Black History Month

Celebrate the legacy, courage and vision of Black leaders during February and all year long with these inspiring Black History Month speakers.

Host one of these renowned thought leaders, Civil Rights activists, influencers and C-Suite changemakers to amplify Black voices that empower organizations to engage in meaningful conversations and create a more inclusive and understanding community.

Rosemary Saal

<p>Rosemary Saal helped make history as a member of the Full Circle Everest Expedition, the first all-Black team to climb Mount Everest. </p><p>One of three women on the Full Circle Everest Expedition team, Saal understands the value of diversity for leaders and teams, and the importance of focus in high-stakes environments.

Sherrilyn Ifill

<p>Sherrilyn Ifill is a civil rights lawyer and scholar. From 2013-2022, she served as the President and Director-Counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF), the nation’s premier civil rights law organization fighting for racial justice and equality. She recently served as a Ford Foundation Fellow and as the Klinsky Visiting Professor for Leadership & Progress at Howard Law School.

Daryl Davis

<p>Daryl Davis is committed to helping people ignite positive change—using conversation to build bridges.</p><p>His jaw-dropping experiences speak for themselves. For nearly 40 years, he’s engaged leaders of the KKK and White supremacist groups face to face to find the answer to a question: “How can you hate me when you don’t even know me?” </p><p>That question stemmed from his first encounter with racism at age ten when he was pelted with rocks, bottles, and soda cans by a handful of White spectators while marching in a parade.

Shaquem Griffin

<p>Shaquem Griffin, the first one-handed former NFL linebacker in history, played four seasons with the Seattle Seahawks and Miami Dolphins before retiring in 2022.</p><p> Now a sought-after motivational speaker, he has inspired D1 Power 4 programs, pro teams, Fortune 500 companies, and more, around the world. He serves as an Advisor for a Venture Capitol, BIG12 Alumni Counsel Member, and startup advisor. Co-founder of Consumer Launch Pad and Y.O.U.

Lee Jourdan

<p>Inclusive leadership expert Lee Jourdan explains why workplace diversity gives organizations a competitive advantage, and offers concrete solutions for leveraging it amid the changing landscape.</p><p>Though data shows more diverse companies outperform their less diverse competitors, DEI efforts face growing challenges—from rulings against affirmative action to the current administration’s rollback of DEI initiatives. So what does this mean for the future of DEI?

Ryan Leak

<p>Ryan Leak is a dynamic speaker, <em>New York Times</em> best-selling author, and strategic advisor renowned for his ability to inspire and transform individuals and organizations.</p><p> As the CEO of a leadership development firm based in Dallas, Ryan and his team train over 30,000 leaders annually — from Fortune 500 companies to professional sports teams.

Cassandra Worthy

<p>Cassandra Worthy gives business leaders and teams a framework of behavior and tools necessary to grow through change.</p><p>Cassandra Worthy is lighting the world on fire with her refreshingly unique take on not just <i>managing</i> but <i>growing </i>through change.

Tim Salau

<p>Tim Salau is a visionary leader, author, and CEO devoted to helping people thrive in their careers and personal lives.</p><p> As Chairman, co-founder, and CEO of Guide, a global lifestyle brand and platform empowering mental health professionals and clinics, Tim is shaping the future of care and career by delivering tools that enhance patient outcomes and deepen post-session engagement.

Dr. Bernice A. King

<p>Dr. Bernice Albertine King is the youngest daughter to the late civil rights leaders Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Coretta Scott King. She was five years old when her father was assassinated in 1968. </p><p>King answered the call to ministry at the age of seventeen when she gave an address advocating against the South African apartheid to the United Nations General Assembly in New York. In 1985 and again in 1986, she was arrested with her siblings while protesting against apartheid.

Anton Gunn

<p>Anton Gunn is a former senior advisor to President Barack Obama and the world's leading authority on Socially Conscious Leadership. </p><p>He has a Masters degree in Social Work from the University of South Carolina and was a Resident Fellow at Harvard University. He is the author of <em>The Presidential Principles</em> and <em>The Audacity of Leadership</em>. Gunn has been featured in <em>TIME Magazine, Inc.