design in innovating for the future.
Desiree Rogers
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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.
Caroline Randall Williams
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Award-winning poet, author, performance artist, and scholar Caroline Randall Williams is a change-maker and a catalyst. She rose to the international stage with her powerful New York Times piece You Want a Confederate Monument? My Body Is a Confederate Monument, a reckoning in the movement to dismantle systemic racism. A multi-genre writer, Caroline co-authored the NAACP Image Award-winning cookbook Soul Food Love with her mother, as well as The Diary of B.B. Bright, Possible Prince, which won the Harlem Book Fair’s Phyllis Wheatley Prize. Her debut collection of poetry, Lucy Negro, Redux, has been turned into a critically-acclaimed ballet by the Nashville Ballet, and she is currently working on her first non-fiction book, under the working title Body Politik, which will examine the stories written on and by the body, through the lens of her lived experience. Caroline will host Disney+’s Hungry for Answers, a new docuseries and revelatory cooking show focused on Black food history in America produced by Viola Davis. A highly sought-after speaker, Caroline speaks to the places where art, business, and scholarship intersect, moving people closer to their best lives and corporations closer to their ideal identities.
Caroline has been recognized by Southern Living as “One of 50 People Changing the South,” and she was named to The Root’s list of “The Most Influential African Americans in 2020.” She is the Writer in Residence in Vanderbilt University’s Medicine, Health, and Society Department, where she has been a Cave Canem Fellow and a Global Voices Fellow. Caroline has appeared on MSNBC’s Morning Joe and The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell, Dr. Oz, among many others, and her writing has been featured in The Iowa Review, The Massachusetts Review, Essence, The New York Times, and more. Her recipes can also be found in the feature cookbook for Cherry Bombe, as well as Southern Living Magazine. Caroline regularly receives rave reviews of her speaking engagements, such as: “After you hear Caroline your life will never be the same! And if it is the same… you weren’t listening!” (Tennessee Film, Entertainment and Music Commission)
Sahar Zand
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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.
Jen Hale
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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.
Pamela Druckerman
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Pamela Druckerman is an American journalist and author of the international bestseller Bringing Up Bébé: One American Mother Discovers the Wisdom of French Parenting (known in the U.K. as French Children Don’t Throw Food). It’s an unconventional parenting guide that mixes anthropology, journalism, and memoir, with dashes of history and humor. The book has been (or is being) translated into 21 languages.
Pamela is also a Contributing Opinion Writer for the International New York Times. Her op-eds and articles have appeared in the Washington Post, The Guardian, the Financial Times, New York Magazine, Marie Claire, Vanity Fair France, and elsewhere. Her work has been featured on Good Morning America, The TODAY Show, National Public Radio, BBC Women’s Hour, and Oprah.com, among many other news outlets. From 1997 to 2002 she was a staff reporter at The Wall Street Journal, based in Buenos Aires, São Paulo, and New York.
Pamela speaks regularly to audiences in Europe and the United States. She holds a B.A. in philosophy from Colgate University, a Master of International Affairs from Columbia Univeristy, and has trained in improvisational comedy at the Upright Citizens Brigade. She lives in Paris.
Mallika Chopra
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Media entrepreneur, mom, and bestselling author Mallika Chopra has spoken to thousands of people around the world, using storytelling, inspiration, and meditation to incorporate balance and purpose into everyday life. Mallika is the CEO of Chopra Global and was the founder of Intent and co-founder of The Chopra Well with her brother, Gotham Chopra, and her father, Deepak Chopra. She is the author of the Just Be Series - Just Breathe, Just Feel, and Just Be You - a trilogy of books for children (and the adults in their lives) to understand emotional knowing, resilience, and mindfulness. Mallika is the bestselling author of Living With Intent: My Somewhat Messy Journey to Purpose, Peace and Joy and Buddha and the Rose. In Living With Intent, Mallika shares insights from her journey as a mom and entrepreneur seeking meaning and balance.
Mallika has taught meditation to thousands of people and is currently a mindfulness consultant for the animated series Stillwater on Apple TV+. She is featured in TIME’s Special Issue on Mindfulness, and has appeared on Good Morning America, TODAY, CNN, and many other national outlets. She enjoys speaking to audiences around the world about intention, balance, and living a life of purpose, and has shared her passion at TedXSan Diego and TedXBerkeley, Ideacity, Business Innovation Factory, Wisdom 2.0, and the Parliament of World Religions. Mallika has shared ideas on balance and creativity at companies such as Aflac, Nike, Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Disney, LinkedIn, and Google.
Maria Sharapova
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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.
Sarah Broom
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National Book Award Winner and instant New York Times bestseller Sarah M. Broom is the author of The Yellow House – a brilliant, haunting, and unforgettable memoir. The Yellow House, is about the inexorable pull of home and family, set in a shotgun house in New Orleans East. Heralded as “an instantly essential text, examining the past, present and possible future of the city of New Orleans, and of America writ large” (cover review of the New York Times Book Review), Sarah’s debut has been dubbed a must-read book in over 15 publications including the LA Times, the Washington Post, Vanity Fair, NPR, and TIME. Sarah is currently working on her next three books, which will take readers on a collective journey, as she does in her poignant talks about her writing, reflections, the creative process, and lessons from the past we carry into the future.
Sarah’s work has appeared in the New Yorker, The New York Times Magazine, The Oxford American, and O, The Oprah Magazine, among others. She was awarded a Whiting Foundation Creative Nonfiction Grant in 2016 and was a finalist for the New York Foundation for the Arts Fellowship in Creative Nonfiction in 2011. She has also been awarded fellowships at Djerassi Resident Artists Program and The MacDowell Colony. Sarah has been sought-after for events with Princeton University, The East Baton Rouge Parish Library, Adelphi University, Tulane University, Millsaps College, Stanford University, and the National Association for Law Placement, among others.
Renee Montgomery
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Two-time WNBA Champion, sports analyst, and ground-breaking entrepreneur Renee Montgomery made her mark as a player and is continuing to make history. During her eleven-year career as a professional basketball player, Montgomery led her team to two WNBA Championship wins, was named an All-Star, and the 6th Woman of the Year. As Montgomery turned her focus to social justice reform, she retired from the league and pivoted to team ownership, becoming the first WNBA player to become an owner and executive of a WNBA team. She is known for her TED Talk How to Turn Moments into Momentum, sharing her journey taking a leap of faith to stand up for what is right. Montgomery is sought-after for her insights about leadership, entrepreneurship, and diversity and social justice, making an impact on audiences of all kinds.
Montgomery is also an acclaimed sports analyst, working as a studio analyst for the NBA/WNBA with Turner/NBA TV and most recently covering the 2022 NCAA Final Four with CBS. Montgomery is host of her own podcast on the LeBatard & Friends network titled Montgomery & Co. In addition to her role as Co-Owner and Vice President of the Atlanta Dream, she is also a part-owner of the FCF Beasts indoor football team, and General Partner of Valor VC. A committed philanthropist, her Renee Montgomery Foundation strives to promote positivity, teamwork, and make dreams come true along the way.
Serena Williams
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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.
Linda Yvette Chávez
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Award-winning Chingona and Xicana Hollywood creative Linda Yvette Chávez uses storytelling to create a more inclusive world. Linda has emerged in the entertainment industry as a powerful voice, bringing fearless, inclusive and impactful stories to the big and small screens. She is the co-Creator, co-Showrunner, Director, and Executive Producer of the hit Netflix series Gentefied. Gentefied’s first season was nominated for a Peabody Award, and recently received seven Imagen Foundation award nominations, including “Best Comedy Series” and Best Directing for Linda's directorial debut. Linda is adapting the New York Times bestselling book I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter into a feature film for MACRO and Anonymous Content, which will be directed by America Ferrera. Named by Glamour as one of the top Latinas changing the game for representation in television, she wrote Eva Longoria’s directorial debut, the Searchlight Pictures feature film Flamin’ Hot. In sought-after talks, Linda shares her insights from the entertainment industry, as well as impactful takeaways about creating more diverse and equitable teams, workplaces, and communities.
Linda has been highlighted by Variety as part of their Comedy Impact Report alongside comedy heavy hitters like Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, and Dave Chapelle. She has been featured on CNN, Good Morning America, Wired, and AdWeek, among many others. She and her Gentefied co-Creator graced the cover of the Writers Guild of America 2020 Summer Issue of Written By Magazine, and she recently inked a multi-year overall deal with 20th Television to develop new series for Disney’s many platforms. Linda has been in demand for events with groups like AACI, Qualtrics, and United Ways of California, who raved: ”Linda was a fantastic speaker at the 2022 United Way Western Regional Conference. Through the power of her storytelling, she inspired our United Way audience with her authenticity and the need to organizationally look like the people we serve every day. We are so grateful to her.”
Galey Alix
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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.
Sabrina Ionescu
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Professional basketball player Sabrina Ionescu plays for the New York Liberty of the WNBA and has been called the future of New York basketball. Before making the move to New York Liberty, Sabrina played for the University of Oregon where she accumulated numerous accomplishments including being unanimously voted the 2020 AP Women’s Basketball Player of the Year. She is also the first player, female, or male, in NCAA history with 2,000 career points (2,562), 1,000 career rebounds (1,040), and 1,000 career assists (1,091). Sabrina was selected first overall in the 2020 WNBA Draft, which was also the first number one overall draft pick in New York Liberty’s history.
On May 18th, 2021, Sabrina became the youngest player in the WNBA history to record a triple double. Most recently in July 2022, Sabrina set multiple WNBA records by notching the league’s first-ever triple-double while scoring more than 30 points all while matching the current record for most all-time career triple-doubles at three. Additionally, she was voted by fans to the 2022 WNBA All-Star Game as a starter. Sabrina earned her first Gold Medal as a member of the U.S. Women’s Team during the 2022 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in Australia. In 2024, she became an Olympic Gold Medalist & WNBA Champion. An engaging and inspirational speaker, Sabrina shares a message of empowerment and excellence in her motivational talks.
Sabrina is much more than just a basketball player; the 24-year-old star guard has quickly become one of the most marketable and successful names and brands in all of sports. In March of 2021, Sabrina was featured on the cover of SLAM Magazine for “The Future Issue” where she was penned as the future of New York basketball. Additionally, Sabrina is continuing her mission of inspiring the next generation to pursue athletic excellence, which led to her creating “SI20” youth basketball camps. A few of her brand partners include Nike, BodyArmor, Autograph, Division Street and The Boardroom. Offering major inspiration about teamwork, overcoming obstacles, and making a difference, Sabrina’s programs resonate with corporate audiences, organizations, and young people.
Marta Kauffman
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Famed TV writer and producer Marta Kauffman is known for creating the hit 10-season sitcom Friends and Grace and Frankie. Marta created NBC’s long-running hit Friends with David Crane, and the iconic series earned 63 Emmy nominations, winning Outstanding Comedy Series in 2002. They were awarded the 2016 Paddy Chayefsky Laurel Award for lifetime achievement in television writing by the WGA West, and reruns continue to delight with Friends: The Reunion being a ratings juggernaut. Marta recently finished the Netflix comedy Grace and Frankie starring Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin and has spoken about creating a hit show that features octogenarian actors and combatting ageism across industries.
Marta’s other credits include Georgia, Five, Veronica's Closet, The Powers That Be, Call Me Crazy: A Five Film, and the documentary Seeing Allred. She has served on several Boards of Trustees including CalArts, Oakwood School, The Lung Cancer Foundation of America, Big Sunday, and IKAR. Marta earned the 2016 Outstanding Television Writer award at the 23rd annual Austin Film Festival & Screenwriters Conference as well as the Kieser Humanitas Award. She recently received an Honorary Doctorate from Brandeis University. Marta has spoken for groups including The New Jewish Home, BANFF, and motivational commencement keynotes for Wesleyan University and Brandeis University.
Sarah Polley
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Oscar-winning filmmaker, actor, and author Sarah Polley is a storyteller focused on personal stories with powerful cultural resonance. Polley’s film Women Talking received a Best Picture nomination and won the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay, reverberating with critics and audiences alike as a “powerful act of non-violent protest” (Variety). Polley's previous films include Away From Her - which was nominated for two Academy Awards, Take This Waltz, and her documentary film Stories We Tell, which won Best Documentary Film awards from the Los Angeles Film Critics Association, National Board of Review, and the New York Film Critics Circle, as well as a Writer’s Guild of America award for its screenplay. Polley executive produced and wrote the acclaimed Netflix limited series Alias, Grace, adapted from Margaret Atwood’s novel. In memorable events, Polley speaks on the creative process, the value of storytelling, confronting fear, and what it means to be the author of one’s own life.
Polley starred in a wide variety of films including The Sweet Hereafter (Best Supporting Actress award from the Boston Society of Film Critics), Go (Independent Spirit Award nomination), Dawn of the Dead, Mr. Nobody, and The Weight of Water, to name a few. Polley is the author of the New York Times Book Review Editor’s Choice Run Towards the Danger: Confrontations with a Body of Memory, a well-received collection of essays detailing her relationship with her body and how her memory of past and present experiences has contributed to her evolving understanding of self. In profound and ultimately uplifting conversations, Polley inspires her audiences to harness the power of storytelling to live a fuller life.
Margaret I. Cuomo
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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.
Wendy Davis
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Former Texas State Senator and Founder of the non-profit Deeds Not Words, Wendy Davis is renowned as a passionate advocate for women in social, economic and political spheres. After skyrocketing to near celebrity status through her historic 13-hour filibuster in the Texas Senate to stop a legislative effort that would have dramatically reduced women’s access to healthcare, Davis emerged as a leader in the national conversation surrounding women’s leadership and issues which threaten our individual opportunities. Long before she was a Texas State Senator and Texas’ Democratic nominee for Governor in 2014, Davis struggled with the same obstacles faced by women around the country. Determined to break the cycle of poverty she’d been born into, Davis fought to juggle school, career and single motherhood and uses those experiences to connect with others in order to shape perspective. Through Davis’ work at Deeds Not Words, for which she earned a spot on Fast Company’s “100 Most Creative People in Business,” she is shaping the next generation of leaders and directly working to foster diversity, inclusivity, and change at the highest levels of business and government.
At the podium, Davis combines the power of personal storytelling with her deep policy understanding to explain why equitable policies matter in the lives of women as well as the overall health and vibrancy of our economy, guiding organizations across industries toward a better understanding of the institutional value in creating diverse work environments, and key issues such as pay equity, family leave, and harassment policies. A living testament to the ability we each possess to rise above challenges and succeed, Davis demonstrates the power of each of our unique voices, and the value in raising them for what we believe in. Audiences are left inspired to utilize their individual strengths into meaningful contributions, and organizations are left with the tools and insights needed to advance positive change.
Kelsey Plum
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Back-to-back WNBA Champion and 2022 All Star Game MVP Kelsey Plum brings motivational insights from her stellar career and commitment to mentorship to uplifting events. The “un-guardable” Kelsey graduated as the NCAA Division I women’s basketball all-time scoring leader, and went on to be named the AP, John Wooden, Naismith, and USBWA College Player of the Year, and went No. 1 overall in the 2017 WNBA Draft. Despite a huge setback with a torn Achilles injury during her 2020 season, Kelsey went on to lead the inaugural USA Olympic 3x3 Team to an Olympic gold medal, earned the WNBA 6th Woman of the Year and All-Star MVP awards, and was named to the All-WNBA First Team. Kelsey led her Las Vegas Aces to its first WNBA championship in franchise history.
Beyond her championship athleticism, Kelsey is a passionate advocate for family & faith, mental health awareness, and giving back to her community. She introduced her inaugural Dawg Class Camp with Under Armour that will work on and off the court with nine of the top women’s college basketball guards to navigate the transition to a professional career. Kelsey is known for her passion for philanthropy, working with Safe Haven NV and coaching several youth basketball clinics. Her meteoric rise to the top of her game has generated major social media capital and given her a platform she uses to share a positive message about being part of a winning culture, navigating life’s transitions, and leaving your legacy.
Marika Lyszczyk
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College baseball player Marika Lyszczyk made history by becoming the first female catcher to play on an NCAA men’s baseball team, and the first Canadian woman to play US college men’s baseball. Recruited to play NCAA Division 3 men’s baseball as a catcher at Rivier University, Marika has broken gender barriers that others thought were improbable or impossible. She has moved up to NCAA Division 2 and is currently playing for Sonoma State University as a pitcher. Marika continues to break barriers and uses her motivational speaking events to inspire her audiences to do the same.
Determined to follow her dream no matter how difficult it gets, Marika has overcome adversity and learned to adapt along the way by working on her strengths, not taking no for an answer, and forging relationships with others that support and believe in her through her journey. She was a member of the MLB Creator Class of 2022, selected for her social media content which focuses on being a woman in male-dominated sport. T-Mobile tapped Marika to do on-field commentating at the MLB Home-Run Derby at Dodgers Stadium, where she also conducted red carpet interviews. An up-and-coming sports reporter in addition to being a trailblazing player, Marika uses her platform to inspire young women and others to follow their dreams and pursue their goals no matter the obstacles.
Judy Murray OBE
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Scottish tennis coach Judy Murray OBE is one of the most influential and inspiring voices in the sport. A former captain of Great Britain’s Billie Jean King Cup team, Judy was the tartan Chris Evert of her time, winning 64 Scottish titles. She is also the mother of two World No. 1 tennis players – capturing Grand Slam and Olympic titles along the way. For a decade, Judy was the National Coach of Scotland, and was the first woman to pass the Lawn Tennis Association’s Performance Coach Award. Judy offers expert insights and inspiration on building teams, developing resilience, nurturing talent, creating a champion mindset, and the parallels between sport and business.
Judy has created several initiatives to grow grass roots tennis globally and has played a pivotal role with many governing bodies in encouraging more girls to play, as well as increasing the number of female coaches and developing female leaders. In 2017, Judy was awarded an OBE for her services to tennis, women in sport, and charity. In addition, she is known for her appearance on the reality TV show, Strictly Come Dancing and is the presenter of the Driving Force docuseries - which explores the back stories of 20 of Britain's most successful female athletes. Highly respected for her creativity and insight, Judy shares her inspirational story with groups including Brodies LLP Solicitors, HSBC, JP Morgan, WTA, IBM, Salesforce, Deloitte, Peugeot, PayPal UK, among others.
Katie Sturino
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Entrepreneur, author, and body acceptance advocate Katie Sturino is the founder of Megababe Beauty. Katie lends her voice and personal style to raise awareness for size inclusivity, empowering women of all sizes to find their confidence and celebrate their style. Her regular content series #SuperSizeTheLook and #MakeMySize have gone viral, reaching millions of people and attracting global media attention. Katie’s firsthand experience in life and business makes her the perfect person to speak to being a female founder, breaking down barriers, body positivity, and the work it takes to change societal norms.
Katie is the author of Body Talk, an illustrated workbook that tackles how women everywhere have a bad relationship with their body, though in the end, that’s not their fault. She is also the host Boob Sweat, a podcast that delves into often “taboo” topics such as dating in your 30s, Botox, and divorce. Katie has participated in panels such as the Goldman Sachs Small Business Summit, Harvard Business School Luxury Retail & Fashion Panel, WSJ’s The Future of Everything Panel, Women’s Wear Daily Panel, and more.
Rori Harmon
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College basketball phenomenon Rori Harmon has secured her place as a young star in her sport and a humble force in her community. While playing high school basketball for Cypress Creek in Houston, TX, Rori tallied 2,572 points, 745 assists, 700 steals in 146 games. In her first year playing for the Texas Longhorns, Rori lead the Longhorns to a 29-7 season, emerging as one of the team’s best leaders. She has been recognized as an All-American Honorable Mention by both the AP and WBCA and was named the 2022 Big 12 Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player. In addition, Rori was named Freshman of the Year and earned a spot on the Big 12 All-Defensive Team – after making a splash in the NCAA March Madness Tournament, she captured a spot on the Spokane Regional All-Tournament Team where she led the Longhorns to the Elite 8. Every goal that Rori sets for herself she achieves – overcoming obstacles, leveraging her strengths, and stepping up as a leader for her team.
Rori has already earned a plethora of accolades for her fearless energy on the court: Texas Gatorade Player of the Year, a McDonald’s All American, and recognition by The Houston Chronicle as the All-Greater Houston Co-Player of the Year. She has been celebrated by the conference as the Freshman Player of the Week four times, and in February of 2022 as the ESPN W National Player of the Week. Rounding out her accomplishments, she was named the Tamika Catchings National Freshman of the Week Award from the National Collegiate Basketball Writers Association. Beyond the basketball court, Rori is passionate about making an impact in her community through volunteering – participating in community beautification projects in the wake of Hurricane Harvey and donating her time as a youth basketball coach. In motivational talks, she offers insights about what it means to be a student athlete, the impact of Title IX on her career, and DEI and being a part of the LGBTQ+ and Black communities.
Audrey and Nicole Nourse
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Two-time NCAA National Volleyball Champions and identical twins Audrey and Nicole Nourse are a powerhouse duo of motivational speakers with a unique perspective on teamwork. The pair of star student-athletes, who are poised to be the next big names in their sport, are both students at the University of Southern California. They are the two-time NCAA National Volleyball Champions and their playing ranks and experience include: NFHS, NCAA, FIVB, and AVP. In addition to dominating the competition in the sand, the Nourse twins are also on a journey to become successful entrepreneurs, focusing their studies on business and sports media industries. From their inseparable life as student-athletes to their unbelievable journey to the top of their sport, the Nourse twins share the lessons they’ve learned in collaboration, building a winning team, and setting and achieving major goals.
The Nourse Twins are also the co-Founders of UNCUT Los Angeles, a non-profit media organization dedicated to giving student-athletes a platform to share their stories and build their brands – through their own words. As Head of Athlete Engagement (Audrey) and Head of Brand Management (Nicole), they have established themselves as young leaders in the industry and sports media moguls in the making. At engaging events with groups like UnCut Los Angeles and USC Trojans LIVE, the star athletes make a memorable impact with their drive and dedication, sharing insights on topics like motivation and teamwork, nutrition and fitness, and marketing from their unique Gen Z perspective.
Kendall Coyne Schofield
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Olympic gold and silver medalist Kendall Coyne Schofield is “the fastest woman in hockey,” serving as captain of the U.S. women’s national hockey team. Capturing an astounding twenty-three medals in international competition, Schofield has had a ground-breaking career of ‘firsts’ – as the first female NHL All-Star Skills competitor, the first female player development coach for the Chicago Blackhawks, the first woman to serve as an analyst for a Chicago Blackhawks regular season game, and as a member of the first all-women NBC Sports and NHL Tonight broadcast teams. Her bestselling autobiography As Fast As Her reached #1 on Amazon in several categories, scoring a hat track as #1, #2, and #3 on Amazon in teen and young adult hockey in hardcover, audio, and Kindle.
Schofield earned her title as “the fastest woman in hockey” in 2019 when she became the first woman to compete in the fastest skater challenge at the NHL All-Star Skills Competition. Her time of 14.346 seconds was less than one second behind the winning NHL skater sending shockwaves throughout the sports world in a breakthrough moment for women’s hockey. Schofield has been named one of Forbes’ “30 Under 30,” and is a leader on and off the ice. She is the Co-Founder of the Schofield Family Foundation, serves on the board of the Professional Women’s Hockey Players Association, and founded the “Golden Coynes” – an all-girls hockey development program in partnership with the Chicago Blackhawks and the Kendall Coyne Hockey Camp. Schofield is a champion of resilience, and in her motivating keynotes inspires audiences to get outside their comfort zone to accomplish their goals.
Allison Moorer
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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.
Trisha Yearwood
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Award-winning country music star, actor, TV personality, chef, New York Times bestselling author, and entrepreneur Trisha Yearwood has been entertaining and inspiring audiences for decades. Yearwood made history as the first female country artist to have a debut single, ‘She’s In Love With The Boy’, reach #1 on music charts. She has been awarded numerous Grammy, CMA, and ACM Awards for countless multi-platinum albums, and continues to release new music that extends the legacy of her powerhouse voice to a new generation of fans. In addition to being a music icon, Yearwood hosts the Emmy Award-winning Food Network show Trisha’s Southern Kitchen as well as her Facebook Live pre-show T’s Coffee Talk. She has written three New York Times bestselling cookbooks, including Trisha’s Table, and launched a lifestyle brand as well as Trisha Yearwood’s Pet Collection, collaborating with Williams Sonoma on signature lines. Yearwood shares incomparable insights from her personal journey as a music icon, beloved chef, and entrepreneur with an open-heart, giving memorable keynotes and moderating meaningful conversations that are impactful for audiences of all kinds.
Demi-Leigh Tebow
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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.
Tenille Townes
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Award-winning country music singer-songwriter Tenille Townes transports audiences through her inspiring storytelling and music. Through musical performances like her TED Talk How the Light Gets In, Tenille speaks about the power of creativity in making meaning out of life’s greatest challenges and building your dreams from the ground up. Her albums Living Room Worktapes and The Lemonade Stand received fan and industry praise, with her breakout single ‘Somebody’s Daughter’ earning her four awards at the Canadian Country Music Association Awards, including Female Artist of the Year. Driven by her childhood dream to reach others through music, Tenille founded Big Hearts for Big Kids Foundation, which has raised over $2M in the past decade for youth in need. Tenille forges a deep connection with audiences and ensures memorable events through her conversations and performances.
Kay Adams
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Sportscaster and television host Kay Adams has built up her enormous fan following by sharing her journey, her work ethic, and her authenticity. In the football world, Kay is known for previously hosting NBC Sports Network’s Fantasy Football Live and DirecTV’s Fantasy Zone. Most recently, she hosted the NFL Network’s Emmy-nominated daily show Good Morning Football, solidifying herself as a trusted voice and fan-favorite TV personality. Kay currently hosts Up & Adams, her popular morning show on FanDuel TV, YouTube, & MAX Sports. Powered by Kay’s authenticity and endless curiosity, the show features guests from across sports and entertainment. In sought after events, Kay connects with audiences in moderated conversations and as a consummate host for fundraisers and events of all kinds.
Kay has made an impact hosting live events like Netflix’s first ever live sporting event, The Netflix Cup, Nickelodeon's Superstar Slime Showdown, TruTV's Impractical Jokers Live Special, the red carpet at the NFL Honors Ceremony, and more. Beyond sports, Kay hosted People (the TV show!), a daily program based on the prestigious magazine, as well as a mobile version of Who Wants to be a Millionaire for SONY. Kay shares insights about staying motivated, strategizing for personal growth, and following your passions for success in any industry.
Alexis deBoschnek
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Alexis deBoschnek is host of Chef Out of Water and a recipe developer based in the Catskills in upstate New York. Before going freelance, she was the Senior Test Kitchen Manager at BuzzFeed's Tasty, where her show, Chef Out of Water, went viral multiple times. She has contributed recipes to Food52, The Kitchn, Chowhound, and Tasting Table. Her first cookbook, To the Last Bite, published by Simon & Schuster, was named one of the most anticipated new cookbooks by TIME, Thrillist, Book Riot, and more.
Nora Tobin
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Nora Tobin has developed Fit, Fueled & Focused corporate wellness programs, keynotes, luxury retreats, and monthly content scaled globally across Fortune 100 organizations.
Nora Tobin LLC services include:
Nora and her team of health and wellness experts create a 360 degree approach to both corporate and consumer branded wellness, which can include the traditional forms of public speaking, as well as the integration of content, products, and events.
Brooke Henderson
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Celebrated Canadian golfer Brooke Henderson has been a mainstay of the world’s top 10 for most of her professional career and has already won more main tour victories than any Canadian professional golfer in history. Formerly a No. 1 ranked amateur, Brooke has secured 12 LPGA Tour wins, including 2 Majors, and has made 2 trips to represent Canada at the Olympics in Rio (2016) and Tokyo (2020). With her 2016 win at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, she became the second youngest player in LPGA history to with a Major and received international attention. Brooke won her second career Major title at the 2022 Amundi Evian Championship with a stunning birdie on the 18th hole. Drawing on her incredible career, Brooke shares her winning techniques for staying laser-focused, overcoming obstacles, and developing a flexible and positive mindset for approaching any challenge.
Brooke’s impressive track record has earned her the attention of devoted fans – the #BrookeBrigade – and she is credited with fueling a renewed appreciation for the sport among the younger generation. She has also received numerous accolades, including the 2019 Founders Award by a vote of fellow golfers on the LPGA Tour as someone "whose behavior and deeds best exemplify the spirit, ideals, and values of the LPGA," the Canadian Press Female Athlete of the Year in 2015, 2017, and 2018, and the ESPY Award for “Best Female Golfer.” Brooke’s game is supported by her whole family – from her dad who serves as her lifelong coach, to her mom, her biggest cheerleader, to her sister Brittany, her devoted caddie. In inspiring talks, Brooke offers actionable takeaways about building teams and workplaces that emphasize individual strengths, encourage trust, and focus on celebrating wins together.
Pepper Teigen
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TV Personality and New York Times bestselling cookbook author Pepper Teigen has become America’s most well-known Thai mom and Yai (grandma). Lovingly known as “Pepper Thai” for her love of spicy chiles, she is the host of the Food Network and Discovery Plus show, Getting Spicy with Pepper Teigen. Her passion for food goes back to her childhood growing up in the small town of Isaan in Thailand, where her first job was cooking and selling coconut pancakes to commuters each day before school. When Pepper married Chrissy’s dad, she moved to America and helped him operate a bar he owned in Washington, where she cooked food with Thai flavors for the bar patrons. She became an expert at improvising with American ingredients when Thai ones, like green papaya and Thai basil, were hard to find. She not only kept her love of Thai food and traditions alive — even in the small towns where she lived in Idaho, Utah and Washington — but also used food to introduce her daughters, Chrissy and Tina, to her Thai culture.
Pepper is widely featured on Chrissy’s Instagram and on the Cravings’ website, where she shares her cooking tips and Thai recipes as part of her popular “Pepper’s Corner” video series. She is the author of the New York Times bestseller, The Pepper Thai Cookbook. Teigen’s interactive cooking demonstrations make for memorable events that appeal to audiences of all kinds. Attendees cook along with Pepper as she shares her journey and recipes with wit and wisdom.
Tamar Geller
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Tamar Geller is a dog trainer, a behavior expert, and a New York Times bestselling author who developed '"The Loved Dog" method of dog training. Known for her innovative method that is based in the intersection of brain science, personal development, and deep understanding of dogs' behavior, which made her popular with celebrity clientele such as Oprah, Lady Gaga, the Kardashians, Tony Robbins, Reese Witherspoon, Mark Wahlberg, Brad Paisley and many others. Oprah called Tamar “Life coach for dogs and their people" as Tamar has transformed lives and impacted relationships not only for dogs, but also for the people who love them.
After serving as an intelligence officer working with the Israeli Special Forces, she spent time to observing wolves in the wild and studying the role of the leader as a parent and protector of his pack. By using similar techniques as the wolves, she created a method of training puppies that does not involve aggression, dominance, or choke chains. Tamar’s method goes beyond positive reinforcement as she emphasizes building a solid relationship with the dog based on understanding the dog as the individual that s/he is and coaching them through games and fun to become the best version of themselves. She strongly opposes the training methods that want a dog to be submissive. Tamar believes in helping PAWrents empower their dog to be the best s/he could be and build a relationship that is based on mutual devotion and love. She is the founder of the first cage-free doggy boarding and day care center in southern California, called The Loved Dog. Her first book of the same name teaches dog-owners how to train their dogs in a nonaggressive way.
Among other things, Geller works closely with the animal rights organizations Humane Society of the United States, American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Best Friends Animal Society, Helen Woodward Animal Center, and various rescue organizations. She conducts speeches and programs for rescue organizations, and has given lectures about her expertise in dog behavior at Cal-Poly University Veterinary school and at Pepperdine University.
Chelsea Peretti
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Comedian Chelsea Peretti is best known for starring as ‘Gina Linetti’ on the hit FOX comedy Brooklyn Nine-Nine. Peretti can be heard on hit animated series such as Big Mouth, The Simpsons, Crank Yankers, and American Dad. She has appeared in HBO's farewell season of Girls, Fox's New Girl, and Comedy Central's Kroll Show, Drunk History, Another Period, and Sarah Silverman Program. Her film credits also include Game Night and Popstar. Peretti has written for Parks and Recreation, Saturday Night Live, Sarah Silverman Program, Portlandia, and Kroll Show. Her recent projects include romantic drama The Photograph, the Red Hour comedy feature Friendsgiving, and the feature comedy Spinster. Her hour stand-up special One of the Greats has a large following on Netflix, and her half-hour Comedy Central Presents is considered a landmark taping. One of Variety’s "Top 10 Comics to Watch," Comedy Central’s "HOTLIST" comedians, and Vanity Fair’s "2013 Comedy Issue" comedians, Chelsea was also named one of TIME Magazine’s "140 Best Twitter Feeds of 2013." A seasoned comedian, Peretti injects humor into her speeches on any topic, ensuring an engaging, enjoyable experience for audiences.
Her weekly call-in podcast Call Chelsea Peretti debuted at number 1 on iTunes comedy podcasts. Original comedic web projects include the highly trafficked website BlackPeopleLoveUs.com, the New York City Rejection Line, and her “Making Friends” and “All My Exes” web series. Peretti is known for her ability to connect with audiences on a personal level, making her messages more impactful.
Jacqueline Sanderlin
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Accomplished educator, leadership guru, and author Dr. Jacqueline Sanderlin (Dr. Jackie) is an expert in developing meaningful community partnerships and is the Founder and CEO of the Why Not? Incubator, a non-profit organization designed to provide community partnership coaching about unity, wellness, community, equity, and racial healing. Her book The Why Not Challenge: Say Yes to Success with School-Community Partnerships shares her passion and practical takeaways for forming lasting community relationships between schools, organizations, and companies. In a time of vitriol and division, Dr. Jackie has been outspoken about her “Why not?” message, which is to build community, unity, equity, and partnerships.
Dr. Jackie has forged sustainable partnerships between over 350+ corporations, local businesses, and under-served schools, while offering powerful insights and accessible best practices in workshops, trainings, and talks. Her work was featured on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, which led to a role as the consulting producer for NBC’s School Pride. She serves on the steering committee for SEL4CA, Social Emotional Learning for California, and as an Executive Board Member for the Goldie Hawn Foundation, Mind Up. Dr. Jackie is a highly sought-after keynote speaker at conferences and summits, and her message of empowerment, community connection, equity, and resilience creates a lasting impact with educational and corporate audiences as well as individuals.
Laura Lynne Jackson
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International speaker, teacher, and practicing psychic medium Laura Lynne Jackson is the author of the New York Times bestsellers Signs: The Secret Language of the Universe and The Light Between Us, which have been translated into more than 20 languages and are available in over 35 countries. Jackson is a Certified Research Medium with the Windbridge Institute for Applied Research in Human Potential in Arizona and member of the advisory board for the Forever Family Foundation – a group that promotes a better understanding of Afterlife Science and provides comfort and services to grieving people who have lost loved ones. She is dedicated to teaching people how to open to their own psychic and intuitive abilities to fully step into and embrace their divine energy and live their best lives.
Laura discovered her gift as a young woman, but kept her unique abilities hidden from her very normal, suburban life. By day she taught high school English and cared for her three children; at night, she would speak privately on the phone with celebrities, athletes, scientists, and CEOs, connecting them with loved ones who had passed away and conveying information with shocking accuracy and insight, building a bridge beyond the accepted bounds of human experience. Since embracing her gift, Jackson has been featured on The Today Show, Dr. Oz, Fox and Friends, Good Day New York, Telemundo, the Tokyo-based Fuji Television Network, The Huffington Post, Goop.com, Oprah.com, and various news and media throughout the United States and abroad. She has been sought after to speak for groups including the Rhine Research Center, Penguin Random House, Pinterest Annual Conference, the Rubin Museum Speakers Series, the Goop Summit, and more.
Melissa King
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Trailblazing chef, entrepreneur, and philanthropist Melissa King is a proud Chinese American and queer chef who is also a creative entrepreneur outside of the kitchen. King (she/they) is the winner of Bravo’s Top Chef All-Stars: Los Angeles (Season 17) and the winner of All-Star’s Fan Favorite. With more challenge wins than any other competitor in the history of Top Chef, King has gone on to serve as a culinary judge on the series as well as The Food Network’s The Julia Child Challenge. Known for her technical precision and ability to blend modern California cuisine with Asian flavors, King has helmed several Michelin starred kitchens in San Francisco and has cooked for notable figures such as Oprah Winfrey and Al Gore, and curated the menu for the 2022 Met Gala alongside Anna Wintour. Called on as a creative consultant for companies around the world, Chef King is a sought-after motivational speaker supporting women’s empowerment, sustainability, food education, and entrepreneurship.
King has been recognized as “one of the best female chefs in San Francisco,” and was named FSR Magazine’s “40 Under 40: Rising Star.” They launched a company focused on partnerships and culinary experiences, as well as a brand of small-batched sauces called King Sauce, an apparel line, and virtual cooking classes. Chef King is passionate about cultural inclusivity, media representation, environmental sustainability, and social justice – working with groups such as Stop AAPI Hate, The Trevor Project, and World Central Kitchen, among others. She is the face of IBM Research’s “5 in 5” series, focused on five innovations that will change our lives within five years. King is a featured chef in the Williams-Sonoma’s Chefs’ Collective. They have performed at food & music festivals from Coachella, Outsidelands, BottleRock, and more, and spoken for groups including Google, Facebook, Chase, and Capital One.
Kristin Cavallari
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Born in Denver, Colorado, the Rocky Mountains couldn’t have predicted what was in store for Kristin Cavallari when she headed west to live with her father and brother in Laguna Beach, CA. Cavallari was in her junior year of high school when the first season of Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County began production for MTV. With her whit, charisma and girl next-door looks, Cavallari was an instant TV sensation, winning over audiences across the nation. She was nominated for a Teen Choice Award in 2006 for “Choice Reality Star.”
After wrapping two successful years on MTV’s hit show, Laguna Beach, Cavallari switched gears to focus on a career in acting. From 2006 – 2009 Kristin starred in numerous films like Van Wilder: Freshman Year (2009), Green Flash (2009), Spring Breakdown (2009), and Wild Cherry (2009), starring alongside Amy Poehler, Rumer Willis, and Rob Schneider.
In May of 2009, Cavallari confirmed that she would be joining the cast of the mega-popular MTV reality series, The Hills. Already a smash hit, Kristin appeared in the mid-season finale before continuing on as the reality-drama’s new lead girl and narrator throughout the last two seasons.
After several successful partnership opportunities, Kristin craved the creative freedom and fulfillment of founding her own company and in 2017, Uncommon James was born. Her spring jewelry line for Uncommon James, sold out the first week of releasing. That same week, Kristin debuted her passion project and first cookbook True Roots - filled with hundreds of recipes that are free of refined sugar, dairy free and gluten free. Two days after its release, True Roots hit The New York Times best-seller list – making this Kristin’s second book to receive this honor.
In 2018, Kristin made her long-awaited return to reality TV with the hit E! docuseries, Very Cavallari. The series followed Kristin as she opened the flagship store and Nashville headquarters of her rapidly growing fashion and lifestyle brand Uncommon James. Throughout the three seasons, the series documented Uncommon James and the brand’s expansion as well as the opening of a Chicago location.
Most recently, Cavallari released her highly-anticipated second cookbook, True Comfort: More Than 100 Cozy Recipes Free of Gluten and Refined Sugar: A Gluten Free Cookbook. This release marks Cavallari’s third book to become a New York Times best-seller. Up next, she’ll open her third Uncommon James store in Dallas in 2021.
Julianne Hough
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Award-winning performer, recording artist, and entrepreneur Julianne Hough is an energetic force who shares her message of self-acceptance, creativity, and wellness in empowering engagements. A true triple threat, Hough is known worldwide for her dancing, acting, and music, and became a household name as a two-time professional champion on ABC’s Dancing with the Stars. After multiple wins, she went on to judge the series, and won an Emmy for her original choreography. She is the founder of KINRGY, an accessible and fun movement experience based in her belief that movement creates energetic health. Hough and KINRGY were a vital part of Oprah’s 2020 Vision Tour. She is fulfilling a childhood dream with her Broadway debut in the critically acclaimed POTUS. With each of her endeavors, Hough expands her portfolio and her impact with audiences of all kinds.
A serial entrepreneur, Hough has collaborated on a shoe line with Vince Camuto, a capsule collection with MPG Activewear, released a series of dance-based fitness DVDs, and is the Co-Founder of Fresh Vine Wine. She is known for films including Safe Haven, Paradise, Rock of Ages, the remake of Footloose, and more, and starred as Sandy in FOX’s Grease Live! Her self-titled debut album hit #1 on the Billboard Country charts and earned her two Academy of Music Country Awards for “Top New Female Vocalist” and “Top New Artist.” Hough has also released the powerful self-love anthem “Transform” and The Julianne Hough Holiday Collection. From holistic movement and healing, to achieving next-level dreams, to engaging with compassion, Hough shares her warmth and uplifting insights in memorable events.
Barbara Sturm
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Leader in aesthetic medicine and entrepreneur Dr. Barbara Sturm is a German aesthetics doctor, widely renowned for her anti-inflammatory philosophy and her non-surgical anti-aging skin treatments. Dr. Sturm began her medical career in orthopedics as part of the team that developed cutting-edge treatments for inflammatory conditions like osteoarthritis. Termed the “Kobe Procedure” after the late NBA basketball star Kobe Bryant, the treatment utilizes the patient’s own blood cells to produce proteins that reduce inflammation and stimulate the healing process. Dr. Sturm then translated science from her clinical research and orthopedic practice into the field of aesthetics and opened her own medical clinic in Düsseldorf. She is the Founder and CEO of Dr. Barbara Sturm Molecular Cosmetics, sharing insights about starting and growing a business in the social media era with authenticity and authority.
As Dr. Sturm continued to innovate and revolutionize the field, she became one of the most sought-after beauty doctors in the world. In 2002, Dr. Sturm developed her famous “MC1," a bespoke plasma-based cream only available to Dr. Sturm’s patients. The potent cream harnesses the power of the body’s own proteins in a skin-healing formula to address the visible signs of inflammation. Dr. Sturm then set out to create a patients-only skincare regimen built around anti-inflammatory, ingredient science, launching her Molecular Cosmetics skincare line in 2006. In illuminating events, Dr. Sturm shares her business acumen, as well as a wealth of information about skincare, solutions to the aging process, and insights for a healthy lifestyle.
Amy Poehler
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One of Hollywood’s most versatile and sought-after talents, Amy Poehler’s credits include that of actress, writer, director, producer, and bestselling author. Poehler is perhaps best known for her starring role on the Emmy-nominated NBC comedy series Parks and Recreation, in which her portrayal of Leslie Knope earned her a Golden Globe award for “Best Actress in a TV Series, Musical, or Comedy,” the award for “Best Actress in a TV Comedy” at the American Comedy Awards, and a Gracie Award. For her work on the show, Poehler also received six consecutive Emmy nominations, two additional Golden Globe nominations, and three Screen Actors Guild Awards nominations. She can currently be heard as the titular character in the scripted podcast Say More with Dr? Sheila, where she is also an executive producer in partnership with Audacy and her production company, Paper Kit Productions. Her film credits include Wine Country (which she also directed and produced), The House, Sisters, Wet Hot American Summer, Baby Mama, Blades of Glory, Mean Girls, and many more. Among many voice acting credits, Poehler lent her voice as Joy in Disney Pixar’s Oscar-winning smash hit Inside Out. Her first book, Yes Please, was an instant #1 New York Times bestseller, spending over 23 weeks on the list. Despite her stardom, Poehler’s down-to-earth personality and relatability connect with any audience, as anyone can connect to her impactful message of positivity, creativity, and perseverance.
Last year, Poehler made her documentary directorial debut with Amazon’s Emmy-winning documentary Lucy & Desi. Other recent projects include Peacock’s unscripted series The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning (executive producer & narrator), Peacock’s Baking It (executive producer & co-host alongside Maya Rudolph), NBC’s hit crafting competition series Making It (executive producer & co-host alongside Nick Offerman), FOX’s animated series Duncanville (co-creator, executive producer, and lead voice), Netflix’s Emmy-nominated series Russian Doll (executive producer), Amazon’s Harlem (executive producer) and Adult Swim’s Three Busy Debras (executive producer). She also starred in and directed Netflix’s Moxie and will star in and produce the upcoming Roku film, First Time Female Director. She has several additional projects in development as part of Paper Kite Productions, including NBC’s thriller-drama The Mother-In-Law, and the Netflix animated feature Steps. Poehler’s fantastically successful Hollywood career inspires audiences to pursue their passions, stay motivated, and make a difference in the world.
Alex Borstein
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Award-winning multi-hyphenate talent, Alex Borstein is known for writing, producing, and acting in some of Hollywood’s most beloved projects. As a writer, Borstein contributed to Showtime’s long-running series Shameless, as well as FOX’s long-running, mega-hit, Family Guy for which she also earned an Emmy Award as the voice of Lois Griffin. As an actress, she is also known for her starring role in HBO’s critically acclaimed series, Getting On. Most recently, Alex took home two Emmy’s for her role as Susie Myerson on Amazon Prime’s award-winning series The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. Some of her feature film credits include A Million Ways to Die in the West, The Lizzie McGuire Movie, The Lookout, Bad Guys, and the award-winning Good Night, and Good Luck, for which the ensemble cast was nominated for a Screen Actor’s Guild Award. A highly regarded standup comedian and commentator, Borstein uses her trademark humor to explore complex topics in memorable moderated conversations.
Borstein is an advocate and educator about bleeding disorders, working with the National Hemophilia Foundation as a spokesperson to raise awareness and offer encouragement to those affected. In her inspiring Emmy Award acceptance speech, she shared the story of her grandmother’s courage during the Holocaust – who defied Nazi orders and ‘stepped out of line’ – and Borstein urged women everywhere to be empowered to step out of line and stand up for what they believe in. Borstein brings authenticity, insight, and wit, to all her engagements, and donates her fees to charitable organizations.
Vanessa Bayer
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Emmy Award-nominated actor, writer, comedian, podcaster, and author Vanessa Bayer is known for her seven seasons on Saturday Night Live, which garnered her an Emmy nomination and an American Comedy Award. Other notable projects include NBC’s Will and Grace, FOX’s Brooklyn Nine-Nine, ViacomCBS’s Drunk History, HBO’s Crashing, and ABC’s Modern Family and Single Parents, and films include Trainwreck, DC League of Super Pets, and Ibiza, among many others. Bayer also co-hosts the interview podcast How Did We Get Weird? with her brother and is the co-creator and star of Showtime’s I Love That For You, a comedy series inspired by her own story of overcoming childhood leukemia. One of Hollywood’s funniest actors working today, Bayer brings comedy and commentary to your next event and makes an impact for audiences of all kinds.
Bayer’s children’s book How Do You Care for a Very Sick Bear? teaches children and adults how to support friends through long-term illnesses, inspired by her own battle with childhood leukemia. For her advocacy, she was honored with The Gilda Award from Gilda’s Club. Bayer shares with humor and candor insights from her rising stardom, her journey overcoming adversity, and how she cultivated resilience through comedy and storytelling in memorable keynotes and conversations.
Tina Fey
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Award-winning writer, actress, author and producer Tina Fey is known for creating the iconic, Emmy Award-winning comedy series, 30 Rock. As the series Executive Producer, head writer, and star, she earned an Emmy, two Golden Globes, four SAG Awards, and a People's Choice Award. The series is also the record-holder for the most Emmy nominations in one season for any comedy series and received a total of 103 Emmy nominations and 22 Primetime Emmy Award nominations over seven seasons on NBC. Prior to creating 30 Rock, Fey completed nine seasons as head writer, cast member, and co-anchor of the "Weekend Update" segment on Saturday Night Live, for which she won an Emmy and two Writers Guild Awards. Her film credits include Mean Girls, Baby Mama, Date Night, Megamind, and Pixar’s Oscar and BAFTA-winning animated feature film Soul. She co-executive produced and created the hit Netflix original comedy, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, which was nominated for five Emmys and wrapped the first-ever comedy interactive special. Fey currently serves as executive producer on Girls5Eva and The Four Seasons, on top of touring the U.S. with Amy Poehler on their sold-out Restless Leg comedy tour. Fey is an undeniable legend in comedy, with name recognition among any audience.
In April 2011, Fey released her first book entitled Bossypants, which topped the New York Times bestseller list and remained for 39 consecutive weeks. It also received a Grammy nomination for “Best Spoken Word Album.” Bossypants was released in paperback in January 2012 and has sold over 5M copies in the US thus far. Fey's quick wit and exceptional storytelling skills combine with powerful lessons on breaking barriers and pursuing one's passions for unforgettable live events.
Kate McKinnon
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Kate McKinnon won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series in 2016 and 2017 and has been nominated every year from 2014 to 2020 for her work on Saturday Night Live. In addition, she earned a Critics’ Choice Award for Best Actress in a Comedy Series in 2016.
McKinnon’s recent roles include Jay Roach’s Bombshell opposite Charlize Theron, Nicole Kidman and Margot Robbie, Danny Boyle’s Beatles inspired romcom Yesterday, starring opposite Mila Kunis in the Lionsgate action-comedy The Spy Who Dumped Me, Paul Feig’s reboot of Ghostbusters, Rough Night opposite Scarlett Johansson, and Office Christmas Party with Jason Bateman and Jennifer Aniston. In addition, she has voiced roles in several animated projects, including Oscar-nominated Ferdinand, Angry Birds and Pixar’s Finding Dory. She has also voiced several TV series, including The Magic School Bus Rides Again for Netflix, The Simpsons and Family Guy. She was nominated for a 2017 Daytime Emmy for her work on the PBS animated series Nature Cat and can be heard as ‘Queen Mortuana’ in the Audible medieval fantasy-comedy series, Heads Will Roll, which she co-created.
Upcoming projects include the Fox Searchlight/Hulu limited series The Dropout, where she’ll be portraying Theranos founder, Elizabeth Holmes and playing Carole Baskin in the UCP limited series, Joe Exotic, based on the Wondery podcast and characters made popular on Netflix’s doc series, Tiger King for Comcast/Peacock.
Lori Greiner
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Heralded as a legendary entrepreneur and inventor, Lori Greiner started with one idea and turned it into a multi-million-dollar international brand. Recognized as one of the most prolific inventors of retail products of our time, Lori has created and marketed over 1,000 products, holds 120 U.S. and international patents, and has a 90% success rate for new items launched. Lori is known for her impeccable negotiating skills and uncanny ability to know, identify, and launch emerging brands.
Lori is a leading Shark on ABC’s four-time Emmy-winning entrepreneurial business show, Shark Tank, where she invests in companies and helps turn peoples’ dreams into a reality. Lori has brought her engaging expertise on innovation, growth, and the world of business to groups including Verizon, Coldwell Banker, PayPal, IBM, Adobe, Chase, and many more.
At the heart of Lori’s success is the winning combination of her talent, hard work, and perseverance. A strong role model and true inspiration to many, she was honored with the Sherry Lansing "Woman of the Year" Award and by the Paley Center as an Important Woman in Television, listed as one of Success Magazine’s "Top 25 Personal and Professional Development Influencers to Follow," ranked by Business Insider Magazine as one of the "Top 30 Best Women Early-Stage Investors of 2023," and voted as a fan favorite on Shark Tank. Lori is a committed philanthropist and author of the international bestseller Invent It, Sell It, Bank It!. A force to be reckoned with in the business world and beyond, Lori delivers empowering insights and buzz-worthy takeaways, emboldening her audience to thrive in work and in life.
Julie Andrews
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Julie Andrews has been a beloved and much-honored star of stage, screen and television for more than half a century. She was already a Broadway legend when she made her feature film debut in 1964’s Mary Poppins. Andrews’ iconic performance in the title role of the magical nanny brought her an Academy Award®, a Golden Globe and a BAFTA Award. The following year, she earned a second Oscar® nomination and won another Golden Globe Award for her unforgettable portrayal of Maria Von Trapp in The Sound of Music. She received her third Academy Award® nomination and won another Golden Globe Award for her “dual” role in Victor/Victoria. Ms. Andrews received her honours as a Dame of the British Empire by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and was also a Kennedy Center Honoree.
Today’s young film audiences may be more familiar with Andrews as a queen trying to train her teenaged granddaughter to be a princess in the hit films, The Princess Diaries, and its sequel, The Princess Diaries 2: The Royal Engagement. Andrews also voiced the character of Queen Lillian in the blockbuster hits Shrek 2 and Shrek the Third. She also voiced the narration of the hugely successful Disney release of Enchanted. In 2010, Ms. Andrews added to her multi-generational appeal with the release of films The Tooth Fairy, Shrek Goes Fourth and Despicable Me. Her earlier motion picture credits also include The Americanization of Emily, Hawaii, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Star!, Darling Lili and 10, to name only a few.
Ms. Andrews has joined talents with her daughter, Emma Walton Hamilton, to pursue the publishing of books committed to stimulating a sense of wonder in children and young readers. The Julie Andrews Collection has released over 25 books to date, many of which have achieved #1 status, including the Little Bo series, the Dumpy The Dump Truck franchise, The Great American Mousical, Thanks to You and Simeon’s Gift. Her latest franchise of books, entitled The Very Fairy Princess, has repeatedly produced bestsellers, while simultaneously introducing a whole new generation to Julie Andrews.
In addition to her stage and screen work, Julie has dedicated her life to her family and to serving important causes, including Operation USA, an international relief organization with which Julie has traveled to such places as Vietnam and Cambodia. She has served as the Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), which provides financial and technical support for low-income women in developing countries. In 2012 she received The Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Cancer Society.
Rachel Cargle
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Public academic, writer, entrepreneur, and philanthropic innovator Rachel Cargle is a thought leader in the spaces of social justice and equity, intersectionality, mental health awareness, and accessible learning through ground-breaking social ventures. Cargle is the Founder and President of The Loveland Foundation, Inc., a non-profit offering free therapy to Black women and girls. Under her umbrella company, The Loveland Group, she has created The Great Unlearn, a self-paced donation-based learning community, The Great Unlearn for Young Learners, an online learning space for young folks launching in 2022, and Elizabeth’s Bookshop & Writing Centre – an innovative literacy space designed to amplify, celebrate, and honor the work of writers who are often excluded from traditional cultural, social, and academic canons. As a keynote speaker, Cargle is highly sought-after for her insights on the history of race and its present-day impacts, intersectional and inclusive feminism, and values-based goal setting for individuals and organizations.
Cargle and her work have been featured in The New York Times, InStyle, Glamour, Huffington Post, The Washington Post, The New Yorker and Forbes. She is a regular contributor to The Cut, Atmos, and Cultured Magazine. In addition to her TEDx Talk Coming to Terms with Racism’s Inertia: Ancestral Accountability, Cargle has appeared on TIME100 Talks, Red Table Talk, NBC News Now, and more. Her signature public lecture Unpacking White Feminism has been featured on campuses around the country including American University, Yale, and Harvard, and Cargle has spoken at Apple, Spotify, and Facebook. Her book A Renaissance of Our Own: A Memoir & Manifesto on Reimagining is a deeply personal and insightful testament to the power of reimagining to dismantle the frameworks and systems that no longer serve us while building new ones that do.
Abigail Posner
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Today’s unprecedented speed of change is forcing companies to pivot like never before and leverage their most innovative assets - their PEOPLE. For centuries, our workforce has been focused on specific roles and siloed divisions, but now the path to growth will come by inspiring every employee (from leader to individual contributor) with a new path to bring different, untapped sides of themselves to work, and ultimately become more curious, creative and action-oriented. This process of creating a more holistic person and organization is what Abigail Posner refers to as expansiveness. Tapping into her Harvard background in social anthropology, as well as her practical application in business through her work at Google, where she pioneers a focus around Humanizing Digital, Abigail provides an inspirational narrative and a roadmap for how people and organizations can embrace a new WHOLE-istic approach to business innovation and growth.
Posner is a member of ENDI Corp’s Board of Directors and sits on the advisory boards of the 890 Fifth Ave, SwiftArc Ventures, Global Leadership Diversity Exchange, Realm, TheSocialArchitects & the Conference Board’s Marketing & Communications Team; and has been featured in a host of publications including: NYTimes, Business Insider, Forbes, Adweek, Huffington Post, La Presse, CNBC, Mumbrella, AdNews, B&T & Globes Israel.
If you are looking to guide people in your organization to embrace more than a siloed vision of their roles, as well as become more vested in using their unique perspectives and skills to be more creative and innovative, then Abigail is the perfect guide to spark novel thinking and lead your people to action. Beyond her role at Google, she is a world-renowned speaker, podcaster, writer, beauty blogger, and lifestyle influencer. From appearances before packed audiences at Lincoln Center and SXSW, to speaking in over 10 countries, Abigail has shared her insights on culture, technology and leadership to audiences of thousands and proves that her own expansive approach to life has infused her work with a creative and innovative edge.
Amy Bloom
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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.
Leah McSweeney
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Leah McSweeney is a streetwear pioneer, entrepreneur, and cultural provocateur known for Bravo’s The Real Housewives of New York, her brand Married to the Mob, and her podcast Improper Etiquette. Her new podcast, The Leah McSweeney Show, features celebrities, wellness experts, pop-culture icons, up and coming artists, and critical thinkers to have open and honest conversation - where nothing is off limits - that allows the audience to hear a multitude of opinions on various topics in a respectful way. McSweeney launched Married to the Mob, one of the first streetwear brands for women, by women, and Happy Place for sustainably sourced premium sleepwear, and offers candid insights about women’s leadership and creative entrepreneurship.
Leah is a contributor to Penthouse, Hypebae, and Mass Appeal, and author of the memoir Chaos Theory: Finding Meaning in the Madness, One Bad Decision at a Time. McSweeney is an advocate for female empowerment and breaking the stigma around mental health, and shares her transparent and dynamic perspective in memorable events.
Robyn Benincasa
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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.
Jacqueline Joyner-Kersee
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Jacqueline "Jackie" Joyner-Kersee, known as the "World's Greatest Female Athlete" and the “Queen of Track and Field,” is a dynamic speaker who brings fervent optimism and energy to her talks.
Erica Dhawan
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Tina Tchen
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Tina Tchen shares hope, ideas and strategies that inspire others to recognize the power of diverse teams and keep equality on the forefront of the global agenda.
A high-powered lawyer, Tina’s career accomplishments have established her as a powerful advocate for gender equality. As the former President and CEO of TIME’S UP Now and the TIME’S UP Foundation, Tina oversaw the organizations’ efforts to change culture, companies, and laws in order to make work safe, fair, and dignified for women of all kinds. In 2017, Tina co-founded the TIME’S UP Legal Defense Fund, which has connected more than 3,600 people to legal or PR support for sexual harassment across dozens of different industries. Tina currently serves as the Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy and Policy Officer for the Obama Foundation.
During her eight years at the White House, Tina served as chief of staff to First Lady Michelle Obama, special assistant to President Barack Obama, and the executive director of the Council on Women and Girls, leading the first-ever White House Summit on Working Families and the first-ever United State of Women Summit.
A passionate champion for women’s and children’s issues, including women in positions of leadership, Tina shares her unique perspective and insights on workforce diversity and inclusion, breaking through male-dominated industries, and ending campus assault. Energetic, authentic and engaging on stage, she empowers the next generation to raise their voices and take action now to secure a better tomorrow for women and minorities across the country and world.
Allison Massari
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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.
Natalie Stavas
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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.
Dr. Luana Marques
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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.
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
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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.
Erin Andrews
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One of the most recognized and respected sports broadcasters in the industry, Erin Andrews is part of FOX Sports A Team, reporting for FOX NFL Sunday.
Andrews recently added “creator” to her long list of titles with the launch of her new women's NFL apparel line, WEAR by Erin Andrews. The fashionable, comfortable and subtle line, designed for women to wear anywhere and everywhere, has quickly garnered notable attention - becoming the #1 NFL women’s-only brand since it launched. She is the recipient of the coveted Pat Summerall Award, which celebrates her outstanding work as a sportscaster and contributions to the community, and made history as the first woman to receive this award. Last year, Andrews was honored with a Gracie Award. Andrews co-hosts a podcast with Charissa Thompson called Calm Down with Erin and Charissa for iHeartRadio. The podcast consists of unfiltered conversations between two girlfriends about life, gossip, sports and pretty much every random topic that needs to be dissected.
While at the top of her career with no limits in sight, Andrews was shocked when she was diagnosed with cervical cancer following a routine annual checkup. Not wanting the diagnosis to interfere with the career she had fought so hard for, Andrews quietly planned doctors’ visits around her work schedule in order to keep her diagnosis private and kept moving full speed ahead during treatment, only sharing her story publicly after she received word she was cancer free.
In empowering, insightful conversations, Andrews discusses her storied career and what it took to get to the top of her game, the challenges and triumphs of working in a male-dominated industry, and spreading awareness about cervical cancer prevention.
Liz Murray
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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.
Jane Goodall
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In July 1960, Jane Goodall began her landmark study of chimpanzee behavior in what is now Tanzania. Her work at Gombe Stream would become the foundation of future primatological research and redefine the relationship between humans and animals.
In 1977, Dr. Goodall established the Jane Goodall Institute, which continues the Gombe research and is a global leader in the effort to protect chimpanzees and their habitats. The Institute is widely recognized for innovative, community-centered conservation and development programs in Africa, and Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots, the global environmental and humanitarian youth program.
Dr. Goodall founded Roots & Shoots with a group of Tanzanian students in 1991. Today, Roots & Shoots connects hundreds of thousands of youth in more than 130 countries who take action to make the world a better place for people, animals and the environment.
Dr. Goodall travels an average 300 days per year, speaking about the threats facing chimpanzees, other environmental crises, and her reasons for hope that humankind will solve the problems it has imposed on the earth.
Dr. Goodall’s honors include the French Legion of Honor, the Medal of Tanzania, and Japan’s prestigious Kyoto Prize. In 2002, Dr. Goodall was appointed to serve as a United Nations Messenger of Peace and in 2003, she was named a Dame of the British Empire.
Attica Locke
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Acclaimed and award-winning novelist, screenwriter, and producer Attica Locke is an unparalleled storyteller whose uplifting delivery resonate with audiences of all kinds. A New York Times bestselling author, Locke’s novels include: Heaven, My Home, sequel to the Edgar Award-winning Bluebird, Bluebird; Pleasantville, winner of the Harper Lee Prize for Legal Fiction and longlisted for the Bailey’s Prize for Women’s Fiction; The Cutting Season, winner of the Ernest Gaines Award for Literary Excellence; and her debut Black Water Rising, which was nominated for an Edgar Award, an NAACP Image Award, as well as a Los Angeles Times Book Prize, and was short-listed for the Women’s Prize for Fiction. Her books have appeared on countless Best Book of the Year lists including The New York Times, Washington Post, Financial Times, and receive glowing praise by critics and devoted readers alike. As she does in her creative work, Locke offers a powerful experience for audiences, leaving them feeling more motivated, connected, and hopeful than before.
Locke is also an award-winning screenwriter and producer for TV and film. A former fellow at the Sundance Institute’s Feature Filmmaker’s Lab, she wrote and produced on Ava Duvernay’s Netflix miniseries When They See Us, Fox’s Empire, and Hulu’s Emmy-nominated limited series Little Fires Everywhere – for which she won an NAACP Image Award. Locke co-created and executive produced an adaptation of her sister Tembi Locke’s bestselling memoir From Scratch: A Memoir of Love, Sicily, and Finding Home for Netflix, which was a top 10 hit in 50+ countries during its first weeks on air. In her delightful and engaging talks, Locke shares insights about authenticity, transformation, leadership, and teamwork that resonate with audiences across industries.
Dr. Sian Proctor
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Dr. Sian Leo Proctor is a futurist poet and visionary artist. In 2021, astronaut-explorer Dr. Proctor made history as the first artist selected to go to space on the Inspiration4 mission. She is the first woman commercial spaceship pilot and the only African-American woman to be a mission pilot. She was selected to go to space by writing an original poem called Space2inspire. She is frequently hired to write and read original works of inspirational poetry for conferences and special occasions.
Dr. Proctor shares her historic journey and leadership message through the concept of Packing for Space - an inspirational message about how the most important thing you pack on any journey is yourself. She shares her perspective on space diplomacy and STEM workforce opportunities on the global stage as the U.S. Department of State Science Envoy for Space. She believes that when you solve for space you are actually solving for grand challenges here on Earth. She is the founder and CEO of Space2inspire, an art and media entertainment company. She is an international speaker and science communicator and has authored multiple books including the science book Earthlight - all about Earth's unique luminous signature that makes life possible.
Mel Robbins
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Mel Robbins is the creator and host of the award-winning The Mel Robbins Podcast, one of the most successful podcasts in the world, and a #1 New York Times bestselling author. She has amassed 25M followers online and is considered the most sought-after expert in life improvement, mindset, and behavior change. The Wall Street Journal calls her a “billion-view podcaster” and TIME Magazine says she gives millions of listeners around the globe “a reason to believe in themselves.”
Her books have been translated into 50 languages and include the #1 New York Times, #1 Amazon, #1 Audible, and #1 Sunday Times bestselling The Let Them Theory, which is the most successful non-fiction book launch in history, with over 1.2M copies sold within a month of its release date. She is also the author of the multimillion-copy-selling The 5 Second Rule, The High Five Habit, and seven #1 audiobook releases on Audible.
USA Today calls Mel “a force to be reckoned with.” She is a global phenomenon in the publishing industry and podcasting. Her Boston-based media production company, 143 Studios, produces award-winning content, podcasts, events, audio series, online courses, journals, and books, along with professional development education for partners like Starbucks, Ulta Beauty, JP Morgan Chase, LinkedIn, Headspace, and Audible.
The Mel Robbins Podcast has won some of the most prestigious awards given to podcasts, including Webby, Signal Awards, and more. It was also recognized as one of Apple Podcasts' Top Shared and Followed Shows of 2024 and 2023 and Spotify Top Global Shows of 2024. Notable accolades for Robbins include being a Forbes 50 Over 50 Honoree, USA Today Top 5 Mindset & Performance Coaches in the World, and one of the fifty most influential influencers on The Hollywood Reporter’s Creator A-List in 2024.
Maggie Doyne
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Maggie Doyne is a humanitarian and activist who has dedicated her life to educating children and empowering women in Nepal. She was honored as a Forbes ”Top 30 under 30” Social Entrepreneur and by the Dalai Lama as an Unsung Hero of Compassion. CNN named her CNN Hero of the Year in 2015, while Elizabeth Gilbert, Katie Couric, Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan of Sussex, and The New York Times Magazine have all recognized her work.
Traveling outside the United States for the first time after graduating high school, she wandered into Nepal and faced horrors she never imagined: children orphaned by Nepal’s civil war left to fend for themselves. Only 19 years old, Maggie felt compelled to act. She used babysitting money and funds raised in her community to build a home for orphaned children in war-ravaged Nepal and founded the BlinkNow foundation. Since opening its doors in 2008, the Kopila Valley Children’s Home has provided a safe and loving home to over 50 children. In 2010, BlinkNow opened a school for Nepal’s most impoverished children, which now provides over 400 students with a top-rated education. BlinkNow has continued to grow, impacting the entire community with Health & Wellness services, a Women’s Center, Sustainability Programs, and emergency aid during natural disasters and global health emergencies.
Maggie believes that everyone has the power to change the world, in the blink of an eye, including your audience. While her journey has been filled with adversity and heartache, Maggie shares the inspirational story of how anyone can make a difference. Her message of hope is one the world needs to hear and will inspire your audience.
Kelly Yang
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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.
Tinx
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Digital creator, advice expert, and podcast host Christina Najjar – popularly known as Tinx – possesses an effortless ability to capture the cultural zeitgeist. Described as ‘TikTok’s Big Sister’, Tinx has developed a devoted fanbase of those who come to her for expert advice and to have a great laugh at the same time. From her satirical ‘Rich Mom’ content and takes on pop culture, to her theories on sex, dating, and relationships, to her honest reviews and recommendations for everything from food and restaurants to beauty, fashion, and lifestyle products, Tinx has her finger on the pulse of pop culture. Her wit and candor have established her as a resounding voice for women, with her unique engaging and empathetic approach to content resonating with millions.
Tinx launched her podcast and live call-in radio show with SiriusXM, It’s Me Tinx, sharing everything her followers have come to know and love about her content while offering an intimate glimpse into her life. Her undeniable impact on social media earned her the distinction as one of Forbes’ Top Creators 2022. With her insights on entrepreneurship, female empowerment, and managing career changes and relationships, Tinx makes a major impact with college and university audiences, and with groups of all kinds.
Lynne Cox
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Determination. Bravery. Adventurousness. Testing the limits of human endurance. These concepts are the hallmark of Lynne Cox’s spectacular career. A bold risk- taker with a proven record for overcoming monumental obstacles, Ms. Cox is one of the most dynamic motivational speakers to emerge in recent decades.
Lynne’s speaking is inspired by her accomplishments as a world-class athlete, author, advocate, and environmentalist – spanning more than 35 years of challenge and success. Her athletic achievements have shaped the sport of open water swimming. Her swims have brought nations together, advocated to solve environmental problems, and supported vital causes Lynne immerses audiences in her stories, inspiring them to pursue amazing goals. She builds connections between her athletic achievements and success in life – from business to personal growth to the vital human need for love, friendship, and support.
Lynne draws on her experience to inspire audiences to realize that the human heart is strong, resilient, and enduring.
Dr. Taryn Marie Stejskal
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As the #1 international expert on resilience and mental wellbeing, Dr. Taryn Marie has inspired audiences ranging from big stages of thousands to intimate gatherings of executives, sharing how we can all effectively face the inevitable moments of challenge, change, and complexity. LA Progressive magazine calls her “the go-to person” and “a secret weapon” for organizations and teams who want to find their edge and rise above the competition. She has received standing ovations from audiences on topics related to change, leadership, confidence, compassion & empathy, innovation, wellbeing, and, of course, resilience. Audience members say her keynotes are:
“Uplifting. Thought provoking. Unforgettable. Your life and view of the world will not be the same after hearing Dr. Taryn Marie speak!”
She is a #1 Wall Street Journal (WSJ) Bestselling Author of the book, The Five Practices of Highly Resilient People: Why some flourish when others fold, and the Founder and Chief Resilience Officer (CRO) of the Resilience Leadership Institute (RLI). By conducting two decades of original research on resilience, Dr. Taryn Marie developed the empirically based framework, The Five Practices of Highly Resilient People and believes that resilience is the key to individual, teams, and organizational growth and acceleration across the globe. Her mission is to positively impact the lives of 1 billion people through the practices of resilience.
Her work has been featured by Fox and NBC News, Bloomberg Business, Thrive Global, and Forbes. Her TEDx talk entitled “How Resilience Breaks Us Out of Our Vulnerability Cage” has been viewed over 1 million times! She is the host of the top 1% acclaimed podcast Flourish or Fold: Stories of Resilience, where well-known people tell their lesser well-known story of facing challenge to remind us that adversity is a necessary ingredient in life.
Amy B. Chesler
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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.
Dr. Adjoa B. Asamoah
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Dr. Adjoa B. Asamoah is an experienced executive and strategic consultant to Fortune 500 companies and has worked with local, state, and federal governments for over 25 years. As atrained behavior specialist, she brings to the boardroom a unique ability to ascertain and discern complex issues and deliver thoughtful insights that help companies achieve strategic agendas. With both domestic and international experience, she works as a senior advisor to CEOs, heads of state, ambassadors, secretaries/ministers, and members of Congress across diverse industries and sectors (including consumer brands and products, government, behavioral health, education, and entertainment). Adjoa has extensive risk management, regulatory, and compliance expertise. Additionally, she is responsible for allocating a $76 billion dollar appropriated budget. She leverages cultural intelligence and behavioral insights to create national multicultural marketing campaigns that improve brand image, corporate social responsibility, and companies’ market share.
Keltie Knight
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Keltie Knight is an Emmy Award winning television personality and Entertainment Tonight host. She has co-anchored CBS’s broadcasting of national events such as the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and the Grammy Awards Red Carpet.
Knight was able to combine her entertainment and entrepreneurial expertise into a podcast she co-created and co-hosts, The LadyGang. Since its inception in 2015, the popular podcast has boasted almost 100 million downloads, making it one of the most popular podcasts for women in the world. The show has been nominated for a Webby award, a People’s Choice award and in 2016 was named 'Podcast of the Year'. LadyGang has been featured on the Today Show, Good Morning America, Entertainment Tonight, The New York Times, The Hollywood Reporter, People magazine and on Entertainment Weekly’s coveted "must list.”
The LadyGang's first book Act Like a Lady became a New York Times instant bestseller, a USA Today bestseller, an Amazon best pick of the month, and a Toronto Star bestseller in Canada. Knight recently collaborated on their first fashion collection nationwide with Express, and in 2018 E! aired 16 episodes of the TV version of the podcast with Knight serving as star and executive producer.
What began as a movement to help women feel less alone, by offering content that was unapologetic, unfiltered, and very real, has grown in the millions and become a powerhouse media brand that has also partnered with major brands including Disney, Netflix, Anheuser-Busch, Vogue, and Chanel.
Knight is frequently seen contributing on The Talk, CNN, HLN, and and as a moderator for Vanity Fair. With best dressed mentions in Vogue, Elle, Glamour, Us Weekly, People Stylewatch and The New York Times, it’s no surprise Project Runway invited her to be a guest presenter.
As passionate as she is about media, she is just as dedicated to service. Knight has a long history in philanthropy, working with groups like the Humane Society and the Beagle Freedom Project. She helped raise over $300,000 for the National MS Society as a part of the team, BeatMS, and nearly 1 million dollars throughout her years hosting the Circle of Hope/ Dancers Against Cancer Charity Gala.
Known for her quick wit and fearless personality, she’s interviewed the biggest stars in the world including Oprah, Meryl Streep, Taylor Swift, Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts and Jennifer Lawrence. Harry Styles kissed her twice. Pharrell Williams deemed her “…a spirited journalist and a star.”
Molly Fletcher
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Hailed as the “female Jerry Maguire” by CNN, Molly Fletcher made a name for herself as one of the first female sports agents. During her almost two-decade career as President of CSE, Molly negotiated over $500 million in contracts and represented over 300 of sports' biggest names, including Hall of Fame pitcher John Smoltz, PGA TOUR golfer Matt Kuchar, broadcaster Erin Andrews, and basketball championship coaches Tom Izzo and Doc Rivers.
As a World's Top 50 Keynote Speaker, she delivers her inspiring message to audiences around the world. She is the author of five books, including The Energy Clock and Fearless at Work, and her latest TED Talk, “Secrets of a Champion Mindset,” has more than one million views.
Molly is the founder and host of the Game Changers with Molly Fletcher podcast, where she interviews experts and celebrities in every field including Arthur Blank, Dabo Swinney, John Mackey, Matthew McConaughey, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, and Simon Sinek.
Her insights have been featured in prestigious media outlets, including CNN, ESPN, Forbes, Fast Company, InStyle, and Sports Illustrated.
Molly recently launched her first on-demand course, Up Your Game, to help people unlock their drive and up their game. Her company, Game Changer Performance Group, helps clients unlock peak performance through training experiences on Energy, Negotiation, and High Impact.
Mariana Atencio
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Navigating change and uncertainty in life is hard. It’s even harder when you’re not confident about who you are. Coming to America from Venezuela as a young girl, Mariana Atencio felt self-conscious about being different. She recounted her struggles to fit in and adapt to her new life in a TED talk that captured the hearts of tens of millions. Mariana’s message: What makes you different is what makes you special – unleash your potential by embracing your authenticity.
Mariana took that lesson into her journalism career as a national news anchor and network reporter. A born storyteller, Mariana worked to build bridges and understanding – reporting with her unique perspective from all over the globe, earning accolades and a prestigious Peabody Award along the way. Mariana’s bestselling book, Perfectly You: Embracing the Power of Being Real, inspires people to leverage their personal and professional authenticity to supercharge their relationships, careers, workplace cultures, and happiness. Mariana continues to pursue stories that capture her curiosity as head of her own media production company. She also elevates the impact of events through her powerful keynotes and skillful moderating, and hosting.
Dominique Dawes
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Owner of the Dominique Dawes Gymnastics & Ninja Academies, Dominique opened the gyms to continue her commitment to developing a healthy and compassionate culture in the sport of gymnastics. Her first academy opened in the midst of a global pandemic, July 2020 and her second location opened in 2023. Dawes also holds minority ownership of the Washington Spirit of the National Women's Soccer League, and served as the co-chair of the President’s Council for Fitness, Sports and Nutrition under the Obama administration alongside Drew Brees. Alongside LeBron James and Maverick Carter, she recently served as Executive Producer of the Peacock docu-series “Golden”, the journey of USA’s elite gymnasts on the road to the Tokyo Olympics, which has been nominated for a Sports Emmy.
Dawes holds her degree from the University of Maryland and was inducted into UMD's prestigious Hall of Fame in 2022. In 2024, her hometown of Montgomery County, Maryland will honor her career and legacy with a life size statue to continue inspiring the next generation to follow in her footsteps.
As a wife, mother of four, Olympian and business owner, Dominique Dawes has transcended the world of sports, politics, entertainment and culture.
Sara Sidner
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Multiple award-winning national and international CNN senior correspondent Sara Sidner is renowned for exposing injustices and uncovering truth in the most extreme environments. In 2016, Sidner took on a beat which focused on social, racial, and political conflict across the U.S. and in 2020, she helped lead CNN’s coverage in Minneapolis, Minnesota after the police killing of George Floyd. She has shaped the national dialogue with her work covering the first known coronavirus outbreak, the Charlottesville White Nationalist Rally as well as the trial of the Neo-Nazi who killed anti-racism protestor Heather Heyer, and the protests in Ferguson, Missouri following the police murder of the unarmed Black teenager Michael Brown. Previously, Sidner worked for CNN as an international correspondent based in India, then Jerusalem, and later Abu Dhabi. She hosts The Big Picture for CNN+, an in-depth look at the most important and interesting story of the day. Sidner has received rave reviews as a keynote speaker and moderator from groups such as the Alliance of Women Philanthropists, NAACP, the 92nd Street Y, the Arnolt Center for Investigative Journalism, and many others.
Sidner has received numerous honors including a regional Emmy, an Edward R. Murrow Award, and multiple Gracie Awards from the Women in Media Foundation. She has reported from over twenty countries around the world, from the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks to the fall of Tripoli. She was part of the team that won a Peabody Award for CNN’s coverage of the Arab Spring, and shared the Achievement of the Year Award from SKY Women in Film & Television in the U.K. for her work. As an insightful moderator, inspiring keynote speaker, and renowned investigative journalist, Sidner offers her compelling and candid perspective as a journalist, woman, and citizen on the most intense and important news stories of our time.
Lesley Stahl
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Lesley Stahl is one of America's most honored and experienced broadcast journalists and offers a historical look at politics from a career that has spanned over fifty years. Her rich career has been marked by political scoops, surprising features and award-winning foreign reporting, a body of work that won her the RTDNA's 2015 Paul White award for lifetime achievement. She has been a 60 Minutes correspondent since March 1991 and began her 30th season in 2020. She is the author of the best-selling book Becoming Grandma.
Tiffani Thiessen
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Famed actress and author Tiffani Thiessen got her breakout as America’s Sweetheart Kelly Kapowski on the hit NBS series Saved by The Bell. She catapulted to stardom appearing in over 400+ episodes of television spanning a career from 1989 to present. She starred in the USA hit series White Collar for six seasons, with the show earning 11 awards nominations. Most recently, Tiffani starred in the Netflix series Alexa & Katie, earning a coveted Daytime Emmy Nomination for her role.
As an innovator and entrepreneur, Tiffani channeled her love for cooking by creating and hosting the hit series Dinner at Tiffani’s. The series ran for three seasons on the Food Network, finishing every year as "one of the most watched shows on the network." Tiffani currently hosts MTV’s viral sensation Deliciousness, which recently premiered its third season. She is the author of the critically acclaimed cookbook Pull Up A Chair, which Publisher’s Weekly called “inspiring” and “a celebration.” Her highly anticipated follow up Here We Go Again, exploring the magic of leftovers, will be published on September 26, accompanied by a national media rollout.
As an artist and influencer, Thiessen has also successfully participated in campaigns for various Fortune 500 brands such as: GLAD, Hershey’s, Quaker, 3M, Albertson’s, Carnival Cruise, Coke, Crest, H&M, Heinz, and Nokia. Tiffani is a warm and engaging speaker, delighting audiences with her insights in keynotes and moderated conversations.
Chonda Pierce
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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
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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.
Joan Lunden
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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.
Folake Olowofoyeku
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Nigerian-born actress Folake Olowofoyeku has won the ❤️ of critics and audiences alike with her title role in the CBS half-hour comedy Bob ❤️ Abishola. In this comedic examination of immigrant life in America from a creative team led by Chuck Lorre (The Big Bang Theory, Two and a Half Men), a middle-aged, divorced medical sock salesman (Billy Gardell) from Detroit suffers a heart attack and falls for his cardiac nurse (Folake), an immigrant from Nigeria and young single mom. “Olowofoyeku bewitches as the delightfully gruff and straightforward Abishola,” applauds the Hollywood Reporter, recognizing the “surprising level of nuance” in the series which renders it “nothing short of groundbreaking.” Audiences seem to agree, tuning in to make it one of the highest rated among the network’s series.
She received the 2019 Breakout Actress in TV Award for her work on the series on behalf of the Sync Con Honors. Her additional television credits include a recurring role on Transparent and guest roles on The Gifted, Modern Family, How to Get Away with Murder, Westworld, Law & Order, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and Law & Order: Criminal Intent, among others.
Olowofoyeku’s feature film credits include When They Could Fly, which earned her a Best Actress award at the prestigious ReelHeART International Film Festival in Toronto, Central & Broadway, for which she won Best Actress in a Fashion Film at the CinéFashion Film Awards, Female Fight Club, The Bride, The Child Within and Hellbenders-3D, among others.
As a voiceover artist, Olowofoyeku voiced the Priestess on the video game “Vader Immortal: A Star Wars VR Series – Episode 1.” Olowofoyeku’s other passion is music – she sings, plays guitar and piano and enjoys DJing. In 2019, she released her single, “Happy, Happy (Money Dun Come)” under the moniker ‘Fọlákẹ́’.
Olowofoyeku grew up in Lagos, Nigeria and spent time in London. Her native language is Yoruba. Growing up in Nigeria, the youngest of twenty children, Folake always dreamt of being in the arts, a dream that went squarely against the wishes of her parents, Chief Babatunji and Chief Mrs. Felicia Olowofoyeku, who insisted on the family profession of law and politics. During a summer vacation in New York City, unbeknownst to her family, Folake began to pursue her goal as a student at City College of New York, where she would earn her B.A. with honors in theatre and a diploma in Audio Engineering from The Institute of Audio Research (IAR), also distinguishing herself on the basketball court where she competed with CCNY's Beavers in the NCAA. She subsequently moved to Los Angeles to earn success in the film and television industry.
Nicole Malachowski
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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.”
Leslie Gifford
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Renowned fashion innovator and entrepreneur Leslie Gifford is known for her ability to build both brands and communities. Gifford has built and sold two successful fashion brands: Naked Cashmere and 360Cashmere. Gifford’s story serves as inspiration for aspiring entrepreneurs, offering valuable lessons on navigating the intricacies of the fashion industry and achieving success through determination and innovation. As a female entrepreneur, she has represented woman founders on national platforms including Forbes, PEOPLE, and more. She is on the board of the Fashion Institute of Technology. Gifford’s dedication to both her craft and philanthropy embodies the power of entrepreneurship to make a positive impact on society.
Gifford’s passion for giving back led her to serve as a board member of the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, where she actively contributes to the fight against breast cancer. Leslie is also a sought-after speaker, engaging audiences with her experiences as a business leader and advocate for women’s health. Gifford has been a champion of mental health advocacy as well, partnering with Evolve Together and Silence the Shame. Gifford has spoken at the LEAP Foundation, UCLA, and more.
Zahra Al-Harazi
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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.
Susie Wolff
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Former professional racing driver, motorsport executive, and entrepreneur Susie Wolff has spent more than 20 years at the forefront gender diversity and representation internationally. At the 2014 British Grand Prix, she made history by becoming the first woman to take part in a Formula One race weekend in 22 years by driving for 16-time World Champions Williams Racing. After retiring from competition, Susie continued to be the driving force of change in the sport by founding Dare To Be Different – a mission to inspire the next generation and increase female participation in all levels of motorsport.
Susie took her first steps into management and ownership as Team Principal and shareholder of Venturi Racing in Formula E. After building the series’ most gender-diverse team, she became the marque’s Chief Executive Officer and secured two vice World Championship titles before leaving in 2022. Now, as the Managing Director of the all-female driver category, F1 Academy, Susie continues to inspire the next generation of female talent by creating opportunities and improving accessibility.
For her services and contribution to women in sport, Susie was awarded an MBE in 2017 and received an Honorary Fellowship from the University of Edinburgh and continues to be an inspirational role model for women across the world.
Caroline Baudino
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Caroline Baudino is a champion for women’s empowerment, having woken up at 47 with the midlife “itchies” and falling into the support and community she found and cultivated across social media. While pursuing her passions and keeping her personal fire burning, Caroline does it all (parenting, wife-ing, blogging, speaking, business) while looking amazing in the second half of life—a true Midlife Remix.
Having grown up in NYC the daughter of the president of Viacom, Caroline knows firsthand the unrealistic expectations thrust upon women, including those born into privilege. After shunning the must-marry-well life plan of her parents (read: "must marry for money"), Caroline moved to LA to forge her own path, planted in authenticity and the pursuit of true happiness. She now makes a home with her techy husband (whom she, *gasp,* married for love) and two sweetheart sons.
Caroline is known for her vulnerability, impeccable and edgy clothing, makeup, jewelry, and can-do attitude of CHOOSING HAPPY. She normalizes imperfection—physical, emotional, and in relationships—and inspires her audience to use fashion and beauty as tools for championing their own lives, reminding them that effort is not the enemy. Caroline's mantra is “Get up. Get dressed. Let's do this!” so that you can “Look Good. Feel Good. Do Good.” every single day.
When Caroline isn’t giving easy-breezy runway fashion shows in front of her home or accessible makeup tutorials for the modern aging woman, she’s curating a line of bags with Mali + Lilii, developing motivational stationary and other products, giving back to her community through a variety of initiatives, is an Amazon VIP Affiliate, part of the Katie Couric Media Women's Collective, and is speaking to women and men about the ways fashion can be their very best friend. In the often fake and airbrushed Instagram space, Caroline is a breath of fresh air.
Dana Cowin
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Award-winning food and lifestyle tastemaker Dana Cowin is an innovator in media, food, and entrepreneurship. Her work spans advising creatives, founders and non-profits as well as creating editorial through podcasts, social, video, zines and books. For 21 years, she served as Editor in Chief of Food & Wine magazine and transformed the magazine into a must-read lifestyle publication and digital outlet. An influencer in the food world, she is a sought-after speaker on topics from trendspotting to lifestyle and motivation, leadership, and branding. And of course, good food! Cowin was the keynote speaker for the Bacardi Spirit Forward first national tour, a frequent judge on Top Chef and Beat Bobby Flay, presenter at TedXManhattan on food waste, interviewed experts at SXSW and Fast Company Innovation Festival, among many others.
Through her brand consulting work, Cowin advises growing companies on storytelling, food, PR, and marketing, lending her expertise to businesses such as Dig Food Group (where she was Chief Brand Advisor), to Neiman Marcus, to the Trust for Governors Island. She is an investor and advisor to startups in the culinary space, has a longstanding commitment to supporting opportunities for economic growth through culinary training. Cowin serves on the boards of Food Education Fund, Hot Bread Kitchen, and the Food Council of City Harvest. Cowin is host of Speaking Broadly, a podcast that features visionary women at the intersection of creativity, sustainability, and food. Inspired by their singular experiences, Cowin selected more than a dozen women to write their own stories in the first Speaking Broadly zine, published spring 2022, and developed the Giving Broadly project - a gift guide highlighting incredible products from women-owned brands.
Kaitlin Curtice
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Award-winning author, poet, and storyteller Kaitlin Curtice speaks to the intersections of spirituality and identity and how that shifts throughout our lives. An enrolled citizen of the Potawatomi nation and inter-spiritual advocate, she participates in conversations on topics such as colonialism in faith communities, and she has spoken at many conferences on the importance of inter-faith relationships. Her first book, Glory Happening: Finding the Divine Everyday Places, has been called “a stunner… every sentence is a feast for the senses” by author Rachel Held Evans. Curtice’s book Native: Identity, Belonging, and Rediscovering God won the Foreword INDIES 2020 Book of the Year Award, and the 2021 Georgia Author of the Year Award and Midwest Book Award. In her writing as she does in compelling speaking engagements, Curtice shares how reconnecting with her Potawatomi identity both informs and challenges her Christian faith.
Curtice’s writing has been featured in Sojourners, Religion News Service, Apartment Therapy, On Being, SELF Magazine, and more. She also writes at The Liminality Journal, a Substack subscriber newsletter featuring essays, poetry, and more. Curtice and her work have been featured on CBS and in USA Today, and she is a regular contributor to Oprah Daily. Her latest book, Living Resistance: An Indigenous Vision for Seeking Wholeness Every Day, explores the roles we each have to play in the world right where we are, and empowers audiences to seek wholeness in whatever spheres of influence they inhabit.
Sandy Yawn
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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.
Maha Bodhi, M.A.
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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.
Bodhi is currently in the final stages of writing her book, which is nothing short of a hero's journey from being enslaved as a female in Yemen to becoming the successful female entrepreneur that she is today. The book is designed to inspire and guide people in their own transformational journey. She has worked with many Fortune 500 companies including Google, DirecTV, CoreLogic, Mattel, AT&T, Fandango, Comcast, and Albertsons, to name a few.
Maha Bodhi, M.A. proves what modern neuroscience is teaching us: that the path to courage and success arrives by embracing fear and the unknown, not by avoiding them. If there was ever a real life example of this, it is the story of Maha Bodhi, M.A. In her unrelenting pursuits of a life of freedom and joy, Maha has taught herself how to tap into that elusive Holy Grail of human existence, the ability to rewire one’s own brain in order to continually do better and achieve unparalleled levels of success, and she is now dedicating her entire life to train women leaders to do the same. Maha has a master’s degree in Organizational Behavior, and resides in Malibu, CA.
Marissa Meizz
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Marissa Meizz is the creator of No More Lonely Friends, a community she built for strangers to make friends around the world in a safe space. She found that because of Covid, people are struggling to reconnect with others, and this safe space community they’ve built inspires people to venture out of their comfort zone and meet someone new. This can lead to a more positive world by encouraging others to be kind and using social media for good and positive outlooks. Individuals can make a difference, and when positive and brave messages go viral on social, the impact is real, immediate, and life-changing. Marissa will share her journey and insight into launching No More Lonely Friends - a friendship movement with a global reach - and how to look at the world and life in a more positive outlook.
Julie Solomon
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Marketing expert and entrepreneur Julie Solomon has been empowering lives through her chart-topping podcast and in-demand online programs for over fifteen years. Following a career as a publicist for some of the top music acts and thought leaders, Solomon launched her courses Pitch It Perfect, The Influencer Academy, and the SHINE Mastermind, teaching tens of thousands of students worldwide. Solomon is passionate about helping women turn messages into movements and empowers entrepreneurs to grow their influence and impact. She is the author of the empowerment guide Get What You Want: How to Go From Unseen to Unstoppable.
Recently named one of the Top 100 Leaders in influencer marketing, Solomon and her work have been featured in Forbes, Entrepreneur, Business Weekly, Business Insider, SUCCESS, and People, among others. As the host of the chart-topping The Influencer Podcast, she offers authentic strategies for business growth and personal development to millions of listeners. In sought-after keynotes, Solomon shares her philosophy of highlighting inner brilliance to maximize potential in work and in life, leaving audiences of all kinds feeling motivated and confident.
Judy Smith
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Judy A. Smith is a crisis strategist and communications advisor who The Washington Post describes as “America’s best-known corporate fixer.” As a result of her wide ranging and ground-breaking career, Ms. Smith inspired the hit TV series entitled, Scandal, which revolved around the life and work of a professional fixer.
For more than 25 years, Ms. Smith has counseled presidents and world leaders through global crises, advised Fortune 50 CEOs through complex challenges, and helped manage the reputations of some of the world’s highest-profile individuals. In 1993, she founded Smith & Company, a strategic advisory firm considered to be one of the top crisis firms in the world.
Ms. Smith has brought her unique combination of communication skills, media savvy, legal and political acumen to clients facing a wide array of issues and challenges throughout the United States and abroad, and is currently serving as a trusted advisor at the forefront of the COVID-19 outbreak.
A long-time counselor to some of the world’s largest and most influential companies such as Amazon, Facebook, Panera, Lowes, Sony, Kaiser, United Healthcare, and Walmart, Ms. Smith provides her clients with strategic advice on a variety of corporate communications issues such as mergers and acquisitions, product recalls, intellectual property litigation, corporate positioning, diversity and other corporate, investor and public relations matters.
An experienced and sought-after commentator as a crisis management expert, Ms. Smith frequently appears on major television networks such as CNN, MSNBC, FOX News, NBC, ABC, and CBS. She has been featured in numerous national publications including: the Washington Post, National Journal, the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Fortune, Fast Company. Ms. Smith also speaks at events throughout the year before conference audiences, corporate boards, academic institutions, and other professional groups.
Radha Agrawal
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Radha Agrawal is the co-Founder, CEO, and Chief Community Architect of Daybreaker, bestselling author of Belong, and entrepreneurial force, co-founding and investing in multiple 9-figure businesses in the wellness space including THINX. Her global morning dance, music, and wellness movement Daybreaker has reached half a million people in 30 cities worldwide, and Radha’s team joined Oprah and WW on tour in 2020. Named one of MTV’s “8 women who will change the world,” Radha has won numerous entrepreneurship awards and accolades for disruptive and culture-shifting innovation.
An expert in science-backed strategies for building community, Radha’s keynote speeches have exhilarated audiences for events with Nike, Wisdom 2.0, Princeton University, Burning Man, and Facebook’s Global Marketing Summit. Radha is a sought-after commentator on increasing connection at work and in life, identifying opportunities for social entrepreneurship, and amplifying a 'profit with a purpose' mission.
Tara Schuster
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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.
Bushra Amiwala
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Bushra Amiwala is a media icon, activist, dynamic speaker, and the youngest Muslim elected official in the United States.
At the age of 19, she announced her candidacy for the Cook County Board of Commissioners, with the goal to serve as a voice for her underrepresented generation and other marginalized communities. Her campaign has been covered nationally by outlets such as Forbes, The Hill, Bloomberg, the Chicago Tribune, The New York Times, Teen Vogue, and landing her on the cover of TIME magazine. Bushra recently went down in the Chicago History Museum as the Youngest Muslim Elected in the United States.
Her leadership has extended far beyond her campaign as she’s inspired countless others to increase their civic participation. As a result, she’s been named Glamour magazine’s "College Woman of the Year," Seventeen magazine’s "Voice of the Year," and internationally as CosmoGirl’s "Change Maker of the Year." Bushra was awarded the Public Peace Ambassador award sponsored by the United Nations, and has been named as one of the 18 people to remember from 2018.
In addition to these awards, Bushra is the subject of an original PBS documentary called And She Could be Next, the female candidate on Amazon’s RUN the Series, and a Hulu documentary called Our America: Women Forward. She has made hundreds of TV and radio appearances, including outlets such as Fox, CBS, NPR, ABC, and PBS.
Bushra has spoken at countless colleges and universities, organizations and international companies, with live audiences ranging from 25 to 15,000 people including UNICEF, and Harvard. She is recent graduate from DePaul University and serves on the Board of Directors of the Indo-American Democratic Organization (IADO), GenerationVote, Women Empowering Women in Illinois Legislation (WeWill) and SheVotesIL. She holds her elected seat on the Skokie Board of Education, as its youngest member.
Fotini Iconomopoulos
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When was the last time you felt in control of a conversation, and what does control mean to you? The best communicators and negotiators recognize that control is gained from understanding. First, you need to understand what you want. Then you need to be open to what the person on the other side of you wants. Expert Communicator and Negotiator Fotini Iconomopoulos, Author of Say Less, Get More: Unconventional Negotiation Techniques to Get What You Want, helps audiences understand that being in control of situations that can increase your personal well being, fuel your professional growth and ultimately increase your wealth is attainable for everyone.
For more than a decade Fotini Iconomopoulos has been empowering Fortune 500 executives and their teams to achieve their objectives. Now, Fotini shares her actionable and innovative strategies that show audiences that negotiation simply boils down to effective communication skills. Once you are armed with Fotini’s sensible strategies and proven advice, you’ll be able to confidently get what you want in business and in life.
Lydia Ko
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Lydia is a 2 time major winner, a global star and has continually set records both as an amateur and professional.
She was the number 1 ranked amateur for more than 2 years before turning professional, winning 2 LPGA events in that timeframe. She reached number 5 in the professional rankings whilst an amateur, and then having turned professional held the number one position for 85 consecutive weeks, one of only three players to achieve that feat.
Despite her remarkable success, she remains an incredibly grounded and personable individual, with a genuine passion for yoga and meditation, and prioritizes her friends and family above all else.
Sam Bloom
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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.
Nicola Benedetti CBE
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Nicola Benedetti is one of the most sought-after violinists of her generation. Her ability to captivate audiences and her wide appeal as an advocate for classical music has made her one of the most influential artists of today.
Asides from extensive touring with the world’s most exceptional orchestras and ensembles, Nicola is one of the world’s leading advocates for quality music education, the role of arts and culture in the wider community and the transformational effect it has on all young people. She has formalised her vision and commitment to the education of young people and supporting of music teachers by establishing a charitable organisation: The Benedetti Foundation.
Winner of the GRAMMY Award for Best Classical Instrumental Solo in 2020, as well as Best Female Artist at both 2012 and 2013 Classical BRIT Awards, Nicola was appointed a CBE in 2019, awarded the Queen’s Medal for Music (2017), and an MBE in 2013. In addition, Nicola holds positions of Vice President (National Children’s Orchestras), Big Sister (Sistema Scotland), Patron (National Youth Orchestras of Scotland’s Junior Orchestra, Music in Secondary Schools Trust and Junior Conservatoire at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland). Nicola is also the only instrumentalist to have performed twice at the Last Night of the Proms.
Valorie Kondos Field
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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.”
Araceli Segarra
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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.
Kelly Rippon
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Kelly Rippon is an teacher, author and single parent of six children, including her oldest son, Olympic medalist, Adam. She transformed her skills as an experienced college philosophy educator into a career as a motivational and professional development speaker. She started her own consulting company, Authentic Change Inc, with the mission of “Changing the world one conversation at a time.”
As a humorous and empathetic storyteller, her presentations, tailored to meet each organization's specific needs, leave participants with heightened awareness and tools that widen perspectives on the subjects of Parenting, Optimism, Wellness, Women's Empowerment, Education, Leadership, Motivation, Communication, Diversity, Student Retention, Conflict Resolution, and Customer Service.
A dynamic keynote speaker and breakout presenter for parenting and education conferences, healthcare groups, customer service teams, leadership training, and women’s conferences, among others, Rippon inspires audiences to ignite their influential power, think bigger, and heighten their own purpose and worth.
Liz Bohannon
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How can a beginner’s mind influence the successful outcome of any goal? The answer might very well inspire you to create a new roadmap for your next challenge. Liz Bohannon, Founder and CEO of successful fashion brand Sseko Designs, shares the lessons learned from her 10-year journey growing her business from three women under a mango tree, into a successful international fashion brand that provides employment, educational opportunities, and entrepreneurial training to thousands of women across the globe. Her story is filled with lessons for success that are grounded in the principle of having a beginner’s mind. Liz sums up those lessons in her new book, Beginner’s Pluck: Build Your Life of Purpose and Impact Now. In it, as in her speeches, she shares uncommon ideas toward success like, Own Your Average, Stop Trying to Find Your Passion…Create It, and Dream Small. Liz continues to channel her inner beginner as she manages 100s of employees across multiple continents, and this mindset sets her apart as a more courageous, creative and effective leader. Audiences find humor and heart in Liz’s storytelling, as well as refreshing strategies that are a realistic roadmap to reaching goals.
Aminatou Sow
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Writer, cultural critic, and entrepreneur Aminatou Sow is renowned as co-host of the hit podcast Call Your Girlfriend, which tackles the intricacies of feminism, pop culture and the latest in politics.
A member of the Sundance Institute Director's Advisory Group, and previous head of Social Impact Marketing at Google, Aminatou has been named one of Forbes "30 Under 30 in Tech." She is also the co-founder of Tech LadyMafia, an organization created to increase the visibility of women working in and around Technology. Her book, a TIME's 100 Must-Read Book of 2020, Big Friendship: How We Keep Each Other Close (June 2020), makes the bold and compelling argument that a close friendship is the most influential and important relationship a human life can contain—helping you improve as a person and in your relationships with others.
A passionate public speaker, Aminatou has been sought-out for events like SXSW, Chicago Ideas Week, and the Sydney Writers Festival. She convenes and facilitates conversations about the most important cultural issues of our time, and has interviewed everyone from Hillary Clinton to Roxane Gay, Kirsten Gillibrand, Ali Raisman, and so many more impressive women. At engagements, Aminatou shares candid insights into female ambition, money and power.
Marissa Orr
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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.
Tonya Reiman
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Tonya Reimanis a well-known international speaker, media personality, consultant and corporate trainer. With over two decades of business experience, she brings a foundation of knowledge and wisdom that few can surpass.
She has authored three books: The Power of Body Language, The YES Factor, and The Body Language of Dating.
Tonya provides expert body language analysis and knowledge of communication in print, radio and television.
Reiman's passion for body language began in her first year of college at Pace University when a psychology professor came nose to nose with her in order to demonstrate the significance of "personal space". Building from that pivotal moment, she graduated from Pace University and began her research of non-verbal communication.
For well over a decade, Tonya honed her skills in the fields of training, communication and influence working with executives and staff in the financial industry.
Today, her keynotes, seminars and workshops assist companies in growth and effective communication. She is skilled in customization – providing lectures specific to the needs of the group or organization.
Kat Cressida
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Kat Cressida is an Internationally recognized Voice Over artist whose credits include characters for Walt Disney Animation, Pixar Animation, Cartoon Network, and several AAA (premiere) Video Game studios. Her voice can be heard on top sports networks, including ESPN, FOX Sports, and FS1, as well as on national radio + TV campaigns – from McDonald’s to Michelob – and everything in between.
In 2012, during a routine doctor’s visit, at the height of a thriving 20-year Hollywood career and without warning, Kat’s life – and career– came to a terrifying HALT.
Thus began an incredible journey – upon being diagnosed with a terrifying form of cancer, taking on the healthcare system, medical negligence, and extensive reconstructive surgery and years of healing - Kat has emerged not only as a top artist in The Industry – but as an advocate working to address many of the challenges she had to overcome.
Recounting her extraordinary journey - through the dark-side of a fatal diagnosis and back - Kat Cressida has not only re-claimed her VOICE, she's chosen to use her hard-won experience and landmark victories to champion proper treatment and benefits within the health care system, address medical negligence and bullying, to INSPIRE, STRENGTHEN, and ENLIGHTEN audiences from all sectors worldwide.
Kat is no longer SPEECHLESS; the passion she brings in sharing her journey and the life-altering tools she acquired thru survival – combined with her unparalleled gift for storytelling - are invaluable, unique assets for anyone at any point in their own journey forward – be it individuals, organizations or corporations.
Laura Putnam
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If you’re looking for insights on well-being, motivation, innovation, or human performance, Laura Putnam, author of Workplace Wellness That Works, can help. A former urban public high school teacher, international community organizer, dancer, and gymnast, Laura is now a movement builder in the world of health and wellness.
Laura has keynoted at conferences, companies and associations around the world for audiences as large as 3,000 people and has shared the stage with such notables as famed TV personality Dr. Oz, and Dan Buettner, author of Blue Zones. Her unique style of speaking combines relevant science with meaningful stories and a good dose of humor. With a mission to get people “in motion,” she guides team members, managers and leaders in discovering how to get big results with simple steps.
As CEO of Motion Infusion, a well-being training and consulting firm, Laura works with a range of organizations from Fortune 500s to nonprofits to academic institutions, helping each to build a culture of well-being.
Recent media appearances include MSNBC, US News & World Report, Business Insider and NPR. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, Entrepreneur, and The American Journal of Health Promotion. Laura teaches at Stanford University, and is the recipient of the American Heart Association’s “2020 Impact” award and the National Wellness Institutes “Circle of Leadership” award.
Laura Putnam is turning the wellness world upside down. From a book that pioneers a whole new system for workplace wellness to keynote speeches that are jam-packed with energy, insights and humor - Laura is ready to revolutionize your organization.
Deirdre Van Nest
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Deirdre Van Nest is the go-to expert for financial advisors, leaders, and professionals in a client-facing role, on improving communication skills (whether one-one or with a group). She is a top-rated International Keynoter, and Trainer, and the creator of the Crazy Good Talks® Blueprint, and The Emotionally Engaging Advisor™- 2 practical communication systems that have taught thousands how to bring in business faster and impact more lives through the power of public speaking, storytelling, and making emotional connections.
Deirdre is a regular contributor for Horsesmouth, a faculty member at the Hoopis Performance Network, and is called upon frequently for interviews on podcasts and TV talk shows.
She’s also a Certified World Class Speaking™ Coach, a Certified Fearless Living Coach, a contributing author of the Amazon bestseller World Class Speaking™ in Action and author of “Fire Your Fear™”.
Lesley Visser
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Lesley Visser is the most highly acclaimed female sportscaster of all time. In six Halls of Fame, she was the first woman enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. She is the only female sportscaster to have carried the Olympic Torch; the only woman to have presented the Championship Lombardi Trophy at the Super Bowl; the first woman on the Network Broadcasts of the Final Four, the Super Bowl, the NBA Finals, the Olympics, the Triple Crown, the World Figure Skating Championships, and the US Open Tennis. She was voted the Outstanding Female Sportscaster of All-Time by the National Sportscasters of America. Her career began at the Boston Globe in 1974 after she won a Carnegie Foundation grant, given to only 20 women in the country who wanted to go into jobs that were 95% male.
Lesley was elected to the Sportswriter’s Hall of Fame for her work at the Boston Globe, magazines and CBS.com. She was voted to the Sports Broadcaster’s Hall of Fame for her work at CBS, ABC and HBO. Visser was the first and only woman to win the Billie Jean King “Outstanding Journalist” award, and was honored as the first woman “Lombardi Fellow.” She has been named a Muhammad Ali “Daughter of Greatness” and was honored for her achievements by the 18th World Congress of Sport. In June of 2018, she won the Al Neuharth/Newseum award for Lifetime Achievement, first given to Walter Cronkite. Lesley had the privilege of reporting from the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and had the honor of throwing out the first pitch for her beloved Red Sox in 2013.
A graduate of Boston College, which awarded her an honorary doctorate in 2007, she has passionately served on the board of the V Foundation for cancer research for more than 20 years, while also serving on the board of NYU’s “Sports and Society”. Visser has mentored young women for decades, while speaking at colleges and businesses around the world - from Doha, Qatar, to Charleston, South Carolina, where she spoke at the prestigious Renaissance weekend, founded by President Clinton. Lesley’s book, “Sometimes You Have to Cross When it Says Don't Walk” is a memoir of breaking barriers.
A sportscaster at CBS for more than 25 years, Lesley spent nearly 10 years at ABC Sports, where she became the first woman on Monday Night Football and the first woman on a Super Bowl sideline, while also covering the World Series, World Figure Skating Championships, the World Skiing Championships, and the Triple Crown. She has been voted one of the “Women We Love” by Esquire magazine and one of “the Five Ideal Dinner Guests” by GQ.
Janet Stovall
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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.
Shannon Watts
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Shannon Watts is a mother of five who, prior to founding Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, was a stay-at-home mom and former communications executive. The day after the Sandy Hook tragedy, Watts started a Facebook group with the message that all Americans can and should do more to reduce gun violence. That online conversation has grown into a nationwide grassroots movement of Americans fighting for public safety measures that respect the Second Amendment and protect people from gun violence. Moms Demand Action has established a chapter in every state of the country and is part of Everytown for Gun Safety, the largest gun violence prevention organization in the country, with over 5 million supporters. Watts tells the inspiring story of how her rallying call-to-action grew into a social movement powered by mothers to protect children from America’s gun violence crisis and offers lessons for others who want to make a difference in their community in her debut book Fight Like a Mother: How a Grassroots Movement Took on the Gun Lobby and Why Women Will Change the World.
In addition to her work with Moms Demand Action, Watts is an active board member of Emerge America, one of the nation’s leading organizations for recruiting and training women to run for office. In 2018, she was named one of InStyle Magazine’s Badass Women, one of People Magazine’s 25 Women Changing the World, and a Yerba Beuna Center for the Arts 100 Honoree. Watts’ writing has appeared in Vogue, Refinery 29, Time, The Washington Post, The Hill, and others.
Souad Mekhennet
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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
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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
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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
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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.
Ashley Fox
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Ashley Fox is one of the NFL’s most well respected journalists and a trailblazer in the ego-infused world of sports media. During her 24-year career, including 7 years as a lead NFL reporter and analyst for ESPN, Inc., The Worldwide Leader in Sports, Ashley covered the United States’ most popular sport for the largest sports media network in the world.
By being fair, honest and accountable, with unwavering professionalism and boundless optimism, Ashley earned the trust of professional athletes, coaches, owners, team executives and league commissioners. She understands the power of relationships and the steps necessary to build and maintain them. She has mastered the lost art of listening and knows that the best questions mine the most insightful answers.
Since 1993, Ashley Fox has reported from the world’s largest sporting events- the Summer Olympics, Wimbledon, the Super Bowl, the NBA Finals, the Final Four, the World Series, the Stanley Cup Finals, and the PGA Championship. Ashley’s written work has been featured on ESPN.com, TheUndefeated.com, ESPNW.com and in ESPN The Magazine, Sports Illustrated and the Philadelphia Inquirer.
A world-class communicator, Ashley shares with her global audience her inspiring story of determination, perseverance, balancing personal and professional integrity, believing in the impossible and overcoming obstacles. Attendees of Ashley’s presentations learn the proven leadership, communication and teamwork strategies that took her from a small-town girl with big-time dreams to an award-winning reporter and columnist for the preeminent sports network on the planet.
Molly Bloom
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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.
Angela Davis
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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.
Tan Le
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Tan Le is an innovator, inventor & entrepreneur, and is the Founder and CEO of EMOTIV. Born in South Vietnam, Le migrated to Australia as a refugee with her family in 1981. In 1998, Le was named Young Australian of the Year and voted one of Australia’s 30 Most Successful Women Under 30. Le’s story was featured in the ‘Hope’ section of the Eternity Exhibition of the National Museum of Australia. Le has been featured in “Who’s Who in Australia” List since 1999, Fast Company’s Most Influential Women in Technology in 2010 and Forbes’ 50 Names You Need to Know in 2011.
Vernice Armour
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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.
Emma Seppala
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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.
Sheila Heen
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Sheila Heen is a founder of Triad Consulting Group and a lecturer on Law at Harvard Law School.
Heen’s corporate clients include MITRE, BAE Systems, HSBC, Tatweer of Dubai, Unilever, the Federal Reserve Bank, Standard Bank of South Africa, Merck, and numerous family businesses. She often works with executive teams, helping them to work through conflict, repair working relationships, and make sound decisions together. In the public sector, she has also provided training for the New England Organ Bank, the Singapore Supreme Court, the Obama White House, and theologians struggling with disagreement over the nature of truth and God.
Heen has spent the last 20 years with the Harvard Negotiation Project, developing negotiation theory and practice. She specializes in particularly difficult negotiations—where emotions run high and relationships become strained. Heen is co-author of the New York Times business best sellers Difficult Conversations: How to Discuss What Matters Most (Penguin 2000), and Thanks for the Feedback: The Science and Art of Receiving Feedback Well (Even When It’s Off-Base, Unfair, Poorly Delivered and Frankly, You’re Not in the Mood) (Viking/Penguin 2014).
One of the side benefits of writing Difficult Conversations has been the chance to appear on shows as diverse as Oprah and The G. Gordon Liddy Show, NPR’s Diane Rehms Show, FOX News, and CNBC’s Power Lunch.
Heen is a graduate of Occidental College in Los Angeles, and Harvard Law School. She is schooled in negotiation daily by her three children.
Giuliana Rancic
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Giuliana Rancic is an entertainment journalist, author, fashion and beauty expert and television personality with over 3 million devoted followers on Twitter, 3 million on Instagram and 10 million followers across her social media platforms. Dynamic and highly sought after as a world-renowned speaker, Giuliana travels the world focusing on topics that continue to inspire and motivate audiences of all sizes.
Giuliana was the host of the internationally watched entertainment news show, E! News, and was on the red carpet for every mega-event in the entertainment industry (Oscars, Grammy Awards, Golden Globes) interviewing the stars and getting breaking Hollywood scoop as well as all things pop culture. In 2021, she announced a new development deal with E!'s parent company, NBCUniversal, where she will produce and bring stories to life.
Giuliana is also a fashion designer, having one of the most successful clothing lines on HSN called G by Giuliana. She is also a restaurateur, as the "R" in the popular restaurant group RPM Italian and RPM Steak. Most recently, she announced the launch of Giuliana Prosecco available at Total Wine and Target.
In 2012, Rancic released her second book, I Do, Now What? Published by Random House. Giuliana co-authored the book with her husband, Bill Rancic. Giuliana most recently released her highly anticipated memoir, Going Off Script, also with Random House. The book debuted on the New York Times Best Sellers List.
In 2011, Giuliana was diagnosed with Breast Cancer and underwent a double mastectomy that same year. Following her treatment, she created “Fab-U-Wish,” a program to grant fashion, beauty and celebrity-themed wishes to women battling breast cancer. This program is just one aspect of her ongoing mission to help those going through hardships to find happiness and a positive outlook on life. Others include The Pink Agenda, Breast Cancer Research Foundation, Operation Smile, Dress For Success, and the Mercy Home for Boys and Girls in Chicago.
Nataly Kogan
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A leading expert on leadership and thriving, Nataly Kogan is a best-selling author, keynote speaker, and entrepreneur whose superpower is helping people to reinvent their stories and unlock their best, thriving selves.
Nataly immigrated to the US as a refugee from the former Soviet Union when she was 13 years old. Starting her American life in the projects and on welfare, she learned English by watching “Who’s the Boss?” on repeat.
She went on to reach the highest levels of career success at McKinsey and Microsoft, as a Managing Director at a venture capital fund, and as founder or executive at 5 startups and tech companies.
But after years of chasing a non-existent state of nirvana, Nataly suffered a debilitating burnout that led her to find a new way to live and work. Nataly founded Happier Inc., whose gratitude-sharing mobile app, courses, Happier @ Work, and leadership programs have helped more than a million people lead more fulfilling lives.
She is a sought-after international keynote speaker and has appeared in hundreds of media outlets, including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Harvard Business Review, Forbes, and TIME.
Nataly is the author of Happier Now, The Awesome Human Project, and The Awesome Human Journal, and hosts The Awesome Human Podcast, which people call their “best-self hour.”
Nataly began painting when she turned 40 and is a self-taught abstract artist. She is passionate about the power of art to fuel our wellbeing and often integrates it in her speaking and mentorship work.
She loves yellow, overuses the word “awesome”, and is the funniest person in her family. (Just ask her husband and daughter, her favorite awesome humans.)
For more, visit natalykogan.com.
Erin Merryn
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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.
Laura Schwartz
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Laura Schwartz is a dynamic professional speaker, emcee and internationally recognized television commentator. But when she arrived at the White House in January of 1993, she was just a 19-year-old student with no political connections and no way of knowing what was about to come next. She landed a volunteer position answering phones in the press office, but that was just the beginning. She climbed her way up the ranks of the Clinton Administration, as the Midwest Press Secretary, Director of Television and, ultimately, Director of Events, where she produced the President’s events on the world stage.
Laura is the author of Eat, Drink & Succeed, which focuses on powerful, positive and productive networking secrets not only to her success but that of Steven Spielberg, Oprah Winfrey and more. Laura relates these powerful techniques to every reader and audience regardless of industry or location in the world.
Throughout every presentation, Laura shares secrets to leadership and success while revealing essential tools that will increase sales, productivity, elevate you to the table or propel you to the next level in business and beyond. As she often remarks, “You never know when the next conversation will be thee conversation to change your life or that of someone else!”
Laura has been taking her empowering presentations to stages across the world since 2001 and is well known for her keynotes and as a mistress of ceremonies and on stage interviewer for multi-day conferences and events. Whether addressing an intimate gathering of 30 or a crowd of 30,000, Laura captivates attendees with her positive energy, expertise and enthusiasm.
Jenn Lim
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Jenn Lim wears a lot of hats — literally and figuratively. She’s a bestselling author and has been named one of the World’s Top 50 Keynote Speakers. She’s had the privilege of leading a company to the Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing List, sitting on the Global Happiness Council of Work & Wellbeing, and working with hundreds of companies — from Fortune 500s and Best Places to Work to startups and governments
Jenn’s approach to leadership is not for the faint of heart. She speaks the truth powered by a real-talk style that doesn’t shy away from tough topics, cuts through the fluff, and gets to what matters most. Her authentic approach and eons of experience in people, culture, and org design give her the street cred to back up her purpose of nurturing fulfilling lives through the work/life choices we make every day. And yet, despite her reputation as a “global workplace expert,” Jenn remains grounded, down to earth, and refreshingly weird.
Jenn’s beliefs are simple yet profound: we can be leaders at all levels, live true to our authentic selves and create workplaces rooted in happiness and humanity. She’s been named one of the World’s Top 50 Keynote Speakers and featured in publications like Inc., Forbes, Fast Company, Fortune, Entrepreneur, and Success Magazine. Jenn inspires folks around the world on ways to find meaning, grit, and joy, even in the toughest of times. She reminds us how we can all ripple an impact when we get real with ourselves first. When she’s not speaking or advising, you’ll find her spontaneously starting a dance party or meditating anytime she’s got a quiet minute. And if you need help parallel parking when you’re in a tough spot, she’s got your back (literally and figuratively)
Learn more about her at JennLim.com.
Nancy Spielberg
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Nancy Spielberg is an accomplished producer, businesswoman, fundraiser and philanthropist. She previously consulted on the Oscar-winning documentary Chernobyl Heart and most recently served as an executive producer for the feature-length documentary Who Will Write Our History, based on the book of the same name by Samuel Kassow.
Amy Blankson
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Amy Blankson, bestselling author of The Future of Happiness, is the only person to receive a Point of Light from two sitting US Presidents. After graduating from Harvard College and Yale School of Management, she has focused her work on understanding how to cultivate happiness in a digital era. She is a co-founder of the Digital Wellness Collective, a member of the UN Global Happiness Council, and is currently working with the IEEE to create standards for well-being in the creation of artificial intelligence and emotion awareness. Most recently, Amy has shared her thought leadership as a speaker at TEDx, as a regular contributor for Forbes on Women, Technology, and Leadership, and as a featured professor in Oprah’s Happiness course.
Michelle Gielan
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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.
Chris Evert
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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.
Lady Mone
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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.
Amanda Beard
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Amanda Beard is an icon inside and outside of the pool, becoming much more than the 14-year-old Olympic gold medalist with the teddy bear. At 14 in 1996, Amanda made her first Olympic swimming debut, winning one Gold and two Silver medals, which set the tone for the rest of her career. She went on to win another Gold medal, two Silvers and a Bronze at the next two Olympic Games. Beard also holds an impressive eight national titles and is a former world record holder.
In April 2012, Amanda released her first book, New York Times bestseller In The Water They Can’t See You Cry, a riveting memoir revealing the truth behind the Olympic spotlight, the battles that she fought along the way and her new found happiness in love and motherhood. Touring coast to coast, Amanda stays busy talking about her book, hosting swim clinics, endorsing products, speaking at events and making appearances in top national media outlets, like the Today Show, Dr. Phil, Access Hollywood, CNN, USA Today, FOX Sports and more.
Dara Torres
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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
Aimee Mullins
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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.
Carey Lohrenz
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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.
Ashley Rhodes-Courter
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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
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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.
Jill Bolte Taylor
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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.
Annie Duke
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Annie loves to dive deep into decision making under uncertainty. Her latest obsession is on the topic of quitting. In particular, she is on a mission to rehabilitate the term and get people to be proud of walking away from things.
Annie is an author, speaker, and consultant in the decision-making space, as well as Special Partner focused on Decision Science at First Round Capital Partners, a seed stage venture fund. Annie’s latest book, Quit: The Power of Knowing When to Walk Away, was released in 2022 from Portfolio, a Penguin Random House imprint. Her previous book, Thinking in Bets, is a national bestseller. As a former professional poker player, she has won more than $4M in tournament poker. During her career, Annie won a World Series of Poker bracelet and is the only woman to have won the World Series of Poker Tournament of Champions and the NBC National Poker Heads-Up Championship. She retired from the game in 2012. Prior to becoming a professional poker player, Annie was awarded a National Science Foundation Fellowship to study Cognitive Psychology at the University of Pennsylvania, where she earned her master’s degree. In 2021 she returned to her alma mater as a Visiting Scholar, where she also teaches executive education. In 2023 Annie completed her PhD in Cognitive Psychology.
Annie is the co-founder of The Alliance for Decision Education, a non-profit whose mission is to improve lives by empowering students through decision skills education. She is a member of the National Board of After-School All-Stars and the Board of Directors of the Franklin Institute.
Elizabeth Smart
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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.
Hollye Jacobs
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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.
Nancy Brinker
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Nancy G. Brinker is regarded as the leader of the global breast cancer movement. Her journey began with a simple promise to her dying sister, Susan G. Komen, that she would do everything possible to end the shame, pain, fear and hopelessness caused by this disease. In one generation, the organization that bears Susan’s name has changed the world.
As Ambassador Nancy has given speeches around the world – from the United Nations European Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland to business leaders in Moscow, Russia and at annual meetings of our nation’s largest companies. In front of countless audiences big and small, she has shared her fascinating experiences and stories as our nation’s top diplomat in Hungary in the weeks and months immediately following 9/11 and as the United States Chief of Protocol under President Bush where she had the intimate opportunity to walk the halls of the West Wing and White House Residence while managing protocol and social matters for visiting heads of state and government.
Laurie Dhue
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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.
Mia Farrow
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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.
Martina Navratilova
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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.
Janet Evans
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The greatest female distance swimmer ever, Janet Evans’ journey from just a winner to world champion has enthralled audiences in every sector for years.
Cindy Solomon
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Cindy Solomon’s depth and breadth of experience in corporate America along with her consulting work with hundreds of companies across industries allows her to relate to her audiences first-hand with wit, intelligence and a solid grounding in the realities of the marketplace, customer service, customer loyalty, employee engagement and leadership.
Tipper Gore
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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.
Star Parker
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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.
Christine Clifford
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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.
Zainab Salbi
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Every once in a while a new voice emerges with the power to change the world. Zainab Salbi, activist and social entrepreneur, is such a voice. Ms. Salbi inspires and moves audiences with the passion of her personal experience as a survivor of war and her dedication to rebuilding communities after war, one woman at a time.
Brenda Feigen
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Brenda Feigen, a crusader for feminism and women’s rights, has long guided and shifted the discussion and progress made for women over the last few decades in the U.S. Having survived cancer, Ms. Feigen has much to say on law, health, and women in America.
Cheryl Shavers
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More than just a technologist, businesswoman or global leader, Dr. Cheryl Shavers is an inspiration, a role model for individuals and organizations faced with seemingly insurmountable odds.
Nancy Snyderman
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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.
Deborah Norville
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Veteran journalist Deborah Norville has been anchor of Inside Edition since March 1995. Ratings jumped 15% the week the two-time Emmy winner joined the series, which is now the nation’s top-rated syndicated newsmagazine.
Allison Josephs
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Allison speaks on a variety of topics and uses humor and personal anecdotes to entertain as she inspires. She can also tailor a talk to fit your community’s needs.
Stacy Allison
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Recounting the tales of her heroic mountain climbs, Stacy Allison's suspenseful, victorious adventure story is a primer for anyone who has ever faced a mountain, physical or metaphorical, and reached for its summit.
Best known as the first American woman to summit Mt. Everest, Stacy has climbed the world’s most famous mountains; now she is helping organizations around the globe scale their own monumental challenges.
Mountains, though seemingly a planet apart from the world of business, are a rich source of practical insights for executives, managers and individuals alike. They are high-altitude laboratories for leadership, team dynamics, risk-taking, vision, and change management. Stacy combines her mountain experience with her business knowledge to create keynotes that consistently hit the mark to inspire and motivate people to move beyond their limitations to reach for their dreams.
Mia Hamm
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Mia is widely recognized as the world's best all-around women's soccer player, with her leadership and passion motivating countless others to pursue their own dreams and go for it.