Corporations & Associations

From grassroots activism to presidential campaigns to working in the White House, speaker Karine Jean-Pierre is now Joe Biden’s 2020 senior advisor. Jean-Pierre had previously served in the Obama White House as regional political director before working as deputy battleground states director on his 2012 re-election.

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, former president of Liberia and a member of The Elders, addressed a high-level open videoconference (VTC) on the United Nations Secretary-General’s annual report on the protection of civilians in armed conflict. Invited because of her experiences leading Liberia through both the Ebola Crisis and its recovery from a decades-long civil war, President Sirleaf provided insights on how to manage the impact of COVID-19 on civilian populations in conflict and post-conflict situations. She urged the council to “act with boldness” to protect those trapped in conflict and “end the cycle of immeasurable loss and human tragedy.”

Although traveling and attending social events or group classes are mostly cancelled this summer due to the coronavirus pandemic, virtual versions might be possible. APB speaker David Pogue investigated this concept by spending the weekend bingeing Airbnb’s newest virtual experiences.  

2020 marks 100 years of women getting the right to vote! On August 18th, 1920, the ratification of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution finally gave women their full voting rights. APB continues to represent several speakers on women's issues, from award-winning actresses and activists to journalists, best-selling authors, entrepreneurs and innovative global leaders. Below, we have highlighted some of our most talked-about and requested female voices. Responsible for inspiring millions, these women continue to empower audiences worldwide.

As CEO of Robin Hood, one of the largest anti-poverty forces in the nation, APB speaker Wes Moore is passionate about helping people in need. CBS News reported that Tina Fey hosted a one-hour virtual telethon called “Rise Up New York,” put on by the Robin Hood Foundation, accompanied by other big-name A-Listers, and helped raise $115 million for New Yorkers during this coronavirus pandemic.  

With Americans believing COVID-19 might end by the summer, APB speaker, COVID-19 expert and Director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy, Dr. Michael Osterholm, says that this pandemic can last up to 18 months, or more. Dr. Osterholm told CNN, "This thing's not going to stop until it infects 60 to 70 percent of people (…) the idea that this is going to be done soon defies microbiology.” He believes that government officials should not be telling citizens that COVID-19 will be ending soon, but instead, they should tell them to prepare for the long haul. Out of the three different scenarios experts laid out for CNN, they all agreed on the common theme of constant “waves” for this pandemic in the coming years.

Former NFL player, Rhodes Scholar and sought-after speaker Myron Rolle is now on the front lines against COVID-19. He describes the similarities in battling his opponents on the football field to the spread of coronavirus. Rolle, a neurosurgery resident at Massachusetts General Hospital, is working hard with others in the healthcare industry to end this pandemic. He said to CNN, “In football we had to prepare (…) and now we have to prepare for what COVID-19 has prepared for us. Are there antibodies coming, is there a vaccine coming, who does it affect the most?”

APB speaker and Emmy Award-winning medical journalist Dr. Seema Yasmin gave an APB Ideacast on COVID-19, updating us on where are we now in the medical world and where are we going. Not only did Dr. Yasmin debunk some COVID-19 myths, she also discussed the progress being made to tackle the spread of the virus, including an unprecedented vaccine trial, new tests and preparations for a second wave of infections.

The Elders has issued a call to action to the G2O on taking immediate and coordinated health and economic measures in response to COVID-19. APB speaker and former President of Ireland, Mary Robinson, is a chair of The Elders, and she is fully on board with this initiative.

Co-Founder and CEO of Global Citizen, APB speaker Hugh Evans is creating a historic multi-hour digital and broadcast event to raise money during COVID-19. He joined Yahoo Finance to discuss the “One World: Together at Home” concert taking place on April 18th to benefit the frontline workers during the coronavirus pandemic.