Motivational + Inspirational Speakers

These motivational author speakers not only deliver uplifting messages of hope and survival but also provide practical ways to initiate positive change.

Jane Fonda

Award-winning actress, bestselling author of My Life So Far, and fitness expert

Dr. Michele Harper

Emergency room physician and author of the New York Times-bestselling The Beauty in Breaking

Priya Parker

Facilitator, strategic advisor, and acclaimed author of The Art of Gathering

Cheryl Strayed

Author of the #1 New York Times-bestselling memoir Wild and "Dear Sugar" columnist

More Motivational + Inspirational Speakers

Will Allen

Founder of Growing Power, MacArthur 'Genius' Award winner, and author of The Good Food Revolution

Eduardo Briceño

Growth mindset expert, CEO of Growth.how, and author of The Performance Paradox

Peter Buffett

Emmy Award-winning musician, author, and philanthropist

Bill Burnett

Executive Director of the Design Program at Stanford and co-author of the #1 New York Times-bestselling book Designing Your Life

Alisyn Camerota

Author, journalist, and anchor of the CNN morning news program New Day.

Ed Catmull

Co-founder of Pixar Animation Studios, former president of Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios, and author of Creativity, Inc.

June Eric-Udorie

Feminist activist, Editor of Can We All Be Feminists? and DEI Programme Manager for Flexa

Dave Evans

Co-founder of Electronic Arts and co-author of the #1 New York Times-bestselling book Designing Your Life

Dr. Marisa G. Franco

Psychologist, professor, friendship expert, and New York Times-bestselling author of Platonic

Chris Guillebeau

New York Times-bestselling author of The $100 Startup and host of the podcast Side Hustle School

James Hatch

Retired member of the Naval Special Warfare Development group, author of Touching the Dragon, and founder of Spike’s K9 Fund

Doc Hendley

Founder and president of Wine to Water, CNN Hero, and author of Wine to Water

Therese Huston

Author of Let’s Talk: Make Effective Feedback Your Superpower

Valerie June

Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist

Jean Kwok

Award-winning author of Girl in Translation

Ariel Levy

Author of the New York Times-bestselling memoir The Rules Do Not Apply

Huey Lewis

Songwriter, actor, and lead singer for Huey Lewis and the News

Steve Lopez

Author of The Soloist: A Lost Dream, an Unlikely Friendship, and the Redemptive Power of Music

Ian Manuel

Advocate for criminal justice reform, poet, and motivational speaker

Carine McCandless

Author of New York Times bestseller The Wild Truth and consultant and contributor to Jon Krakauer's book and Sean Penn's critically acclaimed film Into the Wild

Amy McGrath

U.S. Marine Corps veteran and founder of Honor Bound, Inc.

Greg McKeown

Author of the New York Times bestseller Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less, CEO of THIS Inc., and Young Global Leader for the World Economic Forum

Chanel Miller

Artist, activist, and author of the New York Times bestseller Know My Name

Travis Mills

Retired United States Army Staff Sergeant and Recalibrated Warrior

Tara Mohr

Founder of the acclaimed global Playing Big leadership program and expert on women's leadership and well-being

Emi Nietfeld

Software engineer, writer, and author of Acceptance

Jenny Odell

New York Times-bestselling author of How to Do Nothing and Saving Time

Suze Orman

America’s most recognized expert on personal finance

Eve Rodsky

New York Times-bestselling author and creative leadership expert

Shaka Senghor

Author of Letters to the Sons of Society and Writing My Wrongs and leading voice on criminal justice reform

Bo Seo

Two-time world champion debater and author of Good Arguments

Suzanne Simard

Leader of The Mother Tree Project and author of Finding the Mother Tree

Mark Sundeen

Award-winning author of The Man Who Quit Money and The Unsettlers

Victoria Sweet

Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine, prize-winning historian, and author of God's Hotel and Slow Medicine

Linda Kaplan Thaler

Advertising Hall of Fame luminary, Chairman of Publicis Kaplan Thaler, and bestselling author of Power of Nice and Grit to Great

Liz Tran

Executive Coach and Founder of Reset

Melissa Urban

"The Boundary Lady," New York Times-bestselling author, and Whole30 co-founder

D.J. Vanas

Member of the Ottawa Tribe, author of The Tiny Warrior and host of the PBS special Discovering Your Warrior Spirit

Bina Venkataraman

Author of The Optimist's Telescope, columnist at The Washington Post, and a fellow at Harvard’s Belfer Center

Dr. Vint Virga

Distinguished veterinary practitioner and animal behaviorist, and author of The Soul of All Living Creatures

Rob Walker

Journalist and author of The Art of Noticing

Peter Walsh

Organizational design expert, television and radio personality, and New York Times bestselling author

John Wang

Leadership Coach, Founder of Mastery Academy, author of Big Asian Energy (2025)

Holly Whitaker

Bestselling author of Quit Like a Woman and Founder of Tempest, Inc.

John Wood

Founder and board co-chairman of Room to Read and author of Creating Room to Read: A Story of Hope in the Battle for Global Literacy