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Grit Speakers

Today, leading psychologists and educators are revealing how grit—a blend of courage, resolve, and perseverance—is the key to real achievement. Lavin’s grit speakers explore how hard work, passion, and dedication to long-term goals make all the difference—on the field, in the classroom, and at work. 

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Grit at Work
Speakers
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Angela Duckworth

Author of Grit, the #1 New York Times Bestseller | Pioneering Researcher on Grit, Perseverance, and the Science of Success

In her landmark research, psychologist Angela Duckworth reveals the importance of character to success in life. Her pioneering work on grit and self-control—showcased in her instant New York Times bestseller and viral TED Talk—is in high demand among anyone interested cultivating character in ourselves and those around us.
Lauren Eskreis-Winkler

Assistant Professor at the Kellogg School of Management | Speaker on Grit

Lauren Eskreis-Winkler is among a select group of people who can speak authoritatively on grit: steadfast resilience that predicts success better than talent. Her customizable and interactive talks draw on unique, hands-on research to teach you how to practice (and benefit from) grit on every level.
 
Danny Southwick

UPenn Psychology PHD | GRIT Expert | Former NFL Pick | MBA

Danny Southwick isn’t your typical psychologist: he’s an MBA, a former NFL draft pick, and, having studied under Angela Duckworth, an expert on the role of grit in driving successful organizations—more than creating a culture of committed and authentic resilience, organizations need to be aware of the way they talk about grit, how they define success, and specifically, how they use the word talent. These semantic adjustments says Southwick, are the difference between winning and losing the 21st century.
 
Daniel Lerner

Positive Psychologist | Instructor of NYU’S “The Science of Happiness”

Can success and happiness coexist? According to positive psychologist Daniel Lerner, we can all accomplish our career goals and live well. Drawing on cutting-edge research into how high-performance professionals like executives, star artists, and elite athletes perform at their peak, Lerner’s talks teach us to achieve greatness through rediscovering our core strengths and finding meaning in our work.
 
Laura Huang

Harvard Business School Professor | Author of Edge

 In the elusive pursuit of success, you need an edge, says Harvard professor Laura Huang, one of the top business school professors in America. Huang’s talks show how you can make your hard work “work harder for you” by comprehending the factors that have little to do with your talent and effort—and everything to do with making the most of them.  
Wes Hall

Founder of Kingsdale Advisors | Co-Star of CBC’s Dragons’ Den

The newest judge on the cult classic show Dragons’ Den, Wes Hall is both a corporate juggernaut and a champion for Black leaders. Despite being dubbed one of North America’s “most influential power brokers” (The Globe and Mail), Hall comes from humble beginnings: Growing up in a tin shack in rural Jamaica with 13 siblings, he quickly learned the value of hard work, perseverance, and dreaming big. Today, whether he’s orchestrating billion-dollar deals, or helping organizations tackle anti-Black systemic barriers, Hall offers inspiring and actionable business guidance for the post-pandemic future we’re building. 
Ellen Bennett

Founder and CEO of Hedley & Bennett | Author of Dream First, Details Later

At 25 years old Ellen Bennett was a cook at a 2-Michelin-Star restaurant in Los Angeles; yet she was still tying on the same $5 apron found in every diner and pub along Hollywood Boulevard. So she took her modest $300 savings and turned it into the largest gourmet apron manufacturer in the world. Now the founder and CEO at Hedley & Bennett—a brand beloved by the likes of Martha Stewart and Momofuku’s David Chang—this culinary entrepreneur explains how you, too, can jumpstart your own idea with charisma and heart.
David Yeager

Expert in the Psychology of Persistence | Asst Prof. of Developmental Psychology at University of Texas, Austin

To achieve, we need more than inborn ability—we need the right mindset. David Yeager is a leading expert in grit, performance, and the growth mindset: the belief that we can change, adapt, and make progress. He studies the ways students and adults feel like they belong and are respected; that their work is relevant and purposeful; and that they can overcome setbacks and continue to improve. 
 
Paul Tough

Bestselling Author of The Inequality Machine

Who gets to graduate, and what are the deciding factors? In his forthcoming new book, The Years That Matter Most, New York Times bestselling author Paul Tough puts forth a mind-changing inquiry into higher education. In the talks drawn from his paradigm-shifting research, Tough challenges the status quo, revealing how higher education fits into that. 
 
Yvonne Camus

A Motivational Speaker on Grit and Performance

How can an average businesswoman and mom outperform US Navy Seals? Here’s how: through grit, determination, and resilience. Yvonne Camus is one of the world’s most trusted speakers on teamwork and perseverance. On stage, she’s shown hundreds of organizations how ordinary people can achieve extraordinary things.
Chia-Jung Tsay

Expert the Psychology of Negotiations | Associate Professor, UCL School of Management

Are we ever really aware of why we choose the things we do? For example, do certain visual cues sway us disproportionately? Do we prefer natural talents to hard work? Chia-Jung Tsay studies judgment biases: the non-conscious beliefs influencing our decisions. 
 
Lewis MacKenzie

One of the World’s Most Respected Military Heroes

Lewis MacKenzie has commanded troops from dozens of countries in some of the world’s most dangerous places, from Vietnam to the Gaza Strip. Considered the most experienced peacekeeper on the planet—he has not one, but two Meritorious Service Crosses— the retired Major-General shares the practical and enduring leadership lessons that arise out of crisis: how to negotiate, how to perservere with grit and reslience, and how to manage conflict with ease.