Alexa Chung

Named one of U.S. Vogue’s 2009 Most Stylish Women of the year, Alexa Chung is a global style icon and trendsetter. As a model and television personality, the former host of MTV’s IT'S ON WITH ALEXA CHUNG, can regularly be seen on the covers of top tier fashion magazines across the globe including, Jalouse and L’Officiel in France, WWD in America and the UK editions of Harpers Bazaar, ELLE...

Antoine Fuqua

Antoine Fuqua has established himself as one of the foremost industry talents of his generation. Through his diverse body of work, he has achieved his goal of making highly stylized films that resonate thematically and personally with audiences around the world. Mr. Fuqua explores the complexity of free will complexity – the decisions that ordinary people make and the un anticipated...

Ayman Mohyeldin

All journalists hope that at least once in their career, they'll be covering the world's biggest story and be the best at doing it. With Egypt's revolution, Ayman Mohyeldin's hopes became reality. Many journalists did good work in Egypt at the country's - and the region's - historic turning point, but none matched Mohyeldin, 31. He put us in the middle of the action and took us behind the...

Baratunde Thurston

Baratunde Thurston is a technology-loving comedian from the future who cares enough about the world to engage with it politically. Yes, he votes. Regularly. With an ancestry that includes a great-grandfather who taught himself to read, a grandmother who was the first black employee at the U.S. Supreme Court building and a mother who took over radio stations in the name of the black liberation...

Cedric 'The Entertainer'

Cedric ‘The Entertainer’ is best known for his crowd-pleasing roles in the recent hit films Barbershop with Ice Cube, Be Cool with John Travolta, Madagascar (animated feature), Intolerable Cruelty with George Clooney, and The Original Kings of Comedy, MTV’S documentary feature directed by Spike Lee. Additionally, in April 2004, Cedric was star and producer of the box office hit Johnson Family...

Christy Haubegger

Christy Haubegger founded Latina magazine in 1996 following her graduation from Stanford Law School. It was in a business course there that Haubegger conceived of and developed a business plan for a groundbreaking magazine that would showcase fashion, beauty, lifestyle and empowerment for Hispanic women.

Connie Chung

An award-winning investigative reporter/anchor and one of the most recognizable faces on American television, Connie Chung has been a powerful force in the news industry for more than 35 years. On the lecture stage she draws on her unique experiences as a working mother in addressing the challenges today’s women face, advocating diversity in the workplace, and inspiring younger journalists...

Cuba Gooding, Jr.

Cuba Gooding Jr. is best known for his Oscar winning portrayal of the charmingly arrogant professional football player, Rod Tidwell, in Jerry Maguire. Starring opposite Tom Cruise in the Cameron Crowe directed film, Cuba solidified his position as one of Hollywood's most talented actors. In addition to the Academy Award, Gooding was also honored with the Screen Actors Guild Award...

Dan Savage

Dan Savage is a writer, TV personality, and activist best known for his political and social commentary, as well as his honest approach to sex, love and relationships. Savage’s sex advice column, “Savage Love,” is syndicated in newspapers and websites throughout the United States, Canada, Europe and Asia. He is the Editorial Director of The Stranger, Seattle’s weekly alternative newspaper...

Diana Ross

In a remarkable career spanning over 30 years, Diana Ross has proven herself the consummate music artist as well as the most successful female singer of all time. In the 1960s as lead singer of the pop group The Supremes, she achieved the unprecedented feat of fourteen consecutive number one hit records, rivaling The Beatles for the position of most successful recording act of that generation.

Earvin Magic Johnson

Earvin Johnson, Jr. may best be known for his winning ways during his illustrious 13-year NBA career, but today the basketball legend directs his efforts toward his growing business and philanthropic empire, Magic Johnson Enterprises (MJE).

Erik Spoelstra

NBA Champion Head Coach Erik Spoelstra began his career with the Miami Heat in 1995 as the Video Coordinator for then Head Coach, Pat Riley. After being mentored by the Hall of Famer and growing within the organization, he was elevated to his current position on April 28, 2008 when Pat Riley stepped down as Head Coach to become team President. Prior to taking over the reigns as the sixth...

Eva Longoria

Texas-born, Mexican-American actress, Eva Longoria, emerged as a daytime favorite on The Young and the Restless and General Hospital. Longoria then starred as Gabrielle Solis on the ABC-megahit "Desperate Housewives." The global hit show is a multi-Emmy, Golden Globe, and Screen Actors Guild Award winner. Longoria has received numerous awards: People's Choice Award-winner for favorite female TV...

Eva Mendes

Eva Mendes captured the attention of moviegoers in a small, but pivotal role in the critically acclaimed film, Training Day. Since then, Mendes has proved she is adept in both comedic and dramatic roles. In a very short time, she has had the fortunate and unique opportunity to work with such esteemed directors as Carl Franklin, Robert Rodriguez, Antoine Fuqua, the Farrelly Bros. and John Singleton

Geoffrey  Fletcher

Geoffrey Fletcher is an Academy Award winning writer and director who has penned numerous screenplays and directed many short films. Initially working with a video camera and cast of toys and action figures, he began making films as a child. Those films in part led to his acceptance to NYU's Tisch Graduate Film Program, which he attended after his graduation from Harvard University. He has also...

George Lopez

After surviving a kidney transplant and a divorce, GEORGE LOPEZ recently found himself surrounded by a room full of childhood friends, all gathered to celebrate his birthday, and realized his greatest challenge had presented itself: turning 50. Already called one of The 25 Most Influential Hispanics in America by TIME magazine, George is now hitting the reset button on his expanding career and...

Giuliana Rancic

An entertainment journalist, fashion expert, and television personality, GIULIANA RANCIC is a force both on-camera and off but her remarkable success didn’t come easily. She is a true result of “The American Dream” and an inspiration to people, both young and old. Her love affair with television journalism began before she could even speak English – her parents couldn’t afford a tutor...

Gladys Knight

The great ones endure, and Gladys Knight has long been one of the greatest. Very few singers over the last fifty years have matched her unassailable artistry. This seven-time Grammy winner has enjoyed #1 hits in pop, R&B and Adult Contemporary, and has triumphed in film, television and live performance...

Gloria Estefan

Gloria Estefan, an international superstar, is one of the most recognized artists in the world. With five Grammy Awards and more than seventy million albums sold world-wide, Estefan is the single most successful crossover performer in the history of Latin music.

Ishmael Beah

Ishmael Beah was born in Sierra Leone on November 23, 1980. When he was eleven, Ishmael’s life, along with the lives of millions of other Sierra Leoneans, was derailed by the outbreak of a brutal civil war. After his parents and two brothers were killed, Ishmael was recruited to fight as a child soldier. He was thirteen.

Jay Sean

Jay Sean is the international superstar behind songs such as "Down," featuring Lil Wayne, and "Do You Remember," chart-topping hits from his U.S. debut album All or Nothing, which helped catapult him into a league reserved for just a few. Now, he is gearing up for the release of his fourth album, the highly anticipated Cash Money/Universal Republic follow-up Freeze Time, with music, including...

Jeffrey Wright

Critically acclaimed actor Jeffrey Wright continually pushes the boundaries of his craft with inspiring and celebrated performances in an illustrious career that has spanned the worlds of theatre, film and television. In addition to acting, Wright is Vice Chairman of Taia Lion Resources and Chairman of Taia Peace Foundation. He also serves on the boards of directors of the Tribeca Film...

Katori Hall

Katori Hall is a playwright performer from Memphis, TN. Hurt Village won the 2011 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize and was a finalist for the Ruby Award. The script is being adapted into a film and was developed at the 2011 Sundance Screenwriters Lab. Hall’s other plays include: The Mountaintop (2010 Olivier Award for Best New Play), which recently ran on Broadway at the Bernard Jacobs Theatre...

Kelly Choi

Kelly Choi is a die-hard foodie and former host of Bravo’s hit series, TOP CHEF MASTERS, one of the highest rated programs on the network, and highest rated show for that time slot in Bravo TV history, beating Project Runway and the original Top Chef. As an acclaimed food journalist, producer, creator and host of NYC’s restaurant show EAT OUT NY, Kelly won a New York Emmy from the New York...

Kerry Washington

Winner of “Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture” for Ray at the NAACP Image Awards in 2005 and nominated for an Independent Spirit Award for “Best Actress” in the film Lift in 2002, Kerry Washington is a versatile and fearless actress who has built an impressive list of credits in a relatively short amount of time. She garnered critical acclaim for her roles in The Last King of Scotland...

Kevin Carroll

Kevin Carroll is the founder of Kevin Carroll Katalyst/LLC and the author of three highly successful books published by ESPN, Disney Press and McGraw-Hill. As an author, speaker and agent for social change (a.k.a. the Katalyst), it is Kevin’s “job” to inspire businesses, organizations and individuals - from CEOs and employees of Fortune 500 companies to schoolchildren - to embrace their spirit...

Kip Fulbeck

Kip Fulbeck is a pioneering artist, spoken word performer, author, and filmmaker exploring multiracial identity. He has been featured on CNN, MTV, The TODAY Show, and PBS, and has performed and exhibited in over twenty countries and throughout the U.S. He is the author of several books including MIXED: PORTRAITS OF MULTIRACIAL KIDS; PART ASIAN, 100% HAPA; and PERMANENCE: TATTOO PORTRAITS, as..

Lee Daniels

LEE DANIELS' background is filled with bold stories as real and gritty as the narratives from the films he creates. By the age of 21, Daniels founded and ran his own health care agency, providing nurses to private homes and hospitals; he was simultaneously trying to be a screenwriter. After selling his health care business, and giving up screenwriting, he began managing actors such as Loretta...

Lynn  Nottage

Lynn Nottage's play, By The Way, Meet Vera Stark,enjoyed an extended run Off-Broadway at Second Stage Theatre (Lily Award, Drama Desk Nomination). It can be seen at The Geffen Playhouse and Goodman Theatre. Her Pulitzer Prize-winning play Ruined, which involves the plight of women in the civil war-torn Democratic Republic of Congo, premiered at Manhattan Theatre Club and Goodman Theatre (OBIE...

Marcellus Wiley

Marcellus Wiley is a sports broadcaster and radio host for ESPN and ESPN LA Radio. Wiley joined ESPN in 2007 as an in-studio NFL analyst. Since then, his duties at ESPN have expanded across all platforms. In January of 2011, Wiley was named co-host of "Max & Marcellus" on 710AM ESPN Radio in Los Angeles. In 2010, the animated and charismatic Wiley was named co-host of the hit show Winners...

Michael Wilbon

Michael Wilbon, the longtime Washington Post sports columnist, is co-host of ESPN's Pardon the Interruption, the popular weekday sports debate and discussion program, as well as an NBA studio analyst for both ESPN and ABC. A pioneer in sports journalism, Wilbon was one of the first sports writers to broaden his success beyond newspapers to include television, radio and other media.

Nasim Pedrad

Returning for her fourth season on the "SNL" stage, Nasim Pedrad has put a unique stamp on the show with her uncanny impressions including Kim Kardashian, Barbara Walters and Arianna Huffington. Her characters range from quirky, parent-loving character "Bedelia" to underground rocker "Lil Blaster." Pedrad joined the cast of "Saturday Night Live" in the 2009-10 season from The Groundlings...

Rosario Dawson

ROSARIO DAWSON has garnered praise for her numerous leading roles with today’s hottest film actors and directors, making her one of Hollywood’s most sought after leading ladies. At the age of 14, Dawson debuted in the critically acclaimed KIDS and went on to gain accolades in roles such as ‘Mimi Marquez’ in the film RENT. She was honored in 2007 at the esteemed ShoWest where she received the...

Russell Simmons

Acknowledged as the Godfather of Hip-Hop, he is the visionary behind Def Jam, the legendary label that launched the careers of such artists as Run DMC, the Beastie Boys, LL Cool J, Jay-Z and Ludicrous; his immensely successful fashion empire of Phat Fashions defines the next generation of chic style, while his Def Comedy Jam, Run’s House and Def Poetry Jam shows breathed new life into comedy and..

Sanya Richards-Ross

At the 2012 London Olympic Games, Sanya was showcased her tireless work ethic by collecting two more Gold Medals (400m, 4x400m Relay) to add to an outstanding year that has already seen her win the 400m Indoor World Championship. Prior to Sanya’s 2012 campaign, she bounced back from an injury shortened 2010 to claim her record fifth career World Championship Gold Medal by winning the 4x400...

Sidney Poitier

Academy Award-winning actor, writer, director, and diplomat (he serves as the Bahamas’ ambassador to Japan and UNESCO), Sidney Poitier has been a political and artistic trailblazer for more than half a century. On the lecture stage he recounts the uplifting story of his life from his childhood as the son of poor tomato farmers to his pioneering cinematic career in inspiring audiences to pursue...

Spike Lee

Spike Lee, is a writer, director, actor, producer and author who revolutionized the role of Black talent in cinema. Widely regarded as a premiere African-American filmmaker, Lee is a forerunner in the ‘do it yourself’ school of independent film. An avid sports enthusiast, Lee recently completed a one day 18 camera documentary shoot focusing on NBA standout Kobe Bryant. Produced for ESPN, the...

SuChin Pak

SuChin Pak is a veteran media personality and television host. She is currently an MTV News Correspondent and host of the environmental news program, G Word on Planet Green (Discovery Networks). SuChin is one of the most recognizable faces in the environmental media space and has focused much of her work on issues involving social change. She currently spearheads two pro-social campaigns...

Terrence  Howard

The multi-talented Terrence Howard is best known for his Golden Globe and Academy Award nominated work in Hustle & Flow, as well as for his supporting role in Crash, for which he received a National Board of Review Award for Best Breakthrough Performance. Born in Chicago, IL, Howard began his acting career as Jackie Jackson in the ABC miniseries The Jacksons: An American Dream, which was quick...

Warrick Dunn

NFL running back Warrick Dunn is truly one of the good guys in the world of sports. And in his revealing autobiography, “Running for My Life”, Dunn tells his incredibly moving, inspirational story of courage and determination in the face of devastating loss, a story that makes his achievements on the football field that much more amazing. Warrick Dunn and his five brothers and sisters all...

Wyclef Jean

Haitian-born Wyclef Jean is a Grammy Award-winning songwriter/musician/producer, humanitarian, Goodwill Ambassador to Haiti, and founder of Yéle Haiti. A founding member of the pioneering hip-hop group Fugees and prolific solo artist, Wyclef has effortlessly crossed genres, generations and geographic boundaries with his music. Wyclef's musical journey began in Haiti where he sang in his...

Yang Lan

Ms. Yang is a leading television anchor in China. She is also the co-founder of Sun Media Investment Holdings Ltd, one of China’s most prominent private media groups. Businesses include television production, newspapers and magazines, as well as on-line publishing. In 2005, she founded Sun Culture Foundation with a mission to promote the relief of poverty, advancement of education...

Viola Davis

Classically trained, award-winning actor, VIOLA DAVIS has conquered every medium from stage to television to film. From her Tony Award winning performances in “King Hedley II” and “Fences” to her Academy Award nominated performances in THE HELP and DOUBT, Viola has burst through every barrier to become one of the most accomplished and celebrated actors today. In THE HELP, Davis...