Esmeralda Santiago

Award-Winning Documentary Filmmaker; Bestselling Author of Historical & Transcultural Novels and Memoirs

Anna Deavere Smith

Award-Winning Actress, Playwright & Social Commentator

Ursula Burns

First Black Woman to Serve as CEO of A Fortune 500 Company; Former Chairwoman of VEON & Former CEO of Xerox

Hoda Kotb

Award-Winning Broadcast Journalist, Television Personality, Author & Co-Anchor of NBC News' TODAY

Jacques Pépin

Master French Chef; Food Columnist; Cookbook Author Educator

Darren Walker

President of the Ford Foundation; Chair of the US Alliance on Impact Investing

HOW Insights — NEW

Brooke Shields

Actress; Model; Women's Health, Aging & Mental Wellness Advocate

Cynthia Erivo

Singer-Songwriter & Grammy & Tony Award-Winning Actress; Known for "The Color Purple," "Wicked" & Portraying Harriet Tubman in "Harriet"; Vice President of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts

Tamron Hall

Award-Winning Journalist; Former National News Anchor for NBC News; Host of the "Tamron Hall Show"

Watch Where They Hide

Alok Vaid-Menon

Gender Non-Conforming Writer, Performance Artist, LGBTQ Rights Activist

Cecily Strong

Actress, Comedian, "Saturday Night Live" Cast Member & Former Co-Anchor of "Weekend Update"

Ted Allen

Host, "Chopped," Contributor, "The Best Thing I Ever Ate"

Jonathan Groff

Tony-Nominated Actor & Singer; Known for Musicals such as "Spring Awakening," "Hamilton," and Disney's "Frozen"

Misty Copeland

First African American Female Principal Dancer with the American Ballet Theatre; Author

Misty Copeland's Return After Her Break as Dancer & Producer

Anna Holmes

Founder and Editor of Online Women's Magazine, Jezebel. Editor, writer (Glamour, NY Times, Washington Post, Newsweek, Sports Illustrated, New Yorker.com, many others.)

Frank Wu

President of Queens College, City University of New York; Author of "Yellow: Race in America Beyond Black and White"

Kurt Andersen

Host of "Studio 360 from PRI and WNYC" & Author

Thimali Kodikara

Climate Storyteller; Host of "Mothers Of Invention" Podcast

Ruha Benjamin

Sociology & African American Studies Scholar; Author of "People's Science" and "Race After Technology"

Ruha Benjamin - Spelman Convocation 2024

Jason Silva

Emmy-nominated TV Personality; Futurist; Host of National Geographic Channel’s “Brain Games”