Tag: top speakers

NIKOLE HANNAH-JONES

The Pulitzer Prize-winning creator of ‘The 1619 Project’—the #1 NYT bestseller which has now been adapted into a six-part docuseries on Hulu—says that Black history is American history. Nikole Hannah-Jones was named one of TIME’s 100 Most Influential People in the World for her work in uncovering the real origin story of Black Americans, and with it the true history of democracy.

HEATHER MCGHEE

Racism doesn’t just harm people of color—it harms us all. Heather McGhee traveled across the country, speaking with ordinary people nationwide, to reveal how racism has an economic cost for everyone, and how, by fighting it, we can all prosper together. Drawing on her instant New York Times bestseller The Sum of Us—as well as the Young Readers edition and podcast of the same name—she offers vital stories of hope and solidarity across lines of division.

JELANI COBB

In the fight for racial justice, we must face the past to forge a better future, says Columbia Journalism School Dean and Peabody Award-winning journalist Jelani Cobb. As a long-time staff writer at the New Yorker and editor of the magazine’s anthology The Matter of Black Lives, Jelani explores the complexities of race and inequality, while offering guidance for the future.

CLINT SMITH

Our understanding of Black American history has been incomplete for a long time, says Clint Smith. As the author of the #1 NYT bestseller How the Word Is Passed, which won the National Book Critics Circle Award for Nonfiction and was named to The NYT’s 10 Best Books of the Year, Clint offers a compelling exploration of the legacy of slavery. He travelled to nine sites across the country and beyond to show how the marks of our past continue to shape our cities, our policies, and the stories we tell—and how we can work towards a fuller, more equitable story for everyone.

MINNIJEAN BROWN-TRICKEY

Making history as one of the Little Rock Nine, Minnijean Brown-Trickey faced down angry mobs and armed guards at only 15 years old to become one of the first Black teenagers to attend what had previously been a whites-only school. This fiery activist’s role in desegregating public schools, as well as her years of work as an award-winning teacher, writer, and community worker, has made her a civil rights legend.

ANNETTE GORDON-REED

The first Black person to win a Pulitzer Prize for History, Annette Gordon-Reed played a crucial role in helping Juneteenth (a day that commemorates the end of slavery) gain national recognition. Drawing on her acclaimed book On Juneteenth, this MacArthur Genius shows us how the legacy of this holiday continues to influence us and our fight for racial justice today, and how we can keep striving for progress together.

TITUS KAPHAR

Art has the power to reframe our history. When you dislodge history from its status as the “past,” you unearth its contemporary relevance, says award-winning artist Titus Kaphar. This MacArthur Genius, whose powerful artwork on the Ferguson protests appeared on the cover of TIME, works with history and his own story—familial and personal—to offer a stirring portrait of the here and now and tell the stories that have long remained untold.

GEORGE M. JOHNSON

An award-winning non-binary author and activist named to the TIME100 Next, George M. Johnson is the author of the NYT bestseller All Boys Aren’t Blue, one of the most banned books in the country. A powerful story of growing up as a young Black queer boy, their memoir was called “an exuberant, unapologetic memoir infused with a deep but clear-eyed love for its subjects” (New York Times).

ANNA GIFTY OPOKU-AGYEMAN

Co-founder of the only non-profit organization addressing the pipeline and pathway problem for Black women in fields of economics, finance, and policy, Anna Gifty Opoku-Agyeman aims to forge a path forward. Drawing on her book The Black Agenda, which features Black voices across diverse fields of policy, Anna offers practical and surprisingly simple ways to fight discrimination in the workplace and beyond, ensuring that everyone—especially Black women and our other marginalized communities—has what they need to thrive.

KHALIL GIBRAN MUHAMMAD

Almost every company nationwide believes in the ideals of diversity, equity, and inclusion. So why are many organizations still struggling to hire and retain diverse talent? Harvard Kennedy School professor Khalil Gibran Muhammad, award-winning author of The Condemnation of Blackness, explores the history behind our failure to implement true DEI. And he explains the three barriers—efficiency, color-blindness, and investment—that we must overcome if we want the best ideas and talent for our companies today.

RACHEL L. SWARNS

“Slavery is more than just history,” says Rachel L. Swarns. “It lives with us, all of us, now.” As author of The 272—an acclaimed addition to our understanding of our national story that’s been widely discussed, from NPR’s Fresh Air to The New York Times—Rachel reveals the compelling story of the families that were enslaved and sold by Catholic priests to build Georgetown University and the Catholic Church itself. She offers audiences a fuller picture of slavery’s contemporary legacy—and gives us hope for one day transcending it.

MARGOT LEE SHETTERLY

The story of NASA’s “human computers” was mostly untold—until Margot Lee Shetterly published her #1 NYT bestseller, Hidden Figures. Now a hit film, Hidden Figures illuminates the stories of the Black women mathematicians who were instrumental in getting humans to the moon. In sweeping, dramatic detail, Margot sheds light on a forgotten but key chapter in our history, inspires us to seek out diverse talent and stories, and instills in us a sense of wonder and possibility.

What is Black History Month?

Black History Month is a time dedicated to recognizing and celebrating the significant contributions and achievements of Black individuals throughout history. Every February, this month provides a focused period to reflect on the struggles, successes, and persistent spirit of Black communities. A BHM event is a chance to learn more about the rich cultural heritage, the relentless pursuit of civil rights, and the influences of Black people in America.

What makes this month significant?

Black history has shaped the social, political, and economic fabric of society. By spotlighting the stories and legacies that are often overlooked, Black History Month fosters a deeper understanding and appreciation of Black history as an integral part of the collective human experience.

Why book a Black History Month speaker?

Booking a Black History Month speaker is key for fostering education and awareness about the pivotal role of Black individuals in history. Black History Month speakers inspire audiences, bolster effective diversity and inclusion efforts, initiate important dialogues on racial justice, and strengthen community bonds. Our top BHM keynote speakers go into the many facets of Black history and life—uncovering realities that have remained hidden in the public.

BHM speakers offer a dynamic and personal approach to understanding and appreciating a vital part of our shared human story.

Watch a short highlight reel featuring these speakers and more:

If you’ve ever complained about not having enough hours in the day, Cassie Holmes has good news for you: you already have all the time you need. You just need to rethink what you’re investing it in.

Cassie’s bestseller Happier Hour, which was named to Amazon’s Top 20 Business Books of the Year, is a research-backed guide to building a schedule that is both full and fulfilling. It’s a much-needed antidote to the over-filled schedules that many of us face. We don’t have to sacrifice our wellbeing for productivity, Cassie says—we can actually have both, if we use our time well.

In talks, Cassie draws on her book to give you scientific strategies for making the most out of your time. She’ll show you how to make the time you spend on chores or commuting actually enjoyable, how to “time craft” your schedule around the things that really matter, how to use a “purpose filter” to identify what’s most important, and much more. Her insights are vital—both for individuals looking to become more productive and find purpose, and for leaders who want to get the best out of the people they lead.

“My research has revealed that happiness has agency,” Cassie says. “Happiness is a choice. Every hour of every day.”

“Ethan Kross isn’t just a world-renowned scientist, he’s an expert storyteller too. Chatter is the groundbreaking and transformative book the world needs now.”
— Susan Cain, New York Times bestselling author of Quiet

We spend up to half our waking hours talking to ourselves. Our inner voice can be unhelpful or downright cruel, but it can also help us work through difficult problems and tap into high performance and innovation at work. Ethan Kross—an award-winning psychologist and University of Michigan professor—calls our inner voice “the Swiss Army knife of the mind,” and shows us how to make it work for us rather than against us. When you turn your inner voice from a critic into a coach, he says, you can avoid burnout and anxiety, and lead yourself (and others) better.

Drawing on his bestselling book Chatter, which grit pioneer Angela Duckworth calls “a masterpiece” and “required reading for all,” Ethan gives you the tools you need to boost motivation and hone your mental fitness. He explains the “2 a.m. chatter strategy” that he’s already taught to executives across the country, and reveals the secrets to breakthrough creativity that everyone from Gwyneth Paltrow to Microsoft is talking about. (For example, giving yourself a pep talk using your own name is an incredible performance tool!) His surprisingly simple and incredibly practical tools have widespread appeal for leaders and employees at every level.

“Getting lost in negative thought loops is one of the big problems we face as a species,” Ethan tells Lavin. “The good news is that science reveals countless tools that allow us to not just manage chatter, but transform it into an asset rather than a liability.”

ANNETTE GORDON-REED

The first Black person to win a Pulitzer Prize for History, Annette Gordon-Reed played a crucial role in helping Juneteenth gain national recognition. Drawing on her acclaimed book On Juneteenth, she shows us how the legacy of this holiday continues to influence us and our fight for racial justice today, and how we can keep striving for progress together.

NIKOLE HANNAH-JONES

“Black Americans have always been foundational to the idea of American freedom,” says Nikole Hannah-Jones. She’s the Pulitzer Prize-winning creator of The 1619 Project, the hit anthology that became a #1 New York Times bestselling book and Hulu docuseries. She offers us not only a fuller understanding of our history, but also the tools to make real change today.

KHALIL GIBRAN MUHAMMAD

Khalil Gibran Muhammad, award-winning author of The Condemnation of Blackness, says that Juneteenth reminds us that we all have a role to play in challenging oppression. “Juneteenth gives us a chance to look at the twin legacies of slavery and freedom, side by side,” he says, “and helps us to reflect on how far we’ve come and how far we still must go.”

JELANI COBB

Jelani Cobb has spent his whole career investigating inequality and how the past continues to affect us today. As the Dean of Columbia Journalism School, a New Yorker staff writer, and co-editor of that magazine’s anthology The Matter of Black Lives, Jelani shows us why Juneteenth still matters today, and how we can learn from history to create a better future.

MICHELLE COLES

Although freedom was promised to the enslaved Black people over a century ago, Michelle Coles says that Black Americans continue to be “left out of that full promise.” Michelle is the award-winning YA author of Black Was the Ink, as well as a former Department of Justice civil rights attorney. She shows us how we can make the promised freedom a reality for everyone.

Good health, both mental and physical, isn’t just nice to have in the workplace—it’s the key to increased productivity, motivation, and creativity for workers and leaders in every context. Our TOP HAPPINESS AND WELLNESS SPEAKERS offer innovative, practical strategies that you can use to help everyone in your organization perform at their highest level, all the time. If you want your employees to develop resilience and dodge burnout, these speakers’ insights are must-haves in this year and the next.

KRISTIN NEFF

There’s a secret superpower that can help you thrive in high-stress, high-stakes environments—and it’s as simple as being kind to yourself. Kristin Neff was the first person ever to empirically research self-compassion. A pioneering scientist in inner strength training, she has created an actionable guide that’s scientifically proven to increase motivation, boost resilience, and improve mental health. Her talks are full of practical exercises that everyone in your organization can use to tap into the power of self-compassion.

CASSIE HOLMES

We often think we don’t have enough hours in a day. But superstar UCLA professor and bestselling author Cassie Holmes says we don’t need more time—we just need to make the most of the time we have. Drawing on her original research and her book Happier Hour, Cassie gives you practical ways to rethink and restructure your schedule, helping you find more motivation and happiness, while giving you time for the things that really matter. Her insights are vital for the busy world of 2022 and 2023.

JOHANN HARI

If you’re finding yourself distracted and unfocused, Johann Hari can help. In his New York Times bestseller Stolen Focus—named Amazon’s top nonfiction title of the year—he reveals why we can’t seem to pay attention anymore, and how we can reclaim our minds and our ability to think deeply again. In his talks, Johann can show you how to take back your flow state and be more present at work and in everyday life—crucial for anyone who wants to become more focused, productive, and creative.

EMILY ESFAHANI SMITH

Work doesn’t have to be a slog. Emily Esfahani Smith says that we can find purpose in the workplace and become more motivated, engaged, and fulfilled—and it all starts with finding meaning. Drawing on her book The Power of Meaning, as well as her popular TED Talk and viral Atlantic article, Emily shows leaders how to create a culture where people find purpose in what they do, and she shows employees the tangible changes they can make to become more fulfilled at work.

VIJAY GUPTA

In moments of crisis, we can find creative ways to spark connection, healing, and belonging. Vijay Gupta is the founder of Street Symphony, an organization bringing music and art to America’s most disadvantaged communities. He shows us how to infuse creativity into everything that we do—from leadership to teamwork—and create a culture where everyone can belong. Vijay’s unique insights can help you build creativity and innovation into your organization at every level.