Mikhail Gorbachev
One of the 20th century's most pivotal leaders, Pres. Mikhail Gorbachev was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his extraordinary leadership and the democratic reforms that ended the Cold War. As a keynote speaker he continues to inspire the rest of us to lead the way towards peace, a better environment, and global democracy.
President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
Internationally known as Africa’s “Iron Lady,” President of Liberia Ellen Johnson Sirleaf became the first woman to lead an African nation. A Harvard-educated former World Bank economist, she is a leading promoter of peace, justice, and democratic rule who was recently honored with a Nobel Peace Prize for her work in ...
Archbishop Desmond Tutu
A Nobel Peace Laureate, Archbishop Desmond Tutu served as South Africa's voice of conscience during its long struggle against apartheid, soothing the spirits and rallying the hearts of his people as head of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. As a highly regarded and inspirational keynote speaker, he continues to ...
Gro Harlem Brundtland
Former Prime Minister of Norway, Director-General of the World Health Organization, and Chair of the World Commission on Environment and Development, Dr. Brundtland has been a prominent force in addressing key issues such as healthcare, economic sustainability, and the challenges to the environment throughout the world. ...
Parag Khanna
Parag Khanna is the leading next-generation voice on the future of global affairs. Named one of Esquire magazine's 75 Most Influential People of the 21st Century, Khanna was a foreign policy advisor to President Barack Obama during his historic presidential campaign. He is currently a senior fellow at the New ...
Anne-Marie Slaughter
As Director of Policy Planning for the US State Department, Anne-Marie Slaughter touched on nearly every foreign policy issue. She was named a Top 100 Global Thinker by Foreign Policy.
Oscar Arias
Former President of Costa Rica and 1987 Nobel Peace Laureate Oscar Arias holds international stature as a spokesperson for the developing world. Championing such issues as human development, democracy, and demilitarization, he has traveled the globe spreading a message of peace and applying the lessons garnered from the ...
Mary Robinson
As first female President of Ireland, Robinson increased the status of the nation. Formerly the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, she now advises businesses worldwide on ethical practices and management. In addition to her role as Executive Director of the Ethical Globalization Initiative, she is one of five members ...
Jared Cohen
Political transcendent Jared Cohen was originally brought in by Condoleezza Rice as the youngest member of the Secretary of State's Policy Planning Staff, where he continued to serve under Secretary Hillary Clinton. In this capacity, the technology and Middle East specialist focused on such issues as ...
Sheryl WuDunn
As a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, author and professional speaker, Sheryl WuDunn offers a unique perspective on current economic, political and social issues such as women's rights. As co-author of the New York Times bestseller, Half the Sky, WuDunn calls attention to the trials and triumphs of women ...
Cesar Gaviria
Former Colombian President César Gaviria --known in Latin America as a conflict mediator, advocate of democracy, staunch supporter of regional integration and defender of human rights-- also served as the first elected Organization of American State (OAS) Secretary General.
Raj Patel
Patel challenges preconceptions about the global economy through his work as a policy analyst and activist. His most recent book, The Value of Nothing: How to Reshape Market Society and Redefine Democracy, paints a clear picture of how achieving a fair society and sustainable economy are possible. He has worked for ...
Munir Akram
Following a long and distinguished diplomatic career as the former Permanent Representative to the United Nations from Pakistan, Ambassador Munir Akram is now ready to step out from behind the diplomatic curtain and tell what he knows and offer his perspective on what the goals of the United States should be in Pakistan ...
Joseph Stiglitz
Regarded as one of the best economic minds of his generation, Joseph E. Stiglitz is the winner of the 2001 Nobel Prize in economics. His work has helped explain the circumstances in which markets do not work well, and how selective government intervention can improve their performance. He helped create a new branch of ...
Paul Volcker
Over the course of his career, Paul Volcker has worked in the United States Federal Government for almost 30 years, culminating in two terms as Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System from 1979 to 1987, under Presidents Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan. In November 2008, President Elect Obama chose ...
Anand Giridharadas
Anand Giridharadas is a columnist for The New York Times and its global edition, the International Herald Tribune. Their first Bombay-based correspondent in the modern era, he reported on India's transformation, Bollywood, corporate takeovers, terrorism, outsourcing, poverty and democracy. As a keynote ...
Daniel Altman
Daniel Altman is a visionary economist whose work has revolved around identifying long-term solutions to problems facing the global economy. He is the author of Outrageous Fortunes.
Keith Olbermann
Liberal political commentator Keith Olbermann is the host of Countdown with Keith Olbermann, a nightly countdown of the day's biggest stories. He is also the Chief News Officer of Current TV.
Anthony Shadid
He is the Beirut bureau chief for The New York Times. Since 9/11, he has reported from most of the countries in the Middle East, from Egypt to Syria to Israel and Palestine, where he was wounded in the back while covering fighting in 2002 in the West Bank.
Rob Gifford
An NPR Foreign Correspondent and China Editor of The Economist magazine, Gifford authored the critically acclaimed China Road: A Journey into the Future of a Rising Power.
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