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

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

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

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

When it comes to kicking off a meeting or setting a tone of “this is no ordinary event," Jon Wee and Owen Morse are the best in the business. Their high-octane presentation is full of big laughs, wild stunts, and hilarious audience participation.

As host and weatherman of NBC’s Today Show, Al Roker has the undivided attention of the nation every weekday morning as America prepares for school and work.

Spanning more than 40 years on TV and 14 Emmy awards - and in addition to reporting on the weather - Al conducts interviews with celebrities and newsmakers around the world and does a wide variety of segments on every imaginable subject. Al also co-anchors the popular 3rd Hour of Today, presenting homespun lifestyle segments that touch all Americans. As a prolific bestselling author, Al has penned 13 books, the latest being You Look So Much Better In Person - True Stories Of Absurdity and Success. This latest tome is a humorous collection of essays based on lessons for living a happy life and achieving success through the power of saying "yes!"

Al Roker brings to the podium the same charisma and sense of humor that have propelled him to number one in Americans' hearts. Whether emceeing events or delivering a closing keynote, his ability to improvise and sling out his legendary one-liners are a huge hit with audiences.

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.

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

Joy Behar’s type of funny is not produced or edited, it just is part of who she is.   The hilarious personality you see on TV is the same one that shows up at your event to entertain your audience. She layers her comedy with her motivational story of persistent hard work, the belief in second chances in work and in love, and the value of being open to opportunity.  Joy is a fantastic celebrity choice for a motivational keynote speech, a hilarious Q&A, or emcee role for a fundraiser.

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.

Acclaimed innovator, entrepreneur, and venture capitalist David Grutman is a Miami-based mogul whose investments span the hospitality, technology, wellness, consumers goods, and food and beverage industries. Grutman is the Founder of the world-renowned Groot Hospitality, which owns and operates numerous high-profile restaurants, nightclubs, and hotels in Miami and Miami Beach (with imminent expansion across the U.S. and internationally). Grutman is also the Co-Owner and Creative Director of Prince, an Atlanta-based athletics and lifestyle label. There, he oversees everything from product collaborations to new product launches. His book Take It Personal: How to Succeed by Building Relationships and Playing the Long Game breaks down how relationships, trust, and attention to detail became the foundation for building one of the most influential hospitality brands in the country.

An adept and leading-edge venture capitalist, Grutman has built a substantial portfolio highlighting popular and universal objectives and cross-industry symbioses, focusing on maximum synergy and optimal returns. From the consumer arena to public-facing platforms to the nascent world of cryptocurrency, Grutman embraces dynamic diversification and openly shares his expertise, insights, and motivating takeaways in events that make an impact with both organizations and individuals. A leader in both conceptualization and portfolio management, Grutman is a guest professor at Florida International University and has also guest lectured at the prestigious School of Hotel Administration at Cornell University, the University of Miami and Harvard Business School. His work has been profiled by GQ, Paper Magazine, Vogue, and many more. In his keynotes and conversations, Grutman emphasizes the importance of relationships – looking beyond the product to value the team and people behind it.

Hit songwriter, Better Than Ezra front man, bestselling author, and philanthropist Kevin Griffin has produced, written, and co-written albums and songs that have sold over 30M copies and songs that have been streamed over a billion times. Griffin has produced and written songs performed and recorded by artists such as Taylor Swift, Train, Dierks Bentley, Barenaked Ladies, and James Blunt among others. He is the founder of the Better Than Ezra Foundation, which has raised more than $4M for charities, many of which are devoted to children and the arts around New Orleans and the gulf coast. Griffin is the author of The Greatest Song: Spark Creativity, Ignite Your Career, and Transform Your Life, a bestselling, creative nonfiction book with lessons for every profession and industry. Griffin has also served as adjunct professor and writer-in-residence at NYU’s Clive Davis School of Recorded Music.

In addition to songwriting and performing, Griffin is involved in artist management, publishing, and lectures on the subject of keeping a creative and competitive edge to groups and companies such as Live Nation, Disney, Nike, WPO, and Salesforce. He is a founder and partner along with Justin Timberlake in Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival, which is a two-day event located in Franklin, TN. After its inaugural year, Rolling Stone commented that Pilgrimage had “an A-list lineup (arguably the best curated of the year)” and “established itself as a festival to watch.” An in-demand and entertaining keynote speaker, Griffin has spoken for groups including Novation, WhichWich, Google, and Young Presidents’ Organization on topics of investing in your potential, sparking creativity, and leadership.

Hollywood legend Brian Grazer is an entertainment mogul with an empowering story of resilience and ingenuity. Coming from modest means and growing up with dyslexia, Grazer is an Academy, Golden Globe, Emmy, and Grammy award-winning producer as well as a New York Times bestselling author. Behind iconic films and shows including A Beautiful Mind, Apollo 13, Splash, 24, and Arrested Development (just to name a few), Grazer's work has been nominated for 43 Oscars and 195 Emmys. Named to TIME’s “100 Most Influential People in the World,” Grazer co-founded Imagine Entertainment along with his longtime friend and business partner Ron Howard in the 1980s, quickly growing it to become one of Hollywood's most prolific and successful production companies. With a unique flair for telling fascinating stories and decades of experience as a Hollywood icon, Grazer offers insight into themes such as leading through times of disruption, unleashing curious creativity, innovating in a fast-changing world, and the future media landscape.

The secrets to Grazer's success and distinct outlook are chronicled in his #1 New York Times bestseller, A Curious Mind: The Secret to a Bigger Life. Sought-out to speak with hosts including Google, Goldman Sachs, SXSW, and the Aspen Institute, Grazer has helped everyone from parents to CEOs to artists to young graduates hone the mindset, philosophy, and skills needed to thrive at every phase of life.

Multiplatinum recording artist and Emmy-winner Andy Grammer has brought inspiration and a deep sense of empathy to people across the world for over a decade. A former street performer, Andy shot to fame with pop hits like the quadruple platinum ‘Honey, I’m Good’, and platinum singles ‘Keep Your Head Up’, ‘Fine By Me’, gold single ‘I Found You’, and many more. Recognized as the #1 streaming artist in the world in the category of Happy/Pop, Andy takes audiences on an inspirational journey of music that nourishes the soul, heartwarming personal stories, and an authentic conversation about mental health and finding your true self for an unforgettable event.

Andy has earned a Sports Emmy for “Outstanding Music Direction” and a Clio Award for his song ‘Don’t Give Up On Me’, which was featured in ESPN’s Annual V Week for Cancer Reach. His music has been featured on TV and in films like Five Feet Apart. Andy has electrified TV audiences with performances on The TODAY Show, Jimmy Kimmel LIVE!, Good Morning America, American Idol, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, and The Late Late Show with James Corden, in addition to appearing as a contestant on Dancing with the Stars. Through interactive musical events, keynotes, and as a consummate host, Andy makes an impact with his empowering message of grounded optimism and finding your true self.

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.

Creator, screenwriter, producer, and showrunner Lee Sung Jin is known for the hit series Beef for Netflix and A24 starring Ali Wong and Steven Yeun, which currently sits at 99% on Rotten Tomatoes. Beef received immediate critical acclaim as a visceral dark comedy that is also profoundly contemplative about the way people relate to one another through extreme emotions and ultimately shared experiences. A brilliant creative and storyteller, Lee speaks to the creative process and celebrating authentic voices in his uplifting and insightful events.

Lee’s past credits include FX’s Dave, Amazon's Undone, HBO’s Silicon Valley, and more. On the feature side, Lee is currently writing Thunderbolts for Marvel, among other projects. Beyond his numerous successful onscreen projects, Lee is an advocate for mental health and wellbeing, spiritual and personal growth, and speaks to shared human experiences that resonate across class and culture.

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.

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.

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.

Derek DelGaudio is a writer, artist and performer, primarily known for his highly acclaimed theater show, and now award-winning film, In & Of Itself. He served as the Artist-in-Residence for Walt Disney Imagineering and co-founded the performance art collective, A.BANDIT.

DelGaudio’s debut book, AMORALMAN is out on Knopf.

Roman Coppola is a problem solver. Whether its in his multiple lives as a filmmaker, inventor, consultant, entrepreneur, advisor or tech visionary, Roman Coppola has proven time and again that there is no problem too challenging to solve using his filmmakers’ tool bag. His unique perspective informed by his unmatched wealth of diverse creative experiences enables him to translate his technical skills and creative storytelling to invent innovative solutions to unexpected challenges.

Coppola is best known as a director, screenwriter and producer, but his origins began by wearing all hats available. From sound recording to cinematography, writing, directing, producing and even acting, his hunger for experience and eager inquisitiveness led him to earn his first BAFTA nomination for his work as visual effects director on Bram Stoker’s Dracula at the age of 28.

This unwavering curiosity remains insatiable as ever, and he continues playing an integral part in many other film projects in every capacity, including second unit work, producing, and cowriting with frequent collaborators Sofia Coppola on such projects as Priscilla, Marie Antoinette, Lost in Translation, Somewhere, The Virgin

Suicides and with Wes Anderson on projects including Asteroid City, The French Dispatch, Isle of Dogs, The Grand Budapest Hotel, The Fantastic Mr. Fox, The Darjeeling Limited, The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou and Moonrise Kingdom, which earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay.

In addition to all of his collaborative efforts, Coppola has written, directed and produced his own feature films CQ and A Glimpse Inside the Mind of Charles Swan III, as well as being the president of pioneering independent production company American Zoetrope, earning him producing credits on the aforementioned Sofia Coppola projects, as well as many other films including Walter Salles’ Cannes Palme d’Or nominated On the Road.

Coppola is also the founder and owner of award-winning commercial and music video production company The Directors Bureau, where his music video direction has been recognized with a Grammy nomination, 3 MTV VMAs for the now-legendary Fatboy Slim Praise You video, as well as residency in the MoMa permanent collection for his stream-of-consciousness video for Phoenix’s Funky Squaredance. He has directed countless other iconic music videos for the likes of Sir Paul McCartney, Daft Punk, Air, The Strokes and Phoenix, as well as promotional films for luxury brands including Prada, Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Zegna, and a docu-series for Suntory Whisky starring Keanu Reeves.

Coppola is also no stranger to television, winning a Golden Globe Award as co-creator of Mozart in the Jungle, and he has directed numerous television specials including The Strokes: MTV $2 Bill, the Emmy-nominated A Very Murray Christmas, Arcade Fire’s Saturday Night Live special Here Comes the Night Time, and Mariah Carey’s Magical Christmas Special.

As an inventor, Coppola has many creations under his belt including an inflatable film enclosure Photobubble, colorful high-quality tote bags from Pacific Tote Company, and a streamlined communication app close to release. He also launched a revolutionary blockchain-based film community known as Decentralized Pictures with a community of 40,000 strong and growing daily, and most recently cofounded a quarterly culture magazine called Enthousiasmos.

Most recently, Coppola served as second-unit director on Francis Ford Coppola’s Megalopolis, served as an executive producer on Sofia Coppola’s Priscilla, and is now finishing up on his latest feature collaboration with Wes Anderson, The Phoenician Scheme. What lies next for Coppola is as good your guess as it is his.

Satirist, comedian, actor, and best-selling author Sarah Cooper skyrocketed to fame with her brilliant lip-sync impressions of the former president. Cooper is the author of the bestsellers How to Be Successful Without Hurting Men’s Feelings and 100 Tricks to Appear Smart in Meetings, both of which have been optioned for TV series development. Her Netflix comedy special Sarah Cooper: Everything’s Fine received rave reviews, and she was named one of Variety’s “10 Comics to Watch” and Vulture’s “The Comedians You Should and Will Know in 2020.” She also starred alongside Jerry Seinfeld in Unfrosted (2024). Sought after for events with Box, Inc., Slack, OneLogin, Columbia University, among others, and consistently receives rave reviews like: “Our entire team was so impressed with the conversation and it definitely kicked off our morning on a great note. Sarah's story is so fascinating and we loved having her" (Conde Nast).

Cooper has been featured in The Washington Post, Forbes, The New York Times, Fast Company, Harvard Business Review, and countless other publications. She has appeared on CBS Sunday Morning, The Ellen Show, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, as the guest host of Jimmy Kimmel Live, and more. Her first feature film, Summering, premiered at Sundance Film Festival. Cooper is a Co-Writer and Executive Producer for the CBS series inspired by her book How to Be Successful…, and has released an Audible original self-help comedy memoir take on Dale Carnegie’s business classic, Let’s Catch Up Soon: How I Won Friends and Influenced People Against My Will.

Five-time Grammy and Emmy-nominated Margaret Cho has always been the Agent Provocateur of entertainment. Right as she was starting her stand-up career at age 14, Cho won a comedy contest to open for Jerry Seinfeld in the early ’90s and began her meteoric rise to stardom. Cho’s socially aware, no-holds-barred type of comedy has made her both a thought leader and a tolerant teacher for those with open minds and open hearts.  An accomplished performer in all formats, Cho has conquered the worlds of film, television, books, music, and theatre. Cho’s undeniable creative spark lights up any room.

With so much success in her creative life, Margaret still finds time to support the causes that are important to her. She was the recipient of the Victory Fund’s Leadership Award, the first-ever Best Comedy Performance Award at the Asian Excellence Awards, the First Amendment Award from the ACLU of Southern California, and the Intrepid Award from the National Organization for Women (NOW). In every area of her life, Margaret is honest, adoring, passionate, uproarious, and always entertaining.

Fashion model and Indigenous Land Protector Quannah Chasinghorse is the face of a new generation of models and a powerful advocate and activist for Indigenous rights, sovereignty, and representation. Chasinghorse is from the Han Gwich’in from Eagle Village, Alaska and Sicangu/Oglala Lakota tribes from the Rosebud Reservation, South Dakota. She grew up learning Indigenous ways of life and values and continues to uphold them. She is a fourth-generation land protector for the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, growing up in the movement to protect those sacred lands from oil development, fighting for climate justice. With each new opportunity, Chasinghorse educates people about her culture and her journey.

Chasinghorse has walked the runway for Gucci and Chloé and starred in campaigns for Calvin Klein and Chanel, among other high-end brands. She has appeared on the covers of Vogue, Elle, Allure, and National Geographic, and was honored on Teen Vogue’s 2020 list of “Top 21 Under 21.” Quannah and her mother were recently featured on an episode of Hillary and Chelsea Clinton’s Apple+ TV series Gutsy, which celebrated environmental activists, and was the subject of the documentary Walking Two Worlds. Beyond her advocacy as a land protector, she champions Indigenous rights and sovereignty, and justice for the movement MMIWG2S, which stands for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirit People. In all she does, Quannah celebrates indigenous practices and fashion and works to increase representation and break the trail for those following in her footsteps.

Quinta Brunson is celebrated for her creativity, talent, and impactful contributions across various media platforms. As the creator, writer, producer, and star of Abbott Elementary, she has crafted a hit mockumentary-style sitcom that captures the struggles and triumphs of teachers in underfunded schools. The show seamlessly blends humor with social commentary, resonating deeply with audiences and earning critical acclaim. Quinta first gained fame through her viral online videos, showcasing her sharp wit and relatable humor. She successfully transitioned from internet stardom to mainstream success, proving her versatility as a performer and creator.

A true trailblazer, Quinta made history as the first Black woman in decades to win an Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series, a groundbreaking achievement that highlights her exceptional talent and cultural impact. As a Black woman in Hollywood, she uses her platform to advocate for diversity and authentic representation in media, crafting stories that reflect real-life experiences, particularly those of underserved communities. Her work has earned her numerous accolades, solidifying her as a rising star and influential voice in modern television.

Quinta’s career trajectory—from creating short digital content to leading one of television’s most beloved shows—illustrates her resilience, determination, and innovative spirit. Through humor and heartfelt storytelling, she also addresses critical issues like education inequities and teacher burnout, sparking important conversations beyond the entertainment industry. Quinta Brunson stands as a dynamic force in entertainment, inspiring others with her creativity, drive, and commitment to meaningful storytelling.

Author Daniel James Brown is one of America’s most beloved narrative nonfiction authors. His #1 New York Times bestseller The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics captured the world's attention and quickly skyrocketed to the top of bestseller lists. The Boys in the Boat served as the inspiration for the PBS documentary The Boys of ‘36. Brown's other books include Under a Flaming Sky: The Great Hinckley Firestorm of 1894, The Indifferent Stars Above: The Harrowing Saga of a Donner Party Bride, and his second New York Times bestseller, Facing the Mountain: A True Story of Japanese American Heroes in World War ll. In his captivating presentations, Brown shares the remarkable stories covered in his work, bringing history to life and leaving audiences inspired.

Brown’s primary interest as a writer is in bringing compelling historical events to life as vividly and accurately as he can. Brown has shared history with hosts including Bailard, Arts & Letters, the Congress of Neurological Surgeons, and more.

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. 

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.

Artist, founder, and mathematician Katy Bohinc is an award-winning data scientist and visionary polymath Fortune 500 marketer. Bohinc began her career as a data scientist for leading marketing agencies, operationalizing big data adoption. Her work garnered Assembly Media (now Assembly Global) Ad Age’s Agency of the Year award. She has published three books of poetry, along with two edited volumes. Bohinc served as Director of Tender Buttons Press (2013-2020). Her latest endeavor as founder & CEO of The Ratio – an AI startup which applies data science to the ancient traditions of astrology – marks her as a leading creative and scientific mind.

Bohinc is a captivating, visionary speaker, bringing her highly acclaimed poet's voice to a powerful and unique weaving of cultural, technological, and marketing insights. Her voice draws from her incredibly diverse background across data science and AI, literature and the arts, world history, and marketing. She has spoken on the intersections of arts, science, and futurism at MoMa Ps1, LACMA, Princeton University, Cambridge University, Ezra Pound’s Castle, and hundreds more. Bohinc's insightful ability to connect seemingly disparate intellectual disciplines into a case study of the human experience opens audiences' minds to new avenues of creativity. 

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.

Mike Birbiglia is a comedian, storyteller, director, and actor who has performed in front of audiences worldwide, from the Sydney Opera House to Carnegie Hall to Broadway. His five solo shows Sleepwalk With Me, My Girlfriend’s Boyfriend, Thank God For Jokes, and The New One enjoyed successful runs on and off Broadway. My Girlfriend’s Boyfriend won the Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Solo Show and The New One received the Drama Desk Award as well as the Outer Critics Circle award for Outstanding Solo Performance. Birbiglia's conversations blend humor, heart, and personal anecdotes, captivating audiences and leaving a lasting impression. 

Birbiglia is also a filmmaker who wrote, directed and starred in the films Sleepwalk with Me and Don’t Think Twice. As an actor, Birbiglia has appeared in the films Trainwreck, The Fault in Our Stars, Popstar, A Man Called Otto starring Tom Hanks, Taylor Swift’s music video for Anti-Hero, as well as TV roles in Orange Is the New Black and Billions. He is the host of the podcast Mike Birbiglia's Working It Out and just finished a sold-out 85-performance Broadway run of his new show The Old Man and the Pool at the Vivian Beaumont Theater at Lincoln Center. Birbiglia shares poignant stories with humor and vulnerability, inspiring any audience. 

As one of the world’s most influential designers, Nate Berkus is internationally renowned for both his design work and media appearances. He founded his award-winning, eponymous design firm, Nate Berkus Associates, at only age 24. Beginning with his first appearance on the Oprah Winfrey Show, Berkus has risen to global fame. Berkus’ work has been featured in Architectural Digest, New York Times, WSJ, Harper’s Bazaar, VOGUE, and People, among many others. He is included on the ELLE DÉCOR “A-List” of the world’s top designers and the AD100 list. Audiences have followed Nate through his TV shows, including The Nate Berkus Show, American Dream Builders on NBC, and most recently The Nate & Jeremiah Home Project on HGTV. He is the author of two New York Times bestselling books, Home Rules and The Things That Matter. Berkus’ expertise, approachability, and signature style have made him a beloved household name and a trusted authority for almost three decades.

Throughout his career, Nate has used design to empower people to live beautifully across every facet of life. He speaks not only on design and entrepreneurship, but also his inspirational perspectives on love, life, and grief. Berkus has uplifted audiences globally, with American Express, Intuit, and the Design Influencers Conference among those he has uplifted.

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.

Brand and design expert, New York Times bestselling author, photographer, and founder Peter Arnell has built a reputation for creating groundbreaking, boundary-averse work for global brands. He is the Founder, Chairman, and Chief Creative Officer of PETERARNELL, and the Founder and CEO of Intellectual Capital Investments. Arnell is known for transforming products, brands, and campaigns for the some of the world's most prestigious companies including Chrysler, Pepsi-Cola Co., Reebok, Donna Karan, Unilever, Fontainebleau and more. Arnell created the strategy brand concept and creative for Donna Karan New York and DKNY. He contributed and collaborated with Samsung on the introduction of the company a consumer-facing brand. He designed the global identity and packaging for the Pepsi brand and re-engineered the entire portfolio identity system and has served as Chief Innovation Officer for both Chrysler and The Home Depot. Arnell has been at the forefront of creating, building, and transforming brands, corporations, institutions, and communities for more than 40 years.

Arnell’s work as a photographer has been lauded by critics from Vogue, I-D Magazine, and other leading publications and has been exhibited at group and solo exhibitions around the world. He is the author of the New York Times bestseller Shift, which showcases four decades of branding and marketing experience. His work is also the subject of Peter Arnell: Projects 1980-2020, a two-volume book that celebrates over four decades of tireless innovation and an exceptionally diverse body of work. Arnell has also devoted significant energy to the non-profit space. He currently serves on the Board of the FDNY Foundation, and previously served as a Board Member for the globally renowned non-profit, Special Olympics. Arnell’s unique interdisciplinary approach to brand uniting graphic arts, communications, photography, filmmaking, experience design, industrial design, product engineering, architecture and more to create holistic solutions that drive enduring brand value. 

Chris Appleton, celebrity hairstylist and visionary behind iconic looks for stars like Jennifer Lopez, Kim Kardashian, and Ariana Grande, is redefining beauty standards and inspiring creativity on a global scale. He is a regular contributor on The Today Show, a lifestyle contributor for The Drew Barrymore Show, and a correspondent for E! Red Carpet events including the Met Gala. He was recently invited by Anna Wintour to be a contributor for VOGUE across VOGUE social platforms and their digital app. Dubbed a “Hair Star” by Vogue UK, Appleton's work has been showcased on covers and major features for top-tier magazines across the globe, including VOGUE, Harper’s Bazaar, and Vanity Fair. With a career marked by innovation, artistry, and an unrelenting pursuit of excellence, Appleton has become a trusted name in fashion and beauty. Appleton speaks on his self-made success, embracing opportunity, and the joys of following your passion. 

As an award-winning stylist and industry trailblazer, Appleton's unique approach to personal branding, resilience, and creative expression resonates far beyond the salon chair. Whether sharing the story of his success through perseverance, creativity, and risk-taking, inspiring audiences to turn perceived challenges into strengths, or offering transformative lessons in creativity and confidence, Chris inspires audiences to embrace their unique style and harness their full potential.

Grammy-nominated music producer, artist, fashion designer, entrepreneur, and NFT visionary Steve Aoki brings a sense of community to all his work – offering shared space and connection. His new album, HiROQUEST: Genesis, is an epic, multi-genre collection of songs with a world-building story that extends beyond the music itself to a new collectible trading card game Aoki co-created with MetaZoo Games in 2021. Aoki boasts 17.2M monthly listeners on Spotify, with a 77M average monthly reach across all his platforms. In sought-after talks and moderated conversations, Aoki shares his insights about entrepreneurship, music, and technology – inspiring his audiences to embrace new frontiers and invest in community.

In 2022, Aoki launched A0K1VERSE, an NFT metaverse membership community, powered by the Passport, that welcomes his fans to both virtual and real-world experiences. For Aoki, it’s essential to remain forward-thinking as he continues to grow his brand. Steve is the subject of the Netflix documentary I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead, which focuses on the driving force behind his career: his ambitious father, Benihana founder and perennial daredevil Rocky Aoki. He is also the author of the critically acclaimed memoir BLUE: The Color of Noise and the founder of THE AOKI FOUNDATION, which supports organizations in the brain science and research areas with a focus on regenerative medicine and brain preservation. In every space he enters, Aoki offers a community for those who need it most.

BAFTA and MOBO award-winning hip-hop artist, bestselling author, and social entrepreneur Akala is the co-founder of The Hip-hop Shakespeare Company. Akala is the author of the Sunday Times bestseller, Natives: Race & Class in the Ruins of Empire, which was shortlisted for the James Tait Black Prize, The Jhalak Prize, The Bread and Roses Award, and long-listed for the Orwell Prize for Political Writing, which has sold over 450K copies worldwide. Immovable Limited, a creative publishing hub co-founded by Akala and his manager Chanelle Newman, produced The Ruins of Empires for BBC Two and Akala’s Odyssey for BBC Four. Akala has gained a reputation as one of the most dynamic and articulate talents in the UK and internationally.

With an extensive global touring history, Akala has appeared at numerous festivals both in the UK and internationally, and has led innovative projects in the arts, education and music across South East Asia, Africa, India, Australia and New Zealand. Akala has also appeared on NPR, PBS, MTV, BET, Channel 4, ITV, Sky Arts, and the BBC promoting his music, poetry and speaking on wide-ranging subjects from music, race, youth engagement, British/African-Caribbean culture and the arts. His writing has been featured in The Guardian, Huffington Post, GQ, and The Independent, to name a few. Akala has been awarded honorary Doctorates by Oxford Brookes University, the University of Brighton, and Brunel University and has been consistently included on the annual Powerlist of the 100 most influential Black British people in the UK. Akala has been sought-after for keynotes at Oxford Union, Google Zeitgest, Spotify, and a TEDx Talk, which has garnered over 1.6M views.

Luvvie Ajayi Jones is an internationally recognized speaker whose thought leadership on culture, authenticity, and disruption enables transformative action. A dynamic speaker, she has captivated audiences around the world with her wit, warmth, and powerful storytelling. Her superpower: using humor as a tool to engage audiences and speak directly to the hearts of others. When she walks away, people take action. Her talks have been consistently praised for their ability to spark conversations, provoke thought, and leave audiences feeling empowered.

She has spoken at some of the most innovative brands, such as Google, Facebook, Microsoft, Twitter, Spotify, Nike, Bank of America, Deloitte, and American Express. She’s been a featured speaker at noted conferences such as TEDWomen, Cannes Lions, SXSW, Leadercast, 3% Conference, and MAKERS Conference.

Her renowned TED talk “Get Comfortable with Being Uncomfortable” has over nine million views and counting, has been transcribed into 23 languages, and has placed her in the Top 1% of TED Talks of all time.

Off stage, she’s pouring her words into New York Times bestselling books. She’s written four so far: I’m Judging You: The Do-Better Manual, Professional Troublemaker: The Fear-Fighter Manual, and Rising Troublemaker: A Fear-Fighter Manual for Teens. Her fourth book and first kids’ book, Little Troublemaker Makes a Mess, was published in May 2023, debuting at #5 on The New York Times bestsellers list.

Luvvie is also the founder of The Book Academy, a program that is on a mission to see more books published by diverse voices. The Book Academy provides courses, masterminds, and book coaching that helps aspiring authors go from idea to ink. 

YouTube star, digital creator, filmmaker sensation, and multi-media leader Casey Neistat has redefined brand content on the internet, setting a new standard for the way brands interact with digital creators. He has worked with major brands including J. Crew, Mercedes-Benz, Samsung, and Nike, and pioneered the ‘daily vlog’ format in the early days of YouTube. Neistat, who got his start working as a dishwasher, is a self-taught filmmaker who attained commercial success with HBO’s The Neistat Brothers and the indie film Daddy Long Legs. Boasting over 14M subscribers, he has parlayed his success as a digital creator into advertising, tech, and startup ventures. He created a video-sharing app called Beme, which was acquired by CNN for $25M, and pivoted to launch 368, a collaboration workspace. Heralded for his motto, “Do What You Can’t,” Neistat empowers audiences to think outside the box and redefine their creative potential.

Neistat was named one of Fortunes’ “Creator 25,” a list honoring those charting unique territory in the world of social media, and was a Fellow of the prestigious New Frontier Artist Residency program at MIT. He has launched a filmmaking masterclass with online course platform Monthly, and his documentary Under the Influence premiered at SXSW to critical acclaim. Neistat is an investor in Angel City FC as well as the bitcoin-rewards startup Lolli, and is an advisor for Ponto, which provides financial infrastructure for Web3. In keynotes that are as engaging and humorous as they are informative, Neistat shares actionable lessons on innovation and creativity, as well as cutting-edge insight into how to level-up your organization’s brand and content strategy.

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.

Emmy-nominated Hot Ones host Sean Evans has two superpowers: interviewing celebrities and eating extremely spicy foods. Against the odds, he's managed to combine the two into the massively popular YouTube show Hot Ones on First We Feast. Each week, Evans shares a plate of progressively spicier chicken wings with his celebrity guests, eliciting some of the most hilarious and honest answers you've ever seen from stars like Kevin Hart, Gordon Ramsay, and Jennifer Lawrence. Hot Ones has spawned a worldwide base of 8M+ YouTube fans and has racked up almost 60M views.

Despite his extreme tactics, Hot Ones guests respect Evans' deeply researched questions and commitment to his craft. The Chicago native grew up studying heroes like David Letterman and Howard Stern – and gaining an appreciation for extra-hot salsa from his dad – before cutting his teeth as a Complex News host. His interviews with the likes of Allen Iverson and Manny Pacquiao made him a favorite on the sports-media circuit, and his willingness to try just about anything – including a day of The Rock's diet and fitness regimen – helped propel his online profile. Evans has been nominated for and won several Webby Awards and was nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Talk Show host in 2021.

Peabody Award-winning cook, bestselling author, filmmaker, and TV personality Alton Brown is the beloved host of culinary classic shows like Iron Chef America and Cutthroat Kitchen. He created, wrote, and hosted Good Eats as a leader of the first Food Network generation, revolutionizing culinary programming. The king of culinary competitions will return to Netflix’s reboot Iron Chef: Quest for an Iron Legend. Brown is known for numerous bestselling cookbooks, including I’m Just Here for the Food, Alton Brown: EveryDayCook, as well as his Good Eats series – the fourth installment Good Eats: The Final Years became an instant New York Times bestseller. A consummate showman, Brown has created elaborate cooking and musical variety shows like The Edible Inevitable Tour, Eat Your Science, and most recently Beyond the Eats, playing sold-out tours nationwide. Inspired by both the science and the heart of good cooking, Brown’s programs are informative, endlessly entertaining, and customized to make a major impact with audiences of all kinds.

Best known for his role in setting up – and then taking down – the cyberwarfare firm Cambridge Analytica, Christopher Wylie has been called “the millennials’ first great whistleblower.” Wylie sparked a global conversation when he gave The Guardian and The New York Times documents detailing the secret workings behind the company's alleged unauthorized possession and misuse of personal data from millions of Facebook users. Wylie’s revelations exposing the rampant misuse of data rocked Silicon Valley, forced Fortune 500 companies to overhaul cybersecurity and user privacy practices, and led Congress to hold its first-ever hearings on the impact of social media on democracy.

When Chris speaks out about the future of technology, governments around the world listen – he has testified before the United States Congress five times, as well as at the parliaments of the European Union, the United Kingdom, and Canada. He has been named to TIME 100, Forbes’ “30 Under 30,” Politico’s “50 Most Influential People in Politics,” and Business Insider’s “100 Coolest People in Tech.” Wylie is currently the Director of Research for H&M – the largest global fashion brand – and his work on quantifying fashion style and supply chain with AI systems is having a major impact on the fashion sector. He is the bestselling author of Mindf*ck: Cambridge Analytica and the Plot to Break America.

With his signature neon hair and brutally honest candor, Wylie engages audiences around the world and makes AI, weaponized algorithms, and the future of cyber crime and resilience compelling, understandable, and actionable.

Bestselling author, journalist, and broadcaster Simon Winchester has worked as a foreign correspondent for most of his career and lectures widely at universities, geological and historical societies, and libraries. His new book Knowing What We Know: The Transmission of Knowledge: From Ancient Wisdom to Modern Magic looks at how humans acquire, retain, and pass on information and data, and how technology continues to change our lives and our minds.

The author of 30 books, Winchester specializes in eccentric, obsessive geniuses. In The Perfectionists: How Precision Engineers Created the Modern World, Winchester traces the development of technology from the Industrial Age to the Digital Age to explore the single component crucial to advancement—precision—in a superb history that is both an homage and a warning for our future. The New York Times bestseller The Man Who Loved China, is the remarkable story of Joseph Needham, the eccentric and adventurous scientist who fell in love with China and whose own work there unveils the epic story of that magisterial country.

Simon Winchester's many books include Land: How the Hunger for Ownership Shaped the Modern World, Pacific, The Men Who United the States, and Atlantic, as well as the New York Times bestsellers The Professor and the Madman, an account of the men behind the Oxford English Dictionary, A Crack in the Edge of the World: America and the Great California Earthquake of 1906, and The Map that Changed the World, about the nineteenth century geologist William Smith. Winchester has also penned books for young adults, The Alice Behind Wonderland and When the Earth Shakes. He is praised for his skills as a masterful and riveting storyteller both on the page and in lectures.

Journalist, author, podcaster, and cultural figure Jenna Wortham is a thought leader at the intersection of tech, culture, and identity, offering engaging and incisive analysis to spellbound audiences across mediums. They co-edited the critically acclaimed visual anthology Black Futures, and is currently a staff writer for the New York Times Magazine, whom editor Jack Silverstein called “one of the most savvy and intelligent voices anywhere covering digital business and culture.” Jenna is also the co-host of the highly popular New York Times podcast Still Processing, which won a Webby Award and has appeared on year-end ‘Best of’ lists for The Atlantic, The Huffington Post, and Indiewire.

Jenna’s writing has appeared in Vogue, WIRED, The Economic Times, and more, and they have received numerous honors, including the prestigious MacDowell Fellowship. Jenna is uniquely positioned to speak to the challenges and possibilities of globalization of culture via the internet, and how we can continue to build our collective future in ever-changing digital spaces.

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.

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.

Growing up in a Mediterranean & Eastern European family, Cleveland native Michael Symon creates boldly flavored, deeply satisfying dishes that not only reflect his heritage but the city he was raised in. Lola, Mabel’s BBQ, Roast, Bar Symon, Angeline, and B Spot Burgers are all wonderful examples of not only how Symon was raised but how food shaped him. Since being named a Best New Chef by Food & Wine magazine in 1998, Symon and his restaurants have been awarded numerous honors. Symon has won The James Beard Foundation Award for Best Chef.

Symon also shares his exuberant, approachable cooking style and infectious laugh with viewers as an Iron Chef on the Food Network, Burgers, Brew, & ‘Que, and as ABC’s Resident Chef. Symon was the first chef ever to host the annual Farm Aid benefit concert. He is also a former co-host of the Emmy-winning TV show, The Chew. Symon is the author of six award winning cookbooks, four of which have landed on The New York Times bestseller list. Symon’s live conversations are infused with humor, inspiration, and practical insights which make him an ideal choice for events focused on leadership, innovation, and the pursuit of excellence.

Two-time Emmy winner, Super Bowl Champion, and Peabody Award-winning journalist Michael Strahan is a business mogul with an ever-expanding portfolio. After a spectacular NFL career that earned him a spot in the Hall of Fame, Strahan joined the ranks of top sports broadcasters and co-hosted the hit talk show LIVE with Kelly and Michael and headlined FOX's Thursday Night Football Pregame Show. He currently co-hosts ABC’s Good Morning America, serves as an analyst for FOX NFL Sunday, in addition to hosting ABC’s game show favorite $100,000 Pyramid. Strahan’s New York Times bestselling book, Wake Up Happy: The Dream Big, Win Big Guide to Transforming Your Life, encapsulates the uplifting and inspiring energy he brings to his sought-after keynotes and conversations, for memorable events with audiences of all kinds.

Strahan is the Co-Founder of SMAC Entertainment, and the MICHAEL STRAHAN lifestyle brand encompassing clothing, lifestyle, skincare, and an NFL licensed apparel line. Strahan is also the co-founder of SMAC Entertainment, a multi-dimensional talent management, music, branding and production company to create a major presence in the sports and entertainment arena. He made history as the first American News Anchor to go to space, participating in the Blue Origin spacecraft launch. Strahan is a committed philanthropist, donating his hands and heart to numerous charities including the USO, HELP USA, and Merging Vets and Players. Heralded for his highly sought-after perspective, Strahan talks about his storied career, how to overcome self-doubt to pursue your passion, and ‘Strahan’s Rules’ – a mix of mental discipline, positive thinking, and a sense of play – making a major impact with individuals and organizations.

A TIME staff writer and columnist for nearly two decades, Joel Stein provides insights on today's political climate and cultural moment, and the ways in which we can get disparate-- and often disagreeing-- groups to come together. He's also been a columnist for Men’s Health, Entertainment Weekly, and the Los Angeles Times. Stein is the author of Man Made: A Stupid Quest for Masculinity and In Defense of Elitism: Why I'm Better Than You and You're Better Than Someone Who Didn't Buy This Book. A former lecturer at Princeton, Stein’s presentations are informative yet lighthearted explorations of America’s culture wars. 

Sought-out to speak and moderate everywhere from Ted to Google to college campuses nationwide, Stein customizes his remarks for every audience, infusing them with his sense-of-humor and unique ability to bring unexpected-- and fascinating-- details to light. His past hosts include Politicon, LA Live Talks, and more.

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

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

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

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.

Famed actor, comedian, musician, and Hollywood producer Craig Robinson is known for fan-favorite roles on some of the most beloved TV comedies. Before he decided to pursue a career in comedy full-time, Robinson was a K-8 teacher in the Chicago Public School System. While earning his master’s in education from St. Xavier University, Craig fell in love with acting and comedy, and joined the prestigious Second City Theatre. He is best known for his portrayal of Darryl Philbin on The Office, Doug “The Pontiac Bandit” Judy on Brooklyn Nine-Nine, and for starring in his very own sitcom, Mr. Robinson on NBC. Robinson hosted the reality show The Masked Dancer from 2020-21, and currently is the star and Executive Producer of the Peacock series Killing It. With his unlimited wit and sense of comedy, Robinson engages audiences with programs including a live musical show, moderated conversation, and can also host unforgettable events.

Robinson first made his mark in the comedy circuit at the 1998 Montreal “Just For Laughs” Festival, and now headlines venues and festivals across the country. He does both solo acts as well as full-band sets with his band, The Nasty Delicious, bringing musical hilarity to every event. He has starred in such movies as Knocked Up, This Is The End, Hot Tub Time Machine, Dolemite Is My Name!, Mona Lisa and the Blood Moon, and voicing characters in Shrek Forever After and The Bad Guys, among many others, and earned a nomination for an Independent Spirit Award for his performance in Morris from America.

John Rich is an American dream chaser. Armed with confidence, ambition and determination, John Rich is a multi-platinum hit generator, lifestyle-brand entrepreneur, and host of The Pursuit! with John Rich on Fox Business Network. John speaks with authority on entrepreneurism, the music industry, politics, current events, and the importance of family and God.

Whether through a raucous party anthem or a sober reflection on hard times in the heartland, Rich’s ability to capture the American zeitgeist in song has made him one of the most successful and prolific entertainers in the music business today. John is a 3 time consecutive ASCAP Songwriter of the Year winner and has penned over 2,000 songs in his career. In 2011, Rich impressed Donald Trump and American TV audiences with his business acumen and leadership skills, winning NBC’s The Celebrity Apprentice and raising $1.5 million for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Rich is the founder of a national lifestyle brand called "Redneck Riviera" which celebrates 'Work hard, play hard' Americans. The brand boasts a successful national whiskey, Redneck Riviera Whiskey, a beef jerky line and a full-blown honky-tonk on the famed Lower Broadway in Nashville, Tennessee, with several more set to open across the US. The Redneck Riviera brand supports Folds of Honor and has now funded over 100 college scholarships for kids who have lost a parent in combat.

In addition to hosting his own show, Rich makes regular appearances on such top-rated shows such as the Today Show, Good Morning America, Fox News Channel’s The Five, Hannity, Fox and Friends and many more.

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 the host Disney+’s Hungry for Answers, a 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.

Recognized as one of The Root’s 100 Most Influential African Americans and a Nashville Business Journal 40 Under 40 honoree, Williams is celebrated for her ability to move seamlessly between page, stage, and screen. Caroline has appeared on MS NOW’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) 

Dean Obeidallah is a lawyer turned writer, national radio host, award-winning comedian and activist countering bigotry and misconceptions about Muslims and race in America. Obeidallah uses comedy, personal anecdotes, and myth-busting to share his experience of growing up as a ‘white person’, with all the benefits of white privilege, until 9/11 – when he lost his privilege and became an activist against Islamophobia. He is the co-creator of the annual New York Arab American Comedy Festival, as well as Stand Up for Peace, an event that brings Jews and Muslims together to laugh. Obeidallah also co-directed and co-produced the comedy documentary The Muslims are Coming! to combat anti-Muslim bigotry. He hosts the national radio program ‘The Dean Obeidallah Show’ for SiriusXM, and is a weekly contributor to MSNBC.com, CNN.com, and The Daily Beast, as well as the host of Salon.com’s Salon Talks, an interview show highlighting his unique perspective on politics and pop culture.

Obeidallah has appeared on MSNBC’s The Reid Out, as well as other MSNBC programs, ABC’s Good Morning America and The View, and numerous programs on CNN. His funny and informative standup has been featured on Comedy Central’s Axis of Evil, Comics Unleashed, and The Nightly Show. Obeidallah is both funny and informative, revealing our biases by being the living manifestation of the concept that in America, “race is a social construct.

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.

Tyler Oakley is an independent creator on YouTube, one of the largest digital platforms to date. With over 7.5M+ subscribers on YouTube and over 23M+ across his social media platforms, he has been established as one of the most influential LGBTQ+ vloggers and is an A-Lister in the digital age. Tyler’s videos are hilarious, engaging, and unapologetically personal. With an undying love for all things pop culture, his quick wit, and an innate sassiness, Tyler is immediately lovable and undeniably viral. Tyler and his best friend Korey Kuhl launched Psychobabble, a weekly podcast discussing "unfiltered gossip" and untold stories and it has gone to number one in the iTunes podcast chart, while the duo also placed 3rd on season 28 of The Amazing Race. He also completed 30 stops of his international Slumber Party themed tour, was on the New York Times Bestseller List for 11 consecutive weeks for his book Binge, and released his much anticipated documentary, SNERVOUS.

Among his many accomplishments, Tyler has been a consultant for both the President and the First Lady of the United States on using digital platforms to connect with youth, raised over $1M for The Trevor Project, has been nominated and won Teen Choice Awards, Streamy Awards, Shorty Awards, and a Webby! With extensive experience hosting red carpets (i.e., Grammy Awards, the Vanity Fair Oscar Party, Kids Choice Awards, mtvU Fandom Awards), and hosting award shows (The Streamy Awards), he's got plenty of behind-the-scenes Hollywood stories to share. Tyler was also named one of Time Magazine’s 30 Most Influential People on the Internet, was considered one of Time Magazine's Next Generation Leaders, and was included in The Hollywood Reporter’s Top 25 Digital Stars list two years in a row and on this year’s Forbes 30 Under 30 list & OUT Magazine's Power 50 list.

Emmy-Nominated Celebrity Chef Jeff Mauro was born and raised in Chicago where he was determined from an early age to become the funniest chef in the world. After years spent cooking in restaurants, graduating with honors from Culinary School, and performing on stage, he landed himself on Season 7 of the hit show Food Network Star. He ultimately won the competition by combining his passions for cooking with comedy and landed his own series, the Emmy-nominated Sandwich King. After five successful seasons to date, he was tapped by the Food Network to also co-host the hit daytime show, 4 time Emmy-nominated The Kitchen, now in it’s 28th season.  His new Prime Time Game Show Kitchen Crash premiers in January and his long-awaited cookbook Come on Over releases April 13^th.    

Jeff is also the proud creator of Mauro Provision, a new brand providing the world with all the foods Jeff and his family grew up loving, eating and cooking. He has been a guest co-host of The Today Show and featured on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, Steve Harvey, Good Morning America, CBS This Morning, Chopped, and Beat Bobby Flay among many others. He also hosts the hit weekly podcast Come on Over with his little sister Emily.   

He still lives “in the same damn neighborhood he grew up in” with his wife Sarah, his son Lorenzo & their two dogs JoJo & Pinot G. His favorite color is Pastrami and his favorite smell is meat smoke.  

Internationally recognized chef, TV personality, author, and entrepreneur Matty Matheson has been breaking barriers since his cooking debut back in 2003. He has authored back-to-back New York Times bestselling cookbooks, Matty Matheson: A Cookbook and Home Style Cookery. After achieving fame as host of the cooking shows Dead Set on Life and It's Suppertime! on Viceland, Matheson decided to launch his self-produced, wildly successful YouTube series Just A Dash. A celebrity chef for the digital age, Matty has cemented his place as a heavyweight in the YouTube ecosystem, amassing over 100M views. Whether he’s engaging your audience in a captivating fireside chat, or leading the audience through a high-energy cooking demo, Matheson generates buzz and brings positivity, humor, and cogent business advice to every event.

In addition to five highly successful restaurants, Matheson has leveraged his brand awareness into partnerships with RVCA, cookware manufacturer Castor Design, food company McCain Canada, and launched Rosa Rugosa – a clothing line centered around durable, well-fitted, and Canadian-made workwear. Matty also played a major role in the hit FX series The Bear – serving as co-producer, culinary lead, and playing a small roll not as a chef, but a beleaguered handyman. A recent New York Times profile described Matheson as “an irresistible – and unexpected – celebrity” and Fast Company’s glowing profile was titled “How Matty Matheson is not-so-quietly building the indie food-media empire we all need.” In high-octane motivational events, Matheson shares his insights which represent a case study in discipline, brand-awareness, and impeccable entrepreneurial instincts.

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.

Celebrity chef and cultural icon Emeril Lagasse is a beloved staple of American food culture. Lagasse has hosted more than 2,000 shows on the Food Network and was a food correspondent for ABC’s Good Morning America. He is the eponymous star of Amazon’s original series Eat the World with Emeril Lagasse, which received five daytime Emmy nominations and won the “Outstanding Culinary Program” category. Lagasse has appeared as a guest judge in five seasons of Bravo’s hit food series, Top Chef, and two seasons of Top Chef, Jr. Lagasse is the New York Times bestselling author of 19 cookbooks, including his most recent: Essential Emeril: Favorite Recipes and Hard-Won Wisdom from My Life in the Kitchen. Lagasse is the chef/proprietor of nine restaurants. Lagasse’s unmatched culinary and media empire had endowed him with a wide breadth of stories, experiences, and dishes, entertaining any audience that loves to eat.

Outside of the kitchen, Lagasse is a profound philanthropist. In 2002, Lagasse established the Emeril Lagasse Foundation to support children’s educational programs that inspire and mentor young people through culinary arts, nutrition, healthy eating, and important life skills. To date, the Foundation has distributed over $18M in grants benefitting children’s charities in New Orleans, Las Vegas and on the Gulf Coast. Lagasse was named the “Humanitarian of the Year” by the James Beard Foundation. Lagasse is not only a business mastermind, but a kind, warm, and humble hospitality professional dedicated to providing the best possible experience to those around him.

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.

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

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

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

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

World-class chef and television host and author Robert Irvine is a dedicated advocate for veteran’s issues. A veteran of the British Royal Navy, Robert learned to cook for a huge numer of people under intense pressure. The experience served him well when he took the Food Network by storm with his first show, Dinner: Impossible. His hit show Restaurant: Impossible has filmed twenty one seasons and Robert is the author of four cookbooks. His most recent book, Overcoming Impossible: Learn to Lead, Build a Team, and Catapult Your Business to Success is a one-of-a-kind guide to achieving goals and finding success in business and in life.

In addition to being a world-class chef, business leader, and fitness authority, Robert seeks to inspire people to live better through all his endeavors. A tireless supporter of our veterans, he gives back to those who defend our freedoms. He created the Robert Irvine Foundation to support wounded servicemen and their families and he frequently tours with the USO, visiting our troops around the globe. For his efforts, he has been named an Honorary Chief Petty Officer of the U.S. Navy and received the Medal of Honor Society’s Bob Hope Award for Excellence in Entertainment and the U.S. Department of the Army Outstanding Civilian Service Award.

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.

Pulitzer-winning playwright, author and Tony-winning musician Quiara Alegría Hudes offers audiences the opportunity to hear untold stories. Her memoir, My Broken Language, is a lyrical exploration of coming of age against the backdrop of a Philadelphia barrio, with her sprawling Puerto Rican family as a collective muse. Hudes won the Pulitzer Prize in Drama for her play Water by the Spoonful. She wrote the script for Tony Award-winning In the Heights, a Broadway play adapted into a major motion picture, in collaboration with Lin Manuel Miranda. The accompanying book, In the Heights: Finding Home, is a New York Times bestseller. Hudes’ screenplay for Netflix, Vivo, is her animation debut. As an essayist, she has written for The Nation, The Washington Post, The New York Times, and more. Her debut novel The White Hot demonstrates her range and command as a writer. She is one of the most innovative artists of this generation, expanding the boundaries of storytelling.

Hudes’ material impact as an activist is as strong as her cultural influence as a writer. Hudes and her cousin founded Emancipated Stories, a nonprofit helping people behind bars share one page of their life story with the world. Hudes’ accolades include the USA Artists Fellowship, the Lucille Lortel Award, the HOLA Award, and more. Her work uplifting marginalized communities, sharing often untold stories, and creating brilliant art captivates audiences worldwide. Hudes has been invited to speak for centers of creative innovation such as Vanderbilt University, Americans for the Arts, Google, and more.

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.

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.

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

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

Acclaimed actress Beanie Feldstein has made a name for herself has one of her generation’s most talented performers. Feldstein is known for her breakout roles in the Academy Award-nominated Lady Bird, and her Golden Globe-nominated performance in Booksmart. Additional film credits include A24’s The Humans, adapted from the four-time Tony Award-winning play of the same name, How to Build a Girl, and the upcoming untitled Ethan Coen film from Working Title and Focus Features. Feldstein is also starring in Richard Linklater’s ambitious adaptation of Merrily We Roll Along, which will film over the next 18 years. On television, she starred as Monica Lewinsky in FX’s American Crime Story: Impeachment, for which she also served as a producer, and voiced the title character in Apple TV+’s Harriet the Spy. Lauded for charismatic and compelling performances, Feldstein shares her journey to stardom, as well as insights about creativity and the arts, in sought-after conversations.

Beyond her work in film and television, Feldstein made her Broadway debut in the award-winning revival of Hello, Dolly! in a performance that Vogue wrote, “instantly punctuates the production with joy and whimsy.” She starred in the long-awaited Broadway revival of Funny Girl, receiving critical and popular acclaim, including a Drama League Award nomination. In speaking engagements with audiences across industries, Feldstein brings her trademark blend of grace and humor, making each event a memorable one.

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.

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.

Chef, cookbook author and TV personality Scott Conant brings a deft touch and unwavering passion to creating culinary experiences with thoughtful hospitality and soulful cuisine. He is the chef and owner of The Americano, Mora Italian and Cellaio. Conant has published three cookbooks, including the acclaimed Bold Italian, and is a regular judge on Food Network’s Chopped, host of the spinoff series Chopped Sweets, and frequent co-host on Beat Bobby Flay. 

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. 

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

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

Celebrated chef, author, and two-time Emmy-winning TV personality Kardea Brown is a contemporary Southern cook who shares mouthwatering recipes and insights about cooking, culture, and coming together. She is the host of Food Network’s Delicious Miss Brown, her eponymous show, as well as Cupcake Championship and The Great Soul Food Cook-Off. Brown is of Gullah/Geechee descent, a term used to describe a distinct group of African Americans living in the coastal areas of South Carolina and Georgia who have managed to preserve much of their West African language, culture, and cuisine. Brown is the creator of the pop-up restaurant and social destination New Gullah Supper Club, where the menu pays homage to the dishes her grandmother and mother passed down to her.

Brown has appeared on Beat Bobby Flay, Chopped Junior, Cooks vs. Cons, Family Food Showdown, and Farmhouse Rules. She has released her first cookbook, The Way Home: A Celebration of Sea Islands Food and Family with over 100 Recipes, which is already the #1 New Release in Amazon’s ‘African Cooking, Food and Wine’ category and #1 in the ‘Soul Food Cooking, Food and Wine’ category. Brown’s engaging and interactive events are sought-after for memorable programming for audiences of all kinds.

Culinary personality, entrepreneur, and Gen Z social media influencer Eitan Bernath is best known for his viral cooking videos on social media showcasing his captivating presentation style. The multifaceted entertainer debuted on the first ever kid’s episode of the Food Network’s Chopped and has since amassed 6M+ followers across his social media empire. Bernath is also the Principal Culinary Contributor for The Drew Barrymore Show on CBS as the first TikTok star to expand into a recurring role on daytime television. His popular debut cookbook, Eitan Eats The World: New Comfort Classics to Cook Right Now, built on his work as a contributor to The Washington Post, Food & Wine, Saveur, and Delish. Eitan helps audiences of all kinds lean into what makes them unique, identify their passion, and leave them with the tools and inspiration to pursue their goals.  

A pioneer in digital media and content development, Eitan Bernath is the CEO of Eitan Productions, the eponymous entertainment studio overseeing his media ventures. Heralded as a master of quick-cut content, he has been profiled by nearly every prominent media outlet in the country including Vanity Fair, Forbes, and more. His brand partners include Walmart, PayPal, Whole Foods Market, DoorDash, Spotify, TikTok, and KitchenAid. With his entertaining delivery across platforms, Bernath can connect to any audience that likes to eat. Tastewise's CMO, Jacques Botbol, described his keynote speech at the Tastewise Generative AI Food Pioneer’s Summit as “a masterpiece of adaptability, charisma, and professionalism that left an indelible mark.”

Sociopolitical comedian, Emmy- and Peabody-winning producer, and New York Times bestselling author W. Kamau Bell is a revered cultural commentator, using hilarity and profound insight to illuminate today’s biggest issues – and where we can go from here. He is the host and executive producer of the Emmy Award-winning CNN docuseries United Shades of America with W. Kamau Bell, in which he explores communities across America to understand the unique challenges they face. Kamau is known for his Netflix stand-up comedy special Private School Negro, his one-man show The W. Kamau Bell Curve: Ending Racism in About an Hour, and his FX & FXX comedy series Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell. His first book, The Awkward Thoughts of W. Kamau Bell: Tales of a 6' 4", African American, Heterosexual, Cisgender, Left-Leaning, Asthmatic, Black and Proud Blerd, Mama's Boy, Dad, and Stand-Up Comedian, is a humorous, well-informed take on the world today from “the most promising new talent in political comedy in many years” (The New York Times). Kamau is the co-author of the New York Times bestseller Do the Work!: An Anti-Racist Activity Book, with Kate Schatz. In sought-after talks, Kamau leverages humor as a tool for transformative conversations.

Kamau serves on the advisory boards of Right To Be (formerly Hollaback!), Donors Choose, and is an ACLU Artist Ambassador. He’s been nominated for multiple NAACP Image Awards, a GLAAD award, and has been featured on Conde Nast’s “Daring 25” list. He has hosted three critically acclaimed podcasts: Kamau Right Now!, Politically Re-Active, and Denzel Washington is The Greatest Actor of All Time Period. Kamau is the director of the critically acclaimed documentary Cultureshock: Chris Rock’s Bring the Pain, and is the director and producer of the four-time Emmy-nominated docuseries We Need to Talk About Cosby. Kamau tackles some of the nation's most longstanding complex issues in accessible and empowering talks for audiences of all kinds.

Sam Anderson is an award-winning journalist, cultural critic, and author of the highly acclaimed book Boom Town: The Fantastical Saga of Oklahoma City, Its Chaotic Founding, Its Apocalyptic Weather, Its Purloined Basketball Team, and the Dream of Becoming a World-Class Metropolis. He is a staff writer for The New York Times Magazine, where he has written portraits of athletes, artists, and odd places all over the world, including Mount Rushmore and a Charles Dickens theme park. Anderson’s debut book Boom Town was heralded as one of the best books for the year by NPR, the Chicago Tribune, the San Francisco Chronicle, The Economist, and more. In a note to the staff of New York Magazine, then-editor Adam Moss described Anderson as “a fearless and committed writer and thinker.” NBA Hall of Famer Bill Walton has called him “a visionary artist who sees what others can’t… our guide to a better tomorrow.” Anderson engages audiences with cultural commentary and insights about creativity.

His work has appeared in The Paris Review, New York Magazine, Christian Science Monitor, Slate, The Oxford American, and has also been included in numerous “Best American Writing” anthologies. Anderson has been a finalist for the National Magazine Award three times – including in 2017, when his article David’s Ankles won the National Magazine Award for Essays and Criticism.

Cristela Alonzo is a trailblazing comedian, actress, writer, and producer who uses laughter as a tool for connection and truth. She made history as the first Latina to create, write, and star in her own network sitcom Cristela and later brought her voice to millions as Cruz Ramirez in Disney Pixar’s Cars 3. Her acclaimed Netflix specials Lower Classy and Middle Classy showcase her unique blend of humor and storytelling, with a new special, Upper Classy, recently released. She is a masterful storyteller, as evidenced by her bestselling memoir full of humor and heart, Music to My Years: A Mixtape-Memoir of Growing Up and Standing Up. In her podcast To Be Continued, Cristela’s stories range from the ridiculous to the sobering and have also been shared in interviews on NPR , the Chicago Tribune and It's Been A Minute With Sam Sanders. Cristela is also a dedicated advocate for a variety of philanthropies focused on immigration, citizenship, economic opportunity.

On stage, Alonzo moves seamlessly from sharp comedy to powerful reflection, sharing stories shaped by her experience as a first-generation Mexican American. She invites audiences to see both the challenges and the possibilities of today’s world, sparking conversations that linger long after the applause. Known for her authenticity and warmth, Alonzo brings people together through humor, insight, and a message of resilience that resonates across generations.

Afua Hirsch is an award-winning writer, broadcaster and former barrister known for her work on culture, social justice, identity and anti-racism. She is the founder of Born in Me, a TV and film production company which creates scripted and non-scripted television documentaries, dramas, and podcasts, with a focus on compelling storytelling that has authenticity and purpose. Afua is the presenter of the BBC series African Rising and Enslaved, the 6-part series about the transatlantic slave trade with Samuel L Jackson, as well as a podcast series for Audible. She was creative chair of the 2022 Edinburgh TV Festival, the most prestigious TV event in the UK. She currently hosts the podcast series LEGACY for Wondery. In sought-after keynote speeches and moderated conversations, Hirsch delves into how communities and organizations can explore identity and find belonging.

A journalist for more than twenty years, Afua began writing for the Voice Newspaper – Britain’s oldest black newspaper – as a teenager in the mid 1990’s. Since then she has been a senior Guardian correspondent, Sky News editor, and regularly writes for publications including the New York Times, Time Magazine, American and British Vogue, where she is a contributing editor. In 2019, she became the Wallis Annenberg Chair of Journalism at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, where she teachers graduate students on international reporting. Afua’s bestselling book Brit(ish): On Race, Identity and Belonging is the winner of the Royal Society of Literature Jerwood Prize. Her other books include Equal to Everything, about the UK Supreme Court, and Empire: Look Again. Her fourth book Decolonising My Body was published in 2023. Afua holds a degree from Oxford University, and honorary doctorates from London’s South Bank University and The University of Oxford Brookes. She has been voted one of the ten most influential black people in the UK and the 100 most influential people of African descent in the world. Hirsch regularly receives rave reviews, such as: “It all went fantastically well! Afua was really inspiring and generous with her time, we have received lots of excellent feedback on her keynote speech.” (Transport for London)

www.afuahirsch.com

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

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

Amanda Montell is a New York Times-bestselling author and iHeart Radio Award-winning podcaster. Her nonfiction books include Cultish, Wordslut, and The Age of Magical Overthinking—an instant New York Times Bestseller and Indie Bestseller. Montell’s books have been praised by The Atlantic, The Economist, NPR, Kirkus Reviews, and others. Her podcast Sounds Like A Cult was named a best podcast of 2022 by Vulture, Esquire, and Marie Claire and won the 2023 iHeart Radio Award for Best Emerging Podcast. Her newest podcast, Magical Overthinkers, premiered in May 2024 and landed on both Apple and Spotify’s charts of the Top 10 Society & Culture podcasts in the USA. Montell shares her research to give audiences a new approach to handling stress, anxiety, and overthinking that can provide a positive, refreshing new perspective.

Amanda’s writing has been published in The New York Times, The Guardian, Esquire, Harper’s Bazaar, and elsewhere. Speaking about her work, she has appeared in documentary series including Netflix’s How to Become A Cult Leader and Vice TV’s True Believers. Montell has delighted audiences at The Strand, the LA Times Festival of Books, the Live Wire Radio Festival, the Books in Bloom Festival, and many more.

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.

Pulitzer Prize-winning author and scholar of African American life and culture Dr. Marcia Chatelain helps organizations respond to and solve the challenges that confront them. Dr. Chatelain was a Reach for Excellence Assistant Professor of Honors and African American Studies at the University of Oklahoma in Norman, and is currently a Professor of History and African American Studies at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. She also served on the Georgetown University Working Group on Slavery, Memory, and Reconciliation, and is a renowned voice on universities, slavery, and reparations. Her first book, South Side Girls: Growing up in the Great Migration, reimagines the mass exodus of Black Southerners to the urban North from the perspective of girls and teenage women. Dr. Chatelain uses her deep background and experience as a facilitator to help organizations create practical strategies to achieve their goals.

Dr. Chatelain won a 2021 Pulitzer Prize for her book, Franchise: The Golden Arches in Black America, which examines the intersection of the post-1968 Civil Rights struggle and the rise of the fast-food industry. Franchise was chosen as a New York Times Critics’ Top 10 Book, and received the Hagley Prize for Best Book in Business History, the Organization of American Historians’ Lawrence W. Levine Award, as well as the James Beard Award. Her latest book, How Bright the Path Grows: The Untold Story of the Women Who Made the March on Washington shares the untold story of the women who attended the 1963 March on Washington during the civil rights movement. She was a 2019 Andrew Carnegie Fellow, and was named a Top Influencer in Higher Education by the Chronicle of Higher Education in recognition of her curation of #FergusonSyllabus, a response to the crisis in Ferguson, Missouri in 2014. She also serves as a consultant for many media outlets including The Atlantic, C-Span, MS NOW, CNN, and BBC America. Dr. Chatelain has offered her insights about the many ways history impacts our present and shapes our future in sought-after events with groups like St. Olaf College, Creative Mornings, The Aspen Institute, the Smithsonian Institution, A&E Networks, and more.

Award-winning wordsmith, change-maker, and #1 New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestseller Amanda Gorman is the youngest inaugural poet in U.S. history. Amanda began writing at only a few years of age and has become one of the most recognizable poets in the world. A committed advocate for the environment, racial equality, and gender justice, her activism and poetry have been featured on The Today Show, PBS Kids, and CBS This Morning, and in the New York Times, Vogue, and Essence. Amanda has performed multiple commissioned poems for CBS This Morning, and she has spoken at events and venues across the country, including the Library of Congress and Lincoln Center.

Amanda has appeared on the cover of TIME, was the first poet to grace the cover of Vogue, was one of 5 Variety Power of Women honorees and cover star, as well one of 3 cover stars for Glamour's Women of the Year. She has received a Genius Grant from OZY Media, is the recipient of the Poets & Writers Barnes & Noble Writers for Writers Award, and is the youngest board member of 826 National, the largest youth writing network in the United States.

Amanda is the author of the special edition of her inaugural poem The Hill We Climb, as well as the poetry collection Call Us What We Carry and the children’s book Change Sings, all debuting at #1 on New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestseller lists. She's authored two other children’s books since, Someday, Something, and Girls On the Rise. Amanda’s profound and uplifting remarks ensure an unforgettable experience for her audience.

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.

Anna Wintour is one of the most influential leaders in modern media. For more than thirty years, she has led Vogue and Condé Nast, demonstrating an uncommon ability to read the cultural and commercial moment. As a speaker, Ms. Wintour talks from the vantage point of someone who has spent decades making consequential decisions and steadying institutions through disruption.

Her name signals authority and discernment. That judgment extended beyond publishing, transforming the Met Gala into a global philanthropic engine and raising more than $400 million for the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Her work also spans public health and philanthropy, including long-standing advocacy in the fight against HIV and AIDS, recognized by the American Foundation for AIDS Research, and her role as Co-Founder of the Center for Youth Mental Health.

Wintour’s influence has been recognized at the highest levels internationally. She has received a damehood from Queen Elizabeth II, been appointed a Companion of Honour by King Charles III, awarded France’s Légion d’Honneur by President Nicolas Sarkozy, and honored with the CFDA Lifetime Achievement Award.

Audiences hear from a voice whose experience is singular and whose influence has defined how modern media operates at scale.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt has spent his career moving between Hollywood and the internet, long before most people saw those worlds colliding. Known for performances in Inception, 500 Days of Summer, and Snowden, he built a parallel path as a director, writer, and founder, always focused on how technology shapes creative work.

As the founder of HITRECORD, Gordon-Levitt has been experimenting for over a decade with collaborative creation online, inviting artists from around the world to contribute to shared projects. That early work now sits at the center of a much bigger conversation. As artificial intelligence reshapes how content is made, who owns it, and what it means to be creative, his perspective feels unusually grounded. 

On stage, Gordon-Levitt explores what AI means for artists, storytellers, and organizations trying to create in a rapidly shifting landscape. He speaks to the tension between efficiency and originality, the value of human contribution, and the risks of losing creative ownership in systems designed to scale. His sessions are especially resonant for audiences thinking about how to adopt new tools without flattening the very creativity that drives their work.

Pulitzer Prize-winner Stacy Schiff is the author of multiple award-winning bestsellers and an acclaimed historian. The Wall Street Journal called her “perhaps the most seductive writer of nonfiction prose in America in our time.” Her book The Witches: Suspicion, Betrayal, and Hysteria in 1692 Salem was hailed by The New York Times as “an almost novelistic, thriller-like narrative.” Joseph Ellis deemed Schiff’s the finest account to date of the witch trials; David McCullough declared the book “brilliant from start to finish.” Schiff’s #1 bestseller Cleopatra: A Life was published to great acclaim – it appeared on numerous year-end “Best Book” lists, including The New York Times “Top Ten Books of 2010,” has been translated into more than 30 languages, and won the PEN/Jacqueline Bograd Weld Award for Biography. She is the author of Pulitzer Prize-winner Véra (Mrs. Vladimir Nabokov), Pulitzer Prize finalist Saint-Exupéry: A Biography, and A Great Improvisation: Franklin, France, and the Birth of America, winner of the George Washington Book Prize. All New York Times Notable Books. Apple TV produced a TV series based on A Great Improvisation starring Michael Douglas. In engaging moderated conversations Schiff captivates audiences with her power as a storyteller, drawing connections between the past and the most important issues today.

Schiff has received fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation and the National Endowment for the Humanities and was a Director’s Fellow at the Cullman Center for Scholars and Writers at the New York Public Library. Among other honors, she was named a 2011 Library Lion by the New York Public Library, a Boston Public Library Literary Light in 2016, and in 2017 received the Lifetime Achievement Award in History and Biography from the New England Historic Genealogical Society. She received the 2019 Peggy V. Helmerich Distinguished Author Award. In 2018 she was named a Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French Ministry of Culture. Awarded a 2006 Academy Award in Literature from the American Academy of Arts and Letters, she was inducted into the Academy in 2019. Schiff has written for The New Yorker, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The New York Review of Books, The Times Literary Supplement, and The Los Angeles Times, among many other publications. Her most recent book, The Revolutionary: Samuel Adams, is already a bestselling revelatory biography, and Ron Chernow has hailed it as “a glorious book that is as entertaining as it is vitally important” and The Wall Street Journal declared it a "tour de force."

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.

Ben Affleck is an Academy Award winner who has been widely recognized for his work as a director, actor, writer and producer. During his impressive and long-running career, he has appeared in iconic projects spanning all genres including Argo, Gone Girl, and Good Will Hunting, and he has played Batman in several films within the comic franchise.  Affleck has been honored with some of the entertainment industry's highest awards, including the Oscar, BAFTA, Golden Globe and Screen Actor's Guild awards for the span of his work both in front of and behind the camera.

A cultural architect whose storytelling, creativity, and unmatched musical insight inspire audiences to reimagine the power of art, history, and innovation.

As musical director of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and the heartbeat of The Roots, Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson is a singular cultural force whose dynamic career as an Academy Award-winning filmmaker, six-time Grammy-winning musician, bestselling author, and thought-leading creative visionary makes him one of the most compelling public speakers of our time.

Questlove bridges art, history, and innovation in every endeavor, from directing the Oscar- and BAFTA-winning documentary Summer of Soul to producing powerful cultural narratives like Sly Lives! and Descendant. With a deep knowledge of music, storytelling, and Black history, and an uncanny ability to connect with audiences of all kinds, Questlove inspires conversations around creativity, equity, cultural preservation, and the power of artistic expression. Whether addressing leaders, students, or creatives, Questlove offers a rare blend of insight, humor, and authenticity that leaves a lasting impact.

Former record label co-founder and change agent Mike Muse is a pop culture and political expert who uses his platform to create social change. An industrial engineer turned media entrepreneur and tech entrepreneur, he is a co-Founder of LawChamps - advocates for access to justice, social, and legal reform. Mike is host of SiriusXM’s award-winning show, The Mike Muse Show, co-host of Sway in the Morning, and was recently named ABC News Contributor for ABC News Live and the Good Morning America family. Mike has given two TED Talks, and is in demand for his dynamic, funny, and insightful talks about policy as lifestyle and leveraging AI for social good.

Mike served as a member of President Barack Obama’s National Finance Committee and was appointed to serve in the United States Small Business Administration as My Brother’s Keeper Millennial Entrepreneurial Champion, as well as the U.S. SBA's Federal Commission for the Council of Underserved Communities as the Millennials in Business Representative. His passion is tech – the future of AI and algorithmic inclusion – and he is one of Google’s NextGen Tech Policy Fellows. In addition to speaking tours with Meta and Chevrolet, Mike has given numerous keynotes for Disney, Google, Verizon, Harvard Law School, and more.

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.

Award-winning CFDA designer Christian Siriano is a groundbreaking, ambitious, and fearless businessman. Known for whimsical and show-stopping design, the collection is shown each season at New York Fashion Week and sold in retailers across the globe. In 2012, the first flagship Christian Siriano store opened in NYC and his latest retail venture, “The Curated NYC”, was located in the heart of midtown. Siriano’s designs have been worn by current FLOTUS Dr. Jill Biden, former FLOTUS Michelle Obama, Angelina Jolie, Oprah, Zendaya, Ariana Grande, Julianne Moore, Lady Gaga, Tiffany Haddish, Billy Porter, Cardi B, Amy Adams, Scarlett Johansson, Whoopi Goldberg and Julia Roberts to name but a few. After serving as the Season Four winner and a subsequent mentor on Project Runway, he launched his own digital BRAVO talk show called So Siriano which saw him break down all things fashion and pop culture with guests ranging from Drew Barrymore, Leslie Jones, Billy Porter, Ashley Graham, and Sarah Michelle Gellar. With over a decade of fashion experience, Siriano’s work in the industry promotes celebrations of beauty, diversity, and change.

Siriano was named one of TIME’s "100 Most Influential People," Forbes “30 Under 30," and Crain's "40 Under 40" for his leading contributions to body diversity on the runway and red carpet. A designer, activist, and entrepreneur, Siriano brings his one-of-a-kind charisma to worldwide organizations for conversations about business, entrepreneurship, fashion, diversity, and the power of being your authentic self.

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.

A cultural icon and master raconteur, Kevin Smith rose to fame with his groundbreaking indie hit Clerks and has spent over two decades redefining comedy, fandom, and storytelling across film, television, books, and podcasts. Known for cult classics like Mallrats, Chasing Amy, Dogma, and Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back, Smith is more than a filmmaker—he's a multimedia powerhouse who connects deeply with audiences through humor, heart, and unfiltered honesty.

Outside the director’s chair, Smith has built a digital empire with his beloved SModcast podcast network, home to fan-favorite shows such as Hollywood Babble-On, Jay & Silent Bob Get Old, and Fat Man Beyond. He’s captivated live audiences around the world with his wildly popular Q&A tours, including An Evening with Kevin Smith and Too Fat for Forty, where his signature mix of sharp wit and personal candor take center stage.

When not getting bounced from planes, Fatty McNoFly has also written no less than three New York Times bestselling books: Tough Sh*t: Life Advice From a Fat, Lazy Slob Who Did Good, My Boring-Ass Life, and Batman: Cacophony - the latter of which was improved dramatically by Comic Book Man Walter Flanagan’s artwork. He’s also an accomplished comic book writer, having penned stories for both DC (Green Arrow) and Marvel (Daredevil), and created original titles based on his films and unproduced screenplays.

Smith’s authenticity, pop culture prowess, and hilarious storytelling make him a singular presence on stage. Whether unpacking Hollywood, geek culture, or his own personal transformation, Kevin Smith delivers unforgettable experiences that entertain, inspire, and leave audiences laughing long after the lights come up.

Comedian, actor, and musician Melissa Villaseñor makes a major impact on audiences with her uncanny impressions, personal stories, and hilarious insights. Best known for her groundbreaking work as the first-ever Latina cast member on Saturday Night Live, she got her start blowing audiences away with her expertise in comedic impressions as a semifinalist on America’s Got Talent. Villaseñor has since appeared on Comedians in Cars Drinking Coffee, Barry, and Crashing, and voiced characters for Toy Story 4 and Wreck It Ralph 2. She tours nationally, headlining clubs and theaters, and recently appeared on Netflix’s The Standups. The star is an exemplary storyteller, and she uses her comedic gifts to imitate celebrities and create characters, captivating crowds and leaving them doubled over with laughter in keynotes tailored to each audience.

Villaseñor has appeared on NBC’s The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, the PBS series Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates Jr., and hosts the podcast Laughing with Myself, on which she “discusses silly things and maybe sings and definitely does all the voices to make herself laugh alone.” She released her pop album Dreamer in 2019, and her upcoming workbook Whoops ... I’m Awesome, filled with personal stories, activities, prompts, and original art to help you embrace your most awesome self.  With her multifaceted talents and immense charisma, Villasenor is sure to make your next event a memorable one.

Musician, producer, actor, activist, and historian Steven Van Zandt is internationally recognized as one of the world’s foremost authorities on rock and roll. He is a Radio Hall of Fame nominee, member of the New Jersey Hall of Fame and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and is recognized internationally as one of the world’s foremost authorities on both Contemporary and Traditional Rock and Roll. After creating the “Jersey Shore” sound with the Asbury Jukes, he became a founding member of Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band. He is the founder of Renegade Nation, Renegade TV, and Wicked Cool Records, and launched the internationally syndicated radio show Little Steven’s Underground Garage and its “country cousin” Outlaw Country. As an actor, Van Zandt co-starred in The Sopranos – the single most critically acclaimed TV drama in history. Van Zandt has been called “the ultimate rock and roll rebel” (Real Time with Bill Maher), “the coolest DJ in the country” (MTV), and “the planet’s most charismatic, dedicated, and visible crusader scrapping to preserve the dirty purity of Rock ‘n Roll” (BruceSpringsteen.net).

Van Zandt has organized and performed for political causes for four decades. He created the Rock and Roll Forever Foundation to support music education and help inspire kids to stay in school. Van Zandt became the first Ambassador for the Ronald McDonald House Charity, and has received countless awards and honors, including the We are Family Foundation’s Humanitarian Award for his continued fight against racism. An epic presence of insightful commentary and contagious humor, Van Zandt says:  I do believe Rock and Roll can change the world.  It’s about bands, and that for me suggests brotherhood, family, friendship, and community.”

Hip-hop icon, DJ, and preacher Rev Run is one of the most iconic figures in music. The front man of seminal hip-hop group RUN DMC, Rev has sold tens of millions of records worldwide and is widely credited for ushering rap music into mainstream culture. An inductee of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, RUN DMC was named the greatest hip-hop artist of all-time by both MTV and VH1. Describing his considerable impact, Rolling Stone writes, “[Run] took hardcore hip-hop from an underground street sensation to a pop-culture phenomenon... In the process, [Run] helped change the course of popular music, paving the way for rap’s second generation.” A cultural icon, Run has been invited to countless corporate conferences and large-scale events as a motivational speaker and celebrity DJ.

Run remains a dynamic figure in entertainment today. He is the author of several books, is an ordained minister, and a beloved TV personality. His hit MTV show, Run’s House, aired for six seasons and became one of the most widely viewed shows on cable television. Run created and starred in Rev Run’s Sunday Suppers (Food Network), Rev Runs Around the World (Travel Channel), Rev Run’s Home Renovation (HGTV), and All About the Washingtons (Netflix). Most recently, Run starred in The Hip Hop Nutcracker (Disney+) and Disney’s Christmas Holiday Show (ABC Network). Run is in demand for his uplifting style, which resonates across audiences from Black History Month celebrations to mission-driven organizations to corporate clients looking to create an unforgettable experience.

Influential conservationist and model Freya Air Aspinall is the only woman in the world to go in with Silverback Gorillas. Freya is the daughter of Damian Aspinall, a prominent conservationist, businessman, and Chairman of internationally renowned animal conservation charity, The Aspinall Foundation. The Aspinall Foundation runs the most ambitious rewilding program in the world, rescuing over 600 animals to date. Championing this essential work, Freya is uniquely positioned to raise awareness about the importance of rewilding, the truth about zoos, and the welfare of animals in captivity.

Having already reached over 80M people worldwide on her social media platforms, Freya is determined to save as many wild animals as possible while inspiring her peers to do the same. As Freya shares in sought-after speaking engagements: ”I have lived with animals my whole life and have been able to develop completely natural relationships with them. No training, no taming – bonds built on pure love and trust. Wild animals belong in the wild and I will not rest until I have saved as many of them as possible.”

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.

Lily Kanter is a dynamic entrepreneur, conscious business leader, and inspiring voice at the intersection of meaning, purpose, and business success. As the co-founder of Serena & Lily, the iconic lifestyle and home brand known for its fresh take on American coastal design, Lily has built a career defined by innovation, integrity, and bold reinvention.

Before launching her own business, Lily spent 18 years in the corporate world — rising through the leadership ranks at Microsoft and Deloitte — where she honed the strategic, operational, and leadership skills that would later fuel her entrepreneurial success. Her story is one of vision, resilience, and conscious pivot: leaving the security of the corporate path to create something entirely her own.

Today, Lily speaks powerfully to audiences about the journey from success to significance — challenging leaders and entrepreneurs to think not just about what they build, but why they build it, and what legacy they will leave behind. She shares real-world insights into building purpose-driven businesses, fostering conscious leadership cultures, and embracing meaningful growth over empty achievement.

Lily's key speaking topics include:

• The intersection of meaning and purpose in business: how companies can drive profit while staying true to human values.

• Conscious business leadership: lessons on building companies that serve employees, communities, and customers with integrity.

• Women in business and leadership: inspiring stories and strategies to break barriers and lead with authenticity.

• Taking Success to Significance: shaping your personal and professional legacy.

• Pivoting with Purpose: how to leave the corporate world and create your own impactful path.

With her warm, candid style and proven track record, Lily Kanter leaves audiences not just inspired — but ready to lead with greater clarity, courage, and purpose.

Award-winning design veteran, podcaster, and author Mauro Porcini is PepsiCo’s first ever Chief Design Officer. Since joining the food & beverage corporation in 2012, Porcini has infused design thinking into PepsiCo’s culture and is leading a new approach to innovation by design that impacts the company’s product platforms and brands. Leading international teams, his focus extends from physical to virtual expressions of the brands – including fashion and art collaborations, retail activation, digital media, and beyond. He is the author of The Human Side of Innovation: The Power of People in Love with People, which focuses on innovation, design and leadership and was named a Gold Winner of the Better Future New York Design Award. Porcini offers insights from his journey across startups and multinational corporations for building high-impact brand and design efforts that put people first.

Prior to joining PepsiCo, Mauro served as the first ever Chief Design Officer at 3M, where his mission was to build and nurture a design sensitive culture in a technology driven global corporation. He is also the author of L’età dell’eccellenza: Come innovazione e creatività possono costruire un mondo migliore, which is in its fifth reprint, and hosts the successful video podcast In Your Shoes - with Mauro Porcini, where he interviews inspiring personalities from the creative community worldwide. Mauro has been a presenter and judge on CBS’ New York by Design and Amazon’s America by Design. He has been on the board of directors for several organizations, and currently serves as the President of the Politecnico of Milan Foundation in the United States (Fellows of Politecnico), sits on the board of directors of the Design Management Institute, and on the advisory council of other design, art, innovation, and business institutions.

Ryan Reynolds is one of Hollywood’s most diverse leading men seamlessly transitioning through varied genres of drama, action and comedy in his rich and ever evolving career.  He is equally as successful off-screen as a producer, screenwriter, entrepreneur, and marketing powerhouse.

He is the Golden Globe nominated star and producer of the 20th Century Fox billion-dollar franchise Deadpool.

Beyond acting, Reynolds is a successful entrepreneur and an award-winning marketer, creating breakthrough campaigns for Deadpool as well Aviation Gin, Mint Mobile and the Match Group. He is an owner of Aviation Gin, Mint Mobile, Wrexham Football Club, Chief Creative Officer of MNTN and a co-founder of Maximum Effort Productions. He has been recognized as one of the most creative people in business by Fast Company, The Hollywood Reporter, Wall Street Journal and AdWeek among others.

Reynolds is an in-demand speaker for engaging, insightful conversations about his storied career in Hollywood and significant business endeavors.

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.

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)

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 been inducted into the Team USA Hall of Fame. 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. 

Self-made mogul, CEO, and Founder Emma Grede is a groundbreaking and globally successful executive known for building incredible teams and beloved brands. Emma is the CEO and co-Founder of Good American, the first fully inclusive fashion brand that celebrates all dimensions of female power. She launched Good American alongside Khloé Kardashian and they engineered the largest denim launch in history. Their brand is now an iconic inclusive fashion line, and has expanded to ready-to-wear, swim, shoes, and activewear. Emma is also a founding partner of SKIMS, a solutions-oriented brand creating the next generation of underwear, loungewear, and shapewear, and co-Founder of Safely, the plant-powered cleaning brand delivering chemical-free cleaning products to the masses. Emma’s passion for bettering the world through socially responsible and conversation-advancing decisions is consistently reflected in the culture of her teams and the businesses she builds, and she shares her actionable insights in sought-after keynotes and conversations.

Emma is a recurring Shark on ABC’s critically acclaimed Shark Tank, making history as the first Black woman to serve as an investor on the show. She joins the upcoming season of the BBC's Dragons' Den, set to air in 2024. In March 2024, the first season of her Roku series, Side Hustlers, premiered as the #1 on-demand title on The Roku Channel, followed by season two in August 2024; also at #1. Grede co-hosts the show alongside Ashley Graham, where they help female entrepreneurs turn their side hustles into full-time careers. As an activist as well as an investor, Emma has used her wealth of experience to identify and invest in groundbreaking entrepreneurs and start-ups rooted in inclusivity, diversity, and sustainability. As the visionary behind the Aspire with Emma Grede podcast, Emma empowers audiences through transformative conversations with some of the world’s most successful minds: diving deep into the habits, mindset, and strategies that drive real success.

She was named one of “America’s Richest Self-Made Women” (2022 & 2023) and “America’s Richest Self-Made Women Under 40” by Forbes, and sits on the Glamour Women of the Year Advisory board. Emma serves as Chairwoman of the Fifteen Percent Pledge and also as a board member of Baby2Baby and Obama Foundation’s Board of Directors. As an immersive leader, she continues to advocate for inclusive representation across industries, while finding opportunities to foster real change. Emma’s leadership perspective is in-demand at notable events such as Forbes Women’s Power Summit, Hubspot INBOUND, MediaSlopes, Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business Summit, Stanford Black Leadership Conference, among others.

Author Laura Dave has written multiple bestselling books that capture the imaginations of readers by tapping into current events and timeless themes. Her novels have been published in twenty-three countries, and five have been optioned for film and television, boasting Hollywood’s biggest names as stars. Dave is the author of the instant New York Times #1 bestseller The Last Thing He Told Me, which was selected by Reese's Book Club, was named “Best Book of 2021” by Real Simple and Vogue, and spawned the 2026 sequel The Last Time I Saw Him. She is also the author of the critically acclaimed bestsellers Eight Hundred Grapes, The Divorce Party, The First Husband, Hello, Sunshine, London is the Best City in America, and appears consistently on “most-anticipated” and “best book” lists across mainstream publications. Dave writes and speaks with insight and candor about relationships, family, modern love, and hope, and her keynotes and conversations leave lasting impressions on audiences of all kinds.

Dave’s fiction and essays have been featured in The New York Times, The New York Observer, Redbook, Glamour, and The Huffington Post, among others. She has appeared on CBS’s The Early Show, FOX’s Fox & Friends, and NPR’s All Things Considered, and more. In 2008, Cosmopolitan named her a “Fun and Fearless Phenom of the Year.” A masterful storyteller, Dave inspires audiences to rewrite our own stories to overcome adversity, find strength, and fulfill our aspirations.

Chelsea Handler is a powerhouse entertainer who brings her razor-sharp wit and fearless perspective to every stage she steps on. In her Las Vegas residency Chelsea at The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan, Handler delivers electrifying, laugh-out-loud stand-up that captivates audiences with her unfiltered humor and magnetic energy. But she’s not just a comedian—Handler shines as a dynamic speaker, leading bold, no-topic-is-off-limits town hall events that ignite meaningful conversations about social activism, politics, and modern culture. Known for breaking barriers as the first woman to dominate late-night TV with Chelsea Lately and crafting globally acclaimed Netflix shows, Handler’s ability to blend humor with hard-hitting truths makes her a standout choice for any event. As the three-time Critics Choice Award host, Handler is an adept host and moderator. Whether she’s making audiences roar with laughter or inspiring them to take action, Handler guarantees an unforgettable, high-impact experience that leaves people buzzing.

Handler is a writer, comedian, producer, TV host, activist, and the author of seven consecutive New York Times bestsellers. She hosted the late-night talk show Chelsea Lately on the E! network from 2007 to 2014 and released a documentary series, Chelsea Does, on Netflix in January 2016. In 2016 and 2017, Handler hosted the talk show Chelsea on Netflix. Her Netflix comedy special, Revolution, was released in 2022 and is now streaming. Her beloved advice podcast, Dear Chelsea, is in its fifth season and her fourth stand-up special, The Feeling, was released by Netflix in 2025.

Handler’s best-selling books include My Horizontal Life (2005), Are You There, Vodka? It’s Me, Chelsea (2008), Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang (2010), Lies That Chelsea Handler Told Me (2011), and 2014’s Uganda Be Killing Me, and Life Will Be the Death of Me: . . . and you too! Her latest, the instant #1 New York Times bestseller I'll Have What She's Having, is an earnest exploration of the antic-filled, exhilarating, and joyful life she’s built.

Handler has been honored by TIME magazine as one of its annual “TIME 100”; Glamour magazine as one of its 2011 Women of the Year; and the Human Rights Campaign, which gave her its Ally for Equality Award in 2009. Handler’s wide appeal and multiplatform success have been highlighted by publications all over the world. 

Emmy and Peabody Award-winning filmmaker, literary scholar, and journalist Henry Louis Gates, Jr. is an acclaimed cultural critic and institution builder. Professor Gates is the Alphonse Fletcher University Professor and Director of the Hutchins Center for African & African American Research at Harvard University. Among his dozens of books are the recent New York Times bestsellers Stony the Road: Reconstruction, White Supremacy, and the Rise of Jim Crow and The Black Church: This Is Our Story, This Is Our Song. He has also produced and hosted an array of documentary films. The Black Church (PBS) and Frederick Douglass: In Five Speeches (HBO), which he executive produced, each received Emmy nominations. His latest history series for PBS is Making Black America: Through the Grapevine. Finding Your Roots, Gates’s groundbreaking genealogy and genetics series, is now in its tenth season on PBS. 

Professor Gates has received countless awards and honors, including a George Polk Award for his social commentary in The New York Times, a MacArthur Fellowship, the Chicago Tribune Literary Award for lifetime achievement, and the prestigious Gold Medal from the National Institute of Social Sciences, among many others. His filmmaking has received Emmy, Peabody, and NAACP Image Awards, as well as an Alfred I. duPont Columbia University Award. Recently, he the coveted Spingarn Medal from the NAACP. American Ancestors has dedicated a building to his groundbreaking work, the Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. Family Heritage Center in Boston. Professor Gates serves on the boards of many notable institutions, including: the New York Public Library, the Aspen Institute, the Brookings Institution, and is a member of the Council of Foreign Relations. A consummate scholar and esteemed public intellectual, Professor Gates is a highly sought-after keynote speaker for his riveting addresses to audiences of all kinds.

Kwame Onwuachi is a James Beard Award-winning chef, bestselling author, and visionary restaurateur redefining the future of American cuisine. Hailed as TIME’s “100 Most Influential People of 2025” and The San Francisco Chronicle’s “most important chef in America,” Onwuachi’s meteoric rise from cooking in his mother’s Bronx apartment to helming acclaimed restaurants like Tatiana and Dōgon reflects his dynamic storytelling through food rooted in the African Diaspora. He is author of the critically acclaimed memoir Notes from a Young Black Chef, which is currently being adapted into a feature film. A celebrated host of the James Beard Awards, executive producer for Food & Wine, and creator of the groundbreaking culinary event The Family Reunion, he’s also a cultural force across television, publishing, and fashion. With honors from Forbes, Esquire, and The New York Times, Onwuachi continues to shape the culinary landscape with boundary-breaking concepts and an unwavering commitment to diversity, heritage, and innovation.

Academy Award-winning actor, New York Times bestselling author, and philanthropist Matthew McConaughey is a force of nature both onscreen and in business. He has appeared in over 40 feature films that have grossed over $1B. McConaughey’s first book, Greenlights, became an instant #1 New York Times bestseller and has sold over 3M copies worldwide. His second book, a children’ book titled Just Because, also debuted as an instant #1 New York Times bestseller. In 2019, McConaughey became a professor of practice at the University of Texas at Austin, as well as Minister of Culture/M.O.C. for the University of Texas and the City of Austin. McConaughey is co-owner of The Austin FC Soccer Club, co-creator of his favorite bourbon, Wild Turkey Longbranch, and co-founder of tequila brand Pantalones. McConaughey is heralded for his constant career reinvention, inspiring audiences globally to chase their dreams.

An outspoken advocate for public education, McConaughey founded the just keep livin’ Foundation to impart students with the tools to lead active lives and make healthy choices for a better future through after school fitness programs. McConaughey has spoken on empowerment, education, and achievement to AMC, Credit Suisse, the Texas Apartment Association, and many more. In engagements equally empowering and entertaining, McConaughey shares lessons from his life and career, the impact of his philanthropic efforts, and the importance of following passion.

Toni Breidinger is the only woman competing full time across NASCAR’s national levels and, with more than 5 million followers, the most-followed driver in the sport. 

Racing at 180 miles per hour on weekends and partnering with luxury fashion house COACH off the track, Toni Breidinger embodies a modern duality NASCAR has never seen before. She began racing at nine years old and became the winningest female driver in U.S. Auto Club history with 19 victories before transitioning to stock cars. She entered NASCAR at 21 and now holds the record for the most Top 10 finishes by a woman in the ARCA Menards Series.

On stage, Breidinger speaks about performing under pressure, building a personal brand alongside elite competition, and staying focused when expectations are high. She gives audiences a behind-the-scenes look at preparation, precision, and the mindset required to compete at the highest level while growing influence in real time.

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

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

Short has been awarded the Order of Canada, a star on the Canadian Walk of Fame, and a Lifetime Artistic Achievement Award from the Governor-General of Canada. Short’s memoir, I Must Say: My Life as a Humble Comedy Legend, was a New York Times bestseller. With a career spanning stage, screen, and live performance, Short delivers an unforgettable experience that blends quick wit, heartfelt reflection, and the fearless comedy that made him a household name.

Tracee Ellis Ross is an award-winning actress, producer, founder, and CEO. Ross is a leader whose cultural fluency and skilled storytelling allow her to forge meaningful connections with audiences and customers alike.

For eight seasons, Ross starred in ABC's critically acclaimed comedy series BLACK-ISH, earning a Golden Globe Award, five NAACP Image Awards, and nominations for Emmy, Screen Actors Guild, and Critics Choice Awards for her portrayal of Dr. Rainbow Johnson. The series also won a Peabody Award. She also starred in the Emmy and GLAAD Award-nominated series GIRLFRIENDS for eight seasons, earning four NAACP Image Awards and a BET Comedy Award.

Ross is the owner, founder, and co-CEO of PATTERN Beauty, the global multimillion-dollar hair and body care brand she created for the curly, coily, and tight-textured community and everyBODY. The brand’s award-winning products are available at retailers including Amazon, Sephora, and Ulta Beauty. With PATTERN, Ross is changing how the textured hair community is marketed to and supported, celebrating Black beauty and joy while backing organizations that empower women and people of color.

Ross is currently in production for Season 2 of the Roku original series SOLO TRAVELING WITH TRACEE ELLIS ROSS, the platform’s most-watched unscripted original series. She serves as Executive Producer through her company Joy Mill Entertainment and recently announced a multiyear first-look deal with Fox Entertainment Studios.

Recently, Ross starred in THE FAMILY MCMULLEN on HBO Max and appeared in season 7 of Netflix’s BLACK MIRROR. She also appeared in the Oscar-winning drama AMERICAN FICTION and starred in Amazon’s CANDY CANE LANE, which became the most-watched Amazon movie debut in the U.S.

Ross is a powerful voice for joy, self-acceptance, inclusivity, and equity. She has spoken at prestigious venues including the TED Conference, where she made history as the first Black woman to open the event. Ross received honorary Doctorate degrees from Spelman College and Brown University.

New York Times bestselling author Jean Hanff Korelitz is known for crafting spellbinding plots across mediums, which keep audiences engaged and inspired. Korelitz is the author of the novels The Latecomer, You Should Have Known, which was adapted by HBO as The Undoing, Admission, which was made into a film, The Sabbathday River, A Jury of Her Peers, The White Rose, The Devil and Webster, and The Plot, a New York Times bestseller and Notable Book of 2021, as well as an Editor’s Pick on Amazon, and which is being adapted by Hulu to star two-time Oscar winner Mahershala Ali. She is the Founder of BOOKTHEWRITER, which hosts Pop-Up Book Groups for readers to discuss new books with their authors. Korelitz shares her expertise in storytelling, the creative experience, the writing process, as well as insights about the intersection of art and the human condition in compelling and memorable events.

Korelitz has appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, for which her novel The Plot was selected as the “Fallon Summer Read,” Zibby Owens’ podcast Mom’s Don’t Have Time to Read Books, and she has been featured in The Guardian, The Hollywood Reporter, The New York Times, which called The Plot her “most consequential book yet,” among others. She is also the author of Interference Powder, a novel for children, and a collection of poetry, The Properties of Breath. Korelitz and her husband, Irish poet Paul Muldoon, adapted James Joyce’s The Dead as an immersive theater piece, The Dead, 1904, which premiered at the Irish Repertory Theatre in NYC. She is sought-after for events with groups like Talks at Google, The National Arts Club, and many more.

Cru Luv Wine's President and CEO Jermaine Stone was raised worlds away from wine country with plans to become a rapper. By 19, he had the attention of prominent figures in music including Chris Lighty and LL Cool J, but a temporary job packing boxes at Zachys Wine Auctions persuaded him to make a career in fine wine. Jermaine began an accomplished 9-year career, rising to the position of Logistics Manager, overseeing the inbound and outbound transport of $60M worth of fine wine annually. Jermaine became one of the founding Directors of Wally’s Auctions, where he co-created and implemented a full client experience. In addition to major operational roles, he provided strategic advice to Wally’s President and VP, and served as an auctioneer and public speaker at commercial and charity auctions.

Jermaine is the Founder and CEO of Cru Luv Selections, a New York-based wine branding and marketing firm dedicated to blending the best elements of wine and hip-hop culture. He is also the Founder of The Original Wine & Hip Hop Festival, which hosts events, diverse tastings, and master classes. Jermaine is the host of the critically acclaimed podcast, Wine and Hip-Hop and the Street Somm series with Tastemade+. In signature events that are both educational and elevated, Jermaine brings his expertise to bespoke themed events pairing hip-hop music and wine.

Dr. Jessica B. Harris is one of the ranking authorities on the culture, cuisine, and community of the African Diaspora. Her New York Times bestselling cookbook, High on the Hog, winner of 2 NAACP Image Awards, was the basis for the acclaimed Peabody Award-winning Netflix series of the same name. Dr. Harris led the Culinary Institute of America’s African Diaspora Foodways Initiative, conceptualized the award-winning cafeteria of the Smithsonian Museum of African American History and Culture, and served as lead curator for the exhibit African/American: Making the Nation’s Table presented by New York’s Museum of Food and Drink. Dr. Harris was a professor at Queens College/CUNY in New York for five decades and is currently professor emerita at that institution while consulting internationally. Dr. Harris’s unique depth of expertise and brilliant intellect inspire every audience member’s thirst for knowledge. 

Dr. Harris’s work has been honored with the James Beard Lifetime Achievement Award, and her books were inducted into the James Beard Cookbook Hall of Fame. She was named to the TIME Most Influential People list and is the winner of the 2023 IACP Award for Culinary History. As a speaker, Dr. Harris has been sought by Sysco, Rutgers University, Adobe, and more.

Emmy-nominated Netflix stars and New York Times–bestselling authors Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus, known to their audience as The Minimalists, help millions of people live meaningful lives with less. They have been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Time magazine, and GQ, and they have spoken at Harvard, Apple, and Google. With more than 100 million downloads, The Minimalists Podcast is one of the most popular shows on Apple Podcasts. Both raised in Dayton, Ohio, they currently live in Los Angeles.

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.

Guillermo del Toro is among the most creative and visionary artists of his generation, whose distinctive style is showcased through his work as a filmmaker, screenwriter, producer, and author.

Born in Guadalajara, Mexico, del Toro first gained worldwide recognition for the 1993 Mexican-American co-production, Cronos, a supernatural horror film, which he directed from his own screenplay, after beginning his career working as a special effects makeup artist.

His subsequent films include Mimic, The Devil’s Backbone, Hellboy, Pan’s Labyrinth, Hellboy II: The Golden Army, Pacific Rim, and Crimson Peak. He earned international acclaim as the director, writer, and producer of the 2006 aforementioned fantasy drama, Pan’s Labyrith. He was honored with an Oscar nomination for his original screenplay for the film, which won Academy Awards for Art Direction, Cinematography, and Makeup. In all, the film garnered more than 40 international awards and appeared on more than 35 critics’ lists of the year’s best films.

Guillermo wrote and directed The Shape of Water, which was nominated for 13 Academy Awards, and won 4, including Best Director and Best Picture. He also won a Golden Globe for Best Director and was nominated for Best Screenplay and Best Motion Picture-Drama for The Shape of Water. He also won a DGA, a Critics' Choice Movie Award, a BAFTA for Best Director, and a PGA for the film.  Most recently del Toro signed a multi-year motion picture, television, and animation deal with Netflix after his incredible success with Trollhunters, 3below, and Wizards were released to critical acclaim.

Robert Rodriguez is a film director, screenwriter, producer, cinematographer, editor and musician.

While a student at the University of Texas at Austin in 1991, Robert Rodriguez wrote the script to his first feature film, El Mariachi, which went on to win the coveted Audience Award at the 1993 Sundance Film Festival, and became the lowest budget movie ever released by a major studio. Rodriguez wrote about these experiences in Rebel Without a Crew, a perennial guide for the independent filmmaker.

Rodriguez went on to write, produce, direct and edit a series of successful films including Desperado, From Dusk Till Dawn, The Faculty, the Spy Kids franchise, Once Upon a Time in Mexico, Frank Miller’s Sin City, The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl in 3D, Grindhouse, Machete and Sin City 2: A Dame To Kill For, and embarked on a collaboration with iconic film director James Cameron on the film adaptation of Alita: Battle Angel which Cameron is producing alongside Rodriguez directing.

In 2000, Rodriguez founded Troublemaker Studios, an Austin, Texas based production facility of which he is co-owner and president. The studio includes a world-renowned visual effects house, music and publishing arms and has played a primary role in making Austin a vibrant filmmaking hub.

In 2017, Rodriguez, alongside his sons Racer and Rebel, formed Double R Productions, a development and production company with capabilities to produce media projects across film, television, gaming, and interactive platforms. In addition to Red 11, Double R produced a state of the art VR live-action short called the The Limit as well as as a new feature film, We Can Be Heroes, in partnership with Netflix. We Can Be Heroes has become one of Netflix’s most popular films of all time.

He recently directed the Lady Gaga/Ariana Grande video "Rain on Me," and an episode of The Mandalorian which led to him currently producing the new Star Wars series The Book of Boba Fett.

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!

BRANDON KYLE GOODMAN (they/them) – Actor, Writer, and Activist are words often attributed to Brandon Kyle Goodman. In 2020, they emerged as a voice for the Black and Queer communities, best summed up in Revolt TV’s piece ‘7 Reasons Why Brandon Kyle Goodman is Comedy’s Next Big Name.’ 

Brandon served as writer and producer on Netflix's Big Mouth for multiple seasons. Goodman also wrote and voiced the lead character Walter for the spin-off series Human Resources. As an actor, they have previously appeared in Amazon's Modern Love, Netflix's feature film Feel the Beat, a cameo in Curb Your Enthusiasm, a guest role in Abbott Elementary, and as Clay in Mel Brooks' Hulu series History of the World Part II. Most recently, Brandon co-hosted the digital E! show called, RE!CAP, where Brandon and co-hosts serve up hot takes on Hollywood’s biggest nights! In Fall 2025, Goodman will hit the stage for an off-Broadway run of their new show heaux church with the award-winning theater company, Ars Nova. 

Expanding on the cult-like following for their Messy Mondays series on Instagram and now live show every Monday night on Substack, Brandon has partnered with iHeart Media to launch their podcast, Tell Me Something Messy. 

Hachette Book Group published their book You Gotta Be You in 2022.

Brand partnerships range from Prada, Bellesa, and Alicia Keys Soulcare, among others. The New York Times named Brandon as one of their 2021 Up Next. 

Filmmaker, television writer, and producer Adriana Trigiani is the New York Times bestselling author of twenty books of fiction and nonfiction, including her latest, The Good Left Undone. Her work is published in 38 languages around the world, and her screen credits include writer/director of the major motion picture of her debut novel, Big Stone Gap, the adaptation of her novel Very Valentine, and director of Then Came You. Her novels have been chosen by Book of the Month Club, UK's Richard and Judy Book Club twice, USA Today Book Club, People’s Book of the Week seven times, Lifetime Book Club, as well as other renowned national and international book clubs. Adriana has been profiled in The New York Times, USA Today, British Vogue, Publishers Weekly, Red Magazine, Writer’s Digest, Hallmark Magazine, Italian America Magazine, among others. She was featured in The New York Times 'By the Book', regularly contributes to the Richmond Times-Dispatch op-eds, and wrote the advice columnist ('Agony Aunt') for the Irish Independent. Adriana is in demand as a guest speaker with organizations and universities, including New York University, Fordham University, the Authors Guild, The New School for Social Research, and the New York City Italian Welfare League, to name a few.

Adriana is host of the hit podcast, You Are What You Read, where she is in conversation with the luminaries of our time about the books that built their souls. Her live recording events include her conversation with Kristin Hannah with the Lancaster Public Library System, as well as her conversation with Whoopi Goldberg at the 92nd Street Y. She has appeared on The Today Show for 22 years, CBS Sunday Morning, CBS This Morning, The View, Good Morning America as a featured summer read, and regularly appears on Good Day New York, PBS and NPR, making her one of the most sought-after speakers in the world of books today. She is also a popular host and emcee for galas, fundraisers, and large venue engagements around the country, including the Authors Guild Gala, Audie Awards, Poets and Writers Gala, New York City ArchCare Gala, the Order of Sons and Daughters of Italy in America Gala and serves as the permanent host of the Erma Bombeck Arizona Women’s Board Authors Luncheon, the Charleston Post & Courier Book and Author Luncheon, and the Library of Virginia Literary Awards. With her swath of knowledge in storytelling, filmmaking, and the Italian American experience, Adriana offers enlightening and lively presentations, discussions, and workshops that challenge audiences to lead creative and impactful lives, and she does it with comedy.

Curtis Stone is a Los Angeles-based Michelin-starred chef, restaurateur, author and culinary entrepreneur. In addition to several Michelin-starred restaurants, Curtis operates Curtis Stone Events in Los Angeles and Australia, a full-service events and catering company that crafts personalized occasions for guests. Outside his restaurants, Curtis is widely known for his appearances on television programs such as the NBC Top Chef franchise, Field Trip with Curtis Stone on PBS, Crime Scene Kitchen on FOX, Netflix’s Iron Chef: Quest for an Iron Legend, and his show/podcast Getting Grilled with Curtis Stone. A New York Times bestselling author, Curtis has authored six cookbooks including his most recent, Good Food, Good Life. Curtis developed Kitchen Solutions, a sleek and functional cookware collection, which has become the best-reviewed brand and top-selling culinary line on the Home Shopping Network. Curtis was recognized with the Medal of the Order of Australia for his outstanding achievement and service in tourism and hospitality. As a beloved TV personality and successful restaurateur, Curtis’s engaging storytelling and infectious enthusiasm make him a standout speaker for culinary events, corporate gatherings, and any audience who loves to eat.

As a public figure, Curtis has dedicated himself to giving back. In 2016, Curtis began a new pledge to give back through his #Commit2One initiative. Each year he partners with a charity, devoting the majority of his time and resources to the cause. Through these efforts, he has raised funds and awareness for The National Young Farmer’s Coalition, Chrysalis, AdoptTogether, and Share Our Strength, which aims to end childhood hunger through their No Kid Hungry campaign. Curtis brings his passion for food to the world stage, captivating audiences with his culinary journey and impact work.

In addition to being a mild-mannered physics professor, Dr. James Kakalios is an award-winning, internationally recognized expert on Superhero Science. Dr. Kakalios is the Taylor Distinguished Professor in the University of Minnesota’s School of Physics and Astronomy and the author of four popular science books: The Physics of Superheroes, The Amazing Story of Quantum Mechanics, The Physics of Everyday Things, and his latest book, The Physics of Superheroes Goes Hollywood. He has given hundreds of fun and engaging public presentations to audiences whose age ranges from eight to eighty. Using humor and wit, he explains real science using superhero comic books as examples – focusing on those cases where the heroes get their science right!

Dr. Kakalios’ science communication efforts have been recognized by national awards from the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Institute of Physics, and the American Association of Physics Teachers (previous winners of these awards include Neil deGrasse Tyson, Stephen Hawking, Carl Sagan, and more). He served as the science consultant for the Warner Bros. superhero film Watchmen (his short video, “The Science of Watchmen,” won a Regional Emmy award) and the Sony film The Amazing Spider-Man. His YouTube videos, discussing the physics in superhero movies, have garnered millions of views.

Dr. Kakalios has been invited to inspire audiences at schools, commencement ceremonies, and STEM-related private industry meetings as the keynote or after-banquet speaker, including the 92^nd Street Y, Library of Congress, ComicCon International, and more. His talks are not just entertaining, but also educational! He has been reading comic books longer than he has been studying physics.

Pioneering, two-time Peabody Award-winning comedian Hasan Minhaj is the creator of Netflix's comedy show, Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj, which brought an inclusive and nuanced perspective to global news, politics and culture. 

As Host of The Daily Show Trevor Noah wrote in TIME: "Patriot Act is the manifestation of Hasan’s whip-smart commentary, charisma and sincerity. It’s also a consistent reminder that Hasan is America. And America is Hasan.”

Named to TIME's "100 Most Influential People in the World," Minhaj originally rose to prominence as a senior correspondent on The Daily Show. He has gone on to host the White House Correspondents' Dinner and air his own critically-acclaimed one-hour Netflix comedy special, Hasan Minhaj: Homecoming King. 

A first generation American, Minhaj comes from a Muslim family originally from India. In his comedy and at speaking engagements, he draws on his personal history and the immigrant experience to explore the modern cultural and political landscape with depth and sincerity. 

Beloved entertainer Steve Martin is an award-winning comedian, actor, writer, producer, and musician. The multi-hyphenate creative rose to prominence on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour (1967-1969). He has since delighted audience on screens through his standup on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson and NBC’s Saturday Night Live alongside his iconic films: Planes, Trains & Automobiles, Roxanne, Parenthood, L.A. Story, Father of the Bride, Pink Panther, and many more. Also an accomplished musician, Martin has composed multiple award-winning, boundary-pushing bluegrass albums. As an author, Martin’s work includes the novel An Object of Beauty, the play Picasso at the Lapin Agile, a collection of comic pieces, Pure Drivel, a bestselling novella, Shopgirl, and his memoir Born Standing Up. His writing often appears in The New Yorker.

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

For his multi-medium work, Martin has won an Academy Award, five Grammy awards, an Emmy, the Mark Twain Award, and the Kennedy Center Honor. He has been welcomed to speak by hosts such as the Getty Research Institute, Center Stage Entertainment, the New Yorker Festival, and more. Audiences flock to Martin’s melodic performances, warm stage presence, and indelible humor.

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.

Award-winning composer, lyricist, and actor Lin-Manuel Miranda's groundbreaking and history-making Broadway shows have impacted and inspired audiences worldwide. 

The creator and original star of Broadway’s smash-hit musicals Hamilton and In the Heights, Miranda is the recipient of countless prestigious awards including the Pulitzer Prize in Drama, three Tony Awards, three Grammy Awards, an Emmy Award, a MacArthur Fellowship, and a Kennedy Center Honor.

 A passionate and dedicated philanthropist, Miranda has been instrumental in providing support for Puerto Rico and is a vocal advocate for equality nationwide. 

Funny, candid and inspiring, Miranda sheds light on the creative process and innovative thinking, his life and career, and the power of supporting the missions that matter to you. 

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 20^th 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.”

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.

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.

Wanda Sykes has been called "one of the funniest stand-up comics" by her peers and ranks among Entertainment Weekly's "25 Funniest People in America." Her smart-witted, award-winning work has broken barriers and sent her career across platforms. 

Wanda joined forces with veteran producer Page Hurwitz to form Push It Productions, a production company dedicated to creating quality, comedy-based programming for network and cable television outlets. The company's diverse slate of projects includes sketch comedy, concerts, reality talk/variety, and competition formats. 

Known for her performances in HBO's "Curb Your Enthusiasm" and ABC's "black-ish," Sykes is a pioneering comic. She was the first African-American woman to perform at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, as well as the first to conceive and star in her own prime-time sitcom, "Wanda at Large."  

Her first book titled Yeah, I Said It, is a hilarious collection of essays touching on life, family and current events.

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.

Emmy-winning and Golden Globe-nominated standup comedian, actress, writer, producer. and director Amy Schumer’s combination of humor, authenticity, and advocacy fosters a genuine connection with audiences worldwide. Schumer is the creator, star, writer, and executive producer of Comedy Central’s Inside Amy Schumer, which won a Peabody Award, a 2015 Writers Guild Award for Best Comedy/Variety Sketch Series, the first-ever Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Sketch Variety Series, and a nomination Outstanding Directing and Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series. Schumer’s Universal Pictures film Trainwreck (2015), dominated the worldwide box office as the hit summer comedy. She won the Critics’ Choice Award for Best Actress in a Comedy and was nominated for a Writers’ Guild Award in the category of Original Screenplay. That same year, the British Academy of Film and Television (BAFTA) honored Schumer with The Charlie Chaplin Britannia Award for Excellence in Comedy.  In 2016, she was nominated for a Tony for her role in Steve Martin’s Meteor Shower. Schumer’s three-part documentary series, Expecting Amy premiered on HBO Max, an intimate look at Schumer’s fertility battles difficulties while documenting the formation of her latest comedy special. She also premiered the second season of her Food Network cooking show, Amy Schumer Learns to Cook, with her husband Chris Fischer, an award-winning chef. Her comedy specials routinely receive Emmy nominations and top ratings.Her most recent projects include critically-acclaimed series from Hulu’s Life & Beth Season 2 which Schumer stars in, created, wrote, and directed and the Golden Globe-nominated Netflix comedy special, Amy Schumer: Emergency Contact.   

Schumer’s first book, The New York Times bestseller The Girl with The Lower Back Tattoo, earned her a Grammy Award nomination for Best Spoken Word Album. Schumer also recently co-hosted the 94th Academy Awards alongside Wanda Sykes and Regina Hall. Known for her candid approach to discussing topics spanning self-confidence, gender equality, and mental health, Schumer’s relatable humor resonates with any room, making her message both impactful and accessible.

Few individuals have affected as many corners of the musical universe for as long as Rick Rubin. He has collaborated with artists from Jay-Z to Tom Petty, Red Hot Chili Peppers to Johnny Cash, Adele to Slayer, Imagine Dragons to Lana Del Rey, Kevin Abstract to Black Sabbath. Rubin founded Def Jam recordings while studying fine art at New York University. Working from his dormitory, his first recordings with LL Cool J, the Beastie Boys, Public Enemy, and Run DMC took hip-hop music out of the underground and into the mainstream. His success in selling tens of millions of albums worldwide was a shock to the established recording industry.

Since that time, Rubin has produced and guided the most popular and cutting-edge musicians on the planet, in addition to owning and operating his own label, American Recordings. From 2007 to 2013, he moonlighted as the Co-Chairman of Columbia Records to revamp their artist roster and help the company transition from the traditional record business to the new digital model. Rubin was named a TIME "100 Most Influential People in the World.” He has won nine Grammys and two CMAs. In 2021, he interviewed Paul McCartney for the Emmy-nominated documentary series McCartney 3,2,1, which Rubin also executive produced. He recently released his first book The Creative Act which was an immediate #1 New York Times Bestseller and launched a global conversation about creativity, causing #RickRubin to trend on TikTok and receive over 39M views. Rubin is the host of the Broken Record podcast featuring conversations about life, inspiration, and craft.

In addition to being one of the most honored and prolific producers in the world, he is a renowned host and interviewer known for his incredible insights, attention, and curiosity.

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 among the best 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 No. 1 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.

Cynthia Rowley built a global consumer brand by trusting instinct where others waited for proof. She started as a painter at the Art Institute of Chicago, landed in New York with barely enough money to stay afloat, and turned a creative point of view into a company with real cultural and commercial weight that continues to evolve.

Her label broke through traditional categories, introducing surf-leisure before the market had language for it and moving early into e-commerce to build direct relationships with customers. From cereal boxes to Band-Aids for Johnson & Johnson and Barbies for Mattel, Rowley consistently pushes beyond narrow ideas of what her brand is “allowed” to be. Along the way, Rowley became a bestselling author of the Swell books, dressed celebrities like Julianne Moore, Kim Kardashian, Alan Cumming, and became a familiar face on television, including guest judging on Project Runway and appearances on late-night talk shows.

As a speaker, Rowley explores what it really takes to build and sustain a business without a roadmap. She speaks about judgment under pressure, embracing fear, and pushing boundaries when playing it safe can stall progress. Audiences gain access to the thinking behind a brand that learned how to move early and keep its edge.

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

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

Award-winning writer, actor, and New York Times bestselling author Bob Odenkirk is known for playing slippery lawyer “Saul Goodman,” a character he originated on AMC’s Breaking Bad and went on to play in the hit spinoff Better Call Saul. He has been nominated for numerous awards for his work, including Emmys, Golden Globes, and has won the Critic’s Choice Award twice. As an actor, Odenkirk has also appeared in The Larry Sanders Show, Oscar-nominated film Nebraska, the Sundance hit The Spectacular Now, and Netflix original Girlfriend’s Day, which he also co-wrote. From his cult status as a comedy writer, to his reinvention as an award-winning actor in drama and an action-film star, Odenkirk shares his journey in engaging and hilarious events.

A legend in the comedy-writing world, Odenkirk has won Emmys and acclaim for his world on Saturday Night Live, Mr. Show with Bob and David, and many other seminal TV shows. His writing has appeared in The New Yorker, Vice Magazine, and Filter Magazine, among other publications. Odenkirk is the author of A Load of Hooey, which resembles nothing so much as a hilarious sketch comedy show for your mind, and the New York Times bestseller Comedy Comedy Comedy Drama: A Memoir. His memoir, which is an Editor’s Pick on Amazon, has been called “essential” (Entertainment Weekly) and “hilarious” (AV Club). In memorable moderated conversations, Odenkirk opens up about the highs and lows of his career and shares his trademark unflinching drive, inspiring audiences of all kinds.

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

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

John Mulaney is a three-time Emmy Award, Critics Choice award, and WGA award-winning writer, comedian, and actor. He began writing for SNL in 2008 and has since hosted the show five times. He has written and appeared in IFC’s Documentary Now! and Netflix’s Big Mouth. He also starred on Broadway in the runaway hit Oh, Hello On Broadway, written and performed alongside Nick Kroll. The duo has since released a Netflix special of the same name, Oh, Hello: The P’dcast. Most recently, Mulaney created and hosted Netflix’s John Mulaney Presents: Everybody's in LA, a six-night live comedy series exploring Los Angeles during the Netflix Is A Joke Festival, which premiered with rave reviews, with TIME Magazine saying, "(Mulaney) has everything it takes to be the best late-night personality of his generation, at a time when the format seems more desperate than ever for a savior." 

Mulaney consistently tours, and he has sold out massive venues around North America, from Madison Square Garden multiple times to the Hollywood Bowl. In 2015, he released The Comeback Kid, a Netflix original, which The AV Club called the “best hour of his career;” In 2012, his Comedy Central special New In Town had Ken Tucker of Entertainment Weekly hailing him as “one of the best stand-up comics alive.” In 2018, John Mulaney traveled the United States with a sold-out Kid Gorgeous tour, which was later released as an Emmy-winning Netflix stand-up special. In December 2019, the critically acclaimed and Emmy-nominated musical variety special John Mulaney & The Sack Lunch Bunch debuted on Netflix. Mulaney’s latest Netflix stand-up special, Baby J, earned an Emmy and a Critics Choice Award. An undeniable comedic icon, Mulaney connects with any audience through humor, wit, and authenticity.

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.

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.  

John Krasinski has established himself as one of the most exciting talents as an actor, writer and director, engaging audiences on the big and small screen. Having first rose to fame as Jim Halpert in the award-winning television sitcom The Office, Krasinski has gone on to co-write, direct and star in the Academy Award-nominated A Quiet Place, star in Sony Pictures Classics film The Hollars, direct Brief Interviews with Hideous Men, and star in the current Amazon series Jack Ryan, among many other commercially and critically successful projects.  

Krasinski also produces a diverse slate of projects through his production venture, Sunday Night, which he formed with Allyson Seeger.

In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, Krasinski created and hosts Some Good News, a Youtube web series entirely dedicated to good news. Operated from inside Krasinski's home, and featuring special guests from David Ortiz to the cast of Hamilton, the show has over 1.5 million subscribers, with multiple episodes going viral. 

In engaging, hilarious, and inspiring remarks, Krasinski shares lessons-learned over the course of his career, insights into the creative process, and how to use your platform for good. 

Iconic contemporary artist and sculptor Jeff Koons is one of the most prominent artists working today. Koons is known for challenging limitations while engaging viewers in a dialogue about the present moment and our historical past. For four decades, Koons has created works that explore themes of self-acceptance and transcendence. He is widely known for his bold paintings and sculptures, including Rabbit, Michael Jackson and Bubbles, Puppy, and Balloon Dog. Koons was the first artist to place a sculpture on the moon. The smooth, mirror-finished surfaces of his iconic stainless-steel sculptures reflect and affirm viewers and their environments. Since his first solo exhibition in 1980, Koons’s work has been shown in galleries, museums, and cultural institutions throughout the world.

Koons has received numerous awards and honors in recognition of his cultural achievements. He has been a board member of The International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children (ICMEC) since 2002 and co-founded the Koons Family International Law and Policy Institute with ICMEC for the purpose of combating global issues of child abduction and exploitation and to protect the world’s children.

Mexican actor, author, and activist Tenoch Huerta brings undeniable complexity and insights to his roles onscreen and his compelling conversations. Best known for his performances in Netflix’s Narcos: Mexico, The Forever Purge, Days of Grace, Güeros, and Sin Nombre, Huerta joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe with his character Namor, in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. His work has received widespread praise and catapulted him onto the global stage, where he is leading vital conversations about race, identity, and representation.

Huerta combines his professional career with activism against racism and discrimination and speaks out in favor of various social causes including equality and the construction of new masculinities. He has received numerous accolades for his more than 70 films and television series, including the Ariel Award for Days of Grace and being named one of AP’s “Breakthrough Entertainers of 2022.” Huerta is the author of Orgullo prieto / Brown Pride, the #1 Best Seller on Amazon in its category, which he wrote with young people in mind: “I try to create, as much as I can, a better place to live for them.” Huerta brings star power and passionate insights about inclusivity and social justice to memorable events.

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.

Chart-topping country singer-songwriter Walker Hayes has broken into the mainstream with his authentic sound and his honesty about overcoming the obstacles he’s faced. He is known for his albums Reason to Rhyme, Boom, and his latest release Country Stuff the Album featuring his smash hit multi-platinum song ‘Fancy Like’. The song went viral on TikTok and connected with audiences across genres, spending over six months at the #1 spot on the Billboard Country Songs Chart and hitting the top five on Billboard’s Hot 100 Songs, earning Hayes his first Grammy nomination. The Washington Post profiled in the groundbreaking recording artist in a piece titled, ‘Walker Hayes isn’t afraid to sing about struggling, and it’s making him a success,” writing, “Hayes has broken into the mainstreaming by sounding different.”

Hayes has performed on Good Morning America, CBS Sunday Morning, Late Night with Seth Meyers, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, and The TODAY Show, among others. His newest release, ‘AA’, features his trademark unapologetic honesty as well as stories from his own life. Hayes is an impactful speaker and performer, sharing his journey through addiction and recovery. He inspires audiences to face challenges head on and never give up on their dreams.

Multiple #1 New York Times bestselling author Angie Thomas is a beloved voice on both the page and the screen. Her award-winning, acclaimed debut novel, The Hate U Give, is a #1 New York Times bestseller and major motion picture. Her second novel, On the Come Up, is a film on Paramount Plus. In 2021, Angie returned to Garden Heights with Concrete Rose, a prequel to The Hate U Give. Her latest bestselling work, Nic Blake and the Remarkables: The Manifestor Prophecy, is Angie’s first foray into the fantasy genre. Thomas speaks on the importance of finding your voice, representation in media, and how communities unite through storytelling.

Thomas is the namesake behind the Angie Thomas Writer’s Scholarship, a fully-funded BFA in Creative Writing at Belhaven University. Thomas was the inaugural winner of the Walter Dean Myers Grant 2015, awarded by We Need Diverse Books. She is a William C. Morris Award Winner, a National Book Award Longlist, a Printz Honor Book, and a Coretta Scott King Honor Book. She is also a former teen rapper with a profile feature in Right-On Magazine and can still rap if needed. Thomas has headlined the Mississippi Book Festival, FOLD Kids Book Fest, and many more.

Actor and filmmaker Kevin Costner’s esteemed career has been critically recognized with two Academy Awards, three Golden Globe Awards, and a Primetime Emmy Award. With past roles across comedy, action, and drama, most movie lovers have seen Costner’s work. He has appeared in box-office hits including Silverado, No Way Out, Bull Durham, JFK, The Untouchables, Field of Dreams, The Bodyguard, and Wyatt Earp, among many others. In addition, he starred in and executive produced the Paramount Network’s hit-drama, Yellowstone, a role for which he received a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Television Drama. Costner’s exceptional filmmaking abilities were showcased in Dances with Wolves, which he produced, directed and starred in, and which won seven Academy Awards including “Best Picture” and “Best Director.” Costner also produced and co-authored the New York Times bestselling adventure novel The Explorers Guild. Costner captivates audiences not only as a legendary figure in the entertainment industry but as a remarkable storyteller. Whether discussing his experiences in film, the demands of creativity, or the enduring value of hard work, Costner leaves audiences entertained, inspired, and deeply connected to his story.

When Costner is not working on films, he sings lead vocals and plays lead guitar in his band, Modern West, and can be seen playing venues across the country. The band’s song "The Angels Came Down" was adopted by the Gold Star Moms and Gold Star Wives organizations, which support the mothers, wives, and families of fallen soldiers. Costner also fundraises for first responders through hosting appearances and charity concerts.