Walter Isaacson - Speaker

Walter Isaacson is an American author, journalist, and professor. He graduated as a Rhodes Scholar from Harvard College and Pembroke College, Oxford University. Isaacson began his journalistic career at The Sunday Times of London and later joined TIME magazine in 1978, serving various roles, including political correspondent, national editor, and editor of digital media, before becoming the magazine's 14th editor in 1996. He then became the chairman and CEO of CNN in 2001 and the president and CEO of the Aspen Institute in 2003. Isaacson is known for his biographical works, including books on Steve Jobs, Albert Einstein, Benjamin Franklin, Henry Kissinger, and Leonardo da Vinci. He has also written about innovation and technology in "The Innovators." Isaacson has held leadership positions, including being the campaign chair and emeritus board member at Tulane University, chair emeritus of Teach for America, and a U.S. Defense Innovation Board member. President Barack Obama appointed him to serve as the chairman of the Broadcasting Board of Governors. Isaacson has received awards and recognitions, including the Benjamin Franklin Medal, the Nichols-Chancellor's Medal, and the National Humanities Medal. He is a member of organizations such as the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the Royal Society of the Arts, and the American Philosophical Society. Isaacson teaches at Tulane University and serves on the United Airlines and Bloomberg Philanthropies board.