Diversity & Inclusion (C)

<p>As the first openly LGBTQ+ professional to play in the NFL, R.K. Russell articulates how truth is essential to not only survive but to thrive.</p><p>In addition to being a professional football player in the NFL, he is also a published poet, writer, and artist. R.K. dedicated his life to football. He learned the responsibility and hard work it took to become a Big Ten Starter, an All-Conference player, and a reliable teammate. Off the field, he began to take his studies more seriously, write long-form creative pieces, and discover his sexuality. R.K.

<p>LaTosha is a contributor to <i>The New York Times</i> op-ed page and a Senior Practice Fellow at the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. As co-founder of the Black Voters Matter Fund organization, LaTosha is dedicated to increasing the political power of Black people.</p><p>The Black Voters Matter Fund was credited with energizing and turning out voters in Alabama’s Black Belt and playing a decisive role in Doug Jones’ election to the U.S.

<p>Ronny Chieng is a Chinese stand-up comedian and actor born in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, raised in Manchester, NH, USA, and Singapore, who graduated from the University of Melbourne in Australia in 2009 with a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Commerce.</p><p>Ronny started performing comedy in Melbourne in 2009. Since then, he has toured 4 sold out global stand-up comedy theater tours in Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, India, Canada and London.

<p>Award-winning financial journalist, behavior expert and author, Stacey Tisdale, discusses the new realities of the post Covid-19 economy helping audiences navigate the financial and psychological challenges that so many are facing, due to factors such as job and income loss, loss of healthcare coverage, financial stress, and the gender and racial inequalities the virus is amplifying. </p><p>When she was a journalist with Wall Street Journal Television, Stacey became one of the first women—and the first African American—to report from the New York Stock Exchange.

Jade Simmons is a born storyteller, a classically trained pianist and a creator of transformational experiences designed to activate audiences into becoming the biggest, boldest version of themselves possible.

 The world-class concert artist has been called a “musical force of nature” with an “uncanny ability to connect with the sounds of today.” Nicknamed “Classical Music’s #1 Maverick,” Jade’s electrifying, genre-bending concert adventures span Rachmaninoff all the way to rap and include virtuoso storytelling, uncommon insights, and boundless inspiration.

<p>Michelle Poler is a creative and passionate social entrepreneur, keynote speaker, fear facer, and branding strategist.</p><p>She is the Founder of Hello Fears, a social movement empowering millions to step outside of the comfort zone and tap into their full potential. She has spoken at TEDx, Google, P&G, Facebook, ESPN, Netflix, Microsoft, Toyota, and many more. </p><p>Michelle is also the creator of the project 100 Days Without Fear.

<p>Rita Moreno remains one of the busiest stars in show business. Rita recently starred in the critically-acclaimed Latino remake of Norman Lear’s classic sitcom, <i>One Day at a Time</i> on Netflix. Prior to that, Rita has also appeared in guest-starring roles in primetime TV series such as <i>Getting On</i>, <i>Jane The Virgin</i>, <i>Grey’s Anatomy</i>, and<i> Grace and Frankie</i>.</p><p>In 2015 Rita received the Kennedy Center Honor for her lifetime Contributions to American culture.

<p>Carla Harris is a Senior Client Advisor, Former Vice Chairman, Managing Director at Morgan Stanley. The breadth of her industry experience enables her to move effortlessly from topics of technology, retail, or media sectors to healthcare, telecommunications, and transportation.</p><p>Ms. Harris began her career with Morgan Stanley in the Mergers & Acquisitions department in 1987. Prior to joining Morgan Stanley, Carla received from Harvard Business School an MBA, Second Year Honors and an AB in economics from Harvard University, Magna Cum Laude.

<p>Gordon is a Visiting Scholar at the USC Games and head of the USC Bridge incubator program, helping to cultivate the next generation of leaders in our craft.

<p>The Black and Latina daughter of a working-class family, Victoria Pratt learned to treat everyone with dignity, no matter their background. When she became Newark Municipal Court’s chief judge, she knew well the inequities that poor, mentally ill, Black, and brown people faced in the criminal justice system.</p><p>Judge Victoria has gained national and international acclaim for her commitment to reform the criminal justice system.