Distinguished Speakers
Find a Presenter
Distinguished Speakers
If you don't see who you are looking for, contact one of our experts. We will help you locate the speaker or provide you additional suggestions. 1-914-940-0075 or info@pdaspeakers.com
Author, Activist, Educator & Daughter Of The Legendary Jackie Robinson
Sharon Robinson, daughter of the legendary baseball superstar Jackie Robinson, is an author, activist and educator. Sharon has written several widely praised books about her father, including her most recent…
President of Ireland (1990-1997) & President of the Mary Robinson Foundation: Climate Justice
Mary Robinson served as president of Ireland from 1990 to 1997, and as UN High Commissioner for Human Rights from 1997 to 2002.
Chef, Businesswoman, Author and Host, "Rachael Ray Show"
Rachael Ray is a New York Times best-selling author of more than twenty cookbooks, including “Week in a Day,” “My Year in Meals” and “The Book of Burger.” Her latest…
Actor, Film Director, Producer, Businessman, Environmentalist, Philanthropist, and Founder of the Sundance Film Festival
Robert Redford, the iconic independent filmmaker who founded the Sundance Film Festiva. Redford, who was recently labeled the “Godfather of Indie Film” by TIME magazine, best known for his career…
Emmy-Winning Producer for The Simpsons & Co-Creator of The Critic
Mike Reiss has won four Emmy Awards for his work on The Simpsons, the wacky animated series that has kept America laughing for over 20 years and earned TIME Magazine’s…
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…
Actress, Dean of Fine Arts at Howard University, Advocate for Children, Women's Issues & Fine Arts
An accomplished actor and stage director, Phylicia Rashad became a household name when she portrayed Claire Huxtable on The Cosby Show, a character whose enduring appeal has earned her numerous…
Political Analyst and Co-Founder of ESPN. He is the president of Styrk.com, a digital media company and New York Times Best-Selling Author
Scott Rasmussen is a Senior Fellow for the Study of Self-Governance at The King’s College in New York City. He is also an Editor-At-Large at Ballotpedia, the Encyclopedia of American…
Actor, Impressionist, and Comedian
Kevin Pollak has captured the attention of audiences worldwide with his range of both dramatic and comedic roles. He has appeared in over seventy films, as well as countless television…
Emmy Award-Winning of Host of Survivor
Emmy Award-winning host Jeff Probst has been an instrumental part of the phenomenally successful reality television show, Survivor. The show has given him the opportunity to travel the world and…
Seven-Time Emmy Winner and Host of ABC's Award-Winning "What Would You Do?"
John Quinones is anchor of ABCs What Would You Do?, a co-anchor of Primetime, a correspondent for 20/20, and the author of Heroes Among Us: Ordinary People, Extraordinary Choices (Harper).
Director, Playwright, Screenwriter, Producer Actor, Author and Entrepreneur
Tyler Perry's inspirational journey from the hard streets of New Orleans to the heights of Hollywood's A-list is the stuff of American legend. Born into poverty and raised in a…
USA Gold Medalist; Most Decorated Olympic Athlete in History
Michael Phelps is the most decorated Olympian of all time, having won 28 career medals, including 23 gold. He competed in his first Olympic games in Sydney when he was…
Winner of NBC's "Apprentice" Season 4 and President & CEO, BCT Partners
Dr. Randal Pinkett has established himself as an entrepreneur, speaker, author and scholar, and as a leading voice for his generation in business and technology. He is the founder, chairman…
Trusted Health and Wellness Advocate and Host of Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew
Dr. Drew Pinsky is a practicing physician, Board Certified in Internal Medicine, and Board Certified in Addiction Medicine. Pinsky starred in the hit reality series Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew…
Computer Scientist and Philosopher; Father of Slain Wall Street Journal Reporter Daniel Pearl; President of the Daniel Pearl Foundation
Judea Pearl was born in Tel Aviv and is a graduate of the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology. He came to the United States for postgraduate work in 1960, and the…
Award-Winning Journalist and Writer. She is the widow of Daniel Pearl, an journalist who was the Southeast Asia bureau chief for the Wall Street Journal
Mariane Pearl is an award-winning journalist and writer who works in English, French and Spanish. She is currently the Managing Editor of CHIME FOR CHANGE global journalism platform that focuses…
Actor Known for His Role in "House" "Designated Survivor" and "Harold and Kumar" Films, Producer and Political Activist
Kal Penn stars as Seth Wright on ABC's Hit Designated Survivor, a White House speechwriter. Penn currently stars opposite Tyler Labine in Hulu's original comedy series Deadbeat and will return…
Actress, Choreographer, Activist and Talk Show Host
Rosie Perez, a actress, community activist, talk show host, author, dancer, and choreographer. Her film breakthrough was in Spike Lee's Do the Right Thing (1989). She followed this with White…
Renowned Doctor, Host of "The Dr. Oz Show," Professor of Surgery & Author
Dr. Mehmet Oz, two-time Daytime Emmy Award-winning host of the three-time Daytime Emmy Award-winning The Dr. Oz Show, is Vice-Chair and Professor of Surgery at Columbia University. He directs the…
Emmy-Winning Comedian, Best Known for "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" and HBO's "Last Week Tonight"
John Oliver was born in Birmingham, UK. In 1998 he graduated from Christ's College, Cambridge. Oliver first appeared at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2001 as part of "The Comedy…
Record-Breaking Endurance Athlete & Sports Journalist & Broadcaster. First Person to Successfully Swim from Cuba to Florida Without the Protection of a Shark Cage
At the age of 64, in her fifth and final attempt, Diana Nyad successfully fulfilled her lifelong dream of completing the 110-mile swim from Cuba to Florida on September 2,…
The Science Guy & Author. Nye starred in a documentary about his life and science advocacy titled Bill Nye: Science Guy, is now a Netflix series, entitled Bill Nye Saves the World
Bill Nye, scientist, engineer, comedian, author, and inventor, is a man with a mission: to help foster a scientifically literate society, to help people everywhere understand and appreciate the science…
Pioneer of Hip Hop Culture, Members of Run–D.M.C. & Comics Publisher
Darryl McDaniels is a legendary music icon and the co-founder of Run-DMC, the legendary rap group that has sold over 30 million records, had several Top 10 hits and was…
Renowned Civil Rights Attorney and Law Professor. Spokesperson for Alzheimer’s Disease
Charles Ogletree, the Harvard Law School Jesse Climenko Professor of Law, and Founding and Executive Director of the Charles Hamilton Houston Institute for Race and Justice, is a prominent legal…
Actor, Writer and Comedian Known for "The Office"
B.J. Novak is an actor, writer, and comedian, best known for his contributions to NBC's Emmy Award winning comedy, "The Office.
Comedian, Former SNL Cast Member and Actor on NBC's "30 Rock"
Starring for seven seasons on NBC’s Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winning 30 Rock, Tracy Morgan appeared opposite Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin as ‘Tracy Jordan,’ the unpredictable star of Lemon’s…
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
Daughter of Nelson Mandela and CEO, House of Mandela
Makaziwe Mandela is the daughter of the late former president, Nelson Mandela and his first wife Evelyn Mase. She was named after her older sister , who was born in…
Two-Time Super Bowl-Winning Quarterback & Five-Time NFL MVP
Legendary quarterback Peyton Manning, the NFL’s only five-time Most Valuable Player and a 14-time Pro Bowl selection.
Jazz Musician, Bandleader and Educator
Branford Marsalis has stayed the course. From his early acclaim as a saxophonist bringing new energy and new audiences to the jazz art, he has refined and expanded his talents…
Award-Winning Journalist, Bestselling Author, Motivational Speaker, and Women's Health & Wellness Advocate
Joan Lunden has been a trusted voice in American homes for more than 30 years. For nearly two decades, Lunden greeted viewers each morning on Good Morning America bringing insight…
Actress, Singer and Author. Best known for her work in stage musicals. She is a two-time Grammy Award winner and a two-time Tony Award winner
Author of the New York Times bestseller, Patti LuPone: A Memoir, Miss LuPone is currently starring in the Los Angeles Opera's new production of John Corigliano's The Ghosts of Versailles.…
Political Satirist & Host of HBO's "Real Time"
Whether skewering Republicans, Democrats, the mass media or Hollywood, Bill Maher is one of the most perceptive and hilarious satirists at work today. From the podium he delivers his trademark…
Award-Winning Actor, Musician, Author and Arts Advocate
John Lithgow's broad range of interests and talents have touched every area of the entertainment industry -- and even outside it. He's achieved stunning success in wildly varied ventures, and…
Conductor of the Boston Pops Orchestra
Ever since 1995, when Keith Lockhart was named 20th conductor of the Boston Pops Orchestra, he has drastically diversified the activities and appeal of orchestra. During his 16-year tenure, he…
Best-Selling Book Author, Writer, Public Speaker, and Leadership Consultant. He chairs the board of Catholic Health Initiatives, one of America's largest healthcare/hospital systems
Chris Lowney chairs the board of Catholic Health Initiatives, one of the nation’s largest healthcare/hospital systems with some $ 19 billion in assets. He is a one-time Jesuit seminarian who…
Widely known as the Creator, Executive-Producer, Writer and Host of Inside the Actors Studio
James Lipton is widely known as the creator, executive-producer, writer and host of Inside the Actors Studio, which is seen in 94 million American homes on Bravo and in 125…
Nine-Time Grammy Award Winner, Academy Award-Winner & Philanthropist
Nine-time Grammy award-winning R&B artist John Legend and the “All of Me” crooner has earned millions of fans with his chart-topping albums.
Author, "The Man from Essence"; Co-Founder, Essence Magazine
Edward Lewis is co-founder of Essence Communications Inc. During his 35 years as Chairman, CEO and Publisher, he nurtured Essence into a media powerhouse, addressing the needs of black women.…
Singer-Songwriter, Rapper, Actress, Television & Record Producer
After a short stint as a Burger King employee, Queen Latifah made her breakthrough as a rapper when she was just 18 years old.
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…
Chef, Restaurateur Television Personality, Author
Chef Emeril Lagasse’s passion for food was ignited as a young boy growing up in the small town of Fall River, Massachusetts, where he spent time in the kitchen with…
Legendary Author. Author of Contemporary Horror; Won Best Myster and Thriller for His Novel, "Mr. Mercedes," in the GoodReads Choice Awards of 2014
Stephen Edwin King was born in Portland, Maine in 1947, the second son of Donald and Nellie Ruth Pillsbury King. After his parents separated when Stephen was a toddler, he…
Co-Host of "CBS This Morning" and Editor-At-Large of O, The Oprah Magazine
Gayle King is a co-host of “CBS This Morning,” and editor-at-large of the award-winning O, the Oprah Magazine. King previously hosted “The Gayle King Show,” a live, weekday television interview…
Host of Ora.TV. Former Host of 'Larry King Live'
In his trademark shirtsleeves and suspenders, Larry King leans into the microphone on CNN's top-rated show, looks guests squarely in the eye and poses questions both probing and disarmingly simple.…