Authors of Inspiration
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Authors of Inspiration
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Actress, Writer and Comedian
Known for her television roles on the American version of The Office and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Ellie Kemper is an actress, writer, comedian
Award-Winning Journalist and Best-Selling Novelist
A master storyteller and one of the top media executives in the world, Ben Sherwood served as Co-Chairman of Disney Media Networks and President of Disney|ABC Television Group from 2014…
Famed Director, Producer, and Actor Co-Host of the 11 Year Running SModcast
Kevin Smith spent nearly twenty years making filthy movies like Clerks, Mallrats, Chasing Amy, Dogma, Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back, and most recently Red State. He also spent nearly…
Comedian, Writer and Disability Advocate Princeton University Arts Fellow for 2021-23
Renowned comedian, actress, writer, and disability advocate Maysoon Zayid jokes that if there were a competition called the Oppression Olympics, she would win gold. “I’m Palestinian, Muslim, I’m a woman…
Best selling Author & Viral Comedian and Writer
In April 2020, Sarah Copper went viral with her brilliant satirical lip-sync impressions of our current president. She has been retweeted and praised by the likes of Lin-Manuel Miranda, Ben…
Democratic Presidential Candidate for the 2020 Election, Political Analyst, NBC News and MSNBC
Julián Castro has distinguished himself as a strong leader and successful public servant for nearly two decades.
Co-Host, CBS' The Talk, Former Broadway Dancer and Radio City Rockette
Amanda Kloots is a former Broadway dancer and Radio City Rockette turned entrepreneur and celebrity trainer. Now, a co-host on CBS’s The Talk. Amanda approaches life with positivity despite what challenges…
Leading Political Pundit, “One of the Top 50 Journalists,” Washingtonian Magazine
Steve Roberts has been a journalist for almost 50 years, covering some of the major events of his time, from the antiwar movement and student revolts of the 60s and…
Founder, CEO and Chief Mentor of ThreeEQ, Board/CEO Advisor and Global Rainmaker
Jason Ma 馬良傑 is an influential G20 business and education leader, preeminent success coach/mentor to next-generation leaders, boardroom/C-suite strategic advisor, acclaimed author, and sought-after speaker and masterclass leader. Onstage and “uncaged” in ballrooms…
Co-Author of the Bestselling Series Small Miracles, With Two Million Copies in Print
Yitta Halberstam, co-author of the bestselling Small Miracles series with two million copies in print, is the daughter of a Chassidic Rabbi and scion of a famous Chassidic dynasty that…
Civil Rights Activist & Former Executive Director of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC)
Ambassador, Congressman, Mayor, humanitarian, ordained minister, international businessman, and sports enthusiast, Andrew Young has been serving and shaping our country for almost 50 years.
Workplace Performance Expert
A teacher of peak performance, author of impactful books and presentations, and a lifelong student of success, happiness, and achievement, Dan Thurmon is on a mission. To encourage attendees’ uniqueness…
Counselor to President George W. Bush
One of the world's foremost communication strategists, Karen Hughes specializes in strategic messaging, crisis communications, and executive positioning with clients ranging from global corporations to Fortune 500 CEOs.
U.S. Senate Majority Leader (2003-2007)
Uniquely qualified to discuss the challenges and solutions in health policy, Senator (and Dr.) Bill Frist is consistently recognized among the most influential leaders in American healthcare. He is a nationally acclaimed…
Author, Activist, and Founder of Together Rising
Glennon Doyle is the author of the #1 New York Times bestseller UNTAMED
First Black Civilian Astronaut
Dr. Proctor is a geoscientist, explorer, space artist, and astronaut.
Pulitzer Prize-Winning Columnist for The Wall Street Journal, Bestselling Author, The Time of Our Lives, Political Analyst, NBC News & MSNBC, Former Special Assistant & Speechwriter to President Ronald Reagan
Peggy Noonan is a Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist for the Wall Street Journal and bestselling author of nine books on American politics, history and culture. Her Wall Street Journal column, Declarations, has run each week since 2000,…
Leading Speaker on Leadership, Entrepreneurship, and Personal Development
I worked my way through James Madison University as a forklift driver and all-around gofer at a printing plant. I liked manufacturing and production work, so after graduation I took…
United Nations Messenger of Peace
In July 1960, Jane Goodall began her landmark study of chimpanzee behavior in what is now Tanzania. Her work at Gombe Stream would become the foundation of future primatological research…
Viral BuzzFeed Writer, Producer, Director, and Actress
Ashly is a writer, director, and producer. Formerly of BuzzFeed, she is currently a story editor on Freeform’s Good Trouble. Most recently she served as a Senior Producer on the Biden/Harris campaign…
Actress, Comedian, Writer, Host of Netflix's Emmy-Nominated Nailed It
Nicole is one of the most versatile and recognizable voices in the comedy landscape today. She currently stars as host of Netflix’s Emmy-nominated competition baking series Nailed It, which was just…
Actress and Recording Artist, New York Times Best-Selling Author 'The Good Fight', Host of podcast 'Whine Down with Jana Kramer', Entrepreneur and Co-Founder of 'Moms and Babes Box'
Jana Kramer is an actress, ACM award-winning country music singer and a New York Times best-selling author. Known by her fans for her honesty and willingness to be vulnerable, Kramer launched the…
CEO and Founder, Uncommon James, 3-Time NYT Bestselling Author, TV Personality and Host
Born in Denver, Colorado, the Rocky Mountains couldn’t have predicted what was in store for Kristin Cavallari when she headed west to live with her father and brother in Laguna…
Award-Winning Actress, Radio Host, “The Janine Turner Show”, Founder, Constituting America
Janine Turner is an Emmy and three-time Golden Globe-nominated actress known to millions of fans for her role in the hit CBS television show, Northern Exposure. She recently completed filming the…
Actress, American Heart Association “Go Red for Women” Spokesperson
Lorraine Bracco is best known for her roles as Dr. Jennifer Melfi on the hit HBO TV series, The Sopranos and Karen Hill in Goodfellas. At the podium, Bracco delivers an inspiring…
Famed Dog Trainer and Behavior Expert New York Times Bestselling Author of 'The Loved Dog'
Tamar Geller is a dog trainer, a behavior expert, and a New York Times bestselling author who developed '"The Loved Dog" method of dog training. Known for her innovative method that is based in…
Model Television Personality Bestselling Cookbook Author & Food Blogger Entrepreneur
Chrissy Teigen is a New York Times #1 bestselling author, TV personality and the founder of Cravings. In 2019 Teigen was included on TIME Magazine’s prestigious annual list of the “100 Most Influential People” as…
Trailblazing Violinist, Composer, and Dancer YouTube Phenom with 13M Subscribers and Over 3 Billion Views
Lindsey Stirling is one of the biggest artist development breakthrough stories in recent years. An acclaimed violinist from Gilbert, Ariz., Lindsey has entered a futuristic world of electronic big beats…
Emmy Award-Winning Actor, Comedian, Writer
Schwartz can be seen alongside Thomas Middleditch in their Netflix specials, Middleditch & Schwartz. The specials are based on their completely improvised two person show that they took on tour through…
The Cake Boss
Buddy Valastro is the Cake Boss, a bestselling author and the celebrity baker of several hit tv shows. Known for his affability and family-first message, Buddy is an audience favorite…
Author of Welcome to the Goddamn Ice Cube
Blair Braverman is an author and dogsledder whose stories are equally riveting on and off the page. She and her dogs have traveled through thousands of miles of wilderness in…
African American Woman USAF U-2 Pilot
Colonel Merryl Tengesdal (ret.) is the first and only African American woman to fly the United States Air Force’s U-2 “Dragon Lady” high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft. As a former Naval Aviator…
Co-Founder, National Women’s Political Caucus
Gloria Steinem remains an iconic and inspiring voice, and one of the most visible symbols of the women's movement.
27th Prime Minister of Australia
Julia Gillard was the 27th Prime Minister of Australia.
Advocate for Women's Rights and Health
Emmy-nominated Padma Lakshmi is internationally known as a food expert, model, actress and bestselling author, and activist. Lakshmi serves as host and an executive producer of Bravo’s Emmy award-winning Top Chef,…
First African American Woman in Space, Founder and President, the Jemison Group and BioSentient Corp, Two Medical Technology Companies
Dr. Mae C. Jemison broke more than the sound barrier in 1992 when she climbed aboard the space shuttle Endeavour and became the first woman of color to travel into space.
Four-time Olympian
Armed with the same energy and dedication that he put into his athletic career.
Voice for Global Social Change
Elizabeth Nyamayaro, a former Senior Advisor at the United Nations on Gender Equality and the founder and CEO of AfricaYouth.org, spent her childhood in an African village that was ravaged…
Renowned New York Times Food Writer
Priya Krishna is a food writer who contributes regularly to the New York Times, and the author of the best-selling cookbook Indian-ish, which she wrote with her mother. Her YouTube videos teaching…
Co-Founder of Supermajority & Gender Equity Advocate; Former President of Planned Parenthood
Cecile Richards, Co-Founder of Supermajority and Former President of Planned Parenthood Federation of America and Planned Parenthood Action Fund (2006-2018), is a globally respected activist and social justice leader.
Political Contributor, CBS News
Deval Patrick served two terms as the 71st governor of Massachusetts. An accomplished executive, passionate leader and gifted orator, Deval Patrick will capture—and hold—the attention of any audience.
Founder of Deeds Not Words, Texas State Senator (2009-2015), Advocate for Women's Rights
Former Texas State Senator and Founder of the non-profit, Deeds Not Words, Wendy Davis is renowned as a passionate advocate for women in social, economic and political spheres.
Seven-Season Saturday Night Live Cast Member, Comedian and Actor
Vanessa is best known for her seven seasons on legendary comedy series, Saturday Night Live, where she was nominated for an Emmy Award for her hilarious and memorable work. She…
Legendary Comic Book Writer and Artist
Brian Michael Bendis is a Peabody award winning comics creator, Amazon and New York Times bestseller and one of the most successful writers working in mainstream comics.
Creator. Writer. Entrepreneur, Author of Black Magic: What Black Leaders Learned From Trauma and Triumph, Co-writer of Universal’s One & Done
Chad is a former tech entrepreneur turned writer and creator. Chad started his career at Google working around the world from Silicon Valley to New York to London, then took…
Olympic Gold and Bronze Medalist and Most Successful Female Skier of All Time, Winner of Four World Cup titles
Lindsey Vonn is a recently retired Olympic gold and bronze medal‐winning alpine ski racer for the U.S. Ski Team as well as a New York Times bestselling author. She is the most…
Award-Winning Actress, Political Activist and Vocal Figure of the #MeToo Movement, Global Humanitarian
Heralded for starring in both box office hits and for her unforgettable performances in independent films, Ashley Judd is a renowned actress, humanitarian, and political activist.
Iconic environmental activist and consumer advocate
Say the name Erin Brockovich and you think, strong, tough and stubborn. Erin is all that and more. A formerly-unknown legal researcher who became a 20th century icon overnight thanks to…