World Affairs Speakers

Kate Raworth is a visionary economist and the creator of the Doughnut of social and planetary boundaries. She is a Senior Teaching Fellow at Oxford University and the Co-founder of the Doughnut Economics Action Lab. Her internationally bestselling book, Doughnut Economics, has been translated into over 20 languages and influences thought leaders from the UN to business executives. Her keynotes provide actionable strategies for reinventing economic thinking to achieve sustainable prosperity within planetary boundaries.

Dr. Michael Spence is a Nobel Laureate in Economics (2001), a Professor Emeritus at Stanford Business School, and an expert in information economics and global growth. A Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution and a Distinguished Visiting Fellow of the Council on Foreign Relations, his counsel is sought globally. His keynotes offer unmatched expertise on economic convergence, global development strategies, and managing the current “Permacrisis” in a fractured world.

Nandan Nilekani is the Co-Founder and Chairman of Infosys and the Founding Chairman of UIDAI (Aadhaar), India's national digital identity system. A recipient of the Padma Bhushan and the Joseph Schumpeter prize, his work is foundational to the digital economy. His keynotes provide expert, strategic insight into Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), AI in business, and leveraging technology to realize a billion aspirations in emerging markets.

Dr. Jane Goodall, DBE, is a legendary ethologist and conservationist, best known for her 60-year study on chimpanzees and her foundational discovery that they make and use tools. She is a UN Messenger of Peace. As the founder of the Jane Goodall Institute (JGI) and Roots & Shoots, her work is a global model for community-centered conservation and youth empowerment. Her keynotes provide a powerful, hopeful call to action on environmental crises, urging every individual to take responsibility for all living things and the planet.

Professor Muhammad Yunus is a Nobel Peace Laureate (2006) and the founder of Grameen Bank and the concept of social business. Fortune Magazine named him "one of the greatest entrepreneurs of our time" for his constant innovation. He is one of only seven individuals in history to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom, and the U.S. Congressional Gold Medal. His books, including A World of Three Zeroes, provide a blueprint for a new kind of capitalism based on zero poverty, zero unemployment, and zero carbon emissions.

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.

Philip Rosedale is the founder of Second Life, the pioneering virtual world with over 70 million registered accounts. He is an entrepreneur and expert on virtual reality and the future of the metaverse. Following the acquisition of his internet video conferencing product by RealNetworks, he served as their CTO. His keynotes offer deep insights into virtual reality, online economies, and distributed work, sharing his vision for how virtual worlds will reshape collaboration and societal interaction.

Sir Konstantin Novoselov, FRS, is a Nobel Laureate in Physics (2010) and the co-discoverer of graphene. He is a world-leading expert on condensed matter physics and nanotechnology. A Director at the National University of Singapore and a Professor at The University of Manchester, his work is highly influential globally. His keynotes provide deep insights into the physics of nanomaterials and the revolutionary potential of graphene in technology, business, and science.

Henrik von Scheel is the leading architect of the "Fourth Industrial Revolution (Industry 4.0)" and the strategist behind the European Commission’s “Digital Agenda.” His work has influenced 23% of Fortune 500 companies. Recognized as the “most influential management thinker of our times” by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, his keynotes provide the strategic blueprint for Digital Transformation, Decentralized Finance, and Smart Connected Factories in the Industry 4.0 era.

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.

Amy Myers Jaffe is a leading global expert on energy policy, sustainability, and geopolitical risk. She is the Director of the Energy, Climate Justice and Sustainability Lab at NYU and a contributing columnist for The Wall Street Journal. The author of Energy’s Digital Future, she advises major corporations, institutional investors, and multinational agencies globally. Her keynotes provide actionable strategies for navigating the energy transition, managing climate risk in investing, and understanding the global implications of U.S. energy policy and the revolutionary role of AI in the future energy system.

Dr. Dambisa Moyo is an international economist and #1 New York Times bestselling author of five books, including Dead Aid. She is a highly experienced corporate board member, currently serving on the boards of Chevron Corporation and 3M. Her expertise focuses on the global economy, geopolitics, and the political and financial workings of emerging economies. As a keynote speaker, she provides critical, research-backed insights on structural economic challenges, the employment implications of technology, and the future of global power.

Jeremy Rifkin is an influential American economist and the author of 20 bestsellers, including The Zero Marginal Cost Society and The Third Industrial Revolution. As an economic advisor to the European Union and the People's Republic of China, he guides nations on building a sustainable, low-carbon economy. His keynotes provide cutting-edge insights on globalization, energy security, and the strategic deployment of the Internet of Things (IoT) for a Collaborative Commons.

Dr. Moisés Naím is a Pulitzer-affiliated journalist, bestselling author of The End of Power, and a Distinguished Fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. A former Executive Director of the World Bank and Minister of Trade and Industry for Venezuela, he brings high-level government and finance experience. His keynotes provide unmatched insights into Global Political Economy, International Relations, and the strategic challenges facing Latin American Politics today.

Paul Milgrom is a Nobel Laureate in Economics (2020) and a professor known for his pioneering work in auction theory and mechanism design. His auction models have been adopted globally by regulators and major corporations to efficiently allocate public assets. As a keynote speaker, Milgrom shares critical insights into the inner workings of our economy, demonstrating how subtle changes in incentives and design can yield massive, equitable results. His talks are invaluable for leaders in finance, technology, and government seeking a deeper understanding of market design and competitive strategy.

Dr. Parag Khanna is a leading global strategy advisor and the founder of FutureMap. He is the bestselling author of books like Connectography and The Future is Asian, offering deep, data-driven insights into global trends and geopolitical strategy. He is a frequent media commentator and TED speaker whose talks have been viewed millions of times. As a keynote speaker, he provides tailored briefings to corporate executives and government leaders on systemic risks, technological disruptions, and market entry strategies, helping organizations navigate the shift toward an increasingly multipolar and interconnected global order.

Carly Fiorina is the former Chairman and CEO of Hewlett-Packard (HP), where she led the controversial but ultimately strategic merger with Compaq. She is a highly sought-after business speaker and executive advisor. As one of the World’s 100 Most Powerful Women (Forbes), she brings firsthand experience in corporate turnaround, strategic mergers, and high-stakes politics. She is currently Chairman of the American Conservative Union Foundation and Opportunity International, which focuses on micro-finance to alleviate poverty.

Ruchir Sharma is a world-leading investment strategist and the Chairman of Rockefeller International. He is the founder of Breakout Capital, an investment firm focused on emerging markets. The author of New York Times bestsellers The Rise and Fall of Nations and What Went Wrong with Capitalism, his expertise is critical for navigating global economic and political risk. His keynotes offer data-driven insights into emerging markets, globalism’s failure, and the future of democratic capitalism.