Prominent Person Speakers

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. ...

Michael Eric Dyson

Named by Essence magazine as one of the 50 most inspiring African Americans, Dyson is one of the nation's most renowned public intellectuals, revitalizing the role with the fervor of an ordained Baptist minister. Called "a street fighter in a suit and tie," he takes on the toughest and most controversial issues of ...

Shirin Ebadi

An extraordinary woman of many firsts, Iranian lawyer and activist Ebadi has made history as the first Muslim to receive the Nobel Peace Prize for her courageous defense of human rights in Iran. One of the most intelligent, passionate, and respected voices of dissent from within this complex nation, she speaks to the world ...

Geoffrey Canada

Profiled on 60 Minutes, Canada has achieved great success as President and CEO of the Harlem Children’s Zone, an agency that fuses community building with academic achievement to improve the futures of inner city youth. Recently, President Obama launched an initiative to create “Promise Neighborhoods” around ...

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, working tirelessly end the corruption that has plagued her ...

Howard Gardner

Howard Gardner, a psychologist and professor at Harvard, is a pioneering intellectual thinker whose expertise reflects decades of study in leadership, intelligences, and ethics. His recent book, Five Minds for the Future, examines the mental abilities necessary for success in the ever-changing 21st century.

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 ...

Harry Markopolos

Harry Markopolos was catapulted into the spotlight as the man who blew the whistle on Bernie Madoff and his $50 billion Ponzi scheme. Passionate about fixing the system and preventing future abuses, Markopolos speaks about the Madoff scheme and how you can recognize and prevent fraud in your organization.

Oscar Arias

Awarded the 1987 Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts in ending political violence in Central America, Dr. Arias champions such issues as human development, democracy, and demilitarization, and has traveled the globe spreading his message of peace.

Jacques Delors

Known as the architect of the Single European Act, the first modification of the Treaty of Rome, and of the ambitious reform of funding for the European Community, the Honorable Jacques Delors is one of the most influential politicians who contributed to the formation of the Europe of the nineties.

Maria Hinojosa

Senior Correspondent for PBS news program NOW and Managing Editor of the radio program, "Latino USA," Hinojosa hosts a new PBS series, One-on-One, interviewing some of America's foremost Latino leaders. A prominent voice in the Hispanic community, she brings her wit, warmth, and professional wisdom to the dialogue ...

Ralph Nader

Former Green Party candidate for president and one of Time magazine's "100 Most Influential Americans of the 20th Century," Ralph Nader has always been a voice fighting for the people on the issues that matter most: healthcare, safety, environment, ethics, education, economic and social equality. As a keynote ...

Charlayne Hunter-Gault

Hunter-Gault made civil rights history as the first African American woman to graduate from the University of Georgia. Now, as one of television's premier journalists, she challenges convention with her insights. A special correspondent for NPR based in South Africa, she has written New News Out of Africa, which ...

Maureen Dowd

Maureen Dowd, winner of the 1999 Pulitzer Prize for distinguished commentary, became a columnist on The New York Times Op-Ed page in 1995 after having served as a correspondent in the paper's Washington bureau since 1986.

Gail Sheehy

As the best-selling author of over a dozen books, including Passages, Gail Sheehy has rocked the culture and changed the way millions of women and men look at the stages of their lives. A Library of Congress survey named Passages one of the ten most influential books of our time. In her latest book, ...

Toni Morrison

One of the most prominent authors in world literature, the Nobel and Pulitzer Prize-winning Morrison has authored such celebrated books as The Bluest Eye, Beloved, and Song of Solomon. A National Book Critics Award recipient, her writings are notable for their epic themes, vivid dialogue, and richly ...

Kay Koplovitz

Koplovitz is the founder of USA Networks and the first woman network president in television history. A pioneer in cable television networks and new media ventures, she is a visionary woman who led the emergence of cable television from the backcountry of America to challenge the mighty broadcast networks for coveted ...

Terry McMillan

Since McMillan's breakout novel Waiting to Exhale surged onto The New York Times bestseller list, critics and readers alike have been captivated by her irreverent, often-hilarious take on the issues faced by contemporary African American women. With several of her bestsellers, including Waiting to ...

Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga

With her father former President of Sri Lanka and mother the world’s first women Prime Minister, Kumaratunga was destined to be the first woman President of Sri Lanka. Renowned for her energy and intellect, she describes leading a nation through challenging times, including the 2004 tsunami, fighting terrorism, and ...