Berkeley's Most Powerful Speakers Worth Listening To
Explore Berkeley’s influential speakers who blend activism, innovation, and leadership to inspire change and engage diverse audiences.
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Founded in 1868, the University of California, Berkeley has built a reputation for producing some of the sharpest, most outspoken minds in tech, policy, science and the arts. Berkeley's most powerful voices don't shy away from a challenge, they've built careers tackling big questions, from climate policy to corporate leadership to social justice. That combination of rigorous thinking and social conscience makes Berkeley one of the richest talent pools for organisations looking for a speaker who can genuinely move a room.
UC Berkeley: A Hub for Activism, Research, and Bold Ideas
Berkeley fosters leaders who bridge academia, technology and activism, ideal for audiences who want innovation paired with conscience.
Notable Figures and Speaker Highlights
Berkeley alumni and faculty include the late Joan Didion (author), Robert Reich (economist, former Secretary of Labor, longtime Berkeley professor, and the university's 2026 commencement speaker), and Alice Waters (chef and sustainability advocate).
The campus is also home to Nobel laureates and influential scientists such as Steven Chu, Nobel laureate physicist, former director of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and former U.S. Energy Secretary.
Speakers with Berkeley roots often address climate policy, technology ethics, labor rights and cultural change. If your event leans further into emerging tech and product thinking, our innovation speakers line-up is a natural next stop.
» READ MORE: Yale's Most Popular Keynote Speakers
Why Berkeley Speakers Resonate
Berkeley's speakers are passionate, fearless and articulate. They connect scholarly research with real-world activism and policy, making them ideal for events centred on innovation, diversity, equity and leadership.
Booking a Berkeley speaker means engaging your audience with bold ideas and urgent calls to action, voices that don't just inform but inspire transformation.
Berkeley's Most Powerful Voices Ready to Book
Scott Galloway
Scott Galloway earned his MBA at Berkeley's Haas School of Business before becoming an NYT bestselling author, serial entrepreneur and professor of marketing at NYU Stern. He delivers sharp, data-driven takes on tech giants, brand strategy and where markets are heading next.
Learn more and book Scott Galloway →Caroline Winnett
Caroline Winnett is Executive Director of Berkeley SkyDeck, one of the university's leading startup accelerators. She speaks on building innovation ecosystems and turning university research into ventures with real market traction.
Interested in booking Caroline? Get in touch with the PepTalk team.
Barbara Desoer
Barbara Desoer built a decades-long career in financial services leadership, serving as CEO of Citibank, N.A. after senior roles at Bank of America, and now sits on UC Berkeley's Board of Visitors. She speaks on leading through complexity in banking and building diverse executive teams.
Interested in booking Barbara? Get in touch with the PepTalk team.
Arun Sarin
Arun Sarin led Vodafone as chief executive after senior roles at AirTouch and Pacific Bell, and holds an MBA from Berkeley's Haas School of Business. He speaks on global telecoms strategy and scaling leadership across emerging markets.
Interested in booking Arun? Get in touch with the PepTalk team.
Terry McMillan
Terry McMillan, a Berkeley alumna, is the bestselling author of Waiting to Exhale and several other acclaimed novels. She speaks on storytelling, culture and the relationships that shape how audiences see themselves.
Interested in booking Terry? Get in touch with the PepTalk team.
Sanaa Lathan
Sanaa Lathan earned her MFA at Berkeley in 1992 and has built an award-winning acting career across film, television and theatre. She speaks on storytelling, representation and navigating a career in Hollywood.
Interested in booking Sanaa? Get in touch with the PepTalk team.
Jill Foley
Jill Foley has built a career in media and entertainment leadership, working across content strategy and development. She speaks on media innovation and building content that resonates with changing audiences.
Interested in booking Jill? Get in touch with the PepTalk team.
Nancy Tellem
Nancy Tellem, a UC Berkeley alumna, spent years as President of CBS Entertainment before further senior roles across the television industry. She speaks on leadership in content and how entertainment businesses evolve.
Interested in booking Nancy? Get in touch with the PepTalk team.
Steve Wozniak
Steve Wozniak co-founded Apple and helped spark the personal computing revolution before becoming a philanthropist and innovator in his own right. He speaks on creativity, engineering culture and the lessons behind decades of innovation.
Interested in booking Steve? Get in touch with the PepTalk team.
Alex Morgan
Alex Morgan, a Cal alumna, captained the US Women's National Soccer Team and won Olympic gold before becoming one of the most recognised advocates for equity in sport. She speaks on leadership, teamwork and breaking barriers on and off the pitch.
Interested in booking Alex? Get in touch with the PepTalk team.
Leroy Chiao
Leroy Chiao is a former NASA astronaut and International Space Station commander who holds a PhD in chemical engineering from Berkeley. He speaks on teamwork under pressure and what space exploration teaches about pushing human limits.
Interested in booking Leroy? Get in touch with the PepTalk team.
Louis Trevino
Louis Trevino is co-founder of Café Ohlone, the Bay Area restaurant celebrating Ohlone food and culture that now has a home on the UC Berkeley campus. He speaks on Indigenous heritage, culinary arts and cultural preservation.
Interested in booking Louis? Get in touch with the PepTalk team.
Barbara Lee
Barbara Lee earned her Master's in Social Welfare from UC Berkeley before a long career in public service, including 25 years representing California in Congress, and now serves as Mayor of Oakland. She speaks on leadership, social justice and policy advocacy.
Interested in booking Barbara? Get in touch with the PepTalk team.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I book a UC Berkeley-affiliated speaker through PepTalk?
Get in touch with our team with your event dates, audience and budget, and we'll shortlist speakers whose availability and topics match your brief. We handle logistics, contracting and travel from there.
What topics do Berkeley speakers typically cover?
Berkeley's alumni and faculty span technology, climate policy, social justice, media, sport and the arts, so the range of topics on offer is broad. Many bring a research-backed, values-driven angle that suits audiences looking for substance alongside inspiration.
Are Berkeley speakers only suitable for tech or business events?
No. The line-up above spans corporate leadership, sport, entertainment, science and public policy, so a Berkeley speaker can suit conferences, universities, non-profits and internal town halls alike.
💡 Want Berkeley voices at your event? From tech pioneers and social justice champions to cultural icons and visionary leaders, Berkeley speakers embody activism, innovation and impact. We'll help you find the perfect match for your audience.
Email us at hello@getapeptalk.com, message us in chat, or call +44 20 3835 2929 (UK) or +1 737 888 5112 (US). Let's bring Berkeley boldness to your stage.
Isla Cauchi
Read more from Isla Cauchi
Isla Cauchi was born in London and now lives in New York. She is currently attending Westminster School in Connecticut, where she continues her education.
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