Leadership (U)

Our top leadership speakers will provide meaningful takeaways on how to guide, inspire, and empower teams. Meeting the challenge of leading a team is not easy – our leadership keynote speakers will share how to face that challenge and succeed.

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Leadership
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Leadership

Garry Kasparov

Considered the greatest chess player that ever lived, Russian world champion Garry Kasparov shares insights on strategy, innovation, leadership, and risk. 

Garry Kasparov is widely regarded as the greatest chess player in history, becoming the youngest world champion ever at 22 in 1985 and spending twenty years as the world’s top-rated player. His legendary matches against the IBM supercomputer Deep Blue in 1996 and 1997 made him a central figure in artificial intelligence and the evolution of the human-machine relationship. 

Dr. Peggy Whitson

<p>A renowned NASA astronaut named one of <em>TIME</em>’s Most Influential People and one of <em>Forbes</em>’ 50 Over 50, Peggy Whitson shares insight on leadership, building resilient teams, developing soft skills for success, and the importance of STEM education. </p><p>An inspirational leader dedicated to pushing the boundaries of human knowledge and advancing our understanding of space, Peggy Whitson has over 37 years of experience with NASA.

José Hernández

<p>The inspiring subject of the Prime film, <em>A Million Miles Away</em>, José Hernández shares stories from his extraordinary journey from migrant farm worker to NASA astronaut, empowering audiences to persevere in challenging environments and to achieve their greatest goals. </p><p>NASA engineer José Hernández wanted to fly in space ever since he heard that the first Hispanic-American had been chosen to travel into space.

Koritha Mitchell, PhD

<p>A renowned cultural critic who coined the term “Know-Your-Place Aggression,” Koritha Mitchell created the C19 Podcast episode, <em>The N-Word in the Classroom: Just Say No!</em> </p><p>In 2013, Koritha published <em>Love in Action: Noting Similarities Between Lynching Then and Anti-LGBT Violence Now</em>. She found that what lynching and anti-LGBT violence most have in common is the targeted group’s success.

Anna Maria Chávez

<p><em>Fortune</em> magazine named Anna Maria Chávez one of the “World’s 50 Greatest Leaders,” citing her vision and creativity in revitalizing the Girl Scout brand for a new century and transforming it into one of the top 10 most innovative nonprofits in the world.</p><p>The first woman of color to lead the iconic Girl Scouts of the USA in their 104-year-old history, Anna Maria Chávez is a renowned leadership expert who harnesses the power of technology and her passion for public service to transform organizations, earning her a place in U.S.

Alissa Quart

<p>Acclaimed journalist Alissa Quart speaks on topics like poverty, economic inequality, and the myth of the “American Dream.” </p><p>Alissa Quart is the author of five acclaimed books of nonfiction, including <em>Bootstrapped: Liberating Ourselves from the American Dream </em>(Ecco, 2023). The others are <em>Squeezed</em>,<em> Republic of Outsiders</em>,<em> Hothouse Kids</em>, and <em>Branded</em>.

Steve Kerr

<p>Drawing from his remarkable career as one of the most successful NBA coaches and players of all time, Steve Kerr provides lessons in leadership, overcoming adversity, and the importance of giving back.</p><p>Few professional coaches have had a career—or a life—as inspiring as Steve Kerr’s. Currently head coach of the Golden State Warriors and USA Basketball Men’s National Team, he is a nine-time NBA champion, having won five titles as a player and four as a head coach.

Amanda L. Tyler

<p>This UC Berkeley Law Professor and Supreme Court expert shares stories from the book she co-wrote with friend and mentor Ruth Bader Ginsburg and gives audiences a behind-the-curtain look at the inner workings of the nation’s highest court.</p><p>A Supreme Court, civil liberties and constitutional law expert who served early in her career as a law clerk to the late and Honorable Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Amanda Tyler is currently the Shannon Cecil Turner Professor of Law at UC Berkeley and an author.