World Affairs Speakers

Joan Laporta is the President of FC Barcelona, widely regarded as the club's most transformative president. An esteemed lawyer, he led the club to win two UEFA Champions League titles and four Spanish leagues during his first tenure. His "Virtuous Circle" model is a blueprint for organizational success, which saw the club's annual budget nearly triple. His keynotes provide invaluable lessons on leadership, motivation, and how to translate a clear vision and values-based decisions into global commercial and competitive triumph.

Ernesto Zedillo is the former President of Mexico and a distinguished economist known for his successful, large-scale economic and political reforms. He is a leading global expert on emerging markets and sustainable development. His talks offer a unique blend of high-level policy analysis and practical insights on global leadership and economic policy. As a speaker, he provides rich context on Globalization and Emerging Markets and the strategic thinking required to foster cooperation and drive sustainable growth in the Americas and beyond.

Dr. Sylvia Earle, dubbed “Her Deepness,” is a revered oceanographer, former Chief Scientist of NOAA, and a National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence. She holds the record for the deepest untethered walk on the sea floor. A winner of the 2009 TED Prize, Earle is the founder and Chairman of the Mission Blue/Sylvia Earle Alliance, dedicated to creating a global network of "Hope Spots" for ocean protection. Her keynotes are a compelling call to action on marine conservation and the urgent need to address the threat of climate change on the "blue heart of the planet."

Rebecca Henderson is an influential economist and a professor at Harvard Business School. She is a leading authority on organizational and strategic change, focusing her research on the role of purpose-driven firms in building a more sustainable economy. Her book, Reimagining Capitalism in a World on Fire, was shortlisted for the Financial Times/McKinsey Business Book of the Year. As a speaker, she provides a new intellectual framework and a plausible path forward for business leaders, offering both the urgency and the hope needed to solve complex global challenges like climate change.

Dr. Finn Kydland is a Nobel Laureate in Economics (2004) and a prominent macroeconomist recognized for his pivotal contributions to the theory of business cycles and economic policy formulation. As a respected authority, his theories heavily influence today's macroeconomics. His keynotes offer audiences worldwide significant, data-driven insights on monetary and fiscal policy, the dynamics of the global economy, and the political economics that govern national and international markets.

Rigoberta Menchú is a Nobel Peace Laureate and a world-renowned activist who champions indigenous rights and ethno-cultural reconciliation. Her work led her to become a prominent figure in the Committee of the Peasant Union (CUC). As a speaker, she shares her compelling life story, chronicled in her human document I, Rigoberta Menchú, which brought international attention to the struggles of the Maya people. Her insights are invaluable for audiences interested in non-violent resistance, human rights, and the power of grassroots social reform.

Richard Florida is a leading urbanist and the author of the international bestseller The Rise of the Creative Class. He is the founder of the Creative Class Group, a global advisory firm that guides cities and corporations on economic growth strategies. His work, which includes the book The New Urban Crisis, provides deep insights into the challenges of gentrification and social inequality within successful cities. As a highly sought-after speaker, he leverages his extensive knowledge to help organizations and audiences understand the dynamics of urban studies, economic platforms, and the future of work.

Rakesh Sharma is India's first citizen to travel in space, flying aboard the Soviet Soyuz T-11 in 1984. He is a highly decorated former IAF officer and a recipient of the Ashoka Chakra. He spent nearly eight days in space aboard the Salyut 7 Orbital Station, where he conducted pioneering experiments on the effects of yoga in microgravity and performed remote sensing photography of India.

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.

Ravi Venkatesan is a key thought leader in technology and business management. Having served as Chairman of Microsoft India, he plays a significant role in advocating for ethical digital transformation. Ravi's work focuses on utilizing technology as a tool for fostering sustainable, inclusive development across global communities.

Nina Schick is a leading global expert on AI and geopolitics, and a highly sought-after speaker at forums like Davos and CES. She was one of the first to predict the societal impact of Deepfakes. Her expertise, which includes advising NATO and President Biden, is focused on how AI is reshaping global dominance—in military strategy, economic infrastructure, and state power. She provides organizations with a strategic roadmap for what it means to lead in the Age of AI.

Sony Kapoor is an influential economist, finance professional, and sustainability expert with a two-decade track record in policy and business. He is the Director of the international think tank RE-DEFINE. His leadership in tackling the eurocrisis and promoting financial reform has been widely recognized. As a highly sought-after speaker, he leverages his unique background—including his role as a Special Adviser to the UN on Green Finance—to provide strategic, multi-disciplinary insights into sustainable finance, economic policy, and global development.

Amitabh Kant is a top Indian policymaker, former G20 Sherpa, and former CEO of NITI Aayog. He is the architect of flagship national initiatives, including the Startup India and Make in India movements. His work accelerated India’s jump of 79 positions in the Ease of Doing Business rankings and positioned the country as the third-best ecosystem for startups globally. His keynotes offer unique insight into Digital Public Infrastructure, Financial Reform, and how emerging economies can successfully scale solutions and achieve responsible growth.

Dr. Didier Queloz is a Nobel Laureate in Physics (2019) and a Professor at the University of Cambridge and ETH Zurich. He is the co-discoverer of the first exoplanet, a finding that revolutionized the field of astrophysics. His research now focuses on the detection of Earth-like planets and the search for universal life. As a speaker, he translates his groundbreaking scientific work into exciting and accessible insights on the formation and evolution of planets, aiming to spread passion for science and the limitless possibilities of exoplanet exploration.

Professor David Daokui Li is a leading Chinese economist and a top policy advisor, having served on the Monetary Policy Committee of China’s central bank. He is a Professor and Director of the CCWE at Tsinghua University. With degrees from Tsinghua and Harvard, his expertise lies in Chinese economics and policy, trade, and comparative economics. His keynotes provide audiences with unmatched insights into China’s economic trajectory and the internal policy discussions that shape global markets.

Arundhati Katju is the acclaimed lawyer who successfully represented the lead petitioners in the landmark case that decriminalized homosexuality in India. She was named one of TIME Magazine's 100 Most Influential People in 2019. She is a Senior Fellow at Columbia University’s Center for Contemporary Critical Thought and an expert in South Asian law and identity. Her keynotes focus on LGBT rights litigation, the genealogy of sexual identities in South Asia, and the strategic use of constitutional law to drive social change and dignity.

Dr. Ajit Ranade is the Chief Economist for the Aditya Birla Group and a leading voice on Indian economic and public policy. He holds a Ph.D. in Economics from Brown University. He is a frequent contributor to the business press and a co-founder of the Association for Democratic Reforms. His keynotes provide incisive, data-driven insights on Finance & Economy, Politics & Policy, and Management & Leadership strategies for navigating India's dynamic market.