Brenda Berkman

Pioneering Female Firefighter; Internationally Recognized Trailblazer for Women in Non-Traditional Employment

Travels From Travels From:
New York, NY, USA
Speaking Fee Speaking Fee:
REQUEST BOOKING INFORMATION

Brenda Berkman Biography

Captain Brenda Berkman permanently changed the face of firefighting. A nationally and internationally recognized trailblazer for women in non-traditional employment, she won the U.S. federal sex discrimination lawsuit in 1982 that changed history by breaking down barriers to women firefighters. She has founded and led several national organizations of women firefighters and has relentlessly fought sexism and gender stereotypes ever since. She was featured in the landmark PBS documentary "Makers: Women Who Make America" as well as "Taking the Heat," which chronicles the struggle to integrate women into the Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY), also on PBS.

From 1978 to 1982, Capt. Berkman worked as a lawyer specializing in employment and immigration law, including pro bono representation of applicants seeking asylum. She gave up her career in law in order to become a firefighter. Despite the discrimination that was directed at her personally because of the lawsuit, Capt. Berkman was promoted to Lieutenant and then Captain in the FDNY. She was the first woman firefighter to serve on several committees of the National Fire Protection Association. In 1996-1997, Capt. Berkman served as a White House Fellow, the first professional firefighter -- female or male -- to be awarded this prestigious leadership development fellowship in the history of the program. A first responder on 9/11, Capt. Berkman has led efforts to ensure that the role of female responders were recognized equally with their male counterparts.

Following her retirement from the FDNY after 25 years of service, Capt. Berkman's interests have shifted to printmaking and volunteer work. She continues to advocate for women firefighters globally while promoting and supporting other non-traditional roles for women. She is also a walking tour guide at the 9-11 Memorial in New York City to honor her friends and colleagues who were lost on that day, and to help educate visitors. Additionally, she volunteers in support of many groups working for women’s equality.

Brenda Berkman Videos

  • Brenda Berkman Shares Her Experience On Joining The Force
  • Brenda Berkman: A woman who did a “Man's job”
  • Monumental Women: Brenda Berkman's

FAQs on booking Brenda Berkman

  • How do I book Brenda Berkman to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Brenda Berkman for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Brenda Berkman, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Brenda Berkman or any other speaker of your choice.
  • What are the speaker fees for Brenda Berkman

    Speaking fees for Brenda Berkman, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Brenda Berkman are for live events and for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Brenda Berkman, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
  • What topics does Brenda Berkman speak about?

  • Where does Brenda Berkman travel from?

    Brenda Berkman generally travels from New York, NY, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.
  • Who is Brenda Berkman’s agent?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like Brenda Berkman for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Brenda Berkman for your next private or corporate function.
  • What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Brenda Berkman or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
  • Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

    If you’re looking for the best, unbiased speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.

Brenda Berkman is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics . The estimated speaking fee range to book Brenda Berkman for your event is available upon request. Brenda Berkman generally travels from New York, NY, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Kristie Kennedy, Zainab Salbi, Silvia Vasquez-Lavado, Diane Guerrero and Robin Morgan. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Brenda Berkman for an upcoming live or virtual event.

Tell us about your event!

During normal business hours, we respond to most inquiries within 4 hours.

  • Customized Service

    Our agents find the right fit for your event

  • Unparalleled Database

    Full access to all speakers & celebrities

  • One Stop Shopping

    A reliable and unbiased point of contact

  • Logistics Management

    Your personal Logistics Manager who takes care of all event details

This website is a resource for event professionals and strives to provide the most comprehensive catalog of thought leaders and industry experts to consider for speaking engagements. A listing or profile on this website does not imply an agency affiliation or endorsement by the talent.

All American Entertainment (AAE) exclusively represents the interests of talent buyers, and does not claim to be the agency or management for any speaker or artist on this site. AAE is a talent booking agency for paid events only. We do not handle requests for donation of time or media requests for interviews, and cannot provide celebrity contact information.

If you are the talent and wish to request a profile update or removal from our online directory, please submit a profile request form.

TOP