Dr. Hakeem Oluseyi is a true triple threat: a world-class astrophysicist, transformational leader, and master communicator. A Stanford-trained scientist and accomplished inventor, he has spent decades advancing our understanding of the universe and the technologies that make exploration possible. As CEO of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific and former NASA Space Science Education Lead, he pairs deep scientific expertise with visionary leadership and a passion for public engagement.

Holding a dozen U.S. and international patents, Oluseyi has made pioneering contributions to computer chip manufacturing and space technology. Seen on PBS NOVA, Discovery, and NASA programs, he is known globally for making science accessible and inspiring through humor, clarity, and heart. His bestselling memoir A Quantum Life traces his journey from hardship to discovery, showing how curiosity and determination can open doors once thought closed. His latest book, Why Do We Exist?, maps the universe across nine interconnected realms, translating complex physics into a clear, compelling framework for understanding how everything fits together and what that means for our place within it. Hakeem helps leaders apply the mindset of cosmic curiosity to everyday business disruption, empowering teams to stay inventive and future-ready.

Most people think they know American history. Greg Jackson is not so sure.

A historian, professor, and creator of the hit podcast History That Doesn’t Suck!, Jackson has built a following by challenging familiar narratives and making the past feel urgent again. His work extends well beyond the classroom, from his live stage show The Unlikely Union, which has sold out theaters nationwide, to appearances on HISTORY Channel and National Geographic.

Jackson brings real scholarship without the distance that usually comes with it. As a tenured professor and America 250 Professor at Utah Valley University, his work is grounded in primary sources, but his delivery is built for audiences who want clarity, not lectures. His forthcoming book, Been There, Done That, continues that approach, using history to show what people have actually navigated before.

On stage, Jackson focuses on the moments where things could have gone differently. He draws a direct line between past decisions and the pressures leaders face now, giving audiences a sharper way to think about the present.

Jess Sims went from serving as a school principal to becoming one of the most recognizable faces in global fitness.

Sims began her career in education, rising through Teach For America to become a principal in Harlem, where she led with structure, empathy, and an unwavering commitment to underserved communities. Then she made a bold pivot, stepping away from a stable leadership track to pursue fitness full time. At Peloton, she transformed that educator’s discipline into a worldwide platform, coaching millions through running, strength, and bootcamp while expanding family fitness content that blends movement and learning. 

The world's biggest geopolitical surprises are rarely surprises. We just fail to see the forces driving them.

For decades, Karim Sadjadpour has helped leaders understand the ideologies, ambitions, and historical forces shaping global affairs long before they dominate the headlines. One of the world's foremost experts on Iran and the Middle East, his work goes beyond explaining governments and conflicts. It reveals how power is built, how leaders think, and why seemingly distant events often have profound consequences for global markets, international security, and American foreign policy. Whether advising policymakers, analyzing world events for CNN, or writing award-winning essays for Foreign Affairs and The Atlantic, Sadjadpour has become one of the most trusted interpreters of a rapidly changing world.

He equips audiences to think like strategists, not news consumers. With historical firsthand regional expertise and sharp analysis, Sadjadpour helps organizations make sense of an era defined by geopolitical uncertainty, rising authoritarianism, and shifting global alliances. Audiences leave with a clearer understanding not only of today's headlines, but of the forces that will shape tomorrow's.

The AI race won't be won by the companies building the models. It will be won by the companies that know how to put them to work. Few leaders understand that better than Bill McDermott.

As Chairman and CEO of ServiceNow, Bill leads one of the Fortune 500's fastest-growing technology companies and is helping define how the world's largest organizations put AI to work. Under his leadership, ServiceNow has become a leader in enterprise AI, connecting people, data, and workflows to drive transformation at scale. Previously, as CEO of SAP, he led one of the most successful chapters in the company's history, cementing his reputation as one of the technology industry's most admired executives.

On stage, Bill offers a CEO's perspective on the biggest technology shift of our time. Drawing on decades leading global software companies, he shares how organizations can harness AI to accelerate growth, lead through disruption, and build businesses prepared for what's next.

Michael Bosstick is the Founder and CEO of Dear Media, the largest podcast network for women, leveraging its shows as springboards for talent to build broader brand ecosystems across commerce, live events, national tours and publishing. Dear Media pioneered the 360 model in the audio space, from audio and video production to distribution, monetization, live events and consumer brand extensions. It hosts 100 top-rated entertainment and pop culture shows led by talent like Khloé Kardashian, Amanda Hirsch and Jordin Sparks. 

Glenn Youngkin served as the 74th Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia. In 2020, Governor Youngkin took a bold step and left his role as Co-CEO of one of the largest investments firms in the world, The Carlyle Group, to win the 2021 historic race in Virginia and ignite the Great Virginia Renaissance during his term-limited four years as Governor. Business investment soared to $157 billion - more than the previous six governors combined. His pro-growth policies spurred record job growth with over 270,000 more Virginians working. With over 200,000 open and available jobs and 85,000 more jobs on the way, he drove unprecedented business investment in the Commonwealth.

As America's Education Governor, Youngkin delivered record education investment, lead in recovering learning loss after the pandemic, set a national standard for bell-to-bell cellphone-free education, expanded choice, and put parents at the head of the table. Governor Youngkin’s Back-the-Blue pro law enforcement policies led to a 30% reduction in the murder rate and a nationally leading 60% reduction in fentanyl overdoses. Governor Youngkin brought a business mindset to government - reducing wait times at the DMV from 35 minutes to 6 minutes, transforming the behavioral health system and delivering $10 billion in budget surpluses. Governor Youngkin's commonsense conservative leadership delivered on his frequent refrain that "results matter."

Today, Governor Youngkin serves as Chairman of venture firm, Red Cell Partners, in addition to providing board and advisory services to several companies and non-profits.

Leading through transformation is difficult. Doing it with hundreds of thousands of people is something else entirely. Kathryn McLay knows what that takes.

As former President and CEO of Walmart International and Sam's Club, McLay led one of the world's largest and most complex organizations through a defining period of change. Responsible for operations across 18 countries, more than 500,000 associates, and millions of customers each week, she helped align global teams behind a shared strategy while navigating disruption, accelerating growth, and driving execution at extraordinary scale.

On stage, McLay makes transformation tangible. Rather than offering theories, she shares the leadership principles she relied on to align hundreds of thousands of people around a common goal, execute through uncertainty, and sustain performance at extraordinary scale. Audiences leave better equipped to lead change inside their own organizations—whether they're responsible for fifty people or fifty thousand.

The world didn't fall in love with a talking snowman by accident. Josh Gad has spent a career understanding what makes people laugh, what makes them care, and what brings them together.

From his Tony Award-nominated breakout in The Book of Mormon to voicing Olaf in Disney's Frozen franchise, Gad has built a career creating characters that stay with people. His work has grossed more than $7 billion worldwide, but his greatest talent isn't creating memorable performances. It's understanding the emotions that make them memorable.

During the pandemic, that instinct took on a new form. Through REUNITED APART, Gad reunited beloved casts to raise millions for charity and remind audiences that stories can bring people together even when the world feels apart.

On stage, Gad blends behind-the-scenes stories with surprising insights into creativity, resilience, and connection. Funny, candid, and deeply relatable, he reminds audiences that the people who leave the greatest impression aren't always the loudest—they're the ones who understand what others need most.

Justin Trudeau’s tenure as Canada's 23rd Prime Minister coincided with a period of unprecedented global challenge and change.

After leading the third-place Liberal Party of Canada to a historic majority government in 2015, Trudeau set about delivering an ambitious agenda that included appointing Canada’s first gender-balanced cabinet, launching a national $10-a-day childcare program, lifting over two million Canadians out of poverty, including almost three-quarters of a million children, advancing Indigenous reconciliation, and taking robust action to fight climate change, including through policies that attracted investment in clean economic growth and jobs.

Confronted with a series of global economic and security shocks, including Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and the COVID-19 pandemic, Trudeau worked to address international and domestic issues through bold, decisive action while continuing to deliver on a progressive vision for Canada. The former Prime Minister has amassed powerful insights into societal resilience, high-stakes international diplomacy, the promotion of shared economic growth, and driving meaningful, lasting change.

Before entering politics, Trudeau studied literature at McGill University, completed the University of British Columbia's education program, and spent several years teaching in Vancouver. He also served as the Chair of Katimavik, on the board for the Canadian Avalanche Foundation, and as an advocate for youth and the environment, taking part in events and conferences around the country.

Trudeau has received numerous international awards including the Atlantic Council's Global Citizen Award, National Geographic's Planetary Leadership Award, the Chicago Council on Global Affairs Global Leadership Award, Rotary International's Polio Eradication Champion Award and Women Moving Millions' Gender Equality Champion Award.

Attachment insecurity at work is the rule, not the exception. And it can be changed.

Dr. Levine's Global Attachment Survey has been completed more than 80,000 times across 100+ countries and 18 languages. 2 in 3 respondents reported an insecure relationship with a boss or co-worker. Even among those who are secure with their spouse, family, and friends, 64% still tested insecure at work. Workplace insecurity is linked in research to lower satisfaction, weaker retention, and lost productivity. The good news: security at work can be measured, built, and improved. These talks and workshops will give you the tools to get there. Find out your attachment style at work and in your other relationships.

Before attachment styles became part of everyday conversation, there was Dr. Amir Levine.

The psychiatrist whose international bestseller Attached transformed modern relationships, Dr. Levine has spent his career explaining one of the most fundamental questions in human behavior: why we connect the way we do. His work combines groundbreaking neuroscience with practical insights that resonate far beyond the therapist’s office, helping audiences understand the hidden forces that shape trust, communication, and resilience in every relationship.

Today, Dr. Levine is expanding that conversation. The science now shows that attachment styles don’t stay home when we go to work: they shape how we collaborate, how we lead, and how we relate to the people we spend most of our days with. Through his groundbreaking work on emotional security, he reveals that secure relationships aren’t something we’re simply born into—they’re something we can build and cultivate. Blending scientific rigor with accessible storytelling, his talks leave audiences with a new way of thinking about connection and a practical roadmap for creating healthier relationships at work, at home, and everywhere in between.

Every CEO says AI will change everything. Hayden Field spends her days finding out whether they're right.

As Senior AI Reporter at The Verge, Field has spent the last six years covering the companies defining the AI era. From OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, and Meta to the startups challenging them, she reports on the breakthroughs and business decisions shaping one of the fastest-moving industries in the world. Her reporting goes beyond product launches to examine how AI is changing the way businesses operate and how people work.

Field has become one of the leading journalists making sense of artificial intelligence, bringing clarity to an industry often defined by bold promises and rapid change. Before joining The Verge, she covered AI at CNBC, and her work has appeared in MIT Technology Review, WIRED UK, Fortune, and Protocol. Whether reporting from Silicon Valley or moderating conversations at SXSW and CES, she offers audiences an informed, independent view of where AI is headed and what it means for business.

On stage, Field helps leaders separate lasting shifts from passing hype. She explains where AI is delivering real value, where expectations are outpacing reality, and what organizations should be paying attention to next.

History does not come with explanation. Martha MacCallum has made a career of providing it in real time.

Across six presidential elections and decades of breaking news, Martha MacCallum has served as a steady voice in moments that shape public understanding. From September 11th to January 6th, from the funeral of George H. W. Bush to the coronation of King Charles III, she has anchored coverage when the stakes are high and the picture is still forming.

As Anchor and Executive Editor of The Story, she has conducted consequential interviews with presidents, cabinet officials, and Supreme Court justices, including exclusive access at defining moments. Her style is direct and controlled, built for environments where clarity matters and trust is tested.

On stage, MacCallum brings that same perspective. She offers a behind-the-scenes view of how narratives take shape in real time, how leaders communicate under pressure, and what separates information from understanding when it matters most.

A Super Bowl champion and one of his generation’s most influential athletes, Russell Wilson continues to inspire the next generation through his unwavering commitment to excellence.

Leadership looks different when the whole world thinks it has the answer. Wilson has spent his career learning how to earn trust without chasing approval, remain focused through passion and overcoming adversity, and lead people toward a common goal to achieve ultimate success. Wilson's perspective carried him and his team to a Super Bowl championship, ten Pro Bowls, and a career that has expanded far beyond football through entrepreneurship with 3BRAND, Why Not You Productions and Limitless Minds. His commitment to uplifting the next generation and create change is cemented in the global work he does through his Why Not You Foundation and being recognized as NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year and Bart Starr Award.

On stage, Wilson explores what it really takes to lead when expectations never disappear. His message goes beyond sports. It's about conviction and dedication to the craft. Audiences leave with a new understanding of how resilient leaders build trust, respond to adversity, and inspire people to believe in something bigger than the moment in front of them.

Sir John is a globally renowned makeup artist, creative director, and cultural tastemaker whose artistry has shaped defining looks for Beyoncé, Serena Williams, Zendaya, Oprah Winfrey, Naomi Campbell, and Priyanka Chopra. His influence spans from the red carpet to the boardroom, with leadership roles as Editor-at-Large at Allure and Creative Director at Medicube, following collaborations with L’Oréal Paris and Kilian Paris. Known for blending technical mastery with emotional depth, Sir John views beauty as a frequency, a way of living with curiosity, presence, and pleasure. That philosophy, paired with his track record of cultural impact, makes him a trusted guide for audiences exploring identity, creativity, and personal power.

In 2026, he will debut VERSION of SELF, a podcast with iHeartRadio that brings his signature candor and vision to conversations on transformation and belonging. Across every platform, Sir John uses beauty as a language of empowerment, leaving those he engages with a renewed sense of confidence and possibility.

From a family ranch in Colorado's San Luis Valley to the Cabinet Room, the U.S. Senate, and the ambassador's residence in Mexico City, Ken Salazar has spent a lifetime helping shape America's future.

A fifth-generation Coloradan whose family has lived in the American Southwest for more than four centuries, Salazar brings a worldview shaped by deep personal roots and decades of public service. As U.S. Ambassador to Mexico, Secretary of the Interior, and U.S. Senator, he worked at the center of some of the defining issues shaping North America, including immigration, border security, energy, trade, and economic opportunity. His forthcoming book, Borderlands: My Fight for an Inclusive America, reflects his lifelong commitment to building stronger connections across communities and across borders.

Drawing on a career spent navigating complex challenges across government, diplomacy, and business, Salazar helps audiences understand the forces reshaping the United States and its relationship with Mexico. He offers a thoughtful perspective on leadership, public service, the opportunities that emerge when people work across divides, and on the urgent need for a New American Alliance.

When the stakes are highest, there is no time for perfect information. Dr. Darria Long has spent her career making life-or-death decisions anyway.

That's what emergency medicine demands. As a Harvard and Yale-trained emergency physician, Dr. Long has spent years making consequential decisions in an environment where hesitation has real consequences. Today, she brings that experience beyond the hospital, revealing how the mindset that saves lives can help leaders navigate uncertainty with greater confidence and better judgment. Her keynotes turn the realities of the emergency room into practical lessons for a world where change is constant and the pressure never lets up.

A trusted medical expert for CNN, NBC, and Netflix, bestselling author, and national spokesperson for the American College of Emergency Physicians, Dr. Long has a rare ability to make high-pressure decision-making both compelling and immediately useful. Audiences leave with practical tools they can apply the moment they're back at work—and a new perspective on what it really means to lead when the answers aren't obvious.

For more than twenty-five years, Bill Maher has set the boundaries of where funny, political talk can go on American television.  First on Politically Incorrect (Comedy Central, ABC, 1993-2002), and for more than twenty years on HBO’s Real Time, Maher’s combination of unflinching honesty and big laughs have garnered him 42 Emmy nominations. After naming him the 6th most influential person in media for 2023, Mediaite noted, “Maher is one of the few people in media to achieve true multi-platform success.”

One of the wittiest satirists today, Maher builds on his distinctly perceptive, occasionally politically incorrect humor live from the podium, touching on his esteemed career across comedic mediums. Most recently, Maher released his blockbuster, New York Times bestselling book What This Comedian Said Will Shock You, a brilliantly astute and acerbically funny vivisection of American life, politics, and culture. His podcast, Club Random with Bill Maher, is recorded at the bar on his property in Los Angeles and features free flowing, long-form conversations about anything and everything with a wide range of eclectic guests. In 2026, he was awarded the esteemed Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. Just like his work, Maher’s talks are uproarious, edgy, and unforgettably fun.

Pioneering Physician, Longevity Expert & Wellness Innovator

As one of the world’s leading voices on longevity and preventative health, Steven Gundry, MD helps organizations unlock the science of living—and working—better, longer. As a world-renowned heart surgeon turned pioneering researcher exploring the links between gut health, the microbiome, and disease, he equips audiences with actionable strategies to lower stress, prevent burnout, and build the foundations for lasting longevity and high performance. With a unique ability to make cutting-edge science both inspiring and practical, Dr. Gundry's dynamic keynotes empower corporate leaders, teams, and associations to build cultures of vitality that drive performance today while protecting the health and productivity of tomorrow.

A cum laude graduate of Yale University, Dr. Gundry is a renowned cardiothoracic surgeon, four-time New York Times bestselling author, restorative medicine practitioner and medical researcher. Over his 40-year cardiothoracic surgeon career, he has performed more than 10,000 heart surgeries, published over 300 studies, and developed life-saving medical technology.

Dr. Gundry is the founder of the wellness brand Gundry MD, the telemedicine app Gundry Health and host of the weekly audio and video Dr. Gundry Podcast. His recent book, Gut-Brain Paradox delves into the connection between gut and mental health.

Composer. Producer. Visionary. One of the most influential storytellers of our time.

Few composers in history have shaped the global soundscape of musical theatre as profoundly as Andrew Lloyd Webber. Across his career his work has transcended the stage to become one of the most commercially successful and culturally influential catalogues of all time.

From Phantom of the Opera, Cats and Evita to Jesus Christ Superstar, Sunset Boulevard, School of Rock and many more, his productions continue to captivate audiences around the globe, entertaining generations and redefining what musical theatre is. His most successful production Phantom of the Opera has become a global phenomenon, with productions playing to 160 million people in 217 cities, 52 territories and in 23 languages since it first premiered in London.

Known for constant innovation, recent successes include CATS: The Jellicle Ball - a reimagined version of CATS inspired by New York's ballroom culture – that transferred to Broadway and won three Tony Awards. While Off-Broadway, Masquerade - an immersive reimagining of Phantom of the Opera - received widespread critical acclaim and was recognised with a Drama Desk Special Award for Excellence.

Beyond musical theatre, Lloyd Webber has a deep interest and knowledge of art and architecture. He owns one of the finest private collections of pre-Raphaelite art and is a passionate advocate for music education, supporting tens of thousands of children through the Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation.

In rare and personal conversations, he reflects on the risks, triumphs, and setbacks that have shaped his career. Audiences gain insight into the making of iconic productions, his collaborations with leading artists, and the lessons behind sustaining creative excellence.

Candid, reflective, and often surprisingly funny, Lloyd Webber offers an unforgettable evening of stories and insights from a life spent shaping culture on a global scale. His perspective extends beyond the stage, touching on creativity, leadership, reinvention, and what it takes to build work that endures.

One of the select few artists to achieve EGOT status, his other honors include a UK peerage and his appointment as Knight Companion of the Order of the Garter, the oldest and highest Order of Chivalry in Britain. Typically reserved for members of the Royal Family or former heads of state, Lloyd Webber is the first person from the arts to receive this honour in its 700-year history.

With a career spanning five decades and counting, Andrew Lloyd Webber continues to be one of the most influential figures in modern entertainment.

From her roots in Oklahoma and Texas, Jennifer Welch has become a powerhouse digital media star, attracting hundreds of millions of views to her political straight talk and social satire. As co-host of the I’ve Had It podcast, she speaks directly to the post-2024 political landscape and has built a massive (and influential) following by asking tough questions of our leaders. Journalist Mehdi Hasan has called Welch, “perhaps the most influential women in the Democratic Party right now,” while the New York Times asked if Welch is “the Democrats’ toughest critic,” reflecting her ability to shape conversation through authenticity and fearlessness.

As a speaker, Welch delivers blunt, unscripted analysis for audiences who want straight answers instead of talking points. Drawing on her finger-on-the-pulse read of public sentiment, Welch explains why political language stopped working, what voters are responding to now, and why leaders lose trust when they refuse to state the obvious. Audiences leave with a clearer sense of the moment they are living in and why honesty carries more weight than polish.

Few journalists have faced the kind of recovery Benjamin Hall had to fight through. While reporting on the war in Ukraine in 2022, the veteran correspondent was critically wounded when his vehicle was struck by incoming fire outside Kyiv. Two members of his team were killed. Hall endured multiple surgeries and a long recovery before returning home to his family, a journey he recounts in his bestselling memoir Saved: A War Reporter’s Mission to Make It Home and continues in Resolute, another bestseller. His story has become a powerful example of resilience in the face of unimaginable loss and adversity.

Before that moment, Hall spent years covering conflict around the world. As a Senior Correspondent for Fox News Channel, he has reported from Ukraine, Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan, documenting war and diplomacy from the ground rather than a studio. Those years reporting from the front lines gave him a rare perspective on courage and endurance long before he was forced to draw on those qualities himself. He is also the author of the bestselling children’s book Read All About It!

On stage, Hall reflects on survival, recovery, and the mindset required to rebuild after everything changes in an instant. He brings audiences closer to the human realities behind global events while offering a deeply personal perspective on resilience, perseverance, and the determination required to move forward after hardship.

Alex Spiro is the lawyer people call when the stakes are sky-high and the spotlight is unforgiving. A former Manhattan prosecutor and former coordinator of an autism children’s program Harvard’s psychiatric hospital, he brings behavioral insight to every decision, tactic, and read of the room. He has represented Jay-Z in cases that tested the limits of brand protection, defended Alec Baldwin in the “Rust” matter, and navigated legal firestorms for clients who make headlines by simply walking into a room. Spiro teaches at Harvard Law School, is Chairman of Glassbridge Enterprises, and advises companies operating at the frontier of innovation and risk.

As a speaker, Spiro uncovers what really happens when pressure closes in. Drawing on trials that dominated the news cycle and boardrooms that demand absolute precision, he shows how risk is read, narratives are shaped, and decisions made at the edge hold steady. Audiences leave with a sharper sense of how to read people, manage conflict, and perform when the margin for error is nearly zero.

Ke Huy Quan’s extraordinary journey in Hollywood is a testament to the power of resilience, authenticity, and the pursuit of dreams. His story resonates not only with aspiring actors but with anyone who has ever faced obstacles on their path to success. In his powerful talks, Quan shares how his own life story proves that perseverance, combined with staying true to oneself, can transform both individuals and entire industries.

After moving to the United States as a refugee, Quan quickly made his mark in Hollywood as a beloved child star, capturing lifelong fans through iconic roles in blockbusters like Indiana Jones and The Temple of Doom and The Goonies. After stepping away from acting for two decades, he made a triumphant return in Everything Everywhere All at Once, earning an Academy Award, Golden Globe, Critics Choice Award, Screen Actors Guild Award, Independent Spirit Award, Hollywood Critics Association Award, and the Gotham Award for Outstanding Supporting Performance. His incredible comeback is a reflection of his grit, determination, and unwavering character, which has been the cornerstone of his success.

With profiles in Wired, NPR, TODAY, and more, audiences can't get enough of Quan's unfiltered perspective and behind-the-scenes stories. Whether sharing his journey of overcoming adversity, championing the importance of inclusivity, or motivating others to break through their own barriers, Quan’s message is one of hope, resilience, and the belief that anything is possible with hard work and authenticity. His words will inspire anyone who needs a reminder that their dreams are worth chasing.

When the rules of global trade are being rewritten, Kirsten Hillman is in the room.

As Canada’s Ambassador to the United States, she managed one of the world’s most important economic relationships through volatility, political turnover, and shifting trade doctrine. Trusted across party lines, she became a steady hand in Washington at a time when stability was anything but guaranteed.

She helped shape major international agreements, including the Trans-Pacific Partnership, and played a key role in delivering USMCA—one of the most closely watched trade negotiations in recent history.

On stage, she breaks down what global uncertainty actually means for leaders, offering a clear, experience-backed view of how to navigate risk, protect partnerships, and make decisions when the landscape keeps changing.

At a time when trust in the news is fading, V Spehar has built something rare: a space where people feel informed and understood. As the founder of Under the Desk News, they’ve created a community of millions who come for context that cuts through the noise. Named one of TIME100’s Most Influential Digital Voices, V has become a steady presence in a chaotic media landscape Their storytelling bridges the space between breaking stories and human stories, showing that understanding current events starts with empathy, not outrage.

A seasoned journalist with a sharp grasp of politics, policy, and culture, V has reported from the Democratic National Convention and the Paris Olympics, and conducted interviews with Presidents Biden and Obama. Their work reflects a command of complex issues and a talent for translating them into something people can actually use and understand. Their work has appeared in outlets such as The Washington Post and NBC News, and they are frequently featured as a guest contributor on MS NOW and CNN.

V approaches the stage like they approach the news, with curiosity, precision, and a clear sense of responsibility. Their talks cut through noise and polarization, inviting people to think critically while remembering the humanity behind every headline.

WIRED called Josh Johnson “the funniest guy on the internet.” What matters is why people are paying attention.

On stage, Johnson stands out because he has a rare ability to quickly translate topical, complex and sometimes heavy topics into stories that feel personal, clear, and genuinely funny. Instead of overwhelming audiences with jargon or oversimplifying the issue, he builds his explanations using relatable analogies, sharp observations and personal stories that make everything click. His calm, conversational delivery gives listeners space to process the idea while still being entertained and his humor doesn’t distract from the message—it actually reinforces it. The result is comedy that feels insightful without being preachy, and educational without ever losing its sense of fun.

An Emmy-nominated writer, stand-up comedian, and NAACP award winner, Johnson has built one of the most engaged audiences in comedy today, with over 10 million followers and more than half a billion views on YouTube. As a rotating host and correspondent on The Daily Show, and a former writer for The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, he is uniquely qualified to create high quality content that sits at the intersection of culture, technology, and media.

In 2025 alone, Johnson released 38 hours of original stand-up comedy grounded in current events, while his sold-out FLOWERS TOUR spanned 112 cities worldwide.

Many-time bestselling author, columnist, and commentator John Avlon has been called “a trusted, grounded, and welcome voice” emphasizing bipartisanship and real solutions. He currently hosts a solutions journalism podcast on The Bulwark called How to Fix It and serves as the Chairman of Citizens Union, New York’s oldest good government group. Avlon was a Senior Political Analyst and Anchor at CNN, known for his “Reality Check” segments across the network. He is an award-winning columnist and the author of Independent Nation, Wingnuts, Washington’s Farewell, and Lincoln & the Fight for Peace, which was praised by The New York Times as “a Lincoln for our polarized times…powerful and affecting” and named one of the best books of the year by Vanity Fair and Foreign Affairs. He was the editor-in-chief and managing director of The Daily Beast (2013-8) and served as chief speechwriter for the Mayor of New York. Avlon’s essay, “The Resilient City” was selected to conclude Empire City: New York through the Centuries and won acclaim as “the single best essay written in the wake of 9/11.”

Avlon has appeared multiple times on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Real Time with Bill Maher, The Daily Show, PBS, and C-Span. He has spoken at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government, the National Constitution Center, and other civic organizations around the nation. Avlon is also a co-founder of No Labels – a group of Democrats, Republicans and Independents dedicated to the politics of problem-solving and making government work again. Highly regarded for his shrewd analysis of the headlines of the day, offering historic perspective on the current political climate of the U.S., and the role of journalism in politics, Avlon offers reasoned discourse that focuses on real solutions.

DeMaurice Smith spent fifteen years negotiating against the most powerful owners in sports and walked away having delivered more than $100 billion to players.

As Executive Director of the NFL Players Association, he took on what ESPN called the toughest job in sports and turned it into a platform for leverage. Smith led high-stakes labor battles, navigated public crises from "Deflategate" to player protests, and built a business engine that reshaped how athletes generate value beyond the field.

In his recent book, Turf Wars: The Fight for America’s Game, Smith pulls back the curtain on those moments, offering a clear look at how power, money, and influence actually operate behind closed doors. The same dynamics shaping the NFL are playing out across business and leadership today, which makes his perspective feel less like sports commentary and more like a real-time playbook.

On stage, Smith breaks down how power actually works. He shows how to negotiate when the other side has more resources, how to manage risk when every decision is public, and how to build systems that hold under pressure. His perspective is grounded in experience where the consequences were immediate and the stakes could not be higher.

In a time when truth feels increasingly negotiable, Donie O’Sullivan has made a career out of understanding why.

An Emmy-winning CNN Senior Correspondent, O’Sullivan reports from the front lines of America’s information wars, where conspiracy, identity, and technology collide. With empathy and a sharp wit, he goes beyond debunking misinformation to focus on something harder: why facts alone are not changing minds. Since joining CNN, he has become one of the network’s most distinctive voices, blending political reporting with a deeper examination of how belief actually works.

From January 6 to the rise of online fringe movements, his reporting shows how ideas move from the internet into real-world consequence. He engages directly with the communities shaping today’s information landscape, offering an unfiltered look at how narratives take hold. On stage, he breaks down the mechanics of modern persuasion, giving audiences a clear view into how reality is being shaped in real time.

Allison Ellsworth is the visionary behind poppi, the modern soda brand that reinvented an entire category and reshaped how the next generation thinks about better-for-you beverages. She went from experimenting in her kitchen to creating one of the fastest-growing drinks in the country, turning a farmers-market side project into a cultural staple with a Shark Tank deal and a landmark sale to PepsiCo. Ellsworth built poppi’s unmistakable presence online and in pop culture, cultivating a massive community, billions of views, and celebrity fans who turned the brand into a phenomenon. Her work has earned recognition from TIME, Inc., Modern Retail, and the broader consumer world as a blueprint for how modern brands break through.

As a speaker, Ellsworth talks about trusting ideas before they make sense on paper and navigating the pressure of the public eye. Her story shows people how to stay grounded, take smart risks, and keep pushing forward even when the path is unpredictable.

Artificial intelligence is moving faster than most organizations realize, and Matt Shumer is one of the people closest to the shift.

As the former CEO of OthersideAI, the company behind the widely used AI writing assistant HyperWrite, Shumer buillt the kinds of tools that are quietly reshaping how millions of professionals write, code, and work.

His perspective broke into the mainstream with his viral essay, Something Big Is Happening published in Fortune, where he argued that the current AI moment resembles February 2020, when early warnings about COVID were still easy to dismiss. Shumer’s message was blunt: the transformation is already underway, and most people have not caught up yet.

On stage, Shumer brings audiences inside the front lines of AI development. Rather than relying on abstract predictions, he draws on what he and other builders are already seeing in their work, helping leaders understand what matters now as AI begins to reshape industries and how knowledge work gets done.

Most people know Hank Azaria’s voice long before they know his face.

A six-time Emmy Award winner, Screen Actors Guild Award winner, and Tony Award nominee, Azaria is best known as the voice behind more than 100 characters on The Simpsons, including Moe Szyslak, Chief Wiggum, and Comic Book Guy. Across film, television, and theater, from The Birdcage to Brockmire and Ray Donovan, his career has been defined by an unusual ability to inhabit wildly different personalities while revealing something deeply human underneath.

That perspective has not come without reflection. In recent years, Azaria has spoken openly about voicing Apu, The Simpsons’ Indian convenience store owner, and the responsibility that comes with representation, ultimately stepping away from the role. He also shares his decades-long recovery from addiction and the ongoing discipline it requires, offering an honest look at the personal work behind growth and change.

On stage, Azaria reflects on creativity and reinvention through the lens of a lifetime spent studying how people communicate. Moving between personal stories and live character moments, he shares what performance reveals about empathy, adaptability, and connection. Audiences leave laughing and suddenly recognizing just how often Hank Azaria has been in their heads for years.

Jennifer Granholm is an American lawyer, educator, author and politician who served most recently as the 16^th United States Secretary of Energy, and previously as the two-term governor of Michigan. As governor, she spearheaded Michigan’s economic recovery after the Great Recession by diversifying the state’s economy to focus on clean energy and revitalizing the auto industry to build electric vehicles. 

As Secretary of Energy (2021-2025), Granholm restructured the U.S. Department of Energy to focus on research and development of advanced clean energy solutions and, importantly, deployment of zero-carbon technologies. She oversaw $200 billion of U.S. DOE investments into companies and projects to accelerate the clean energy transition. During her tenure as Secretary, thanks to the policies and laws that she helped to shape, the country saw record deployment of clean energy — adding the equivalent of 30 Hoover Dams of zero-carbon energy to the nation’s electricity grid in 2024, more than twice as much solar power deployed as ever before. Due to incentives to manufacture in America, businesses announced almost 1,000 factories were coming or expanding in the U.S. to build clean energy products -- solar panels, EVs, batteries, small nuclear reactors, clean hydrogen, geothermal and more. Thanks to DOE’s work, the nation’s transmission grid is seeing an 11X expansion of new transmission miles.

During her tenure as Secretary, DOE with its 110,000 employees was ranked among the Top 10 Best Places to Work in the Federal Government. Secretary Granholm was named in 2024 to the "TIME 100 Most Influential People" list, and Forbes’ list of "Top Climate Leaders."

Secretary Granholm taught law and public policy at UC Berkeley from 2011-2020, specializing in clean energy and public leadership. A former Attorney General of Michigan (1998-2002) and an honors graduate of Harvard Law School (1987), she is the author of A Governor's Story: The Fight for Jobs and America’s Economic Future, has penned scores of articles and opinion pieces on clean energy, and continues to play a leading role in shaping America’s energy future. Heralded for her forward-looking insight, Granholm brings a balanced and nuanced perspective sorely needed in today's divisive times. 

Joel Mokyr is a Nobel Prize–winning economic historian and one of the world’s leading thinkers on how innovation actually happens — why certain businesses, industries, and societies leap ahead while others stall. As the Robert H. Strotz Professor at Northwestern University, he has spent decades studying the cultural, institutional, and behavioral forces that spark technological breakthroughs and drive long-term economic growth.

For business audiences, Mokyr offers something rare: a deep, evidence-based understanding of the conditions that consistently produce progress. Drawing on centuries of economic history, he shows how ideas spread, how organizations create environments where creativity flourishes, and how cultures either accelerate or choke off innovation. His insights help leaders think more clearly about productivity, talent, risk, and the dynamics that shape competitive advantage. Engaging, surprising, and always relevant, Mokyr connects the patterns of the past to the strategic choices companies face today — illuminating what it really takes to build a future where growth is not accidental, but designed.

Jack Lew is a distinguished attorney, diplomat, and policymaker with a remarkable career spanning both public service and the private sector. As the 76th Secretary of the Treasury (2013–2017) and United States Ambassador to Israel, Lew played a pivotal role in shaping global economic policy and U.S. foreign relations. He also served as White House Chief of Staff (2012–2013) and Director of the Office of Management and Budget under both the Clinton and Obama administrations.

Lew’s extensive experience extends beyond government service. Prior to 2010, Lew served as managing director and chief operating officer for two different Citigroup business units. Lew was tapped by Citigroup for his work as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of New York​ University, where he was responsible for budget, finance, and operations, and served as a professor of public administration. From 2004 through 2008, Lew served on the Board of Directors of the Corporation for National and Community Service and chaired its Management, Administration, and Governance Committee. As Special Assistant to President Clinton from 1993 to 1994, Mr. Lew helped design Americorps, the national service program.

Lew began his career in Washington in 1973 as a legislative aide. From 1979 to 1987, he was a principal domestic policy advisor to House Speaker Thomas P. O'Neill, Jr, when he served the House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee as Assistant Director and then Executive Director. He was the Speaker's liaison to the Greenspan Commission, which negotiated a bipartisan solution to extend the solvency of Social Security in 1983, and he was responsible for domestic and economic issues, including Medicare, budget, tax, trade, appropriations, and energy issues. With deep expertise in public finance, policy, and international relations, Lew offers invaluable insights into leadership, economic strategy, and governance, making him an ideal speaker for audiences seeking perspectives on global economics and public service.

Madison Keys is one of professional tennis’s most commanding and admired players, known for her explosive power, composure under pressure, and authenticity on and off the court. A Grand Slam champion, Olympic semifinalist, and consistent Top 20 competitor, she’s built a career defined by excellence and heart.

Her 2025 Australian Open victory—where she upset four Top 10 seeds, including world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka—cemented her as a force of focus and resilience. It was a breakthrough that showcased not just athletic dominance, but mental mastery at the highest level of competition.

Beyond the game, Keys has become a leading voice for mental health and kindness in sports. As the founder of Kindness Wins, she uses her platform to champion empathy and the value of staying grounded in high-pressure worlds. As a speaker, Madison translates the lessons of elite competition into insights on leadership, resilience, and performing with clarity when the stakes are high.

De Kai is Professor of Computer Science and Engineering at HKUST and Distinguished Research Scholar at Berkeley’s International Computer Science Institute. De Kai invented and built the world’s first global-scale online language translator that spawned Google Translate, Yahoo Translate, and Microsoft Bing Translator.He is Independent Director of AI ethics think tank The Future Society, and was one of eight inaugural members of Google’s AI ethics council. For his pioneering contributions in AI, natural language processing, and machine learning, De Kai was honored by the Association for Computational Linguistics as one of only seventeen Founding Fellows and by Debrett’s as one of the 100 most influential figures of Hong Kong.

De Kai's new book, Raising AI, has taken the marketplace of ideas by storm. With a rare combination of visionary insight, deep technical expertise, and a compelling ability to communicate complex ideas to diverse audiences, De Kai is uniquely positioned to lead vital conversations on the future of AI and humanity. His groundbreaking work and global influence make him a catalyst for thought and action. Hiring De Kai means bringing bold ideas, ethical clarity, and transformative perspective to your stage.

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.

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.

Jeremy Pope made a name for himself by refusing to pick just one version of success. From earning historic dual Tony Award nominations on Broadway to his Golden Globe–nominated performance in The Inspection and starring role in Ryan Murphy’s The Beauty, Pope has consistently stepped into spaces where visibility carries real weight.

His path has never followed a single industry lane. Moving between theater, film, music, fashion, and visual art, Pope has learned how to evolve without losing ownership of his voice. His work often explores what it means to grow beyond expectation while navigating scrutiny, ambition, and cultural change.

On stage, Pope speaks about reinvention in an era where careers unfold publicly and identity is constantly negotiated. He offers a candid perspective on confidence, risk, and defining yourself before institutions or audiences attempt to do it for you. The conversation resonates with organizations and individuals facing change, visibility, and the pressure to adapt without losing authenticity.

Suzy Welch brings a rare combination of rigorous business expertise and deeply human insight — as an award-winning professor at NYU Stern School of Business, acclaimed management researcher, and New York Times bestselling author (most recently with Becoming You: A Proven Method for Crafting Your Authentic Life and Career, which debuted as a #1 bestseller on Amazon). A graduate of Harvard University and Harvard Business School, she’s a frequent guest on the Today Show, an op-ed contributor to The Wall Street Journal, and now leads the NYU | Stern Initiative on Purpose and Flourishing. Her groundbreaking “Becoming You” methodology — and related tools such as The Values Bridge and PIE360  — gives audiences an actionable framework for aligning purpose and performance, helping individuals and teams stop asking “What should I do?” and start living the life they want at home and work.

An emergency physician and Emmy Award–winning writer, Joe Sachs has built a career shaping how millions understand medicine while continuing to practice it himself.

Sachs spent fifteen years writing and producing ER, crafting more than thirty episodes of the landmark series, and now serves as Executive Producer of HBO Max’s The Pitt. At the same time, he continues to treat patients at a Los Angeles trauma center, grounding his work in real cases, real pressure, and the consequences that follow.

That dual perspective defines his work. Sachs translates high-stakes clinical reality into narratives that resonate far beyond the hospital, earning recognition from the Humanitas Prize, the Writers Guild, and TIME, which named him one of the most influential people in health.

On stage, Sachs brings audiences inside moments where decisions carry weight, communication shapes outcomes, and clarity is not optional, offering a perspective that connects leadership, responsibility, and what it means to act when it matters most.

Most champions leave the sport with a record. Andre Ward left it without a loss.

An Olympic gold medalist and undefeated world champion across two weight classes, Ward retired as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world, capping a 21-year career without a single professional defeat. But what separates him is not just dominance. It is discipline. Known as “SOG” or “Son of God,” Ward built his career on preparation, restraint, and the ability to stay composed when everything was on the line.

Since stepping out of the ring, Ward has become one of the most respected voices in boxing, calling the sport’s biggest fights and earning top honors in broadcast journalism. He brings the same clarity and control to commentary that defined his career in the ring, breaking down high-pressure moments with precision and honesty.

On stage, Ward translates that experience into something more personal. He speaks about what it takes to stay grounded while pursuing excellence, how to lead with conviction when the stakes are high, and why discipline, not hype, is what sustains success. His perspective is shaped by moments where there was no margin for error and no one else to rely on.

The result is a talk that resonates far beyond sports. Ward gives audiences a clear, hard-earned framework for performing under pressure, staying true to their values, and doing the work that success actually requires.

Most people think they understand beauty. Winnie Harlow made a career proving how narrow that definition really is.

A globally recognized supermodel and beauty entrepreneur, Harlow did not just break into fashion. She changed what it looks like. Diagnosed with vitiligo at age four, she turned visibility into power, becoming one of the most recognizable faces in the industry and a defining voice on representation. From her groundbreaking Madame Tussauds figure to global honors like Canada’s Global Citizen Award, her influence moves well beyond the runway.

She is also building what comes next. As the founder of Cay Skin, launched with $4.1 million in funding, Harlow is creating products and a brand that reflect a more inclusive vision of beauty.

On stage, Harlow is sharp, candid, and disarming. She challenges audiences to rethink who sets the standard and why it matters now, leaving them with a clear edge: the brands and leaders who stand out are the ones willing to be seen differently.

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.

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.

Jamahl Mosley is one of the NBA's rising coaching stars, having orchestrated one of the league's most impressive turnarounds as the 15th head coach in Orlando Magic franchise history by transforming the franchise from a 22-60 rebuilding team into playoff contenders with a 47-35 record, a Southeast Division title, and their first playoff berth since 2020 during the 2023-24 season—earning him second place in NBA Coach of the Year voting. What sets Mosley apart is his ability to build a strong culture rooted in defense, development, and resilience, maintaining an elite top 3 NBA defense for two consecutive seasons while earning widespread praise for exceptional player development and guiding the team to success despite significant roster injuries.

As a speaker, Mosley offers authentic insights on leadership, team building, resilience, and creating high-performing cultures—his journey from a 22-win debut season to playoff success providing powerful lessons for leaders seeking to transform organizations, develop talent, and build teams that exceed expectations through collaboration and commitment to excellence.

Trajan Langdon is President of Basketball Operations for the Detroit Pistons and a decisive leader who changes outcomes fast. In his first year in the role, he engineered one of the NBA’s most dramatic turnarounds, transforming a 14-win team into a 44–38 playoff contender and earning top-three recognition for NBA Executive of the Year. The impact was immediate and unmistakable.

Drawing on his experience as a Duke standout shaped by championship standards, Langdon moved quickly to reset the organization. The result was a franchise with clearer direction, stronger belief, and a culture built to win.

As a speaker, Langdon takes audiences inside what real transformation looks like when the clock is ticking and scrutiny is high. He speaks candidly about making consequential decisions early, rebuilding trust, and creating environments where people perform at their best. Leaders bring him in when they want a grounded, modern perspective on how winning cultures are actually built and sustained.

J.B. Bickerstaff is one of the NBA’s most respected turnaround leaders. As head coach of the Detroit Pistons, he led the franchise back to the playoffs for the first time since 2019, tripled the team’s win total from the previous season, and earned runner-up honors for NBA Coach of the Year. In 2025, he reached 300 career wins, becoming one of a small group of coaches in league history to hit the milestone and the first to do so alongside his father, Bernie Bickerstaff.

As a speaker, Bickerstaff talks honestly about earning trust in losing environments, making decisions when patience is thin, and leading people who are tired of hearing speeches. His message resonates with organizations looking for leaders who can move teams forward under real pressure.

Cheryl Reeve is one of the most accomplished leaders in professional sports. As Head Coach and President of Basketball Operations for the Minnesota Lynx, she built a dynasty defined by sustained excellence. In 2024, she led the USA Women’s National Team to gold at the 2024 Olympic Games Paris, extending the longest Olympic gold medal streak in a traditional team sport. Across her career, Reeve has earned six WNBA championships, four Coach of the Year awards, and Executive of the Year honors through results delivered across eras, rosters, and competitive cycles.

As a speaker, Reeve brings the perspective of a leader who has made high-stakes decisions from the top of the organization, not just the sideline. She speaks with clarity about building winning cultures, holding standards over time, and performing when expectations are highest. Her insights resonate with organizations facing pressure or transition because they come from decades of experience leading teams where accountability is visible, decisions are public, and outcomes are non-negotiable.

Chris Finch is the architect behind one of the NBA’s most dramatic turnarounds. As head coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves, he reshaped a long-struggling franchise into a Western Conference finalist and one of the league’s most disciplined, resilient teams. His leadership delivered the highest winning percentage in team history, four straight playoff appearances, and recognition as head coach of the 2024 NBA All-Star Game.

As a speaker, Finch translates elite coaching into practical leadership insight. He speaks candidly about accountability, mental toughness, and building belief inside high-pressure environments. Audiences come away with a clear understanding of how strong culture is built, how performance is sustained, and how leaders earn trust when the stakes are highest.

Brad Underwood has reinvigorated Illinois basketball, transforming the Fighting Illini into a consistent national contender since arriving in Champaign in March 2017. In 2024, Underwood led Illinois to historic heights, capturing the Big Ten Tournament Championship and advancing to the Elite Eight, becoming the first coach in Illinois history to win multiple Big Ten Tournament titles with the program hoisting a conference trophy for the third time in just four years. Over his 11 years as a Division I head coach, he has compiled an impressive 69% winning percentage, recorded nine 20-win seasons, and made eight NCAA Tournament appearances.

As a speaker, Underwood offers powerful insights on leadership, resilience, continuous improvement, and building championship cultures—providing actionable lessons for organizations seeking to elevate performance and create environments where individuals and teams thrive under pressure.

Widely regarded as the G.O.A.T. of professional surfing, Kelly Slater is an 11-time World Surf League Champion whose career spans over three decades at the pinnacle of sport. A global icon and sustainability entrepreneur, he brings unmatched insight into peak performance, resilience, and purpose-driven leadership. Known for his ability to adapt to constantly changing conditions—both in the ocean and in life—he inspires audiences to embrace uncertainty, stay focused under pressure, and push beyond perceived limits. As the founder of the eco-conscious apparel brand Outerknown and a passionate ocean advocate, Slater also demonstrates how sustainability can drive innovation, strengthen brands, and create lasting impact. Whether sharing lessons from the champion’s mindset, strategies for thriving in high-change environments, or his vision for a more sustainable future, Kelly delivers an unforgettable, authentic, and energizing experience for any audience.

Figure skating demands extraordinary precision. Madison Chock and Evan Bates have spent fifteen years mastering that balance, first as partners and now as husband and wife.

In that time, they became the most decorated American ice dance team in history. Their résumé includes Olympic team gold in 2022 and 2026, an Olympic silver medal in ice dance at the 2026 Winter Games, three consecutive World Championships from 2023 through 2025, and a record-breaking seven U.S. national titles. At the 2026 Closing Ceremony, Bates carried the American flag for Team USA, a reflection of the respect they have earned across the Olympic movement.

Elite sports rarely reward longevity, yet Chock and Bates built a partnership that has endured and evolved under constant pressure. On stage, they share what that kind of collaboration really requires: trust built over time, creative reinvention, and the discipline it takes for two people to stay perfectly aligned when the stakes are highest.

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, is a father, humanitarian, military veteran, and mental health advocate dedicated to driving permanent global change. During his ten years in the British Armed Forces, he completed two tours in Afghanistan. After, he founded the Invictus Games Foundation, a world-renowned sports platform for the rehabilitation of wounded and injured service personnel.

Prince Harry is also the founder and/or patron of a number of global charities including Travalyst, Sentebale, WellChild, and Scotty’s Little Soldiers, and he sits on the board of African Parks. Alongside his wife, Meghan, he co-founded Archewell Philanthropies to support communities in need, and Archewell Productions to produce inspiring content. He was named Chief Impact Officer at BetterUp in 2021, the largest mental health and coaching startup in the world. His leadership in both environment and mental health advocacy has earned him recognition from TIME Magazine’s "100 Most Influential People" alongside his wife in 2018, 2021, and for his climate work in 2024.

A New York Times bestselling author, his memoir Spare became the fastest-selling non-fiction book in history on its first day. Prince Harry lives in California with Meghan and their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.

Alysa Liu retired from figure skating at sixteen, returned years later for the joy of it, and ended up on top of the Olympic podium.

A certified prodigy who became the youngest U.S. Figure Skating Champion at just 13, Liu made the rare decision to walk away at the height of global attention. She chose college, anonymity, and distance from the pressure that had shaped her childhood. Stepping outside elite competition allowed her to rediscover something the sport often erodes: genuine joy.

When she returned two years later, the pressure was gone. So was the need to conform to a sport long defined by rigidity and perfectionism. Skating to disco with unmistakable joy and unapologetic individuality, Liu transformed elite competition into something audiences could feel. Her viral performances captured attention not just for technical brilliance, but for freedom rarely seen at the highest level.

The comeback became historic. Liu claimed the 2025 World Championship before delivering a performance for the ages at the 2026 Olympic Winter Games, securing gold and becoming the first American woman in more than two decades to win the Olympic figure skating title.

On stage, Liu reflects on what changed when excellence was no longer driven by fear. She speaks openly about stepping away from expectation, rebuilding confidence outside competition, and returning with a healthier relationship to performance. Her story challenges the idea that pressure creates champions, proving that freedom can.

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.

An Academy Award. A billion-dollar franchise. A presence the camera cannot ignore.

Lupita Nyong’o commands space in any medium she enters. Her Oscar-winning breakthrough in 12 Years a Slave announced a singular talent. Black Panther helped redefine what a global blockbuster could look like. In Us and A Quiet Place: Day One, she anchors high-stakes storytelling on restraint and control alone, holding audiences in complete silence or collective breath.

Her reach extends well beyond Hollywood. The #1 New York Times bestselling author of Sulwe and host of the Webby Award–winning podcast Mind Your Own, Nyong’o shapes global conversations about identity and belonging. Her advocacy for women’s health, including funding research for uterine fibroids, reflects a clear throughline: influence is most powerful when used with intention. 

As the newly appointed Ambassador for Global Climate Diplomacy for the UN COP30 in Brazil, Eric Garcetti stands at the intersection of international leadership, environmental action, and geopolitical strategy. He is a uniquely positioned global voice on diplomacy, sustainability, and the future of cities in a rapidly shifting world order.

Previously, as the 26th U.S. Ambassador to India, Garcetti helped steer one of America’s most consequential alliances during a time of profound geopolitical realignment — deepening cooperation on defense, climate, technology, and democratic values amid rising tensions with China and shifting Indo-Pacific dynamics. His diplomatic efforts placed him at the heart of global power conversations, where he engaged heads of state, Fortune 500 CEOs, and security leaders to advance regional stability and global economic partnerships.

Garcetti also served as the 42nd Mayor of Los Angeles, leading one of the world's most diverse and globally connected cities through a decade of transformative change. Under his leadership, L.A. became a model for climate resilience, smart infrastructure, inclusive economic growth, and innovative urban policy while governing a metropolis whose economy rivals that of many nations.

A Rhodes Scholar and Navy Reserve intelligence officer, Garcetti offers unparalleled insight into the convergence of diplomacy, technology, climate, and urban strategy. Whether speaking on U.S. foreign policy, the global balance of power, city-led climate innovation, or leadership in polarized times, he brings global fluency, grounded experience, and the pragmatic optimism of a leader operating at the highest levels of influence.

Jack Cocchiarella built his platform by doing something most political media avoids: letting real conversations play out in real time. With more than 1.4 million YouTube subscribers and nearly 2 million followers across platforms, he has become a leading progressive voice for audiences who want substance over spin. His interviews with figures like Governor Gavin Newsom, Zohran Mamdani, and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries land because they are direct and driven by the questions voters are actually asking.

A recent Columbia University graduate in Political Science, Cocchiarella approaches politics with fluency and urgency. As a speaker, he offers a front-row view of how political narratives take shape online, how trust is built with younger audiences, and why credibility now matters more than polish. His perspective resonates with organizations trying to understand where influence is coming from and how quickly it can move.

Ambassador Daniel B. Shapiro is a distinguished diplomat and foreign policy expert with over two decades of experience in senior U.S. government positions. Most recently, he was the top Middle East policy official at the Pentagon, serving as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for the Middle East, where he coordinated the Department of Defense's response to the October 7, 2023 terrorist attacks and the multi-front war that followed. 

Shapiro served as U.S. Ambassador to Israel for over five years during the Obama Administration. Under President Biden, prior to joining the Pentagon, he was the U.S. State Department's Senior Adviser on Middle East Regional Integration, the first senior official dedicated to expanding the Abraham Accords. His government tenure has also included two tours of service on the National Security Council. 

In addition to his government service, Ambassador Shapiro served as a Distinguished Fellow at the Atlantic Council, where he spearheaded the N7 Initiative focused on regional integration and as a Distinguished Visiting Fellow at the Institute for National Security Studies in Tel Aviv. He has spoken to groups such as AIPAC, Tablet Magazine, UC Berkley, and more. A sought-after speaker and media commentator, Ambassador Shapiro engages global audiences on critical issues concerning U.S. foreign policy and the Middle East.

Tiffany Derry is a nationally recognized chef and entrepreneur who has built and scaled successful hospitality businesses in highly competitive markets. Known to broad audiences through MasterChef and Top Chef, Tiffany has developed a portfolio of business ventures that includes co-founding T2D Concepts, a purpose-driven hospitality company that develops and operates restaurant brands, as well as the ‘Shef Tiffany spice line and the DerryWear apparel brand. Her experience is directly relevant to organizations operating under scrutiny, where execution matters and missteps are visible.

As a speaker, Derry brings an operator’s perspective on leadership under pressure. Denied her first cooking job at 15 because of race and gender, she built credibility through execution rather than permission. She speaks about making decisions when the margin for error is thin and results are immediate. Her perspective resonates with organizations responsible for performance and long-term durability.

Kenny "The Jet" Smith is an iconic figure in basketball and sports broadcasting, with a career that spans the NBA court and Sports Emmy Award-winning television. Smith played ten seasons in the NBA, with time spent as a member of the Sacramento Kings, Atlanta Hawks, Detroit Pistons, Orlando Magic, Denver Nuggets, and the Houston Rockets, where he won back-to-back NBA championships in 1994 and 1995.

Following his on-court success, Smith became a household name as a studio analyst on TNT’s Inside the NBA, one of the most celebrated and entertaining shows in sports media, alongside Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal, and Ernie Johnson. He is also a longtime CBS analyst for the NCAA March Madness tournament and, under a multi-year agreement, now appears across additional ESPN programming, including First Take, further expanding his presence across the sports media landscape.

Drawing from his experiences on the court, behind the camera, and throughout his life, Smith brings infectious energy and sharp perspective to every audience. He shares lessons on leadership, teamwork, and sustained excellence, as well as insights from his memoir Talk of Champions: Stories of the People Who Made Me. In person, Smith offers a candid, unforgettable glimpse inside the rarified world of elite sports and broadcasting, with valuable takeaways for any audience.

Columbia Business School professor Dr. Sheena Iyengar is a world expert on choice and decision-making. Her book The Art of Choosing received the Financial Times and Goldman Sachs Business Book of the Year and inspired an eponymous TED Talk.  Her subsequent book, Think Bigger, was a Gold Medal Winner of the 2024 Axiom Business Book Award. Her research is regularly cited in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and The Economist as well as in popular books, such as Malcolm Gladwell’s Blink and Aziz Ansari’s Modern Romance. Dr. Iyengar has also appeared on television, including The Today Show, The Daily Show, and Fareed Zakaria’s GPS on CNN. Her TED Talks have collectively received 7M views and her research continues to inform markets, businesses, and individuals around the world.

Dr. Iyengar has been named a member of Thinkers50, a global ranking of the top 50 management thinkers. She won the Dean’s Award for Outstanding Core Teaching from Columbia Business School in 2012 and was named one of the World’s Best B-School Professors by Poets and Quants. She has also given keynotes and consulted for companies as wide-ranging as Deloitte, Google, Bloomberg, Blizzard Entertainment, J.P. Morgan & Chase, and The North Face.

Andrew McMahon is a platinum-selling musician and cancer survivor whose career has been defined by reinvention. Diagnosed with leukemia at 22, he returned to the stage and went on to build lasting success across multiple bands and eras of the music industry, while founding the Dear Jack Foundation to support young adults facing cancer. His story reflects what it takes to keep moving when life forces a reset.

As a speaker, McMahon brings uncommon credibility to conversations about pressure, change, and resilience. He speaks from lived experience about sustaining creativity and staying grounded when familiar structures fall away. His talks are candid and steady, helping audiences rethink what matters and move forward with greater confidence during moments of transition.

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.

In a culture that talks endlessly about wellness, Tay Lautner focuses on what people can do that makes a difference. A registered nurse and mental health advocate, Lautner has become a trusted voice for people looking for more than surface-level advice. As co-host of The Squeeze with her husband Taylor Lautner, she leads conversations that feel direct and unfiltered, revealing what real support looks like when life is messy. She also founded the Lemons Foundation to make mental health resources easier to access.

Her work is shaped by clinical training and by seeing how stress and isolation pull people away from who they want to be. She shows audiences how caring for their mental health strengthens everything else: work, relationships, energy, purpose. In 2025 she received Maybelline and NAMI’s Be Brave Award for her leadership in mental health advocacy.

Onstage, Lautner talks about what works when habits have collapsed and familiar strategies do not help. She shows audiences how to stay grounded under pressure, support others without losing themselves, and build routines that hold up. 

Jonathan Kanter — Leading Authority on AI, Competition, and the Future of Market Power

As the former Assistant Attorney General for Antitrust at the U.S. Department of Justice (2021–2024), Jonathan Kanter has been at the forefront of the most defining economic and technological battles of our time—namely, the rise of artificial intelligence, digital dominance, and fair competition in global markets. Widely regarded as one of the nation’s most influential antitrust thinkers, he led landmark efforts to modernize enforcement for the AI era, ensuring innovation thrives while preventing monopoly abuses from stifling new entrants.

Today, Kanter is uniquely positioned to help companies understand what’s coming next. His insights translate complex regulatory shifts into clear, strategic guidance for leaders navigating rapid technological change. Whether discussing responsible AI deployment, market fairness, or the evolving dynamics between Big Tech and emerging disruptors, Kanter delivers a powerful message: organizations that prepare for competitive resilience now will be the ones shaping the future economy.

Perfect for leadership teams, corporate boards, and industries undergoing digital transformation, Kanter’s keynotes and conversations equip audiences with a forward-looking playbook to stay compliant, innovative, and ahead of the curve in a world where AI is rewriting the rules.

Dr. Efrat “Dr. E” LaMandre is on a mission to end medical gaslighting and transform how people experience healthcare. A nationally recognized Nurse Practitioner, bestselling author, and one of the most visible disruptors in medicine, Dr. E has become the trusted voice millions turn to when they feel dismissed, unheard, or confused by the system.

Her bold message—that your symptoms are real, and you deserve answers—has made her a regular contributor on NBC, FOX, ABC, CBS, NewsNation, and Scripps News. Her viral short-form videos have been viewed over 30 million times across TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, while her newsletter reaches 100,000+ engaged readers each week. She also hosts The Medical Disruptor Podcast, where she interviews innovators who challenge the status quo in healthcare.

Dr. E brings a rare perspective: she built one of the nation’s largest NP-led practices, serves as a national leader in advancing the Nurse Practitioner role, and leads multiple healthcare ventures. With every talk, she combines clinical insight, patient advocacy, and leadership lessons—leaving audiences validated, empowered, and equipped to act. Dr. E speaks to patients, practitioners, and the public with a clear message: your voice matters, your symptoms are real, and you deserve answers.

Trevor Wallace has built a comedy career that bridges the internet and the stage, turning viral sketches into a sold-out international tour. A stand-up comedian, writer, and actor, Wallace has built an audience of more than 16 million fans and over 2.5 billion views with a signature style that roasts modern masculinity with accuracy and affection.

Featured by Comedy Central, MTV, and The New York Times, Wallace has become a defining voice in both digital and live comedy. His collaborations with brands like Chipotle, Bumble, and Snickers highlight a unique blend of cultural fluency and timing that connects across audiences and industries. Following his sold-out Are You That Guy? theater tour, Wallace released his first hour-long special, Pterodactyl, now streaming on Prime Video.

On stage and in conversation, Wallace brings creative energy and cultural awareness to every crowd, offering a hilarious, unfiltered look at the internet-shaped world we all live in.

Jeff Ross is a writer, actor, and comedian known worldwide as The Roastmaster General. With fearless humor and emotional depth, he has elevated the roast into a powerful form of storytelling that celebrates truth, connection, and resilience. Through hit Netflix specials like Bumping Mics and Torching 2024 and his one-man musical Take a Banana for the Ride, Ross explores love, loss, and the shared humanity that comedy reveals. His iconic roasts of Tom Brady, Justin Bieber, and countless others have made him one of the most distinctive and enduring voices in modern comedy.

In his talks, Ross shares how humor can build bridges, challenge assumptions, and create space for authenticity in both work and life. He invites audiences to see laughter not just as entertainment but as a tool for creativity, empathy, and lasting connection.

Dexter Fowler is a World Series champion and MLB All-Star whose leadership helped propel the Chicago Cubs to their historic 2016 title. Known throughout his 14-year career as a dynamic switch-hitter and clubhouse catalyst, Fowler has since redefined himself as a broadcaster, entrepreneur, and investor. He’s a studio analyst for MLB on FOX, TBS, and MLB Network, co-founder of 400 Ventures, and part of the ownership group of Premier League club AFC Bournemouth.

Now one of sports’ most engaging new voices, Fowler brings the same energy and insight to audiences that he once brought to the field. He shares lessons on resilience, teamwork, and building a winning culture, weaving in his own story of reinvention: earning a college degree after retirement, competing in high-profile golf tournaments, and embracing life as a proud dance dad. Blending the wisdom of a champion with the perspective of someone navigating family, business, and life after the game, Fowler leaves audiences with lessons that resonate far beyond sports.

Aaron Parnas is one of Gen Z’s sharpest political voices, translating court rulings, legislative battles, and election drama into fast, accessible insights that often go viral. That mix of legal expertise and digital savvy has now made him the top “news” writer on Substack, where his rapid insights reach millions. The youngest ever JD graduate from George Washington University, Aaron combines a sharp mind with a keen sense of humor to navigate the intersections of politics, media, and law, making him a must-see speaker for anyone seeking a real understanding of what’s happening in Washington and beyond.

From shaping the digital conversation around the 2022 and 2024 elections to conducting high-profile interviews during historic Senate moments, Aaron brings energy, perspective, and a knack for making politics feel urgent and personal. Aaron inspires audiences to see how their voices matter in today’s fast-moving political landscape.

Academy-Award winning writer, director, and renowned playwright Aaron Sorkin brings a wealth of creative insight and storytelling mastery to any speaking event. Sorkin made his Broadway playwriting debut at the age of 28 with the military courtroom drama A Few Good Men, for which he received the John Gassner Award as Outstanding New American Playwright. Sorkin made the jump to feature films with his 1993 adaptation of his play A Few Good Men, nominated for four Academy Awards including Best Picture followed by Malice, The American President, and Charlie Wilson’s War. In 2011, Sorkin won the Academy Award, Critics’ Choice Award, British Academy of Film and Television Arts Award, and Writers Guild Award in the Best Adapted Screenplay category as well as the USC Scripter Award for The Social Network. The following year, Sorkin adapted Moneyball for the big screen and won Critics’ Choice Award and New York Film Critics’ Award for Best Adapted Screenplay and went on to receive four Academy Award nominations including Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay. For television, Sorkin created and produced NBC’s renowned series The West Wing, which earned nine Emmy nominations in its first season. The series went on to win a total of 26 Primetime Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Drama Series for four consecutive years. For his work on the series, Sorkin twice received the Peabody Award and Humanitas Prize, as well as three Television Critics Association Awards, three Producers Guild Awards, and a Writers Guild Award.

For his many other popular works, Sorkin has also received nominations for a Broadcast Film Critics’ Association (BFCA) Critics’ Choice Award, BAFTA Awards, Writers Guild Awards, and multiple regional critics’ association awards. As one of the most highly-lauded writers of our time, Sorkin’s conversations blend entertainment industry insights with broader lessons about leadership, integrity, and creative innovation.

Wendy McMahon: Transformational Leader with a Vision for the Future

Wendy McMahon is a pioneering executive recognized for driving innovation, building high-performing teams, and transforming legacy institutions into modern, mission-driven organizations. As President & CEO of CBS News and Stations—and previously as President of ABC Owned Television Stations—McMahon led groundbreaking shifts in digital strategy, expanded local journalism, and built nationally recognized content brands. A champion of creativity, culture, and accountability, she brings a deep understanding of how to lead through complexity and inspire teams to thrive amid constant change. With decades of experience at the helm of some of the nation’s most trusted news platforms, McMahon speaks with clarity and credibility on what it takes to lead with vision, values, and results.

Katie Shober is the vibrant force behind Beach Reads & Bubbly, a wildly popular book community bringing together thousands of readers through a fresh, relatable, and joyfully curated approach to reading. What began as a personal Instagram book review project in 2020 has evolved into a thriving hub of literary discovery, lifestyle content, and authentic connection. Whether you're a lifelong bookworm or just getting back into reading, Katie makes literature feel accessible, exciting, and fun. Through her signature programs like Classic Book Club and B.R.A.D.S (Beach Reads After Dark), Katie has created a space where storytelling, self-expression, and community collide. With charm, insight, and a deep passion for books and beauty, Katie inspires audiences to fall (back) in love with reading and the joy of sharing it.

Organizations love bringing Katie to the stage for her infectious energy, her ability to spark meaningful conversations, and her talent for building inclusive, engaged communities. She offers a unique perspective at the intersection of literature, lifestyle, and digital influence—perfect for events focused on creativity, media, branding, and modern storytelling. Whether she's speaking to educators, content creators, publishers, or book lovers, Katie leaves audiences energized, empowered, and ready to turn the page on something new.

Renowned conductor James Conlon has cultivated a vast symphonic, operatic, and choral repertoire and is one of today’s most versatile and respected conductors and educators. Mr. Conlon has spoken internationally about the power of creativity, the enduring importance of classical music, and leadership insights that resonate across industries.

Since his 1974 debut with the New York Philharmonic, Mr. Conlon has conducted virtually every major American and European symphony orchestra. He is Music Director of LA Opera, with whom he has won four Grammy Awards and led more performances than any other conductor in the company’s history, and also serves as Artistic Director of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. Through worldwide touring, an extensive discography and videography, numerous writings, television appearances and guest speaking engagements, he is one of classical music’s most recognized and prolific figures.

Mr. Conlon is an enthusiastic advocate of the role music plays in our shared humanity and civic life. He has worked to call attention to the works of composers silenced by the Nazi regime – which led to the creation of The OREL Foundation, the Ziering-Conlon Initiative for Recovered Voices, and his popular TEDx Talk “Resurrecting Forbidden Music.” Mr. Conlon has received numerous honorary doctorates and accolades including the Legion d’Honneur – France’s highest honor – and was personally inducted by then-President Jacques Chirac.

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

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