Lauren Leader is a highly regarded expert on diversity and women's leadership. She has made significant contributions to the fields of media, business, and politics, advocating for gender and racial equity. Through her speeches and work, she inspires and motivates individuals to find their voice and power to drive change and overcome the challenges of our time.
Lauren Leader founded All In Together, a non-partisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to women's civic education. Her research and writing have been featured in reputable publications such as the Washington Post, New York Times, USA Today, LA Times, Boston Globe, The Hill, Forbes, Harvard Business Review, and Refinery29. She has also appeared on popular television shows like The Daily Show and regularly comments on major news networks.
Lauren's upcoming show on NBC, Equal Value, sheds light on stories connected to women's lives and experiences that are often overlooked. She is a sought-after speaker and panelist at conferences and events worldwide, including the Aspen Ideas Festival, Milken Global Conference, and the World Economic Forum in Davos. Her book, Crossing the Thinnest Line, has significantly impacted the national conversation on diversity and inclusion.
In addition to her political advocacy, Lauren has advised numerous global corporations on diversity, public affairs, and organizational challenges. She has worked directly with clients and collaborated with renowned firms such as Mercer, Oliver Wyman, and Deloitte. Previously, she served as President of the Center for Talent Innovation, a global thinktank.
Lauren has been recognized for her influence and leadership, listed as one of Fortune's 50 Most Influential Women on Twitter and a 2018 Presidential Leadership Scholar. She is a Council on Foreign Relations member and holds a degree from Barnard College.
Lauren has worked with corporate clients such as Bank of America, Wiley, Lord Abbett, Warner Media, Estee Lauder, Merck, and State Street. Overall, Lauren Leader's expertise, experience, and dedication to promoting diversity and women's issues make her a highly respected thought leader.
The Covid crisis has made leadership more complex than ever. Even as parts of the world reopen and people head back to offices, the impact of the pandemic on morale, culture and mental health are long lasting. How leaders navigate this uncharted terrain is not easy. But in this inspirational and tactical talk, Lauren examines the ways the world no longer stops at the company door and how the pandemic can permanently shift corporate culture for the better.
In her work over the last 7 years leading a non-partisan civic leadership organization, Lauren has seen how core civics and the principals of democracy can help heal our nation’s divides and offer a path to shaping a better future for everyone. Lauren looks at the 101 of civic participation and highlights ways every American can make a difference, even in a polarized time.
In every organization, leaders have a special responsibility to ensure their company builds a diverse and inclusive culture, a task that has gotten more challenging given the complexity of social issues, the war for talent and the unique demands of Gen Z and Millennials at work. The responsibility of leaders to create a values centered, inclusive workplace is more than just the right thing to do, it’s critical to the financial performance and growth of the company. Companies with diverse leadership teams have consistently been shown to outperform. And in a complex environment, having diverse perspectives is essential to risk mitigation and market impact.
With women holding two of the most powerful seats in the US government and a record number of CEO and board positions, in some ways it’s never been a more promising time for gender equity. And yet, the pandemic has also laid bare persistent issues holding women back and keeping them from fulfilling their full potential in business, politics and society at large. In this action and personal empowerment focused talk, Lauren highlights the role we all play in building a more equitable future where women of all backgrounds can thrive now and in the future.
