There’s no doubt that the COVID-19 pandemic has changed a variety of aspects of society from working from home to economic adjustments to distance learning. This public health crisis has shed light on how society can function in a completely different way, even without in-person contact. We have gathered some of the top experts in fields related to COVID-19 response like economic impact, future trends, business impact, public health impact, crisis management, and mental health impact to help inform your audience on the implications and outcomes of the pandemic and how to move forward with confidence in the future.
COVID-19 Economic Impact
The world is going through a time of significant financial changes in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. As individuals and businesses are being forced to adapt to the reality of today, guidance on how to develop financial resilience is vital. These top speakers are economists and financial experts who are well-equipped to address the economic impact of COVID-19. Through their deep understanding of economic trends, they can provide hope and actionable steps on how to future-proof your business and yourself.
John Manzella
World-Recognized Speaker, Author and Nationally Syndicated Columnist on Global Business, Trade Policy, Labor & the Latest Economic Trends
John Manzella is a world-recognized speaker, author of several books, and a nationally syndicated columnist on global business, trade policy, labor, and the latest economic trends. His valuable insight, analysis and strategic direction have been vital to many of the world’s largest corporations and associations preparing for the business, economic and political challenges ahead. He is the founder of both the ManzellaReport.com, a premier source for global business and economic analysis, and Manzella Trade Communications, Inc., a public affairs, publishing and consulting firm.
Ramanan Laxminarayan
Drug-Resistance Economist, Founder & Director of the Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics & Policy (CDDEP)
Laxminarayan is founder and director of the Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics & Policy (CDDEP) in Washington, D.C., and a senior research scholar at Princeton University. He is an affiliate professor at the University of Washington and a visiting professor at the University of Strathclyde in Scotland and at the University of Kwazulu Natal in South Africa. Laxminarayan chairs the board of GARDP, a global product development partnership created by the World Health Organization, that aims to develop and deliver new treatments for bacterial infections. He is also board chair at HealthCubed, which works to improve access to healthcare and diagnostics worldwide.
Michelle Singletary
Author of The Washington Post’s Nationally Syndicated Personal Finance Column, “The Color of Money”
Michelle Singletary writes the nationally syndicated personal finance column “The Color of Money,” which appears in The Washington Post on Wednesdays and Sundays. Her award-winning column is syndicated by The Washington Post Writers Group and is carried in dozens of newspapers nationwide. She has written three personal finance books, including her latest, “The 21-Day Financial Fast: Your Path to Financial Peace and Freedom.” Singletary was the financial expert for “The Revolution,” a daytime program on ABC. For two years, she was host of her own national television program, “Singletary Says,” on TV One. She is a frequent contributor to various NPR programs and has appeared on national talk shows and television networks, including “Oprah,” NBC’s “Today,” “The Early Show on CBS” and CNN.
Global Trends, Future Trends, and Innovation Impact
There is no doubt that the COVID-198 pandemic will fundamentally change the future of the generations affected and beyond. With the technology and innovations developed during this time, future trends will be heavily shaped by this time period. These futurists can help your audience understand the ways in which society may adapt, and can provide insight into how to prepare for these changes.
Daniel Burrus
Technology Futurist, Business Strategist & Hall of Fame Speaker
Daniel Burrus is considered one of the world’s leading futurists on global trends and innovation. The New York Times has referred to him as one of the top three business gurus in the highest demand as a speaker. He is a strategic advisor to executives from Fortune 500 companies, helping them to develop game-changing strategies based on his proven methodologies for capitalizing on technology innovations and their future impact. His client list includes companies such as Microsoft, GE, American Express, Google, Toshiba, Procter & Gamble, Honda and IBM. He is a featured writer on the topics of innovation, change and the future for CNBC, The Huffington Post and Wired magazine to name a few. He has authored seven books, including the New York Times bestseller “Flash Foresight.”
Tom Koulopoulos
Chairman & Founder, Delphi Group; Business Author, Visionary Leader & Authority on Changing Technology
Tom Koulopoulos is Chairman and founder of Delphi Group, a 30-year-old Boston-based think tank named one of the fastest-growing private companies by Inc. Magazine. He is also the author of 13 books, an Inc.com columnist, the past Executive Director of the Babson College Center for Business Innovation, the past director of the Dell Innovation Lab, and a professor at Boston University. Koulopoulos’ thirteen books include his most recent, “Reimagining Healthcare,” “The Bottomless Cloud,” “Revealing the Invisible,” “The Gen Z Effect,” and “Cloud Surfing.”
Richard Florida
Leading Urbanist, Economist & Author of “The Rise of the Creative Class”
Richard Florida is one of the world’s leading urbanists. He is a researcher and professor, serving as University Professor at University of Toronto’s School of Cities and Rotman School of Management, and a Distinguished Fellow at NYU’s Schack School of Real Estate. He is a writer and journalist, having penned several global best sellers, including the award winning The Rise of the Creative Class and his most recent book, The New Urban Crisis. He is co-founder of CityLab, the leading publication devoted to cities and urbanism, and an entrepreneur, as founder of the Creative Class Group which works closely with companies and governments worldwide.
COVID-19 Business Impact
Businesses are proving their resilience during this time by assessing what they can adjust to survive during this uncertain time. Adjusting corporate culture to include remote working, changing business models to work virtually, and assessing financial changes, business leaders are being looked towards for leadership through this change. These top business speakers will guide you through tips to remain positive during the impact of COVID-19 and can help motivate your company for the future.
Amy Cappellanti-Wolf
Former SVP & CHRO at Symantec
Amy Cappellanti-Wolf is the former SVP & CHRO for Symantec, the world’s largest cybersecurity software company, based in Mountain View, CA. In addition to serving on the executive team and managing Symantec’s global human resources function, she led Symantec’s Workplace/Workforce Strategy and Planning, Real Estate and Facilities organizations. With more than three decades of experience leading companies across the high tech, entertainment and consumer products industries through complex transformations, Cappellanti-Wolf is a proven organizational design and development leader as well as executive coach focusing on talent as the key driver of business growth. Cappellanti-Wolf specializes in helping businesses survive and thrive while undergoing deep transformation and has extensive experience leading complex mergers, acquisitions and divestitures. Her focus areas include Business Transformation and Change Management, Organizational Design and Process Management, Business Partnership, Communication Strategy Facilitation, and Diversity in Tech.
Dr. Kevin Freiberg
Worldwide Best-Selling Author, Speaker & Advisor
Razor-sharp Insights. Concrete Examples. Entertaining Stories. Incredible Energy. This is why Dr. Kevin Freiberg is on a short list of global thought-leaders CEOs turn to for the kind of disruptive thinking that accelerates innovation, drives growth, and gets people excited about the future. With over one million copies in print, Freiberg is a worldwide best-selling author and speaker. His books and speeches have shaped the thinking of executives in more than 2,000 companies in 60 industries across the globe—leaders who now believe they have the power to change themselves, disrupt their organizations (before someone else does), and revolutionize their industries. Recognized as one of the “Top 30 Best Minds on Leadership” by Leadership Excellence Magazine, Freiberg has also appeared on CNBC, CBS Sunday Morning, and CNBC India.
Afdhel Aziz
Leading Expert on Brand Purpose & Marketing Innovation; Author of “Good is the New Cool: How Capitalism Can Save the World”
Afdhel Aziz is one the world’s leading experts on brand purpose, marketing innovation and how business can be a force for good. Based in Los Angeles, California, he is also Founder and Chief Purpose Officer at Conspiracy of Love, a social impact consultancy that advises Fortune 500 companies like Adidas, Sonos, Bacardi, Mars and Coty how to ‘make money AND do good by harnessing the power of cool.’ He is the co-author of the best-selling book “Good is the New Cool: Market Like You Give a Damn” which explores how brands like Warby Parker, The Honest Company and Zappos attract loyal customers through their mission of ‘doing well by doing good’ – and also retain the best talent by helping employees find meaningfulness in their work.
COVID-19 Public Health Impact
COVID-19 has presented the biggest impact on global public health our generation has seen due to its ease of spread. Researchers on public health, medical professionals, and epidemiologists have the expertise to speak on the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic both in the day-to-day as it still exists, and how it will affect us health-wise post-vaccine.
Dr. Syra Madad
Nationally Recognized Leader in Public Health & Infectious Diseases Epidemiologist
Syra Madad, D.H.Sc., M.Sc., MCP is nationally recognized leader and epidemiologist in public health and special pathogen preparedness and response. She is Senior Director, System-wide Special Pathogens Program at New York City Health + Hospitals, the nation’s largest municipal healthcare delivery system overseeing special pathogen preparedness and response efforts across 11 acute care hospitals in addition to post-acute/long-term care facilities and ambulatory care sites. She is Principal Investigator of NYC Health + Hospitals Institute of Diseases and Disaster Management and Health & Safety Lead of the Enhanced Special Investigations Unit of NYC Test & Trace Corp. Dr. Madad has led/been part of multiple infectious disease responses including Ebola, Zika, Measles, candida auris, and recently, COVID19. She has over 50+ publications, and has been a guest speaker at over 70 scientific and medical conferences around the world. She is frequently quoted and appears on major media outlets. Dr. Madad plays one of the lead roles in the Netflix docuseries, “Pandemic: How to Prevent an Outbreak,” which follows a handful of leaders throughout the world on the frontlines to prevent the next outbreak.
Sampson Davis, M.D.
Emergency Medicine Physician & Best-Selling Author, Frequent Medical Expert on “Today” & CNN
Dr. Sampson Davis is a physician, best-selling author, and co-founder of The Three Doctors Foundation. Davis travels the country delivering keynote speeches and practices emergency medicine at several hospitals in New Jersey. He has been a weekly contributor on the Tom Joyner Morning Show and a frequent guest on CNN and TODAY, highlighting prevalent and life-changing medical topics. Davis has published two books,”The Stuff: Unlock Your Power to Overcome Challenges, Soar, and Succeed”, and “Living and Dying in Brick City: An E.R. Doctor Returns Home”, and co-authored three New York Times best-selling books entitled “The Pact”, “We Beat the Street” and “The Bond”.
Dr. Susan Blumenthal
Former US Assistant Surgeon General & Rear Admiral
Rear Admiral Susan J. Blumenthal, M.D., M.P.A., served as a leading U.S. government health expert and spokesperson for more than 20 years in the Administrations of four U.S. Presidents. She was assistant surgeon general of the U.S.; the first-ever deputy assistant secretary for women’s health; senior global and e-health advisor in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; chief of the Behavioral Medicine and Basic Prevention Research Branch; Head of the Suicide Research Unit at the National Institute of Mental Health, NIH; Chair of the NIH Health and Behavior Coordinating Committee, and a White House advisor on health issues. Admiral Blumenthal is especially known for her significant leadership in exposing the inequities in women’s health and developing innovative initiatives to advance women’s health and the study of sex differences in disease in the United States and globally. She has also been a pioneer in applying technology to advance health.
Crisis Management & Leadership
With COVID-19 causing so much uncertainty, it is important for organizations to have strong leadership and faith in the future for positive change. These featured crisis management speakers and leadership through change speakers can guide you to accept the changes with ease and learn to adapt in positive ways. They also can provide important tips on how to manage this change and transformation within the self.
Judy Smith
America’s Premier Crisis Management Expert; Inspiration for ABC’s “Scandal”
The real-life inspiration behind ABC’s hit political thriller series “Scandal” starring Kerry Washington, Judy Smith is the US’s premier crisis management expert. As the founder and president of Smith & Company – a leading strategic and crisis communications firm with offices in Los Angeles and Washington, DC – she uniquely combines her communication skills, media savvy, and legal and political acumen to serve clients around the world. Smith is the author of “Good Self, Bad Self: Transforming Your Worst Qualities into Your Biggest Assets” and her writing has been featured in The Washington Post, National Journal, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Fortune, and Fast Company. She regularly writes for The Huffington Post and The Daily Beast and frequently appears on major television networks such as CNN, MSNBC, FOX News, NBC, ABC, and CBS to offer commentary on topical issues of the day.
Christopher Voss
International Crisis & Negotiation Expert
Chris Voss is CEO of the Black Swan Group and author of the national best-seller “Never Split The Difference: Negotiating As If Your Life Depended On It,” which was named one of the seven best books on negotiation. In 2008, he founded The Black Swan Group which specializes in solving business communication problems using hostage negotiation solutions. Voss has used his many years of experience in international crisis and high stakes negotiations as an FBI agent to develop a unique program and team that applies these globally proven techniques to the business world. Voss and his team have helped companies secure and close better deals, save money, and solve internal communication problems between senior management and employees.
Melissa Agnes
Author of “Crisis Ready,” Leading Authority on Crisis Preparedness, Reputation Management & Brand Protection
Melissa Agnes helps organizations prevent and manage their issues before they become catastrophic, with the aim of never having them become catastrophic at all. Her powerful, customized presentations provide tools and strategies that create a proactive, crisis-ready corporate culture, ready to respond to whatever may arise. Bilingual in English and French, Agnes speaks worldwide to audiences for clients including NATO, Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Ministries of Foreign Defense, Ministries of Health, and a range of organizations in finance, healthcare, energy, the nonprofit sector, and many more. In 2015, she gave a TEDx talk in Los Angeles where she discussed the secret to successful crisis management in the 21st century. Agnes is the author of “Crisis Ready: Building an Invincible Brand in an Uncertain World,” and is the editor of the Crisis Ready Blog, as well as contributor to Forbes.
COVID-19 Social & Mental Impact
Mental health and social implications are expected when something with this scope of uncertainty arises and affects society. Studies have shown that uncertainty can increase mental health problems and can trigger issues within individuals. These mental health speakers on resilience and the social impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic can help to motivate your audience to seek help if they need it and can provide strategies for individuals to better feel more in control of their lives during this time.
Eduardo Briceño
Growth Mindset and Improvement Expert; Co-Founder & CEO of Mindset Works
Eduardo is the most booked keynote speaker and workshop facilitator on growth mindset and the Learning Zone. In 2007, along with Carol Dweck and Lisa Blackwell, he co-founded Mindset Works, the pioneer in growth mindset development services and programs, which served and influenced thousands of organizations in their advancement of learning-oriented cultures and systems. Eduardo’s TEDx and TED talks on growth mindset and improvement have each been viewed by millions. He is a Pahara-Aspen Fellow, a member of the Aspen Institute’s Global Leadership Network, and an inductee in the Happiness Hall of Fame.
Dr. Kristen Lee
Award-Winning Behavioral Science Expert & Clinician
Dr. Kristen Lee, Ed.D., LICSW, known as “Dr. Kris”, is a recovering perfectionist, proud mother, and an internationally recognized, award-winning behavioral science expert, clinician, researcher, educator, speaker, and activist from Boston, Massachusetts. As the Lead Faculty for Behavioral Science at Northeastern University, Dr. Lee’s research and teaching interests include individual and organizational well-being and resilience, particularly for marginalized and under-served populations. She operates a clinical and consulting practice devoted to preventing and treating burnout and is the author of “RESET: Make the Most of Your Stress,” Winner of the Next Generation Indie Book Awards Motivational Book of 2015, and “Mentalligence: A New Psychology of Thinking-Learn What it Takes to be More Agile, Mindful and Connected in Today’s World.” She is a regular contributor for Psychology Today and Thrive Global.
Jenn Lim
CEO & Chief Happiness Officer at Delivering Happiness
Jenn Lim is the fearless, innovative CEO and co-founder of Delivering Happiness. From her 20+ years of lessons learned in culture and consulting, the proven results from transforming company cultures come back to her simple mission: to inspire science-based happiness, passion, and purpose at work, home, and in everyday life. In 2010, Lim led the launch of “Delivering Happiness” [the book] which has sold almost one million copies worldwide and hit #1 on bestsellers lists like the New York Times, USA Today, and the Wall Street Journal. After the book’s launch, organizations around the world wanted to learn how to bring profits, passion, and purpose to their company cultures but didn’t know how to start. So Delivering Happiness [the coach|sultancy] was created! Since then, Lim has shared her expertise as a thought leader in culture change using principles from the science of happiness, along with her 15+ years of culture experience from Zappos and DH to create profitable, sustainable cultures in organizations around the world.
COVID-19 has fundamentally changed society in a variety of ways. No matter what area you wish to shed light on for your audience, whether it be economics, health, social, or other implications, there are COVID-19 impact speakers who have the expertise and experience to inspire your audience to move forward with confidence.
