Powerful Women Powerful Words Greater Talent Network, Inc.
Proudly Representing Outstanding Women for over 30 years
All speakers featured in Speaking Of Magazine are exclusively represented by Greater Talent Network, Inc.
SPEAKING OF GTN SPRING 2014
Powerful Women. Powerful Words.
Collins and Leigh Anne Tuohy
and Ms. Sue, from The Blind Side
“It was wonderful to have the opportunity to have Collins [Tuohy] here on campus! She was amazing, and our audience made a huge connection with her. Her story is inspiring, humorous, and believable.” —Austin Peay State University
In this special issue, a few of our outstanding women speakers answer questions about how they became the pioneering women and speakers they are today. Get to know them like never before, and see why they draw crowds and pack venues each and every time. GTN proudly represents the speakers most relevant to your organization’s events. Speaking Of is your definitive guide to the hottest speakers on the celebrity circuit, the most requested keynotes, the most inspiring storytellers, and the most informative insiders. Contact us to bring one of our remarkable speakers to your next event!
4 Meet GTN’s Outstanding Women
Lesley Stahl, Tina Brown, Leigh Anne & Collins Tuohy, Candace Bushnell, Jennifer Weiner, Rula Jebreal, Valerie Plame, Dr. Wendy Mogel, and Susie Essman.
14 What advice would you give to your seven year old self? Valerie Plame at the Podium
17 Funniest workplace faux pas? 18 Best advice your mother ever gave you?
“Valerie Plame was a joy to have in the building! She was clear, down to earth, real and easy to follow. I learned a lot about how our country gathers and uses information. What a great understanding to be left with!” —Carpenter Performing Arts Center
22 Your proudest professional achievement? 24 Advice to women just starting in your industry 26 What do you want audiences to take away from hearing you speak? 28 One change you’d like to see happen for women in your lifetime? 29 Other Outstanding GTN Exclusives
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Spotlight On... Lesley Stahl
Legendary Broadcast Journalist and Co-Editor of 60 Minutes
Stahl interviewing University of Texas at Austin President Larry Faulkner
One of the most recognized faces in television news, Lesley Stahl is an award-winning journalist renowned for being one of the first female television reporters. Stahl boldly entered a male-dominated industry and made a name for herself by breaking national stories,and landing exclusive interviews with such news-makers as Margaret Thatcher, Boris Yeltsin, and virtually every top U.S. official, including George H. W. Bush. The stories she has covered range from Watergate, through the 1981 assassination attempt on President Reagan, to the Gulf War, making her legacy in journalism one of the most enduring and prolific. With a plethora of Emmy and other awards to her credit, Stahl is recognized as one of the pioneering broadcast journalists of our generation.
“Everyone enjoyed your humor, candor, and wide breath of knowledge on the many subjects you covered…Your willingness to do the radio interview, sign books and be generous with your time at the luncheon were also very much appreciated, especially in light of your hectic schedule. Your truly exemplify the term “professional.” —Omaha Town Hall
Powerful Women. Powerful Words. Tina Brown
Founder & CEO of Tina Brown Live Media, Founder of The Daily Beast
Tina Brown at the podium
“We loved hearing about your path to success and your work in London and New York. However, what impresses us the most—and what we have talked about the most—is how inclusive you were at lunch. You were interested in learning more about us and, believe me, that rarely happens. I think this is indicative of why you are so successful!” —The Woman’s Club of Richmond
Best-selling author, award-winning journalist, and news media legend, Tina Brown is the embodiment a tour de force. Despite a resumé that includes some of the most prestigious positions in journalism (i.e. Editor-in-Chief of Vanity Fair, The New Yorker, and Newsweek, to name a few), one of Brown’s most crowning achievements is The Women In the World Summit. Launched in 2010, the annual conference convenes extraordinary leaders such as Hillary Clinton, Meryl Streep, Oprah Winfrey, Madeleine Albright, and Christine Lagarde, as well as inspirational activists and political change-makers from all over the world to share their stories, and offer solutions to building a better life for women and girls.
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Spotlight On... Leigh Anne Tuohy
Inspirational Subject of The Blind Side and Motivational Speaker
Dubbed a “warrior princess” by author Michael Lewis in his New York Times best-selling book, The Blind Side, Leigh Anne Tuohy is the inspirational matriarch of the Tuohy family. The Tuohy’s have dedicated their lives to inspiring hope and genuine acts of generosity for all deserving—but under-served—members of our communities. Their own story inspired the Oscar winning film, The Blind Side, which chronicles how Leigh Anne and the Tuohys opened their doors and hearts to Michael Oher, the illiterate and homeless African American teen who had recently begun attending daughter Collins’ school. At the podium, Leigh Ann shares the struggles and triumphs of building a blended family and inspires us all to see the value in each and every person. Leigh Anne’s talks are among the most inspiring in the world, bringing audiences to their feet each and every time and challenging us all to, turn around, identify the need, and help.
Leigh Anne and Collins bring
picture taking to another level.
Powerful Women. Powerful Words. Collins Tuohy
Inspirational Subject of The Blind Side, Co-owner of Whimsy Cookie Co.
Tip! Not to be outdone, Collins—the oldest child and only daughter of the Tuohy family—has already established a reputation of her own for selfless giving and inspiring others. Collins is known for her famously close bond with her adopted brother, NFL offensive tackle Michael Oher, as chronicled in the best-selling book and oscar-winning film, The Blind Side. Collins takes audiences along her journey with Michael and shares how everyone can do something to change the life of another person—one kind act at a time. She uses her own experiences to urge everyone to find value in those deemed valueless in their communities. Collins is also the co-owner of Whimsy Cookie Company, and serves on the Board of The Making it Happen Foundation (founded by her parents, Sean and Leigh Anne), dedicated to changing children’s lives through hope, love, and opportunity. 7
Spotlight On... Candace Bushnell
Best-Selling Author of Sex and the City & The Carrie Diaries
Bringing to life the grit, glitz, and glam that is New York City, Candace Bushnell is the critically-acclaimed and international best-selling author of the Sex and the City series—which sparked the HBO hit series and two blockbuster films. Renowned for depicting women and relationships in all their glorious complexity, Bushnell is currently producing the CW teen series, The Carrie Diaries. Hailed as an “addictive, ingenious origin story” by The Los Angeles Times, the show introduces the teenage Carrie Bradshaw as she evolves through her formative teen years to find her dreams. Compared to the likes of Jane Austen and F. Scott Fitzgerald, Bushnell has a gift for portraying life in New York, addressing themes like wealth, materialism, and the speed of urban life.
Powerful Women. Powerful Words. Jennifer Weiner
Best-Selling Author of In Her Shoes and Then Came You
Tip!
Jennifer with her beloved dog, Moochie
Known for bringing a signature wit and charm on stage, Jennifer Weiner has emerged as one of the biggest names in popular fiction. She is The New York Times best-selling author of In Her Shoes—adapted into a major motion picture in 2005—and Good in Bed, among many others. Her novels have been praised as “marvelous,” “thoroughly entertaining,” “utterly hilarious” and “irresistible,” by everyone from Publisher’s Weekly to The Washington Post. Before audiences, Weiner discusses her novels, personal experiences, and topics every woman can relate to, like finding your sense of self, juggling careers, relationships, and family, and the wonderful blessings of sisterhood.
And look out for Jennifer Weiner’s newest book, All Fall Down, hitting shelves June 2014!
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Spotlight On... Rula Jebreal
MSNBC Foreign Policy Contributor & Human Rights Advocate
An award-winning broadcast journalist and renowned speaker, Rula Jebreal is a lifelong advocate for civil liberties in the Middle East. She became the first foreign anchorwoman in the history of Italian television and is the author of the widely-acclaimed novel, Miral (later adapted to film and is the first to make its U.S. premier at the UN General Assembly). Having lived and reported in various conflict zones, Jebreal brings a unique perspective to dialogues surrounding the Middle East. She passionately discusses how history and current events have shaped culture, economics, and politics in the area, and shares with audiences a vision of empowering girls through education and giving a voice and agency to all women.
Rula with star of Miral, Freida Pinto
Powerful Women. Powerful Words. Valerie Plame
“Outed” CIA Operations Officer and Best-Selling Author
Plame at the Fair Game premiere in Los Angeles.
And don’t miss the sequel to Blowback—the second installment in Plame’s Vanessa Pierson fictional spy series, Burned—due to hit shelves in 2014.
As a covert CIA Operations Officer, Valerie Plame worked to protect America’s national security before her secret status was compromised when a nationally syndicated columnist published her name in 2003. Her outing has played a central role in the country’s turbulent struggle to redefine the first amendment and the right to privacy. Since then, Plame has become a public advocate on issues of national security, nuclear proliferation, and politics, as well as the author of The New York Times best-selling autobiography Fair Game: My Life as a Spy, My Betrayal by the White House (later adapted into a major motion picture). At the podium, Plame delivers an enlightening presentation on the CIA leak controversy, discusses national concerns over privacy vs. security policies, and shares insights on the growing global nuclear proliferation crisis. 11
Spotlight On... Dr. Wendy Mogel
Clinical Psychologist, Parenting Expert & Best-Selling Author
An internationally-acclaimed psychologist, author, and public speaker, Dr. Wendy Mogel addresses the challenges of parenting in today’s world. Her best-selling book, The Blessing of a Skinned Knee, is credited with breathing new life into the parenting book genre and was called “impassioned, lyrical and eminently practical,” by Publisher’s Weekly. Her revelatory follow up, The Blessing of a B Minus, addresses the challenge of parenting adolescents in a culture of anxiety and entitlement. At the podium, she is known for providing a mix of practical tips, cutting-edge psychological insights, timeless Jewish wisdom, and hilarious anecdotes to guide and support parents in raising well-adjusted, independent children, and coaching them into becoming mature stakeholders in our schools.
Dr. Mogel is currently working on a third book—a
guide to help teens develop the critical skills needed in our highly pressured and rapidly changing world.
Powerful Women. Powerful Words. Susie Essman
Acclaimed Stand-Up Comedian, Actress, Writer and Producer
Susie with Jeff Garlin (left) and Curb Your Enthusiasm star and creator, Larry David (right).
Tip!
Susie and
husband,
Joe
edian a ith com w ie s Su ar J oy B e h friend,
nd long
-time
Known for her quick wit and razor sharp tongue, Susie Essman began her career as stand-up comedian over 25 years ago, paving the way for dozens of today’s women comics. Essman’s hilarious bouts of sarcasm and insults are a trademark of her character, Susie Greene, of the critically-acclaimed HBO comedy series, Curb Your Enthusiasm. In addition to providing behind the scenes insight, Essman shares with audiences her story of breaking into a male-dominated industry, the friendships she forged with other trailblazing comedians like Joy Behar, as well as her battle with depression. As a working mother, she connects on everyday issues including the trials of parenting teenagers, the onset of menopause, dealing with elderly parents, and finding love later in life.
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Wendy Mogel
Lesley Stahl Be brave. Don’t shy away from trying new things, even if they’re scary.
Remember what you love doing most; it’s the key to your adult career.
Valerie Plame It’s a big, wide world out there, and I’ll be able to see and experience quite a bit of it, so don’t worry.
Collins Tuohy RELAX a little bit. I did a sport that had me in the gym 40 hours a week. The standard was high and I wanted to meet the mark. Of course I learned a lot from that time in my life, especially discipline, but I would tell my seven year old self to not take life so seriously and to enjoy the moment. I would tell her to chill out!
Q .
What advice would you give to your seven year old self?
Q
What advice would you give to your seven year old self?
C
olor outside of the lines! Children do need structure and I personally think they crave being made to feel loved and expected to do the right thing. However, sometimes the structure can be stifling! At seven, you need to able to spread your wings and fly! Ask “why” often! I’d tell my 7 year old self that no question is a stupid question! But most importantly I’d tell myself to realize that 7 is just a number and that I can make a difference every day. Leigh Anne Tuohy
H
A young Rula Jebreal
ave more fun, because you’re an adult when you live in the Middle East at age 8 or 9. Play as much as I can, of course. Be a child, try to conserve my innocence as much as I can. And then once you realize that the reality around you tough, work hard, study hard, and be creative. Try to read as much as you can so you can realize that people before you struggled and managed to succeed, so you can be part of that. You can write your own narrative and make your own destiny.
E
verything came together for me when I was eight, so the advice I would give to my 8 year old self would be to never lose the best elements of yourself. I had an epiphany moment that I was going to be a novelist, and from that moment on, my life had a purpose. I began writing plays and forcing my little friends to be in them. I also began a lifelong love with performing—badly—in front of an audience, by singing, “I Say A Little Prayer for You,” in the school theatrical. For me, 8 was about fearlessness, athleticism and an eagerness to try new things.
Candace Bushnell
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Q
What advice would you give to your seven year old self?
I
would tell her, “Hang in there and be happy because, good news, you’re going to get to be the thing you want to be when you grow up.” My whole life I loved reading, I loved writing, and I love the idea that this was a possible future that I could have, telling stories. So I would tell her, “Just take a deep breath; it’s all going to happen; and the spiral perm that you are going to want to get when you are fourteen— don’t get it, because you will regret it and there will be lots of pictures for you to feel bad about, so don’t do it.” A young Jennifer Weiner on the beach of Cape Cod
D
on’t be afraid of being big! My entire childhood I was told my personality was too big and I needed to make myself smaller. “Act like a lady,” I was told (whatever that meant). Don’t draw attention to myself and stop being so silly and basically to be someone other than myself. I wanted to soar and no one ever told me it was a possibility. It took me years of battling depression, mental anguish, and really poor life choices before I took my first baby steps to become the woman I knew was inside of me. I think what I would tell my 7 year old self is that it’s okay to be big.
Susie Essman, at about 8 years of age, contemplating a career in comedy
O
Tina Brown
ne of my big curses is hitting ‘reply all.’ I actually wrote to somebody, which was supposed to be about somebody, ‘Please get rid of this sleaze ball, we don’t want to have any more business meetings with him.’ And I sent it to the person. I got an e-mail back saying, ‘I think you’ll have no problem not doing business with me again.’
Funniest or most embarrassing workplace faux pas?
O
M
Jennifer Weiner
y second book, In Her Shoes, was made into a movie, so this was perhaps the pinnacle of people having an idea of who I was. I was on a book tour, and I’m in a Borders in D.C. signing this huge stack of books, and this woman is looking at me. I’m like, “oh, she’s a fan of the movie, she wants a signed book and she’s too shy to ask.” So we’re both smiling, and I’m signing the books and she finally comes over. I say, “Hi,” and she says, “Can I have a key to the rest room?” So I gave her the key to the rest room, because I am full service like that. But, I think that was a nice little poke in the old balloon.
Susie Essman
h, there have been so many really awkward moments on stage. I remember once, many years ago, at Catch a Rising Star, and I was on stage and there was a guy sitting with his back to me, literally, while I’m on stage. This just infuriated me, and I went after the guy! I was going to humiliate him because how dare he have his back to me?! Then, as I’m into it, I notice there’s a seeing-eye dog next to him and he was blind. And all of a sudden, I had to turn it around and figure out some way to get the audience back in my corner, because here I had just berated this blind man for not looking at me. I had no idea. So basically, the way that you handle something like that is turn yourself in and turn all that aggression towards yourself and make yourself look like an idiot. But that was an embarrassing moment.
Susie on stage at the Gotham Comedy Club in NYC
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Rula Jebreal Think outside of the box. Be independent economic a l ly. Wherever you are, try to connect your original culture with the culture of the place you’re living in. My teacher also gave me extremely valuable advice: TRAVEL! Go see the world, and make the most out of it.
Candace Bushnell
Dr. Wendy Mogel
Don’t get upset about turning forty.
Mother: Don’t give up on a book until you’ve read 50 pages.
Lesley Stahl
Mentor: (Grad school professor) “Say, ‘thank you’ at the end of a speech so the audience will know when to clap.
40
Hold onto your career, no matter what-and have a baby at the same time.
Q .
What’s the best advice your mother ever gave you?
Jennifer Weiner backstage with her mom, Fran.
I
think my mom more than actually telling me anything just sort of modeled good behavior, which is that if you want something you work hard for it. Don’t expect anybody to hand it to you. Do your best, and treat people the way you would hope to be treated yourself.
A
nd don’t use paper napkins—like my whole life, no paper napkins just the cloth ones; my daughter would tell you that too. We were environmentalists before there was Whole Foods.
M
y mother never gave me really useful advice. When I started dating, she would say things like, “Remember, why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free?” Which annoyed me on so many levels. Number one, not only am I not a cow, but I’m lactose-intolerant!
Susie Essman sharing some lap time with her mom, Zora.
W
hen I first started doing stand up, I became friends with Joy Behar; we started around the same time, but she was more seasoned than me. I was very competitive with other women, and she gave me the advice that the sisterhood is powerful and we should all stick together, and there is room enough for everybody. I follow that and it’s always served me well. To really support other women and to not see them as my adversaries.
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Leigh Anne Tuohy
T
he best advice that my mom ever gave me is to live by the verse, “to whom much is given, much is required.” Our family is very blessed, and when you have been given so many blessings, you should turn around and help someone who is not as fortunate. My mom helped me to see that whether you have a little or a lot, we all have many blessings; we just need to stop and recognize them. Once we do, we can all help someone else.
Collins Tuohy
B
est advice my mother ever gave me was to marry the right man! She said you have one life to live and it will be so much sweeter if you live it with the right person. It will require hard work and great dedication but in the end the reward is life changing! She said if you don’t like the way he treats his mother then you won’t like the way he treats you! He needs to be your friend, your confidant, and it doesn’t hurt if he has money!
Three Generations: Leigh Anne Tuohy, her mother Virginia, and her daughter Collins
Q
What’s the best advice your mother ever gave you?
I
t’s been said before, but it is so valid. It’s not what happens to you, it’s how you handle it. That’s what matters, because there are so many things out of your control and you can only control your reaction and how you’re going to cope with it.
Inspired “I can’t thank you enough for your excellent, authentic keynote presentation. You gave us some of the most memorable moments of our annual conference! Your words resonated and we loved your feisty spirit as you challenged our attendees to make a difference and help those in need in our communities. Thanks again for sharing your remarkable story with such honesty and candor.” — American Payroll Association for Leigh Anne Tuohy
Plame, around 8 years-old, with her mom, Diane.
Motivated “As nearly everyone in the profession will tell you, investigative journalism is not a place for the weak. This hasn’t been a problem for Lesley Stahl. Former Press Secretary Marlin Fitzwater once said, ‘[Lesley] has survived in a business that’s very tough on women. She has done it because of hard work and tenacity.’” — The Paley Center for Media On Lesley Stahl
Moved “I am a long-time follower of Wendy’s writing. What I did not know was the degree to which her message–delivered with such warmth and wit–would resonate with our school community. Parents (and teachers) need reassurance and guidance to let our children find their way with independence. Wendy provided just such support, at a time when it is most needed.” — St. Clement’s School for Wendy Mogel
Q
What is your proudest professional achievement?
S
peaking to 500 Chinese mothers about sex, death and homework at a three day conference in Beijing.
Dr. Wendy Mogel at the Wisdom of Parenting Conference hosted by Spiritual Co., Ltd. in Beijing.
I
was the first anchor in Italian television coming from a foreign background, which led to an achievement that is very dear to me. In 2005, after covering the Iraq War, the president of Italy—Carlo Azeglio Ciampi—gave me the Reporter of the Year award. In thanking him, I realized I was thanking him for two things: the award, which I was very happy to receive, and— more importantly—something else he gave me when I was a young girl, 18 years old. In 1993, he gave me a scholarship (he didn’t know that he was giving it to me, he was Prime Minister back then). He gave me the scholarship that brought me to Italy and to the West, and ultimately really changed my life. With that said, I hope my biggest achievement is still ahead of me.
Whether it’s live on stage or on TV, any time I make people laugh feels like an achievement and a privilege. Life is hard and laughter heals.
Candace Bushnell
Susie Essman I can’t even conceive of resting on my laurels, so someone else will have to answer that question when I’m dead.
Rula Jebreal sharing insights on U.S. foreign policy in Iraq
Valerie Plame
W
ell, I wish I could tell you what my proudest professional achievement is, but of course I’d have to kill you. I guess what I can tell you is that I was very proud to be a part of the CIA team that tracked down, through years of really patient operations work, the Al Qaeda Khan nuclear network. You may recall, in December of 2003, Libya was caught red-handed deporting components for a nuclear program. Their apprehension was the result of the work my former colleagues and I did, and the world is a better place because of it.
“Ms. Plame was an extremely gracious guest. She took the time to speak with every audience member who had questions or simply wanted to congratulate or commend her on her bravery and service to our country.” —National Constitution Center
Jennifer Weiner
M
“With her witty, smart, and refreshingly un-glam novels, Jennifer Weiner has made Hollywood rethink its image of women…Her novels have made her the biggest chick-lit success story since Bridget Jones’s Diary. “ —Entertainment Weekly
y proudest profession achievement I think is still selling that first book. Every time I would go home and tell my mom, “I’m writing a novel,” she’d go, “Oh, your novel!” And she’d lay her hand on her forehead in this very effective ‘I don’t believe you’ fashion. It is a very happy day when you get to go home and tell your parents your book is being published (by Simon & Schuster), unless your book is being called Good in Bed, in which case you’re just explaining yourself all day long—“No, it’s not non-fiction. No, it doesn’t have pictures. And I’m a virgin, it’s not true.”
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I
f you want to be a writer, you need to be a reader. Read everything. Classics. Bestsellers. Fiction and nonfiction. Everyone
should read poetry. Get the sound of great sentences in your ears, and get the feel of great plotting, and pacing, and storytelling. Know that even the best-sellers that maybe you roll your eyes at, are doing something. Maybe it’s not something you’re interested in doing, but think hard about why people love that book. What is going on there? What’s working?
Q.
—Jennifer Weiner
ONE PIECE OF ADVICE FOR WOMEN
Listen to your laugh meter and be your toughest critic. Do what you truly think is funny, not what you think other people will respond to. You can only sell what you believe in. Check the “people pleasing” that we all fall in to. It will confuse your point of view and a clearly defined original voice is essential for an artist.
Susie Essman
Gravitate to wherever it is that you can be allowed to get out of the office and report. So much of today’s journalism is done at a desk and on a screen, and I still believe there is no better way of getting a good story than getting somebody on the phone, getting out and meeting somebody and getting something new.
Tina Brown
L
ook at reality, even when you become famous and successful. If you live in a bubble, that’s when you start going down. Stay focused and keep in touch with reality. For example, in my case, I analyze international affairs. It’s not about what you hear in the power rooms—Washington D.C. or the officials in each country. It’s what you hear in the streets that matters. So if you are sensitive to those stories, you can test the pulse in the streets, and you can be ahead of everybody else and understand the events that might occur in the future, and in journalism, that kind of intuition is key. —Rula Jebreal
JUST STARTING IN YOUR INDUSTRY? Go
around the obstacles. Make your own course and be flexible. Always have the goods—i.e. the product, talent, skills, whatever it is in your industry that people are willing to pay money for.
Candace Bushnell
Choose a specialty! Get interviewed in your local newspaper or by any blogger of substance. Write opinion pieces with a strong point of view. Offer to speak for pennies until you hone your skills. When I started out I would travel to address groups of fifteen people at venues so remote there was no cell coverage for miles.
Wendy Mogel
Read everything, know everything. Be the best informed person in the room.
Lesley Stahl
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Q
What do you want audiences to take away from hearing you speak? Collins Tuohy
I
ndividually, it’s a lot of the same as it is for our whole family. We want someone to leave hearing us speak and feel motivated to go do something else positive for someone else. And if someone doesn’t leave our speech and feel motivated to get out and do something for someone else, than we consider that a failure on our part. Our message is very important to our family, and we feel very blessed that we’ve been given a platform through GTN to get out there and talk to people about diversity and the power of one.
Collins Tuohy leads by example, helping children at a school fund-raiser.
Tina Brown
I
really would like them to see that there are so many different paths out there. For me in journalism, being able to go from print to digital and now to this new form of storytelling with live events, it’s all tremendously exciting. There are so many stories out there to be told, it’s incredibly invigorating to meet people and feel their energy and see this whole new breed of journalist just itching to share their voice.
Tina Brown at the podium at the 2014 Women in the World Summit
Q
What do you want audiences to take away from hearing you speak?
Don’t mistake a snapshot taken today with the epic movie of your child’s life. (And read The Onion.)
That without the camera, I’m much like they are: working, raising a family, trying to keep it all together.
I’d like to inspire people to find their voice. My struggle to find mine nearly killed me but once I found it, it saved my life.
—Dr. Wendy Mogel
—Lesley Stahl
—Susie Essman
I would love audiences to laugh, first of all. I think we all need to laugh, and kick back, and have a good time. So I would hope that if nothing else, I’d at least entertain you. But also I would like people to be encouraged. One of the themes in my books is that you don’t need to be a certain size or look a certain way to get your happy ending and to get everything the world has to give you. I’d like women to be encouraged by that. I’d like women to be encouraged by the place of women’s voices in the world. —Jennifer Weiner
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Jennifer Weiner
Valerie Plame
Plame (left) with comedian Kathy Griffin (center) and astronaut Peggy Whitson
Jennifer is not afraid to say she’s one of the girls.
I
’d love to see young women writers coming into a world where they know the deck is not staked against them. Where they know they have just as much of a chance of getting published and reviewed in The Times and in The New York Review of Books as if her name was Jonathan. That’s just not true these days. It’s so much harder for women to write something that is even considered literature. It’s harder to get taken seriously, to convince your publisher to please not put a pastel cover with girls in bathing suits walking on the beach—please don’t do that. It’s harder for us; I hope that in my lifetime that problem goes away.
W
hat we are beginning to see, and I hope this trend continues, is to see more women in positions of influence. It’s important that we continue to see, as women go up the ranks of influence, whether it’s political, or whether it’s in areas of policy, that we see women in place to be decision makers and in roles of critical importance. It is equally important, if not more so, that, as women begin to climb up in positions of influence, that they lift other women behind them.
One major change you’d like to see happen for women in your lifetime?
More Outstanding Women Speakers Exclusively Represented by Greater Talent Network
Journalism & Current Events
Global Activism
Healthcare & Wellness
Best-selling Authors
Peggy Noonan
Mia Farrow
Kris Carr
Emily Giffin
R
evered Wall Street Journal columnist, best-selling author, and former presidential speech writer, Peggy Noonan is widely-acclaimed for her knowledge of American politics, history, and culture. At the podium, Noonan provides perspective on today’s political events while calling for a more elevated approach to national politics.
A
ward-winning actress, Mia Farrow is recognized as a leading advocate for children’s rights and humanitarian causes around the world. With honesty and eloquence, she narrates her life’s work and shares how every individual can aid the cause to help children in conflictaffected regions in the world.
B
est-selling author of Crazy Sexy Cancer and a renowned wellness advocate, Kris Carr is the driving force behind the Crazy Sexy Wellness Revolution. With spirit and humor, Carr shares her inspiring story of living with stagefour cancer, empowering women to lead their best and healthiest lives.
D
ubbed a “modernday Jane Austen,” Emily Griffin, is the best-selling author of Something Borrowed and Heart of the Matter. A believer in taking risks and following your heart, Giffin relates the trials of her endearing characters to the challenges faced by women today.
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More Outstanding Politics & World Affairs
Meghan McCain
T
he daughter of a longterm Senator and front-running Presidential nominee, Meghan McCain is renowned today as a best-selling author, political news contributor, and program host. Long accustomed to being in the national spotlight, McCain openly discusses politics, women’s issues, marriage equality and other pressing social issues.
Award-winning Writer
Motivation & Inspiration
Harriet Washington Steph Hammerman
P
raised for her scholarship and insight, Harriet Washington is an award-winning medical writer and editor. In her work she brings light to issues within the world of medicine, including bioethics, the history of medicine, African American health issues, and the intersection of medicine, ethics, and culture in America and around the world.
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iving-proof that “Failure is not an option,” Steph Hammerman defied the odds, becoming the first female certified CrossFit trainer in the world with Cerebral Palsy. Hammerman shares her compelling story with charm and confidence, inspiring audiences to live life to the fullest and to find purpose, despite the obstacles we may face.
Sports & Entertainment
Eve Torres
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fter becoming the first ever three time champion of WWE Diva’s Division, Eve Torres has become an icon for women’s fitness and self-defense. An active spokesperson and instructor for the Women Empowered selfdefense program, Torres captivates audiences with her personal journey and provides eye-opening tips on selfdefense and security.
Exclusive Speakers Award-winning Writer
Social Activism
Best-selling Authors
Business & Economy
Nell Irvin Painter
Marlee Matlin
Barbara Ehrenreich
Meredith Whitney
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graduate of Harvard University and Edwards Professor Emeritus of American History at Princeton University, Nell Painter is a distinguished and award-winning author, historian, and scholar. With scholarly aplomb, Painter relates American history, with particular focus on the South, to topics including race relations and women’s rights.
O
scar winning actress, author, and advocate for the hearingimpaired, Marlee Matlin is recognized around the world for raising awareness for many humanitarian causes, including diversity and LGBT rights. A staunch champion for children, Matlin inspires audiences to advocate for inclusion, acceptance, and access for all people, regardless of differences.
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n ever-curious political activist, Barbara Ehrenreich is the best-selling author of Nickel and Dimed and Bright-Sided: How Positive Thinking Is Undermining America. She continues to write and lecture, driving the country’s dialogue about social issues like health care, peace, women’s rights, and economic justice.
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renowned financial expert and author, Meredith Whitney has been ahead of the curve during America’s largest economic crisis since the Great Depression. Regarded as one of the most respected voices on Wall Street, Whitney demystifies the nation’s financial system for novices and industry experts alike.
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The next time your organization is seeking an extraordinary speaker, be sure to contact GTN. We offer the most captivating storytellers, keynotes, teachers, and insiders whose reputation and presence on stage is second to none. Before you plan your next event, let one of our expert agents help you deliver the speaker and program your audience will be talking about for years to come.
Call us at (212) 645-4200