Black Keynote Speakers

Fee Range: $50,000–$65,000
Travels From: NY

Fee Range: $18,000–$25,000
Travels From: GA

Fee Range: $15,000–$25,000
Travels From: TX

Companies today stand on a precipice. They need to become faster, more adaptable, and far better at innovation — or risk obsolescence. The key to this shift is transitioning from the traditional organizational structure, that of divisions and departments that result in silos, to a new model of fast-moving, diverse and inclusive teams that can rapidly uncover new, innovative pathways for growth. Frans Johansson has made it his life’s mission to prepare and inspire leaders and organizations around the world for this new normal. His high energy, fast-paced keynotes have become legendary for how quickly they can drive leaders to action—and have made Johansson one of the most compelling speakers in the world.

Fee Range: $15,000–$35,000
Travels From: NY

A master in teaching the art of manifestation, this former Sports Attorney, Miss America Finalist and Donald Trump Apprentice, left her full-time job as a stuffy big-firm lawyer and turned her passion for people into a multimillion-dollar enterprise just a few years ago. She helps emerging & established women influencers of faith to Believe Bigger, Live Bigger and Profit Bigger so that they can ultimately Give Bigger.

Fee Range: $20,000–$40,000
Travels From: GA

Fee Range: $15,000–$30,000
Travels From: TX

Widely considered to be one of the best linebackers of all time, Ray Lewis finished his 17th season in the NFL with a 2013 Super Bowl victory. The future Hall of Famer has played his entire career with the Baltimore Ravens, during which time he became a Super Bowl MVP, a 13-time NFL Pro Bowl selection and Associated Press All-Pro ten times and NFL Defensive Player of the Year twice. He was also named to the NFL All-Decade (2000s) team, chosen every 10 years by the Pro Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee. His dedication to his team and his passion for playing defense has given him amazing longevity. Ray has built a strong reputation on and off the field as a leader who cares enough to get things done. Dedicated, focused and committed to excellence, Ray has put those values into action with The Ray Lewis Family Foundation, which is committed to enhancing the lives of today's at risk youth.

Fee Range: $58,000–$94,000
Travels From: GA

Fee Range: $32,000–$68,500
Travels From: NY

Trent S. Shelton is a retired NFL player, top motivational speaker, author, and podcast host that had dreams of traveling the world to help others “Respect Their Greatness”. His audience believes that it is deeper than motivation and Trent comes equipped with the tools and strategies to help change your life.Trent is known for being “The Most Impactful Speaker” and is ranked one of the “Top Influencers in the Personal Development Space.” Recently, you might have seen him on the cover of Success Magazine as a Thought Leader.

Fee Range: $50,000–$44,000
Travels From: TX

Michael C. Bush is CEO of Great Place to Work®, the global research and analytics firm that produces the annual Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For list, the World’s Best Workplaces list, the 100 Best Workplaces for Women list, the Best Workplaces for Diversity list, and dozens of other distinguished workplace rankings around the world. Driven by a love of business and an unwavering commitment to fair and equitable treatment, Michael joined Great Place to Work® as CEO in 2015, bringing 30 years of experience leading and growing organizations. This includes serving as CEO of Tetra Tech Communications, which he grew from $40 million to $300 million in revenue.Michael serves on the board for Workday, a leading provider of enterprise cloud applications for finance, HR, and planning. He is a former member of President Obama’s White House Business Council and a founding board member of the private equity seed-fund, Fund Good Jobs, which invests in small inner-city businesses.

Fee Range: $35,000–$45,000
Travels From: CA

Fee Range: $17,000–$35,000
Travels From: CA

In both her presentations and her book, So You Want to Talk About Race, Ijeoma Oluo guides audiences of all races through subjects ranging from intersectionality and affirmative action to “model minorities” in an attempt to make the seemingly impossible possible: honest conversations about race and racism, and how they infect almost every aspect of American life.

Fee Range: $25,000–$35,000
Travels From: WA

Trevor Noah is the most successful comedian in Africa and is the former host of the Emmy® Award-winning “The Daily Show” on Comedy Central. Under Trevor, “The Daily Show with Trevor Noah” broke free from the restraints of a 30-minute linear show, producing engaging social content, award-winning digital series, podcasts and more for its global audience.  Last year, “The Daily Show with Trevor Noah” landed a record number of seven Emmy Award nominations.

Fee Range: $250,000–$300,000
Travels From: NY

• Cleo Wade is a writer, poet, and the New York Times Best-selling author of What The Road Said, Heart Talk: Poetic Wisdom for a Better Life, and Where To Begin: A Small Book about Your Power to Create Big Change. • Her work speaks to our collective power to create change through self-care, beloved community building, and social justice. • Cleo's beloved TED talk Want to change the world? Start by being brave enough to care has been viewed and shared by millions around the world. • She has been called the poet of her generation by Time Magazine, the Millenial Oprah by New York Magazine, and named one of the 100 most creative people in business by Fast Company. • Cleo is the Co-chair of Gucci's Changemakers council and sits on the board of The Lower East Side Girls Club, The National Black Theatre in Harlem, and more. • Her work has been featured in The New York Times, Vanity Fair, The Atlantic, W Magazine, Vogue Magazine, The Washington Post, The Today Show, and Good Morning America.

Fee Range: $31,000–$50,000
Travels From: CA

• Elaine Welteroth is the former editor-in-chief of Teen Vogue, making her the second African-American in Condé Nast's 107-year history to hold such a title • Welteroth was tapped to become a judge on Bravo's hit series, Project Runway • Her book, More Than Enough: Claiming Space for Who You Are (No Matter What They Say), became an instant New York Times bestseller • Her promotion to editor at age 29 made her the youngest in Condé Nast history to become editor • When she became beauty director of Teen Vogue in 2012, Welteroth was the first African-American to serve in the role • She is credited for the notable increase of Teen Vogue coverage of politics and social justice, encouraging readers to become civically engaged, specifically during the 2016 U.S. presidential election •Elaine released her own MasterClass, on designing a dream career by harnessing one’s values, skills, and passions.

Fee Range: $32,000–$60,000
Travels From: NY

Born in Brooklyn in the back of a taxi, Iyanla Vanzant was given to her grandmother at age 2 after her mother died. Teen pregnancy, abusive marriages, and welfare followed a troubled and abusive childhood. But it is from this less than inspiring background that Vanzant has built the foundation for transformation. Vanzant earned a BS degree from Medgar Evers College and a JD degree from Queens College Law School. She became an attorney, serving four years as a public defender in Philadelphia. She is the author of Tapping The Power Within: A Path to Empowerment for Black Women. She has established the Inner Visions Spiritual Life Maintenance Center, where she regularly conducts personal growth classes and weekend workshops for both men and women. She makes regular appearances on radio and national television.

Fee Range: $60,000–$120,000
Travels From: MD

Neil is the New York Times bestselling author of ten books and journals which have sold millions of copies including The Happiness Equation, Two-Minute Mornings, and The Book of Awesome. After receiving his MBA from Harvard, Neil spent a decade as Director of Leadership inside Walmart, the world’s largest company. He is one of the most popular TED speakers of all time and his work has been featured by CNN, BBC, and Oprah Winfrey..

Fee Range: $30,000–$50,000
Travels From: Intl

•Leland is the first person drafted into the National Football League to have also flown in space. •He was featured on National Geographic's One Strange Rock, hosted by Will Smith, where he explained how his brain repaired itself after an injury that left him deaf and almost stopped him from ever going to space. •Even after being medically disqualified to fly in space by NASA flight surgeons, •Leland completed two Space Shuttle missions to help build the International Space Station. •Leland served as the co-chair of the White House's Federal Coordination in STEM Education Task Force, developing the nation's 5-year plan for STEM education, and as NASA Associate Administrator for Education. •His memoir, Chasing Space, shares his personal journey from the gridiron to the stars. •Leland served as a consultant on National Geographic's second season of Mars..

Fee Range: $25,000–$44,000
Travels From: VA

Fee Range: $200,000–$375,000
Travels From: TX

Fee Range: $30,000–$50,000
Travels From: NY

Critically-acclaimed and award-winning performer Leslie Odom, Jr. is best known for his breakout role as ‘Aaron Burr’ in the smash hit Broadway musical Hamilton, for which he won the Tony Award for “Best Actor in a Musical” and a Grammy Award as a principal soloist on the original cast recording. He made his Broadway debut in RENT at the age of 17. He also starred opposite Lin-Manuel Miranda and Karen Olivo in a 2014 City Center Encores! revival of Jonathan Larson’s Tick, Tick…Boom!

Fee Range: $65,000–$157,000
Travels From: NY

Sampson Davis, MD, is an infectious, compelling storyteller that all should hear. His true rags-to-riches journey leaves audiences inspired and filled with motivation. Growing up in one of America’s toughest cities, he made the transition from life-threatening quarters to a highly sought-after professional speaker, best-selling author and specially skilled, life-saving physician. Davis spends his time practicing medicine and traveling the country delivering keynote speeches with timely messages. Davis believes it is important to give education a sense of style and fashion. To glorify and glamorize education is the key. A face must be present, a concrete image that all individuals across America can draw inspiration from. Davis considers his 3 D’s, Dedication, Determination and Discipline, as the necessary ingredients to success. Davis’ speeches will detail topics including mental health, substance abuse, diversity in the medical field and his calling to care as an act of reciprocity.

Fee Range: $15,000–$30,000
Travels From: NJ

Rising star Misty Copeland makes history as the first African American Female Principal Dancer with the prestigious American Ballet Theatre. When she discovered ballet, however, Misty was living in a shabby motel room, struggling with her five siblings for a place to sleep on the floor. A true prodigy, she was dancing en pointe within three months of taking her first dance class and performing professionally in just over a year: a feat unheard of for any classical dancer.

Fee Range: $60,000–$94,000
Travels From: NY

Gabrielle is currently the star of BET’s “Being Mary Jane”, which will air its second season in 2015. She plays ‘Mary Jane Paul,’ a successful talk show host searching for “Mr. Right,” while balancing her professional and private life. Gabrielle was also recently seen on the big screen in “Think Like a Man, Think Like a Man Too” and “Top Five”. Gabrielle’s passion for acting is rivaled by her involvement as an Ambassador for the Susan G. Komen Foundation as well as her support for the Young Survivor Coalition (YSC) and the Rape Treatment Center (RTC) at UCLA. In her free time, Gabrielle often travels on behalf of Susan G. Komen and the YSC to share her story of losing a friend to Breast Cancer and inspires others as well as visits the RTC to talk to young women. She also helped found a program called “A Step for Success” in 2004 which helps to raise funds for the economically challenged Kelso Elementary School in Los Angeles.

Fee Range: $100,000–$250,000
Travels From: CA