We’re proud to represent speakers who have made it to one of the largest and most influential public stages today. In TED Talks that cover topics of personal, political, and historical significance, our speakers showcase their “ideas worth spreading.” Whether through virtual or in-person engagements, our speakers are available to speak with audiences to inspire and motivate.

“Embrace Your Raw, Strange Magic”

Casey Gerald was the poster child for the American Dream, escaping a harrowing childhood to enter a new world of elite universities and secret societies. He grew up in Dallas and went to Yale, where he majored in political science and played varsity football. After an internship on Wall Street and an MBA from Harvard Business, he saw how this hierarchy stifled those at the margins, and that “salvation stories” like his could be used to keep others from rising. He challenges these deepest assumptions about what it means to succeed and turns the American Dream narrative on its head.

“A Vision of Crimes in the Future”

Marc Goodman is a global strategist, writer, and consultant focused on the profound change technology is having on security, business, and international affairs. He focuses on the profound change technology is having on security, business, and international affairs, particularly as related to cybersecurity. He discusses the security currencies, synthetic biology, virtual reality, and the Internet of Things.

“Spaceflight: Michael Massimino at TED x Columbia Engineering”

NASA astronaut Mike Massimino’s story of his unlikely journey from a working class family to fulfilling his childhood dream of becoming an astronaut inspires audiences to never give up when pursuing a goal. A great storyteller, Massimino shares the ups and downs of his extraordinary journey and how teamwork, passion, and persistence turned a childhood dream into reality.

“6 Ways to Save the Internet”

A Silicon Valley investor for over 35 years, Roger McNamee is a tech venture capitalist with several successful ventures to his name. As an early mentor to Mark Zuckerberg and an investor in his company, McNamee’s role at Facebook allowed him access to the company’s questionable practices, which he now details in the hope of imploring Facebook and tech companies like it to adopt more responsible practices moving forward.

“Why We Must Talk to Our Boys the Way We Talk to Our Girls”

A pediatrician and consultant, Cara Natterson, M.D has cared for thousands of infants, children, and teenagers. Using this invaluable experience, Natterson travels the country speaking to speaking at schools to parent, teacher, student, and corporate audiences about health and wellness. Her unique ability to make cutting-edge research understandable, actionable, and entertaining has made her a trusted expert in the field of “growing up.”

“Three Steps to Turn Everyday Get-Togethers Into Transformative Gatherings”

Priya Parker’s bold approach to gatherings is redefining the way people connect at home and at work by challenging them to get to the root of what it truly means to bring people together. Parker teaches listeners ways to create transformative and unforgettable gatherings that can shift the way that groups of all sizes interact at meetings, dinner parties, and just about any other get-together.

“Why Your Worst Deeds Don’t Define You”

Shaka Senghor is a leading voice in criminal justice reform. His life was transformed while he was serving nineteen years in prison, seven of which were spent in solitary confinement. He speaks to the human impact of mass incarceration and has inspired mothers of murder victims to forgive, inspired young men in the streets to choose a college degree over a prison number, and shifted the thinking of tough-on-crime advocates from the lock-em-up-throw-away-the-key mentality to believing redemption is possible.

“How to Gain Control of Your Free Time”

A nationally recognized journalist and speaker Laura Vanderkam helps her audiences maximize each hour of the day and rediscover their true passions and beliefs in pursuit of more meaningful lives. She’s written numerous books on the subject of productivity and is an expert on time management who shares her techniques for getting the most out of each day with audiences of busy people everywhere.

“The Power to Think Ahead in a Reckless Age”

Bina Venkataraman is a former journalist and Senior Advisor for Climate Change Innovation under the Obama Administration, a role in which she worked to forge partnerships across communities, companies, and the government to prepare for climate change disasters. Venkataraman’s insights on how to use predictions of the future to inform present-day actions are the core of her book, The Optimists Telescope. 

“The Great Migration and the Power of a Single Decision”

Isabel Wilkerson is an acclaimed historian who illuminated a crucial period of African American history in The Warmth of Other Suns, a comprehensive account of the Great Migration. Audiences nationwide have praised her ability to bring the complexities of the past to vivid life through her passionate research and her profound gift for connecting with audiences of all backgrounds.

“Why It’s Worth Listening to People You Disagree With”

As a student at Williams College, Zachary Wood entered the national spotlight when he founded Uncomfortable Learning, a student group dedicated to hosting controversial speakers and discussing unfamiliar and challenging ideas to broaden students’ intellectual horizons. He later testified in front of Congress on the state of free speech on campus, and uses his talks and workshops to guide groups through tricky conversations.

“What Reading Slowly Taught Me About Writing”

Jacqueline Woodson changed the face of young people’s literature with the National Book Award-winning Brown Girl Dreaming and has garnered acclaim from audiences of all ages with her writing across genres. Her latest novel for adult readers, Red at the Bone, was published last week to universal acclaim.