Education
Future of Education, Work and Leadership
Future of Education, Work and Leadership:
12th U.S. Secretary of Education
Dr. Miguel A. Cardona is an American leader and educator. He served as the 12th United States Secretary of Education, a position he was nominated for by President Joe Biden.
CEO & President of The Education Trust
An inspiring educational leader and advocate, King’s own story is proof of the transformative power of education. He shares a passionate message about access to opportunity and America’s future.
College President & Diversity Consultant
Speaker Johnnetta B. Cole is President Emerita of both Bennett College and Spelman College. She fights for diversity, justice, health, and safety.
President Emeritus of UMBC
Award-winning educator and diversity expert Hrabowski transformed UMBC with his enthusiasm for STEM. Partnering with businesses, UMBC fosters skills to ensure employability.
Inner-City Youth & Education Advocate
Founder of the Harlem Children’s Zone, Canada addresses inner city poverty and violence. His model was featured in Waiting for Superman and has been replicated across the U.S.
Research Professor & Historian of Education
Diane Ravitch is a research professor of education at New York University and a prolific writer, who has published more than 500 articles and reviews for scholarly and popular publications on the subject.
NYT Best-Selling Author & Motivational Leader
Moore energizes audiences with his remarkable personal story of overcoming adversity through education, embracing personal responsibility and emerging as an inspirational leader.
Human-Centered Thought Leader, Bestselling Author, Managing Director at Seramount & The Pemberton Podcast
Steve Pemberton is a visionary human-centered thought leader and the Founder and CEO of The Lighthouse Academy.
CEO of Global Citizen/Global Poverty Project
Hugh Evans’ breakthrough brand of action-oriented humanitarianism has mobilized millions to end extreme poverty, climate change and gender inequality around the world.
Former Editor & Managing Director, Fast Company
As the former Editor & Managing Director of Fast Company, Robert Safian is known for highlighting the “new” in business while keeping reverence for the “tried and true.”
Consumer Advocate
A former Green Party candidate for president, Ralph Nader fights for the people on the issues that matter most: healthcare, safety, environment, ethics, education, and economic & social equality.
17th Surgeon General & CEO, Canyon Ranch Health
Having gone from high school dropout to serving as our nation’s top doctor, Carmona instills in audiences that anything is possible through commitment and determination.
Former CEO & Creator of The Human + AI Equation
Anat Baron is a former CEO who scaled Mike's Hard Lemonade into a $200 million category-defining brand in just three years. She brings decades of operator experience across consumer brands, technology, hospitality, and entertainment.
Former President & CEO, NAACP & Professor, Harvard Kennedy School
As an activist and former leader of the nation’s oldest and largest grassroots-based civil rights organization, Brooks works to secure political, educational, social, and economic equality for all.
Founder & CEO, National CARES Mentoring Movement
The visionary that built the Essence brand, Taylor left the magazine to found an organization devoted to breaking the cycle of intergenerational poverty among African-Americans.
Superintendent of Los Angeles Unified School District
The former Superintendent of Miami-Dade County Public Schools, Alberto M. Carvalho is a nationally recognized expert on education transformation and finance who has successfully elevated his district’s academic profile.
CEO of Robin Hood
Richard is the CEO of Robin Hood and former Chief Executive Officer of Achievement First, a network of 37 public charter schools providing an excellent education to 15,000 students across New York, Connecticut and Rhode Island.
Award-Winning Actress, Producer & Equal Rights Advocate
With various ‘firsts’ in her already impressive career, Laverne Cox is a four-time Emmy- nominated actress, Emmy-winning producer, and a prominent equal rights advocate and public speaker.
The Professors: Nationally Recognized Educators
Dr. Richard White, inspirational speaker and full professor at the University of New Mexico, and Dr. Kevin Sanders, director of the Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music at the University of Memphis, have spent over two decades in higher education.
Principal EL & the Schoolhouse302
The Passionate Leadership Institute is designed to guide the thinking, planning and actions of educators. Dr. EL, Dr. Jones and Dr. Vari will discuss creating and fostering a culture to support educators who are more equity-focused and innovative.
Co-Authors of We Are Not Like Them & You Were Always Mine
Christine Pride partnered with Jo Piazza to write We Are Not Like Them, a story of an interracial friendship upended by a police shooting that hits close to home for two women.
Award-Winning Investigative Journalist at NBC News & Criminal Legal Reform Activist
In 2002, Dan Slepian, award-winning NBC News journalist and veteran producer of its newsmagazine Dateline, received a letter from Jon-Adrian "JJ" Velazquez, a man incarcerated and serving 25 years to life in person for a crime he didn’t commit.
Soft Power Strategist, Author of SMART POWER (Penguin Random House, 2027), Founder & CEO of SPS & Forbes Leadership Columnist
Penny Abeywardena is an award-winning public official and international columnist with a rapidly growing audience. She has learned a lot about how and why political and social progress happens — especially before and after courts and politicians get involved.
Everyday Genius (TM), Executive Coach & Author of Everyday Genius, A Guide to Peaceful Leadership
Wendy Knight Agard is an Everyday Genius (TM) and Master Executive Coach who enjoys helping others develop as leaders from the inside out.
"The Real Ted Lasso"
John U. Bacon has worked nearly three decades as a writer, a public speaker, and a college instructor, winning awards for all three.
Former Chancellor of the New York City Public Schools
David C. Banks is the former Chancellor of the New York City Public Schools, the largest school system in the United States.
Co-Chair, Poor People’s Campaign & NYT Best-Selling Author
The Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II is the President and Senior Lecturer of Repairers of the Breach; Co- Chair of the Poor People’s Campaign; Bishop with The Fellowship of Affirming Ministries; and Visiting Professor at Union Theological Seminary.
WSJ Bestselling Author, Barking Up the Wrong Tree
Wall Street Journal bestselling author and former Hollywood screenwriter Eric Barker uses research and compelling stories to challenge common myths about success and relationships.
Professor & Author
As the co-author of The Manufactured Crisis: Myths, Fraud and the Attack on America's Public Schools, David Berliner challenges the notion that American students are lagging behind other nations.
Founder & CEO of Turning Point Leadership Group LLC
Dr. Linda Wiley Bing is founder and CEO of Turning Point Leadership Group LLC, an innovative performance improvement company that specializes in diversity, equity, and inclusion, leadership development, and relationship management.
Science Broadcaster, Decision Making Strategist, Tech/AI Expert, Philanthropist & Poker Champion
Liv Boeree retired from professional poker in 2019 soon after her breakout TED talk (3 Lessons on Decision Making from a Poker Champion) and is now focused on speaking, broadcasting/content creating, philanthropy and her popular podcast, Win-Win.
Leadership Catalyst & Innovator
Dr. Christopher Bonn stands as an exemplary figure in the field of educational leadership, demonstrating a unique and powerful approach to revitalizing struggling organizations.