Distinguished Speakers
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Distinguished Speakers
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Emmy Award-Winning Journalist, Executive Producer & Reporter; PBS Series "We'll Meet Again", Host, TNT/TBS Series "Chasing the Cure"
What is the Ann Curry difference? She is more than a highly esteemed, award-winning journalist. Ann brings stories to life. Her reporting is raw, bold, and deeply personal, because she…
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.
CEO & Co-Founder, Gimlet Media
Alex Blumberg is the CEO and co-founder of Gimlet Media. Blumberg is an award-winning radio journalist known for his work as a producer on the wildly popular podcasts This American…
Award-Winning Actor
Andy Garcia has been honored for his work as an actor, director and both film and music producer. His most recent productions include the critically acclaimed Rob the Mob, which he starred…
Author, Philanthropist, Education Advocate, Former #1 Ranked Tennis Player and Multi Grand Slam Champion
Andre Agassi is a former American tennis player who was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame after winning eight grand slams and dominating the world of professional tennis during…
Entrepreneur, Bestselling Author, Former Presidential and Mayoral Candidate & Philanthropist
Andrew Yang is an entrepreneur, author, philanthropist, non-profit leader, and former US presidential and NYC mayoral candidate.
Starting Quarterback for the Green Bay Packers
Aaron Rodgers, quarterback for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League.
Co-Host & Producer of The Young Turks
With a sharp sense of humor and pointed wit rivaling anyone in the industry, Ana Kasparian has captivated viewers as host and producer of the online news show The Young Turks and…
Actress, Author, Entrepreneur, & Activist
Award-winning actress and New York Times best-selling author Alicia Silverstone is often recognized for her role as “Cher” in the comedy hit Clueless.
Owner and Founder, Flour Shop
In 2012, Amirah Kassem left behind a career in fashion to pursue her love of baking. In just seven years, her high-concept bakery, Flour Shop, has exploded into a highly…
Actor, Businessman & Former Governor of California
Arnold Schwarzenegger is a global icon; a mammoth of public life, sports, and entertainment.
(President & Producer, Fork Films) is a Filmmaker and Philanthropist
Abigail E. Disney (President & Producer, Fork Films) is a filmmaker and philanthropist. Her longtime passion for women’s issues and peacebuilding culminated in her first film, the acclaimed Pray the…
Actor, Producer, and Co-Founder, Katalyst Media, Activist
Ashton Kutcher is an actor, philanthropist, entrepreneur, investor and producer.
Emmy, Peabody Award Winner & Host and Producer, Bravo’s "Watch What Happens"
Andy Cohen is the host and Executive Producer of “Watch What Happens Live,” Bravo’s late night, interactive talk show. The series is the only live show in Late Night, and…
Former U.S. Secretary of Education (2009 - 2016)
Arne Duncan was the ninth U.S. Secretary of Education. Duncan served under President Barack Obama from January 20, 2009 through January 1, 2016. Duncan’s tenure as secretary was marked by…
Pakistani-American Award-Winning Writer
A well-respected author and lecturer, Asma Gull Hasan has established herself as a highly sought expert on the American Muslim community. Her two published books, American Muslims: The New Generation…
Grandson of Mohandas K. Gandhi, Acclaimed Human Rights Advocate
Dr. Arun Gandhi is proof that one can change his ways. Although he is the grandson of the legendary Mohandas Gandhi, he overcame tremendous prejudice and anger in order to…
Stage, Film and Emmy-Winning Television Actor
Emmy Award-Winner Anthony Zerbe has been a well known figure on the American stage and screen for over 50 years. His feature films include: The new David O. Russell film,…
Comedy Writer, TV, Books, Movies, Theater and Keynote Speaker. Zweibel Worked on Such Productions as Saturday Night Live, PBS' Great Performances, and It's Garry Shandling's Show
Alan Zweibel delivers a charming and candid look at his career journey as a comedy writer. He describes the experience of writing for some of television’s most beloved comedies—from Saturday…
Emmy Award-Winning Actress, Activist for Human Rights
Known for the challenging roles she's played on film and in television, critically acclaimed actress Alfre Woodard's work has earned her an Oscar nomination, four Emmy Award wins and 16…
Chef, Restaurateur, Activist and Author. She is the owner of Chez Panisse, a Berkeley, California restaurant famous for its organic, locally grown ingredients and for pioneering California cuisine
Alice Waters is a chef, author, food activist, and the founder and owner of Chez Panisse Restaurant in Berkeley, California. She has been a champion of local sustainable agriculture for…
Author, The Color Purple
Alice Walker is an internationally celebrated writer, poet and activist whose books include seven novels, four collections of short stories, four children’s books, and volumes of essays and poetry. She…
Actor, Comedian, Director, Author and Activist
Aisha Tyler, is an actor, comedian, director, author and activist. she is currently co-host of the hit cbs daytime talker "the talk" until end of the seventh season. Aisha joined…
Actor, Comedian, Rapper & Writer; Former member of "Saturday Night Live" & Currently in "Brooklyn Nine-Nine"
Andy Samberg is an actor, comedian, rapper and writer best known as a member of the comedy group, The Lonely Island and as a former cast member of "Saturday Night…
Child Survivor of the Holocaust whose family was rescued by Oskar Schindler
Alex Rosner, a child survivor of the Holocaust whose family was rescued by Oskar Schindler. Born in Warsaw, Poland, in 1935, Rosner spent the years between 1940 and 1945 in…
Biographer and Literary Critic; Rampersad was presented with the National Humanities Medal by President Barack Obama
Arnold Rampersad, is a biographer and literary critic, who was born in Trinidad and Tobago and moved to the US in 1965. The first volume (1986) of his Life of…
Television Journalist, Anchor, Reporter and Chief Foreign Affairs Correspondent, NBC
Andrea Mitchell, the veteran NBC Chief Foreign Affairs Correspondent, is also the host of MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell Reports
Oscar-Winning Director of films like "Life of Pi," "Brokeback Mountain" and "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon"
Ang Lee is a film director, producer and screenwriter who was born on October 23, 1954, in Taipei, Taiwan. Lee attended the National Taiwan College of Arts, where he graduated…
Former President & Editor-in-Chief of The Huffington Post Media Group & New York Times Bestselling Author of Thrive
Arianna Huffington is the former chair, president, and editor-in-chief of the Huffington Post Media Group, a nationally syndicated columnist, and author of fourteen books. In May 2005, she launched The…
Arsenio Hall is most famous for his stand-up comedy and for his talk show
If you ask different people where they first saw Arsenio Hall, you'd probably get a number of different answers. But, it was the success of his Emmy Award-winning late-night talk…
The Daughter of Fidel Castro
In her illuminating talk, Alina Fernandez, the daughter of Fidel Castro, shares her first-person, intimate account of growing up in Cuba. Through her insight as one of the Cuban elite,…
Emmy Award-Winning Actress & Activist
America Ferrera is perhaps best known for her Emmy Award-winning portrayal of "Betty Suarez" on the ABC hit comedy Ugly Betty, but she is also a devoted humanitarian who dedicates…
Anchor, CNN's Anderson Cooper 360°
Anderson Cooper is the anchor of CNN's Anderson Cooper 360°, a nightly newscast that goes beyond the headlines—keeping politicians and policy makers honest with in-depth reporting and investigations. The show…
NPR Commentator, "All Things Considered"
Well known poet, author and National Public Radio commentator. Andrei Codrescu was born in Sibiu, Transylvania, Romania. His first poetry book "License to Carry a Gun" won the Big Table…
Best-Selling Author
Augusten Burroughs was born Christopher Richter Robison in Pittsburgh, PA on October 23, 1965 and raised in Western Massachusetts. His father chaired the Philosophy department at the University of Massachusetts…
Actor, Director, Screenwriter, Musician, and Singer. With a film career spanning more than 55 years, Known for "Argo" and "Little Miss Sunshine"
Alan Arkin performed with folk music groups from the late 1950s to the late '60s. He was nominated for an Academy Award for best actor for his screen acting debut,…
Actor, Stand-up Comedian, and Star of "Master of None"
Comedian and Actor Aziz Ansari performs a stand-up comedy. He completed his third major tour of new material, Buried Alive, in the summer of 2013. His fourth major comedy special,…
Tennis Legend & Philanthropist
After turning pro at the age of 16, tennis prodigy Andre Agassi rose to international fame, earning 60 men’s singles titles, including eight Grand Slam singles championships, over a 20-year…
Renowned Political Leader; Human Rights Activist; Best-selling Author
Ayaan Hirsi Ali was born in Mogadishu, Somalia in 1969. The daughter of a political opponent of the Somali dictatorship, Ayaan Hirsi Ali grew up in exile, moving from Saudi…