A speakers bureau that represents the best original thinkers,
writers, and doers for speaking engagements.
Never in history has a democracy succeeded in being both diverse and equal—and yet this is the central goal of democracies around the world today. At a time of rising political tensions, Yascha Mounk’s crucial new book The Great Experiment: Why Diverse Democracies Fall Apart and How They Can Endure reveals the key to building […]
How do we find happiness? We tend to follow our gut, which often leads us astray, but Seth Stephens-Davidowitz—New York Times bestselling author and former Google data scientist—says we can use data to choose more wisely and get happier. When we make big personal decisions, we consult friends, Google it, or just do what feels […]
World-renowned photographer Edward Burtynsky was awarded a Sony World Photography Prize for outstanding contribution to photography, and he dedicated the award to the Ukrainian photographers diligently documenting the war launched by Vladimir Putin. At the event, Edward said: “As a Canadian-Ukrainian, I would like to share this award with the artists of Ukraine, many of […]
It’s the latest prestigious honor for the powerful true story of a strong and remarkable young girl, from the Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and dynamic Lavin speaker. Andrea Elliott’s Invisible Child: Poverty, Survival & Hope in an American City is the winner of the coveted J. Anthony Lukas Book Prize for an outstanding nonfiction work of “American […]
The legendary South By Southwest conference—an essential collection of film fests, conferences, sessions, and networking opportunities that spotlight creativity globally—is back for 2022, and Lavin’s speakers are showing up in a big way. Here’s a who’s who of the groundbreaking Lavin talent you’ll find on the SXSW stage: Jessica Nordell’s brilliant career as a science […]
We can foster the motivation needed to be lifelong learners, at school, at work, and in life.
How can we navigate—and make the most of—complex cultural differences in the workplace?
Art has the power to reframe our history—revealing the past we’ve lost and the future we’re working towards.
Dreaming big won’t help you if you don’t have the values, dedication, and hard work to back it up.
Resilience is a group effort. Leaning into our emotions and community can help us build strength at work and at home.
We are the founding generation of the new workplace. Leading this workplace means embracing a pragmatic, creative approach to AI and online work.
We gain so much more from working together than apart.
Resilience, commitment, teamwork. That’s how ordinary people achieve extraordinary successes.
Many of the barriers you’re facing are subjective. You can get unstuck—and unlock radical creativity, innovation, and teamwork.
Write what should not be forgotten.
The nature of work is evolving—now is the time to embrace it and equip yourself with the knowledge to thrive well into the future.
If you’ve ever experienced the ‘mental jet-lag’ that comes from juggling too many devices, tabs, and social networks—Johann Hari’s new book Stolen Focus is for you. Your ability to pay attention is broken—but it’s not your fault. Your attention is slipping because its profitable for powerful companies, argues New York Times bestselling author Johann Hari […]
The editors of the New York Times Book Review select the year’s notable fiction, poetry, and non-fiction reads. This year, four Lavin speakers made the list: please join us in celebrating Andrea Elliott, George Packer, Annette Gordon-Reed, and Eyal Press. Invisible Child: Poverty, Survival and Hope in an American City by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Andrea […]
Psychotherapist Lori Gottlieb captured the hearts and minds of millions with her smash hit Maybe You Should Talk to Someone: a memoir revealing powerful stories from inside her therapy room. Today, she releases its groundbreaking companion guide—a step-by-step process for discovering our most authentic life stories. “Part of getting to know yourself is to unknow […]
In this non-fiction anthology, co-edited alongside Ramón A. Gutiérrez, Kathleen Belew reveals how the ideals of white supremacy operate in American life. A Field Guide to White Supremacy is a remarkably far-reaching book featuring the work of brilliant writers, scholars, and commentators. It covers everything from colonialism to the patriarchy to racial violence and […]
For his sixth book, renowned chef, author, and food justice advocate Bryant Terry turned to his friends and colleagues. Black Food: Stories, Art & Recipes From Across the African Diaspora is a heartfelt celebration of Black culinary ingenuity, featuring the work of countless influential contributors. Described by Bryant Terry as a “communal shrine,” Black Food […]
Fall is upon us, so we here at Lavin wanted to bring you a selection of our favorite reads to grace your bookshelves this season. From riveting non-fiction that will change the way you see the world, to practical guidebooks for finding success in an unpredictable climate, there’s something here for everyone. Sukhinder Singh Cassidy’s […]
The ideas that change the world are those that reach the largest number of people, says John List: a leading economist at The University of Chicago, and the Chief Economist at ride-share giant Lyft. But how can we make sure our best ideas reach our desired audiences? Thankfully, there are vital attributes that all “scalable” […]
At the heart of creating change lies a deep and often destructive assumption that can thwart our best efforts at innovation: it’s the conventional belief that the best way to get people to embrace our idea, is to increase the appeal of the idea itself. However, this approach neglects the psychological “frictions” that hold us […]
We see the detrimental effects of unconscious bias and discrimination everywhere: in our schools, our workplaces, our hospitals, and beyond. Yet change is possible, says acclaimed science journalist Jessica Nordell. In her debut book The End of Bias, Lavin’s newest speaker shows us the science-based approach for uprooting our deepest prejudices. Unconscious bias is the […]
In his new book The Power of Us, Jay Van Bavel explores the dynamics of our social identities: What causes people to develop social identities? What happens when they define themselves by the groups they belong to? And under what conditions does the human tendency to divide the world into “us” versus “them” become toxic […]
Radical changes are hitting businesses harder, faster, and more often than ever before. And though everyone will face them at some point or another, some companies will fare better than others. In Rogue Waves, Jonathan Brill, an expert in resilient growth and decision-making in times of uncertainty, reveals an actionable plan for “driving change, instead […]
In her deeply personal book The First, the Few, the Only (forthcoming), Deepa Purushothaman reveals her experience as an Indian-American woman in the corporate world. Joining The Lavin Agency as a new speaker, she offers this real-world experience as a guiding light for organizations looking to evolve—creating diversity, equity, and inclusion measures that actually work. […]
Before the COVID-19 pandemic drew attention to essential workers and our utter dependence on them, there were countless ethically troubling jobs being performed out of sight. Imprisoning criminals. Slaughtering animals. Fighting wars. In his masterful new book Dirty Work, Eyal Press explores jobs that are both essential and, at the same time, morally compromised. […]
One of Silicon Valley’s most successful and well-respected leaders, Sukhinder Singh Cassidy is no stranger to risk. In her upcoming book Choose Possibility, Lavin’s newest speaker reveals how the many personal and professional leaps she took along the way led her to where she is today. In her 25-year career, Sukhinder Singh Cassidy has […]
James Ellroy is the author behind L.A. Confidential, The Black Dahlia, and some of the most epic crime novels of our time. In Widespread Panic, his latest novel, he weaves a dark story of 1950’s Hollywood, punctuated by secrets, blackmail, extortion, and prowlers—making it what NPR calls “the most Ellroy novel he’s ever written.” In […]
To build an anti-racist society, we must first recognize our shared humanity, says #1 New York Times bestselling author Nic Stone. In her vivid and timely novels, Stone lays bare the systemic racism in our nation, teaches us to recognize our shared experiences, and creates the foundations necessary for dismantling oppression. The Lavin Agency is […]
There is perhaps no one more qualified to advise you on the ins-and-outs of creative leadership than new Lavin speaker Greg Hoffman. Throughout his 20+ years at Nike, Hoffman helped lead the sporting giant’s most innovative branding, marketing, and design efforts—from the Emmy Award-winning Colin Kaepernick campaign to the most remembered ad of the 2016 […]
To live in data is to be incessantly extracted from; to be classified and categorized, statisti-fied, sold and surveilled. Our data is mined and processed for profit, power and political gain. Our clicks, likes and virtual footsteps feed new digital methods of control. In his new hit book Living in Data: A Citizen’s Guide to a […]
In her new book Dream First, Details Later (out April 27th), Ellen Bennett—the founder and CEO of multi-million-dollar kitchen wear brand Hedley & Bennett—shows you why you don’t need the perfect plan to make your next big idea a reality. You just need to start. If you’ve ever had an idea and thought “that’s impossible” […]
How did American colleges and universities go from being a powerful engine for social mobility, to a mighty force against it? In his explosive book The Inequality Machine, Paul Tough combines deep, authoritative reporting with the vivid stories of students themselves, to reveal where higher education went wrong. For a long time, the relationship […]
“The Sum of Us is a must read for everyone who wants to understand how we got here, but more importantly, where we can go from here—and how we get there, together,” says Alicia Garza, author of The Purpose of Power and co-founder of Black Lives Matter. In talks based on her highly anticipated book, […]
The most important conversation we have each day is the one we have with ourselves. In his debut book Chatter, acclaimed psychologist Ethan Kross explores how to make our inner voice work in our favor—helping us boost our productivity, make wiser decisions, and generally lead more satisfying lives. When it’s at its best, our inner […]
Is there any better way to spend the holidays than curled up with a good book? As this year comes to a close, we’ve rounded up the reads that have inspired, motivated, challenged, and moved us. So, whether you’re shopping for a history buff or a poetry lover, or even a gift for yourself, there’s […]
If we want to achieve an inclusive economy that works for all, we must begin by giving Black women a seat at the table, says Anna Gifty Opoku-Agyeman. An activist and emerging researcher, she specializes in data-driven solutions that address the future of work and its implications for Black people in both corporate and academic […]
Everything about this election—from the global pandemic ravaging the nation, to the president’s claims of voter fraud—has been unusual, to say the least. And though the peaceful transfer of power will begin, Trump continues to contest his defeat and several lawsuits remain in motion. What happens next? And what can we expect from a Biden […]
The Lavin Agency is proud to announce its new speaker and white supremacy historian, Kathleen Belew. Author of Bring the War Home, Kathleen shows us that with a sustained attention to the white supremacist violence of our past, we can avoid future terrorist attacks designed to undermine American democracy. The Oklahoma City Bombing in 1995 was […]
This year has been an unforgettable one, to say the least. Marked by a global pandemic, a worldwide call for racial justice, and the worst economic recession we’ve seen since the Great Depression, 2020 also happens to fall on an election year. Soon, we will decide on the next President of the United States—a decision […]
In her latest book No Rules Rules, Erin Meyer teams up with Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings to reveal, for the first time ever, the unorthodox culture that made the streaming giant what it is today. We’re all familiar with the story. In the year 2000, Blockbuster turned down the chance to purchase a fledgling DVD […]
The COVID-19 pandemic has created the largest disruption of education systems in history. Not only that, but this crisis is exacerbating pre-existing education disparities for many of the most vulnerable students. How are higher education institutions carrying on with teaching during this socio-economic, cultural and health crisis, and what do we know about the future of […]
Acclaimed photographer LaToya Ruby Frazier took portraits of Breonna Taylor’s family for the cover story of Vanity Fair’s September issue (guest-edited by Ta-Nehisi Coates, with words by Breonna’s mother Tamika Palmer). Below is LaToya’s powerfully moving statement on the project. I can’t stop thinking about Breonna Taylor, her murder and unjust criminalization made me so […]
In Always Day One, tech reporter Alex Kantrowitz explores the industry’s unique culture of innovation. More than just a catchy slogan, the book’s title refers to the bedrock principle employed by one of the largest, most successful companies in the world: Amazon. The logic being that failure to invent like a start-up will eventually lead […]
Lavin’s Top 10 Social Activist Speakers are the thought-leaders and advocates pushing for a better world. Whether it’s through art, history, education, or humanitarian efforts, these speakers are not only calling for change, but actively making it happen. LaToya Ruby Frazier: LaToya Ruby Frazier treats art as activism. With her powerful images of post-industrial towns […]
In her mission to create a safe and secure Internet for everyone, cybersecurity expert Tarah Wheeler has won the US/UK Fulbright Cyber Security Scholar Award. The Internet has undoubtedly improved the lives of people all over the world; however, as it’s grown, its vulnerabilities have also become more obvious. Today, corporations, government agencies, and individuals […]
From a Tropical Space is the latest series from Titus Kaphar, the award-winning painter, sculptor, and MacArthur “Genius.” Although the New York exhibition of this work has been postponed, Kaphar is currently the focus of Gagosian’s latest “Artist Spotlight.” In a new interview with Vulture, the artist speaks candidly about the project he describes as […]
Creator Nikole Hannah-Jones reexamined the legacy of slavery in America in the ambitious project, which recognized the 400th anniversary of the first enslaved Africans arriving in Virginia. For her introductory essay, Hannah-Jones has been awarded the prestigious Pulitzer Prize for commentary. New York Times Magazine’s ‘The 1619 Project’ was perhaps the most talked about piece […]
In an eye-opening talk for TED, Heather McGhee reveals how a surprising on-air confrontation around racial prejudice helped her make a stunning realization about our current economic landscape. It turns out, racism isn’t just bad for people of color. It’s bad for everyone. As Heather McGhee declares in her TEDWomen talk: “Racism leads to bad […]
Manjit Minhas is well-known for her role as a judge on the critically acclaimed program Dragons’ Den. She also runs one the world’s largest breweries—worth a whopping $187 million dollars. In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, Minhas shows us how it’s possible to repurpose your business and respond to the crucial needs of our […]
How can we protect our mental health during a global pandemic? Emily Esfahani Smith, author of the critically acclaimed The Power of Meaning, argues that the answer lies not in a quest for happiness, but a search for meaning. “When researchers and clinicians look at who copes well in crisis and even grows through […]
As new coronavirus cases surge and more and more people self-isolate to flatten the curve, the nation’s economy continues to plummet. On Twitter, the suggestion that older people should sacrifice themselves for the sake of the economy is only one indication of how ageism and ableism are being laid bare during this pandemic. Ashton Applewhite […]
Citizens around the globe are glued to the news as the coronavirus continues to silently spread. But Jonathan Brill, a gifted futurist who has helped some of the world's leading companies navigate uncertainty, suggests that what we really need to focus on is life after the pandemic. While globalization has improved quality of life for […]
“A pandemic is war,” writes Derek Thompson in his latest article for The Atlantic. And our response to the biological enemy is a shut-down of public life, from schools to restaurants. Unfortunately, the latter closure especially will have profound effects on the nation’s economy. What we do to support the restaurant industry, then, is crucial […]
In Create the Future, Trend Hunter CEO and New York Times bestselling author Jeremy Gutsche reveals the frameworks that have helped 700 of the world’s most powerful brands, billionaires, and CEOs, accelerate real change. Through his consulting work with Trend Hunter—not to mention his experience hosting the world’s #1 innovation conference, Future Festival—Jeremy Gutsche […]
In honor of International Women’s Day, we’re shining the spotlight on our Top Women & Leadership Speakers. These women are all powerhouses in their fields—from business and law to STEM and sports. They’re reshaping the worlds they work in, and as speakers, their stories and expertise empower other women to do the same. […]
Once the stuff of dystopian nightmares, artificial intelligence has become an essential part of our daily lives. Today, AI recommends our products, routes our taxis, predicts our Internet searches. Tomorrow? It will be a tool as fundamental as electricity. Lavin’s Top 10 artificial intelligence speakers help us navigate the changes to come. Radhika Dirks: There […]
The Zo is a groundbreaking new video project exploring the twisted realities of prison life, illustrated by superstar artist Molly Crabapple and narrated by The Wire’s Emmy-Award winning actor Michael K. Williams. Based on the essay by Yale student Patrick Doolittle and the archive of prison writings compiled in an open-source database invented by Professor […]
Retail veteran Joe Jackman has helped revive countless ailing retailers—from Old Navy to Duane Reade—back to growth and relevance in the 21st century. His new book, The Reinventionist Mindset, crystallizes his decades of experience into a guidebook for leaders grappling with tremendous change. The status quo is the “serial killer” of great companies, Joe Jackman […]
On the latest Democracy Now, Molly Crabapple sat down with Amy Goodman and Juan González to discuss her time on the campaign trail with Bernie Sanders, the Electoral College system and the Democratic primaries—and how she is using her art and activism to fight for change. “I was doing these illustrations from life, packed into these […]
In just a couple of months the Coronavirus that emerged from the Chinese city of Wuhan has spread around the world, sparking a race to find treatments and vaccines against it. Zeroing in on how this deadly virus is spreading and what everyone can do to take preventative measures are The Lavin Agency’s Top Pandemic Speakers—letting […]
Scientific study was born out of a desire to answer big, philosophical questions on the meaning of life. When scientists and technologists forget this nascent connection, says Radhika Dirks, they run the risk of creating without considering the ethical implications of their work. In her TEDx talk, Dirks reminds us why relating technology back to […]
When it comes to making a first impression, whether it be a job interview, a networking event, or a pitch, many people tend to cater to the other person’s interests, rather than behave according to their own. But does this approach help or harm our chances of getting what we want? Harvard professors and fellow […]
Though there has been a significant improvement for women in the sciences over the past few decades, men continue to dominate leadership positions, especially in the biotech sphere. Lavin Speaker and former President of MIT Susan Hockfield teamed up with entrepreneur Sangeeta Bhatia and biologist Nancy Hopkins to push for change. Susan Hockfield, Sangeeta Bhatia, […]
Technology has undoubtedly transformed our lives—for better and for worse. In his latest essay, WIRED Editor-in-Chief Nicholas Thompson investigates the mistakes we’ve made in the name of tech, and how we can push forward and rebuild what we broke. “For several years now, we've been living in a time of intense backlash against the technology […]
In her book The Village Effect, award-winning author and psychologist Susan Pinker wrote about the undeniable, life-affirming benefits of social bonds and face-to-face connection. More recently, she spoke to CBC about why an increasing number of seniors—particularly women— are enjoying living alone. Whether it be in a retirement home or on their own property, more […]
INSEAD professor Erin Meyer’s groundbreaking book The Culture Map may have been published in 2014, but it remains an enduring staple for anyone doing business around the world. What makes the book so timely and relevant? Meyer sits down with Microsoft’s Executive Vice President and President of Global Sales to discuss her insights—and why they’ve […]
Lori Gottlieb’s critically acclaimed memoir Maybe You Should Talk to Someone is Wal-Mart’s favorite read this month. The psychotherapist and bestselling author sat down with the company to discuss why the book has struck a chord with so many, and what else we can expect from her in 2020. In Maybe You Should Talk […]
As we enter a new decade, there’s a lot to look forward to—and a lot left to fight for. And unfortunately, racism isn’t a relic of shameful times past—it’s still very much alive today. Here at The Lavin Agency, our Top Race Speakers tackle this tough topic from all angles—public policy, pop culture, education, and […]
Rebels get a bad rap, says Harvard professor Francesca Gino, but in fact, there’s much we can learn from the people willing to challenge the status quo. In a new interview with Forbes India, Gino opens up about why it pays to encourage the right kind of rule-breaking in an organization. Francesca Gino has spent […]
As the co-founder and CEO of XLabs, Radhika Dirks runs the one and only “moonshot factory” for AI. She truly believes in the technology’s power to elevate our human capabilities, and works hard to make that vision a reality. For her radical and tireless efforts, she has been named one of the Top 30 inspirational […]
Everyone wants to be happy and healthy—but it doesn’t come easy. The pressure of performing well at work and having a fulfilling personal life can often be hard to manage—and that’s where Lavin’s Top Happiness & Wellness Speakers come in. Experts in how to actively enhance our inner lives and outer selves, they inspire audiences […]
The last decade has seen a complete transformation in the way we do business. Lavin’s Top 10 Marketing Speakers expertly navigate us through the changing tides, and help leaders and organizations win the hearts of tomorrow’s consumer. Sarah Kaplan Corporate social responsibility has morphed from a nice-to-have into an absolute must-have. In her talks, […]
The most recent novels from bestselling authors Margaret Atwood (The Testaments), Lori Gottlieb (Maybe You Should Talk to Someone) and Angie Thomas (On the Come Up) all were named to Variety’s list of the Best Books of 2019. Margaret Atwood’s hotly anticipated sequel to 1985’s The Handmaid’s Tale, was able to intertwine her original story […]
New Year’s resolutions like changing your diet, fitness, and lifestyle can often be fleeting. So why not take a page from leadership expert Adam Bryant’s book and tackle something at work that’s well within your control? In his latest article for Strategy+Business, Bryant makes a compelling argument for turning January into a “Simplification Month.” “A […]
The hotly anticipated annual list of The New Yorker’s dropped, and Lavin speakers Shoshana Zuboff and David Wallace-Wells are top of the list. Featured first on The New Yorker’s list, Jia Tolentino writes, “Shoshana Zuboff’s disturbing, galvanizing The Age of Surveillance Capitalism deserves every comparison that it’s received to Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring—another masterwork that […]
Being a CEO means more than having a fancy title and corner office. It means being able to lead under pressure, and in times of crisis; being able to inspire and mobilize a team; and lastly, being able to execute strategy with vision. Lavin’s Top CEO Speakers have walked the walk, and now they’re sharing […]
Once upon a time, technology was lauded for its potential to bring people together and strengthen human bonds. Today, our ability to connect is being threatened by destructive online forces that profit when we’re divided into increasingly smaller, radicalized groups. Featured on CBC Radio’s Ideas with Nahlah Ayed, Douglas Rushkoff makes the case for putting […]
Shoshana Zuboff, Jared Diamond, David Wallace-Wells, and Naomi Klein are undoubtedly some of the most interesting thinkers of our time—and Prospect recently named their newest books to their prestigious Best of 2019 series. Shoshana Zuboff’s groundbreaking The Age of Surveillance Capitalism—called “an epoch-defining international bestseller” by Guardian—is also one of Prospect’s picks for the Best […]
Angie Thomas became a household name with the release of her debut novel The Hate U Give, an instant YA classic that soon became a major motion picture. Her follow-up novel On the Come Up is once again getting the Hollywood treatment, in a project with some of the industry’s top talent attached. Kay […]
“I think for some people who leave Westboro, losing that sense of specialness feels like you’ve lost something really valuable and important. I had the opposite experience,” former Westboro Baptist Church member and author of Unfollow Megan Phelps-Roper tells The Cut. “I was so grateful to know that I wasn’t uniquely evil. I was just […]
The revolutionary author of Prediction Machines Ajay Agrawal sat down with Forbes to discuss how AI functions, where it is best applied, and why we should embrace, rather than fear the technology. As a researcher. entrepreneur, and bestselling author, Ajay Agrawal focuses on the economics of machine intelligence. He encourages leaders and CEOs looking to […]
The Anthropocene Project—the cumulative work of a years-long exploration of humanity’s impact on the world—is embracing the future with a new VR app. A multidisciplinary endeavor combining a feature documentary (directed by Edward Burtynsky, Jennifer Baichwal, and Nicholas de Pencier), art photography, scientific research, and now VR, The Anthropocene Project engages viewers with its in-depth […]
Brand name CEO David Cote partnered with investment bank Goldman Sachs to create GS Acquisition Holdings Corp., a publicly traded vehicle operating with Cote as its Executive Chairman. In a new and “defining” deal, the SPAC acquired Veritiv: the global leader in industrial cooling and IT infrastructure. Vertiv sells condensers, chillers, IT racks and power […]
Marcus Bullock is the creator of Flikshop, an ingeniously simple app that allows family members to connect with prisoners via short messages and photos. His entrepreneurial enterprise has proven so successful that he’s collaborating with Apple, as part of their Code with Apple series. At the age of 15, Marcus Bullock was sentenced to eight […]
Lavin’s speakers have dominated the “end-of-year” and “best-of-decade” lists circulating the Internet lately. Most recently, Variety’s Best Books of 2019 list featured works by three Lavin Speakers: YA novelist Angie Thomas, Atlantic columnist and therapist Lori Gottlieb, and literary legend Margaret Atwood. Lori Gottlieb—Maybe You Should Talk to Someone Therapist Lori Gottlieb chronicles not […]
While some consider religion a pillar of morality and community, others believe it to be the root cause of wars, political strife, and ideological dust-ups. With compassion, honesty, and humor, Lavin’s Top Religion Speakers shine a light on the pivotal role faith continues to play in modern-day life. Megan Phelps-Roper Meghan Phelps-Roper grew up […]
In these divided times, it can often seem like empathy is difficult, if not downright impossible to find. But for Jamil Zaki, the Director of the Stanford Social Neuroscience Lab, we have a unique opportunity these days to strengthen our ability to relate to and care for one another—maybe even more than at any other […]
Selected by the editors of the New York Times Book Review, The 100 Notable Books of 2019 feature the year’s most memorable reads. The latest list include works by Lavin speakers Shoshana Zuboff, David Wallace-Wells, Margaret Atwood, George Packer, Andrew Marantz, and Karen Armstrong. Shoshana Zuboff—The Age of Surveillance Capitalism Shoshana Zuboff’s meticulously researched book […]
In this portrait for NPR’s Latino USA, acclaimed author, activist, and artist Gabby Rivera explores the importance of representation in the arts, dealing with hate, and her remarkable work and career. “I must remember, it's not mainstream culture that I'm a part of. I'm part of these little pockets of good people everywhere, doing their […]
Ever since the 2016 election, American politics have seemed more like a circus than a system of government. Lavin’s top ten political speakers are some of the brightest, sharpest minds fighting anti-democractic forces and standing up for the values of free society. Garrett M. Graff: Garret Graff has unique insight into America’s ever-shifting political […]
Lavin speakers Douglas Rushkoff and Shoshana Zuboff have both been nominated for the 13th annual Porchlight Business Book Awards. The awards recognize the best business books published this year, and look beyond traditional business titles to important works that businesses should be considering. Douglas Rushkoff’s title, Team Human, explores how the internet has divided us […]
When did we come to the conclusion that maximizing shareholder value was the primary goal of all business? Is this belief inherent in capitalism, or did it enter our collective consciousness much later? And what can we do now that it’s clear this assumption is limiting our potential? Yancey Strickler answers these questions and more […]
With winning 2019’s Booker Prize for The Testaments, a successful television series, and a world even more enraptured by her already popular prose, it’s natural to want to know what goes on in the mind and life of one of the most beloved authors, Margaret Atwood. The new documentary, Margaret Atwood: A Word after a Word after […]
Congratulations to Salman Rushdie, Margaret Atwood, Jayson Greene, Lori Gottlieb, David Wallace-Wells and Shoshana Zuboff for penning stirring, thought-provoking works that have captured the world’s attention. Salman Rushdie—Quichotte The prolific author’s 14th novel reimagines the famous Don Quixote character in a satirical metafiction. Quichotte is set in Donald Trump’s America and follows “pharmaceutical-product salesman […]
Over the last decade, Adam Bryant has interviewed more than 500 CEOs for his landmark column in The New York Times. From brains to ambition to humility, Bryant discovered the list of qualities that make up a successful leader is long. But what is the elusive trait at the top? In a new article for […]
The inaugural TIME “100 Next” list was announced today. Honoring rising stars who are “eager to defy the odds and fight for a better future,” the list includes two Lavin speakers: Wanuri Kahiu, a Cannes-winning filmmaker from Kenya, and Vijay Gupta, the MacArthur Genius violinist putting art into social justice. Wanuri Kahiu is an artist […]
What do you do when conventional coaching methods aren’t getting you the optimal results? You turn to Coaching Athletes to Be Their Best, the first-ever guide to Motivational Interviewing—a proven technique for building relationships—co-authored by leading performance psychologist Jonathan Fader. “Relationships matter in sports, and we tend to navigate them through conversation,” write Jonathan Fader, […]
The BBC has assembled a panel of British writers, curators, and critics to put forth a list of the books that have shaped their world. Part of the network’s year-long celebration of literature, the 100-strong list features work by contemporary icons Margaret Atwood and Salman Rushdie. “We asked our prestigious panel to create a […]
As the Editor-in-Chief of WIRED, Nicholas Thompson published two critical exposés on one of the world’s largest and most influential companies: Facebook. Now, in a conversation with WeTransfer’s President Damian Bradfield, Thomspon discusses the backlash the company has faced for their controversial business model—and how it affects our nation’s democracy. Facebook invented one of […]
What if discrimination on the basis of age were just as unacceptable as other kinds of prejudice? Why is society’s view of aging so grim when the lived reality is so different? Author and anti-ageism activist Ashton Applewhite connected with Katie Couric on her podcast, Next Question, to discuss. Together, they tackle tough questions about ageism, […]
Why do we want what we want? And why does it matter? It might seem like an innocent question, but the answer is far from simple. In his upcoming book Wanting, new Lavin speaker Luke Burgis explains how mimetic, or imitative, desire is at the heart of business, relationships, and consumer behavior. A three-time Silicon […]
Having been an inspiring athlete and Indigenous activist for decades, Waneek Horn-Miller has been breaking barriers and records her entire life. Her latest achievement is being inducted into the elite Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame—making her the first water polo player to be honoured. The induction ceremony takes place in Toronto today, and Horn-Miller is […]
Collaboration is touted as a core value in many organizations. But oftentimes, strategies to increase the practice in the workplace come up short. Why? Behavioral scientist Francesca Gino explains in a new paper for HBR. “One problem is that leaders think about collaboration too narrowly: as a value to cultivate but not a skill to […]
Based on professor Sarah Kaplan’s Rotman business school course, The 360° Corporation offers us a new way of understanding modern business. Trade-offs can’t be avoided, especially in today’s socially conscious environment—so how do we deal with them? Different stakeholders want different things. Millennials want to work for companies that share their social values. Investors want […]
With her newest release, The Testaments, breaking sales records around the globe—and at a record speed—literary legend Margaret Atwood is also taking home the Booker Prize for the sequel to 1985’s The Handmaid’s Tale, today. Nineteen years ago, Atwood accepted the same award for her book The Blind Assassin; and today’s win makes her only […]
Artificial Intelligence already recommends our movies, routes our taxis, and even predicts who we might fall in love with. While it’s on track to become a mainstream technology as fundamental as computing or electricity, it still has a few challenges ahead of it. Machine-Learning Expert Ajay Agrawal stopped by The Economist’s weekly technology podcast to […]
When it comes to advice, it might be better to give than to receive. Lauren Eskreis-Winkler and her doctoral adviser Angela Duckworth ran a large-scale experiment measuring the surprising motivational effects of advice-giving. If you know your colleague is struggling to complete a project at work, chances are you might offer them some tips […]
We’re being watched, listened to—spied on—by the technology we interact with daily. In 2019, that’s not hyperbole, it’s fact; and one that even the companies harvesting our data openly admit. What does this mean for the future of human society? Few have tackled this topic with as much impact, vigor, and urgency as Shoshana Zuboff, […]
Governor Tom Wolf and First Lady Frances Wolf honored eight women as this year’s Distinguished Daughters of Pennsylvania, each recognized for their “extraordinary service and contributions to the Commonwealth.” Among them was the New York Times bestselling author of Grit Angela Duckworth. Distinguished Daughters of Pennsylvania began in 1948 as a way to honor the […]
A year ago, Greta Thunberg was an unknown Swedish teenager striking from school once a week to protest climate inaction. Today, she’s a global icon and climate activist that’s inspired a nation. Alongside Greta, these top Climate Change speakers are united in the fight to save our planet, and they show us—beyond activism—what we must […]
Four years in the making, ANTHROPOCENE: The Human Epoch is a feature documentary from the award-winning team of Edward Burtynsky, Jennifer Baichwal, and Nicholas de Pencier. It’s a masterful meditation on humanity’s massive reshaping of the planet, and debuts in over 100 theaters in the US alone, to coincide with the UN Climate Action Summit. […]
The legendary musician’s third memoir walks readers through the tumultuous year of 2016, in which the nation’s collective despair collided with her own personal grief. In the opening of Year of the Monkey, Patti Smith says goodbye to her longtime friend and music producer, Sandy Pearlman. This is the first, but not the last, of […]
Fast Company is the magazine that innovative businesses trust when they want to understand up-and-coming technologies, changing leadership and workplace trends, and ideas with the power to change the world. At the helm is Editor-in-Chief Stephanie Mehta, helping to shape the future for the next generation of business. If you want to understand the most […]
You’re in the middle of pitching investors on your business idea, and someone brings up contradictory evidence to a claim you’ve made. Do you acknowledge it and change your mind? Or do you dig in your heels and argue that you know best? New research by Francesca Gino (featured in Inc) suggests the former will […]
As students, workers, and people from all walks of life around the world are striking in the name of climate reform, bestselling author and renowned journalist Naomi Klein has released a hot new title—On Fire: The (Burning) Case for a New Green Deal. A longtime prominent figure calling for international attention to the climate crisis, […]
Adam Alter—NYU Marketing Professor and New York Times bestselling author—joins Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience Joel Pearson for an engaging conversation on how addictive technology influences our lives. Why are so many people addicted to technology? Adam Alter has been investigating the question for years, most notably in his latest book Irresistible. It’s a topic that […]
Bestselling author Paul Tough sat down with Michel Martin on PBS to discuss how inequality and its widespread effects have come to define higher education. His most recent book, The Years That Matter Most explores this phenomenon in heartbreaking detail. Today's American students a jaw-dropping $1.5 trillion in student loans—making the average per student nearly […]
Who gets into college, who doesn’t, and why does it matter? Based on six years of reporting, education speaker Paul Tough’s hotly-anticipated new book explores how social mobility affects higher education—and what this means for America’s future generations. In The Years That Matter Most, Tough shares true stories of students trying to find their […]
New America’s National Fellows Class of 2020 includes 15 talented individuals—a combination of writers, educators, filmmakers, artists, doctors, and editors—who will be funded to pursue personal projects. Among them are Lavin speakers David Rohde and Molly Crabapple. “Every year, we receive hundreds of applications, all worthy of a fellowship, but those projects that stand […]
When thinking about diversity, we tend to consider factors like gender, sexuality, and ethnicity. But what about age? Activist Ashton Applewhite has written a manifesto raging against the perils of growing older in a society that is, at its core, deeply ageist. Forbes calls it a must-read for anyone hoping to foster a more diverse […]
In The Years That Matter Most: How College Makes or Breaks Us, bestselling author Paul Tough re-evaluates the state of higher education across the United States. Does college still work? What are the flaws in our current system? And how can we do better? “In an increasingly pessimistic country with fewer manufacturing jobs than decades ago […]
“Actually.” It’s a word so neutral, it must be harmless. Right? Wrong. As a news editor and leadership consultant, Adam Bryant has sat in thousands upon thousands of meetings throughout his career. Drawing upon this experience, Bryant shares why “actually” may be hurting team performance. “Tom sent me the proposal, and it’s actually pretty good.” […]
How does technology intersect with different life stages? What is the narrative of technological development today, as opposed to a decade ago? And how does it change the way we relate to one another? Nicholas Thompson—Editor-in-Chief of WIRED—weighs in on the most pressing questions about our digital lives. “Silicon Valley now no longer believes that […]
Opening at the Renaissance Society at the University of Chicago, LaToya Ruby Frazier’s “The Last Cruze” will focus on the Rust Belt. Several of LaToya Ruby Frazier’s photographs from her first solo show have already been published in a feature story of the same name for The New York Times. Her black-and-white images showcase […]
Once a blockchain program lead for America’s largest bank, Amber Baldet left Wall Street to start her own business. She joins entrepreneur and bitcoin advocate Charlie Shrem on the Untold Stories podcast to explain her decision, and discuss where the cryptocurrency movement is going today. “I knew what banking was when I went into […]
Comic fans already know Gabby Rivera for her trailblazing America, Marvel’s first solo series about America Chavez, the queer Latina superhero. And now she’s bringing her signature voice to a new world, that of b.b. free: an original story following the coming-of-age adventure of b.b., in a post-apocalyptic world not quite like anything you’ve seen […]
Award-winning journalist and New York Times bestselling author Charles Fishman explores the story of Apollo 11 in his latest book. But more than a retelling of the moon landing, One Giant Leap reveals profound lessons on leadership, management, and culture. “There were literally 10,000 problems that had to be solved to get to the […]
Companies and governments are closer than ever to introducing mind-reading technology. The problem? Our legal system is ill-equipped to handle the privacy concerns that will no doubt accompany it. Neuro-ethicist Nita Farahany joins the conversation in Fast Company. There are a variety of reasons why mind-reading technology has captured our attention; some altruistic, some not. […]
Without the monumental efforts of Black Americans in the face of incredible opposition, democracy as we know it would not exist. Nikole Hannah-Jones is lifting up the remarkable contributions of Black Americans to the nation, and acknowledging the true, fraught beginnings of American history, with her groundbreaking 1619 Project. A major multimedia initiative, The 1619 Project […]
How has Amazon integrated automation into its 600,000+ workforce? What will be the future of its employees? And how are we, as consumers, making that future happen? Martin Ford joins the Land of Giants podcast for a discussion on the Robot Revolution. Land of Giants, a podcast produced by Vox Media, explores today’s information age […]
Through their scholarship and teaching, The Academy of Management Journal aims to inspire and enable a better world. This year, they’re honoring top business school professor Laura Huang with the AMJ Best Paper Award for her groundbreaking work on how the gender gap affects startup funding. Male entrepreneurs tend to raise higher levels of funding […]
In 2015, for the first time ever, Americans spent more money in restaurants than they did in grocery stories. Now, the food industry is preparing for yet another major shift: by 2020, an estimated half of restaurant spending will occur “off premises.” Deliveries, drive-throughs, and takeaway meals are poised to takeover sit down dining. Derek […]
Corporate culture has become a hot-button topic frequently discussed by CEOs and leadership teams. But, according to a new paper by Adam Bryant and David Reimer, a company’s most powerful cultural signals are communicated less by talking, and more by who gets promoted and financially rewarded. Compensation and bonus frameworks typically rely on financial results […]
August 20th, 1619 is an important date, but few know its historical significance: on this day, a ship carrying more than 20 enslaved Africans arrived in Jamestown. Though America did not yet exist, this day marked “the beginning of the system of slavery on which the country was built.” Lavin speaker Nikole-Hannah Jones is spearheading […]
From boosting economic growth, to living healthier and happier lives, the benefits of education are rich and plenty. Lavin’s Top Ten Teaching and Learning Speakers address how we can reform our public institutions, deepen our knowledge, increase productivity, and ultimately, achieve more success. With a New York Times bestselling book and Viral TED talk […]
The Internet is now the most popular way for couples to meet each other, claims a Stanford University paper. In their study focused on American heterosexual couples, researchers concluded that online dating has now “displaced friends and families as key intermediaries in the formation of new unions.” Senior editor at The Atlantic Derek Thompson weighs […]
Thinkers50, the premier ranking of global business leaders, announced the nominees for their 2019 Distinguished Achievement Awards. Dubbed the “Oscars” of Management Thinking by the Financial Times, this year’s shortlist features no less than six Lavin Speakers, whose ideas are being recognized for their potential to change the world. Ajay Agrawal—Digital Thinking Award In […]
Common wisdom would suggest that offering advice to those who are struggling is helpful to them. But findings from the University of Pennsylvania suggest the opposite is true. In fact, it is the actually person dispensing the advice who is benefiting most. Lauren Eskreis-Winkler reveals the surprising insights from her new study. Wharton post-doctoral researcher […]
In One Giant Leap, Charles Fishman writes the untold story of the moon landing—charting how the ambitious project was scaled through innovation, teamwork, and technological advancement. As part of Fast Company’s 50 Days to the Moon series—which features a story each day leading up to the 50th anniversary—Fishman explains how a bra company beat out […]
Economist Daron Acemoglu has produced influential research in government, innovation, labor, and globalization. Thanks to his groundbreaking contributions to the field, this year Acemoglu has been named Institute Professor, the highest faculty honor awarded by MIT. Daron Acemoglu has spent over 25 years at MIT grappling with large and complex economic questions. Over the […]
What challenges does the digital future impose on our democracy, freedom, and humanity? A new production performed by the Scottish Youth Theatre National Ensemble explores the intersection of technology and capitalism—based on Shoshana Zuboff’s acclaimed book The Age of Surveillance Capitalism. Act of Repair is a Scottish production that explores the ways Big Tech uses […]
A good book can be the perfect companion for balmy summer days. This year, Lavin speakers dominated the summer 2019 must-read lists, featuring in round-ups from INC, Financial Times, and the New York Post. From Safi Bahcall to Chuck Klosterman, check out these recommended reads from some of the literary world’s best and brightest. […]
Can human beings teach themselves to become kinder? According to science, all signs point to yes. Stanford psychologist and author of The War For Kindness Jamil Zaki has designed a week-long kindness challenge to push people outside of their comfort zones—and into connection with each other. Humans are the world-class champions of empathy, superior to […]
As the future draws nearer, experts are weighing in on the impact Artificial Intelligence will have on the workforce. What jobs will automation make redundant? Will it eliminate more positions than it generates? And is the answer to the problem a government-subsidized salary? Lavin Speaker Martin Ford makes the case for a Universal Basic Income […]
The Global Economy Prize has been awarded by the Kiel Institute for the World Economy and its partners since 2005, honoring those who have pioneered “creative and path-breaking” globalization initiatives in politics, business, and science. This year, it recognizes the outstanding contribution of economist Daron Acemoglu. “Daron Acemoglu is an economist in a league of […]
1984—George Orwell’s seminal work—has enjoyed a cultural resurgence in the wake of Donald Trump’s presidency. Now, award-winning journalist and author George Packer unpacks the novel’s newfound relevance for The Atlantic. “Orwell never intended his novel to be a prediction, only a warning,” George Packer writes in Doublethink is Stronger than Orwell Imagined, his latest article […]
In One Giant Leap, Charles Fishman lifts the curtain on America’s near-impossible journey to the moon. As the nation prepares to celebrate the lunar landing’s 50th anniversary, One Giant Leap debuts on The New York Times Bestseller List. Everyone knows the 1969 moon landing, but few truly understand the tremendous effort that went into making […]
A leader in the world of design, technology, education, and computer science, John Maeda is one of Silicon Valley’s most revered names. Now, he’s spearheading design at Publicis Sapient—a digital consultancy firm—to guide legacy companies through the peaks and valleys of the digital revolution. As the Global Head of Computational Design at Automattic—the parent company […]
In 2016 Margot Lee Shetterly released Hidden Figures, a book about the three African-American women whose influential work helped America win the Space Race. The bestselling book was adapted into an Oscar-nominated film, and now NASA is using the name to honor the legacy of these unsung heroes. In Hidden Figures Margot Lee Shetterly tells […]
Much like the environment on Earth, conditions in space are worsening. Today, 20,000 pieces of debris are threatening the safety of our planet’s orbit. MIT Space Lab Director and Lavin Speaker Danielle Wood is leading the charge on a new Space Sustainability Rating developed to solve the problem. There is a startling amount of debris […]
In 1969 Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin went to the moon, and their skill, courage, and the moment itself has been well-documented in the 50 years since. But the astronauts weren’t the only ones who made the moon landing possible. In One Giant Leap—out tomorrow—Charles Fishman offers a behind-the-scenes account of the ordinary people who […]
As a child stuck in the middle of his parent’s contentious divorce, Stanford psychologist Jamil Zaki had his first lesson in empathy. “That two people’s experiences could differ so drastically, yet both be true and deep is maybe the most important lesson I’ve ever learned,” he writes in his new book The War for Kindness, which […]
Nina Tandon’s company EpiBone has received FDA clearance to begin its first clinical trial—making it one step closer to providing patients with precision-fit skeletal implants grown from their own cells. Nina Tandon believes we are close to unlocking the regenerative capabilities of our own bodies. As the founder and CEO of EpiBone, Tandon uses stem […]
As the founder of Manchester Bidwell—a revolutionary center which gives the poor and underprivileged youth access to careers—Bill Strickland is a widely-recognized leader in the world of philanthropy. He was recently invited by fellow philanthropic leader, the 14th Dalai Lama, to discuss compassion, resiliency, and the radically transformative power of helping those who need it most. Bill […]
Greenhouse gases. Rising sea levels. Extreme weather conditions. Our Climate Change Speakers ask hard questions: how have human beings influenced the Earth’s temperatures? How will these changes affect communities and species across the globe? And, importantly, is there still time to change our ways? These top climate change speakers say yes, vibrantly outlining what we must do on a personal, […]
How can business leaders better understand cognitive processes, thereby enhancing productivity, creativity, and performance? Introducing Lavin’s two newest neuroscience speakers, DR. HEATHER BERLIN and NITA FARAHANY, whose science backgrounds—and unique takes on the brain—offer incredible new ways of thinking about workplace practices. Both of these exciting new speakers push the envelope as they talk about the brain, cognitive plasticity, and the […]
As companies globalize and everyone shifts to digital conferences, Skype meetings, and online productivity trackers, David Sax triumphantly proves the incredible value of meeting face-to-face. Author of the #1 Washington Post bestseller The Revenge of Analog: Real Things and Why They Matter, Sax is a funny, sophisticated observer of human behavior in the digital age. […]
WIRED Editor-in-Chief Nicholas Thompson is the go-to authority on the world’s most important story—how science and tech are changing our lives. His most recent cover story details the scandals, backstabbing, resignations, reboots, record profits and time bombs that characterized Facebook’s 2018—“it’s ultimately a story about the biggest shifts ever to take place inside the world’s biggest […]
Meaning, not happiness, is the key to a good life. That’s the vital message at the core of Emily Esfahani Smith’s book, The Power of Meaning, an essential guide to living a life that matters, as well as her popular TED talk—viewed over 7 million times—and her viral Atlantic article. In our recent chat with her, she explains how you can develop genuine cultures of […]
“When I present my work somewhere, someone will always ask, ‘How does it deal with real African issues like war, poverty, devastation, AIDS?’ Well, it doesn’t,” says Wanuri Kahiu, whose work, dubbed “AfroBubbleGum” presents a fierce, frivolous, fun Africa. And this is a political act. “Agenda art is important, but it cannot be the only art […]
The world is changing—fast. You want the best innovation speaker to help you navigate your future. The Lavin Agency represents the best innovation speakers—great minds on the front lines of their industry, working to make the world a smarter place. Jeremy Gutsche is “an intellectual can of Red Bull” (Association Week), a New York Times bestselling author and one of our most booked […]
South by Southwest (SXSW) is a conference that has dedicated itself to helping creative people achieve their goals. Since 1987, the festival has attracted the brightest stars on the forefront of their fields to give talks and have candid conversations about the future and their industry. This year twelve Lavin speakers were invited to speak. […]
“If we think of life as one big game,” says psychologist turned poker champ Maria Konnikova, “the question becomes, how do we play it optimally?” Just like in poker, leaders, managers and CEOs are dealt a set of important decisions every day. How can you ensure that you’re always making the right one? “You need […]
It’s a month into 2019, do you know where your New Year’s resolutions are? These speakers—behavioral scientists, grit experts, and psychologists—help audiences define and stick to their goals, both at work and at home. Angela Duckworth is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Grit—her landmark work on the importance of passion, perseverance and […]
James Ellroy—the “Godfather of crime fiction”—is the internationally acclaimed, award-winning author behind L.A. Confidential, The Black Dahlia, American Tabloid, and most recently, Perfidia, which The Guardian called “an awe-inspiring vision of social, moral and human chaos.” In candid talks, he shares the historical inspiration behind his books, and the quirks of a genre he proved […]
The stigma surrounding mental illness is one of the biggest barriers to mental health care. The #BellLetsTalk initiative encourages people to get talking and save lives—and keynote speakers Michael Landsberg, Vijay Gupta, and Waneek Horn-Miller, are experts at starting the conversation. Michael Landsberg—an ambassador for #BellLetsTalk—uses his story to start the conversation. Landsberg was the […]
An extremely distinguished position offered to only 10 individuals per year, the TED Senior Fellows program supports visionary artists, scientists, doctors, activists, entrepreneurs and beyond whose work makes the world a better and more equitable place. Eman Mohammed, one of the youngest female photojournalists in Gaza, is now a TED Senior Fellow. Mohammed’s work and […]
Do you want to try to earn enough money to insulate yourself from the world? Or do you want to make the world a place you don’t have to insulate yourself from? World-renowned media theorist Douglas Rushkoff has written his most important book yet: a crucial rallying cry to resist the technologies, markets and institutions […]
Charles Fishman is a world-class storyteller. He’s spent his career getting inside organizations—big and small, familiar and unknown—and explaining how they work. In his New York Times bestselling The Wal-Mart Effect, Fishman transformed the public’s understanding of the mega-corporation. In The Big Thirst, he cracked open our complex relationship with water. His latest, the forthcoming One […]
From an in-depth analysis of failure, to data-driven proof that the world is getting better, the biggest, boldest and best books of 2018 came from Lavin speakers. Andras Tilcsik and Chris Clearfield’s Meltdown, an analysis of why our systems fail and what we can do about it, landed on the Financial Times best books […]
Great companies start with great leaders. Leaders who recognize incredible talent, even when it’s hard to see; leaders who can spot, manage, and prevent risk; leaders who build successful teams, adapt to change and create cultures of innovation. These business keynote speakers blend personal, compelling leadership stories with years of immersive research, interviews and anecdotes […]
The world is changing—fast. Innovation and creativity are becoming the most valuable assets a company can hire for, encourage and cultivate. But how does innovation actually happen? What does it really look like in action? These innovation keynote speakers are professors, entrepreneurs, scientists; they’re working on the front lines of innovation, helping you to better […]
This year The New York Times identified 10 people leading the block chain revolution, and Amber Baldet, who managed the creation of a bank-friendly version of Ethereum for JPMorgan Chase, was at the top of the list. Now, Baldet heads Clovyr, what she describes as “an app store for blockchains,” and delivers timely, engaging keynotes on all […]
The House of the Spirits author Isabel Allende received the National Book Award’s lifetime achievement medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters, joining previous winners Toni Morrison, John Updike and Joan Didion. “Allende’s work is proof that stories about women written with women in mind are not only good business, but also represent crucial contributions to the […]
February is Black History Month—a time in which we celebrate the important contributions and achievements of African Americans throughout history. Lavin speakers Titus Kaphar, Heather McGhee and Margot Lee Shetterly engage with this crucial history through a variety of lenses: art, policy, STEM. But most importantly they draw wisdom from it, in order to forge a better future. […]
Leading into the 2018 midterms, we’re in the most polarized political climate since the Civil War says Robb Willer, Stanford social psychologist and new Lavin speaker. In timely keynotes and brilliant workshops, Willer explains and teaches a technique called “moral reframing”—a rigorously tested method of persuading people to see and empathize with the other side. […]
The four-day summit, named WIRED25, was a celebration of the ideas, innovations, and icons that made the world wired. In addition to work immersions, keynotes, and even a robot petting zoo, editor-in-chief Nicholas Thompson, conducted thoughtful, illuminating interviews with LinkedIn CEO Jeff Weiner, Stripe CEO Patrick Collison, and Stacy Brown-Philpot of TaskRabbit, about the future of […]
Innovative ideas come from diverse leadership. That’s a fact. Minette Norman, VP of Engineering at software leader Autodesk was the only person who could demolish the silos restricting progress; Maureen Chiquet led Chanel and Banana Republic through a decade of retail disruption; and Margot Lee Shetterly is the author of the #1 bestseller Hidden Figures, about the black […]
This year Titus Kaphar and Vijay Gupta join a whopping SIX other Lavin Speakers in receiving MacArthur “Genius” Grants—a prestigious honor awarded to those who are forging truly significant progress towards “building a more just, verdant and peaceful world.” Get to know Lavin’s “geniuses”: Titus Kaphar’s sculptures, paintings, and installations create new and striking ways […]
Violinist and educator Vijay Gupta has just been named by the MacArthur Foundation as one of their 2018 Fellows—a distinction known cheekily as the “Genius” Award. Recognizing Gupta’s remarkable work with Street Symphony, his musical engagement program that pairs professional musicians with Skid Row LA residents, Gupta was named for “providing musical enrichment and valuable human connection […]
Titus Kaphar’s arresting sculptures, paintings and installations converge on art, history and civic agency, highlighting the lack of representation of people of color in the Western art canon. “I’m asking the viewer to try to piece that whole story together without leaving behind the valuable narrative of, in many cases, those people who’ve been silenced […]
Future Festival 2018 Toronto—a three-day conference where the world’s best innovators gather to prototype their future—is happening now. JEREMY GUTSCHE, veteran Lavin keynote speaker and the festival’s founder and host, is also the CEO of TrendHunter.com: the #1 most powerful, predictive, and popular trend platform in the world. “The reason why,” says Gutsche, “is that we use big data from […]
In the wake of two wrongful, racially motivated arrests in their store, Starbucks entrusted HEATHER C. MCGHEE and her team at Demos to create and implement a groundbreaking racial bias training strategy. Now Lavin’s latest speaker, McGhee is a policy expert and natural storyteller who draws from her research and experience to help kickstart transformative […]
Molly Crabapple is one of the most determined and gifted political voices of our time. Her illustrations and writing on the Occupy Wall Street movement, Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico, and the Syrian War make human and visceral what can often seem distant and abstract. She spoke to Huck Magazine about what we can all do […]
“Most of the breakthrough discoveries and remarkable inventions throughout history, from flints to fire to self-driving cars, have something in common: they are the result of curiosity,” says Francesca Gino, Harvard Business School professor, behavioral scientist, and author of the new book Rebel Talent. In her cover story for Harvard Business Review, Gino outlines the […]
Jamil Zaki is Director of the Stanford Social Neuroscience Lab, which aims to unpack, understand, and ultimately teach empathy: “empathetic practice becomes empathetic habits becomes empathetic people,” says Zaki in his acclaimed TED Talk. It’s a skill, he explains. We just have to start seeing it that way. Empathy isn’t a static figure. It moves […]
Michael Casey is the Senior Advisor to MIT’s Digital Currency Initiative and author of both The Age of Cryptocurrency and The Truth Machine, two pre-eminent books on cryptocurrency. With ease and clarity, he demystifies the blockchain, breaking down what it actually means, for organizations, corporations and private citizens alike. His article for the May/June issue […]
Francesca Gino has spent the last decade studying rebels and rule-breakers in organizations around the world, from high-end fashion boutiques in Italy to thriving fast food chains. The result is her new book Rebel Talent, a groundbreaking analysis of those who routinely defy the status quo, embrace the unfamiliar, and end up happier and more […]
Behavioral scientist and Harvard Business School professor Francesca Gino has written the book on breaking the rules, in business and in life. Out May 1, Rebel Talent is already collecting praise from the likes of Angela Duckworth (the NYT bestselling author of Grit) and Ed Catmull, (president of Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios.) Gino […]
“This may be the best book yet on what may be the best technology that has come along.” Lawrence H. Summers, former US treasury secretary on Ajay Agrawal’s highly anticipated book Prediction Machines—a crystal clear, realistic assessment of how AI will actually affect the economy. No hype, no speculation, just the tools and economic frameworks managers can use right […]
Art and science have long enjoyed a fruitful partnership (da Vinci, anyone?) and Lavin’s speakers are no exception to the rule. In light of the release of physicist and writer Alan Lightman’s latest novel, Searching for Stars on an Island in Maine, we rounded up three of our speakers whose work brings together science and the humanities […]
Questions about power, consent, and assault on college campus have sparked difficult—but necessary—conversations. In this #MeToo moment, how do we engage in practical dialogue? New speaker Vanessa Grigoriadis embedded herself in colleges across America, conducting interviews with the survivors, the accused, the parents, the professors, and the administrators. The results, reported on in her bestselling book Blurred […]
LaToya Ruby Frazier—photographer, MacArthur “Genius” and one of Lavin’s most compelling speakers on the entanglement of race, labor, family, and the environment—was described by influential New York Magazine art critic Jerry Saltz as a, “36-year old oracle … one of the strongest artists to emerge in this country this century.” (Vulture). What do LaToya Ruby […]
Sometimes we don’t know how to face a challenge until we’re already struggling with it. Michael Landsberg, Candy Chang, and Dr. Jonathan Fader are three speakers who approach the issue of mental health from all angles: acknowledging the realities of illness while also promoting mental wellness for all—no matter how you feel. Michael Landsberg: Sports, Stigma, […]
Motivate your employees. Reduce your carbon footprint. Run a marathon. January is the month we want to figure out how to do better—with our time, our colleagues, and our creative endeavours. These four keynote speakers will inspire you to set goals, work through slumps, and make positive change that really sticks. Vijay Gupta On Healing Communities Through Music […]
How do we advance scientific progress? We need to be more inclusive, says new Lavin speaker David Kong, Director of MIT Media Lab’s new Community Biotechnology Initiative. We must bring art together with technology. More importantly, we need to invite different minds into the lab and classroom, changing the shape of our institutions. That’s how […]
Women don’t run the world (yet). But these women in leadership speakers—Maureen Chiquet, Jessica Jackley and Margot Lee Shetterly—are some of the strongest in their field, offering dynamic insights into how they’ve leaned in and leveraged their unique skillsets to make it in predominantly male worlds. As Global CEO of Chanel and President of Banana […]
Companies do better when they embrace and support diversity. But diversity isn’t just about ethnicity. It’s about gender, age, ability, perspective and it’s different for every industry. Lavin’s diversity and inclusion experts—Ritu Bhasin, Minette Norman, and Ashton Applewhite, to name a few—come from the worlds of corporate law, theater, and social justice. These differences demonstrate just […]
Martin Ford is one of the world’s leading A.I. speakers. He’s the bestselling author of Rise of the Robots and his TED talk has been viewed over a million times. Ford’s latest keynote breaks down some of the key tech underlying this revolution for non-tech audiences, and explains exactly what it means for everyone’s future. Historically AI […]
In the January 1 issue of The New Yorker, music critic Alex Ross writes about “visionary Los Angeles violinist” Vijay Gupta and his organization Street Symphony, which invites LA’s homeless, mentally ill, and incarcerated communities to attend and make music with the best classical musicians in the country. Attending a midnight performance of Handel’s “Messiah” on Skid Row, […]
