Available to book
Roger Ferguson
Diversity and Inclusion
Crisis Management
Workplace Wellbeing
Speaker, Distinguished Economist and Corporate Leader
Black History Month
Business Leader
Roger W. Ferguson, Jr. is an American economist, attorney, and corporate executive known for his contributions to the financial sector and leadership in various institutions.
Ferguson began his career as an attorney at Davis Polk & Wardwell in New York City before joining McKinsey & Company in 1984. He served as an associate director of research and information systems and became a partner, remaining until 1997.
In 1997, he was appointed to the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, becoming the third African American to hold this position. He was named Vice Chairman in 1999, serving until 2006. During his tenure, he represented the Federal Reserve on international policy groups and key committees, including Payment System Oversight and Supervision and Regulation.
On September 11, 2001, Ferguson was the only Governor in Washington, D.C., and led the Federal Reserve's response to the terrorist attacks, ensuring the U.S. financial system remained operational and reassuring the global community about the economy's stability.
After leaving the Federal Reserve in 2006, he became President and Chief Executive Officer of the Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association – College Retirement Equities Fund (TIAA-CREF) in 2008, a role he held until 2021, guiding the organisation as a Fortune 100 financial services company.
Ferguson has served on various international committees, including the Group of Ten Working Party on Financial Sector Consolidation. He was an economic advisor to President Barack Obama from 2008 to 2012, participating in several advisory boards. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences and co-chairs its Commission on the Future of Undergraduate Education. He also serves on the boards of Alphabet, Inc., General Mills, Inc., and International Flavors & Fragrances, Inc.
Ferguson has received numerous awards, including the Distinguished Service Award from the Bond Market Association and honorary doctorates from multiple institutions. His extensive career reflects significant contributions to economic policy and stability.
Topics, sessions and talks
Join Roger Ferguson, the former President and CEO of TIAA, as he shares his insights on navigating the challenges that arise in a post-COVID world. Drawing from his experience in leadership during times of crisis and his expertise in economics, Roger offers actionable strategies for achieving financial well-being, making the most of government resources, and driving growth through enhanced diversity and inclusion.
Roger Ferguson has long focused on financial well-being and security, most recently leading the 17,000 employees of financial services provider TIAA which manages $1.3 trillion in assets through a shift to remote work during a pandemic and the racial reckoning following George Floyd’s death. Roger led TIAA staying true to their values and came through these series of crises as a financially strong and stable company with ample capital. He embodies four specific traits that define a good leader: expertise, vision, perseverance, and empathy – and authentically captures the audience’s attention, explaining why these traits are necessary to lead in uncertain and difficult times.
Roger Ferguson, one of just five Black ceos of Fortune 500 companies in 2021, leads organizations and audiences to a deeper understanding that closing the racial wealth gap is a net positive for the economy overall, not just the right thing to do. How is the discussion around race, equity, representation, and justice different than in the past? Roger Optimistically sees organizations moving from talk to commitment and disclosing how they are progressing, annually updating where they stand achieving long-term goals. Roger expertly navigates a conversation of what it was like being the only black executive in boardrooms and the strategies he used to navigate ‘onlyness’ and actionable ways organizations and audiences can do the same and support representation across the corporate landscape.
often considered together
Mike Soutar
Effective Leadership
Future of Work
High Performance
frequently asked questions
Something we've not covered here?
Email roger.ferguson@getapeptalk.com or call PepTalk on +44 20 3835 2929 (UK) or +1 737 888 5112 (US), and one of our speaker agents will contact you within hours to confirm Roger's availability and fees. If you can, please include your budget upfront – it helps us fast-track your request. It’s also helpful to know the date, format (virtual or in-person), location, and a bit about your audience.
Roger Ferguson draws on first-hand leadership experience to frame his talks, using his tenure at the Federal Reserve and TIAA as case studies to illustrate principles around crisis management, financial well-being, and racial equity. He structures his presentations around a defined set of leadership traits — expertise, vision, perseverance, and empathy — applying them to real organisational challenges he navigated, including the 9/11 response, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the racial reckoning of 2020.
Roger Ferguson speaks on post-COVID economic strategy, crisis leadership, and the racial wealth gap and its broader economic implications. He served as Vice Chairman of the Federal Reserve and was the sole Governor present in Washington on 11 September 2001, leading the Federal Reserve's response to stabilise the US financial system, before going on to serve as President and CEO of TIAA, a Fortune 100 financial services company managing $1.3 trillion in assets.
No. PepTalk adds no booking fee, so you pay the speaker's fee and nothing beyond it. The service, from shortlist through to contracts and event-day logistics, is included. For repeat or multi-event bookings, PepTalk can agree preferential rates with your procurement team.
Share your event date, audience, format, objectives and budget, and PepTalk sends a hand-picked shortlist within 24 hours. Each suggestion comes with a profile, a fee and a recommendation on the strongest fit. Once you choose, PepTalk handles contracts, travel and logistics through to event day.
The typical fee range is the speaker's standard in-person fee in their home market, shown in their local currency. It moves with format, location, date and session length: virtual sessions and shorter slots usually cost less, while international travel and peak dates cost more. Send your brief to PepTalk and the team will confirm the exact fee in your currency.
Not all of them, and it makes no difference to your booking. PepTalk's network of 15,000+ speakers covers talent the team works with directly alongside speakers represented by agents and agencies worldwide. PepTalk approaches the speaker, negotiates the fee and handles contracting either way.
Three to six months ahead is comfortable for most events, and 12 months is better for large conferences, peak-season dates or one specific in-demand speaker. Shorter timelines are workable, and PepTalk regularly fills last-minute and replacement bookings within days. Availability is the constraint, so get in touch as soon as you have a date.
Get the right person
Tell us what you’re working on and we’ll match you with the talent your audience won’t stop talking about.
