Book Politics Speakers

Lech Wałęsa is a Nobel Peace Laureate (1983), the first democratically elected President of Poland, and the founder of the independent trade union Solidarność. He is a global icon of the non-violent struggle against communism. His talks cover his inspiring journey, the political and economic transformation of Poland, and the necessity of building new structures for peaceful global collaboration in the 21st century. He advocates for democracy and human values, drawing on lessons from his successful, non-violent political negotiations.

Anne Applebaum is a Pulitzer Prize-winning historian and a Staff Writer for The Atlantic. Her landmark books, including the Pulitzer-winning Gulag: A History, Iron Curtain, and Red Famine, have been translated into over two dozen languages. As a leading commentator on global affairs, she provides vital, up-to-the-minute insights on geopolitical risk, disinformation narratives, and the rise of political populism. Her presentations offer a compelling analysis of the threats to democracy and the rule of law in an increasingly volatile world.

Dr. Shashi Tharoor is a veteran diplomat, a five-time Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha) for Thiruvananthapuram, and a former UN Under-Secretary-General. He holds a Ph.D. from Tufts University. The author of over a dozen books, including the Pulitzer-affiliated The Great Indian Novel and the Sahitya Akademi Award-winning An Era of Darkness, he is a master wordsmith. His keynotes provide deep, engaging perspectives on world policy, Indian political climate, and the impact of social media on governance.

Alastair Campbell is a celebrated strategist and the former Director of Communications and Strategy to Prime Minister Tony Blair. He is the co-host of the chart-topping political podcast The Rest Is Politics. The author of 19 books, including the bestsellers Winners and Living Better: How I Learned to Survive Depression, he translates his experience into practical lessons on leadership, strategy, and crisis management. He is also a Global Ambassador for mental health, having received an Honorary Fellowship from the Royal College of Psychiatrists for his advocacy.

Megyn Kelly is a prominent journalist, television host, and best-selling author. She is a leading voice in American media, known for her incisive interviewing style and her powerful presence on major news networks. She is the author of the best-selling memoir, Settle for More. A compelling keynote speaker, Kelly provides an inside look at her life in the media and the principles that have guided her career. She speaks on communication, leadership, and resilience, offering a powerful and honest guide for navigating challenges and succeeding in a competitive environment. Her talks are ideal for leaders and teams.

Niall Ferguson is a historian, public intellectual, and Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University. He is the author of several influential books on finance, global history, and the rise and fall of empires. As a speaker, Ferguson connects historical patterns with contemporary events, providing a nuanced perspective on geopolitics and economics. His talks offer valuable insights for leaders in finance, government, and technology, helping them understand the long-term trends shaping global competition and the future of financial systems.

Rajdeep Sardesai is an award-winning senior journalist, Consulting Editor and lead news anchor of the India Today Group. He was the founder-editor of the IBN 18 network (CNN IBN). An Oxford alumnus and former President of the Editors Guild of India, he is the bestselling author of 2014: The Election that Changed India. His keynotes provide deep insights into national politics, media manipulation, and the profound social and political shifts occurring in India.

Chetan Bhagat is a bestselling novelist and social commentator, named one of TIME magazine’s “100 most influential people in the world.” He is an alumnus of IIT-Delhi and IIM-Ahmedabad. His books, which include Five Point Someone and The 3 Mistakes of My Life, have been adapted into successful Bollywood films. His keynotes share motivational insights on youth, national development, and the necessity of making change happen in the country.

Graça Machel is a leading global activist and the former First Lady of both Mozambique and South Africa. She served as Mozambique's first Minister of Education, a role in which she drastically reduced the country's illiteracy rate. Today, she is the founder of the Graça Machel Trust, dedicated to education, women's empowerment, and good governance across Africa. As a public speaker, she delivers a stirring message of determination, hope, and advocacy, providing a unique perspective on political transitions, human rights, and the power of committed social action.

Harper Reed is a highly successful entrepreneur and the former CTO of the Obama 2012 Campaign, where he pioneered the use of technology in politics. He is a Fellow at the MIT Media Lab and a leading expert on e-commerce and cybersecurity. His talks cover building creative teams, nurturing a startup mindset, and the impact of digital technology on business. He provides actionable insights for leaders by codifying a path forward through processes and protocols, all grounded in his experience with startups, PayPal, and the Obama campaign.

Francis Fukuyama is a leading political theorist and a fellow at Stanford University, widely known for his book The End of History and the Last Man. His expertise covers global political philosophy, liberal democracy, and the challenges posed by biotechnology and identity politics. As a former policy advisor to the U.S. State Department and a member of the President’s Council on Bioethics, he brings a unique blend of scholarly rigor and policy experience. His talks offer deep, contrarian insights on the state of democracy, the future of governance, and the threats facing liberalism today.

Shekhar Gupta is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of ThePrint and the former Editor-in-Chief of The Indian Express. He is a highly influential journalist and a recipient of the Padma Bhushan (2009). His career is marked by seminal news-breaks, including exposing the Nellie massacre and reporting on the threat of Islamic fundamentalism before 9/11. His keynotes offer sharp, perceptive analysis on politics, governance, and business, informed by his decades of reporting from the social and political frontlines.

Dr. Arun Shourie is a celebrated investigative journalist, a former Minister of Communications and IT for the Government of India, and a World Press Freedom Hero. A highly influential commentator on current and political affairs, he has authored 26 books on topics ranging from constitutional law to governance. His latest book, Preparing For Death, offers profound insights from major religions and philosophy to help people face life's ultimate challenge with equanimity.

Dr. Pratap Bhanu Mehta is a leading political scientist, former President of the Centre for Policy Research, and a Harvard/Princeton-trained academic. He is an expert in political theory, constitutional law, and governance. He has held teaching posts at Harvard, JNU, and NYU School of Law. His influence extends to public policy, having served on the National Security Advisory Board and the Prime Minister's National Knowledge Commission.

Shankkar Aiyar is a leading political economy analyst, former Wolfson Chevening Fellow at Cambridge University, and the author of the critically acclaimed book Accidental India. His journalism exposed India’s 1991 gold crisis, accelerating economic liberalization. His keynotes, informed by his book Gated Republic, provide deep insights into India’s socio-economic fault lines, public policy failures, and the intersection of politics and economics in the country's development.

M. J. Akbar is a leading Indian journalist, former editor of major dailies, and a critically acclaimed author. He is a prominent expert on Indian policy and South Asian geopolitics. His first book, India: The Siege Within, had a deep impact on India’s policy in Punjab and Kashmir. His latest book, Tinderbox, discusses identity crisis and class struggle in Pakistan. His keynotes offer incisive commentary on current and political affairs and the complex dynamics of the Indian subcontinent.