C. Nicole Mason Speaking Fee: $30,000 to $50,000

Dr. C. Nicole Mason is a distinguished author, researcher, and advocate renowned for her work in advancing gender and racial equity. Raised in Los Angeles, she overcame early life challenges—including periods of homelessness—to become the first in her family to graduate from high school and college. She earned her Ph.D. in political science from the University of Maryland, College Park, where she made history as the first Black woman to specialize in political philosophy in the program’s history. Dr. Mason's career is marked by leadership in organizations dedicated to social justice. She served as the executive director of the Women of Color Policy Network at New York University’s Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service, the nation's only research and policy center focused on women of color at a nationally ranked school of public administration. In 2019, she became the youngest person and one of the few women of color to lead the Institute for Women’s Policy Research (IWPR), a leading voice on pay equity and economic policies impacting women. A prolific writer and public intellectual, Dr. Mason is the author of Born Bright: A Young Girl’s Journey from Nothing to Something in America, a memoir that chronicles her journey from poverty to academic achievement. Her commentary has been featured in major media outlets, including the New York Times, MSNBC, CNN, and ESSENCE Magazine. Recognized for her leadership and impact, Dr. Mason has received numerous accolades. She was named one of Fortune Magazine’s “World’s 50 Greatest Leaders,” one of Glamour Magazine’s “100 Influential Women Leaders,” and one of Washingtonian Magazine’s “500 Most Influential People in Washington D.C.” Additionally, she is an inaugural Ascend Fellow at the Aspen Institute and has been honored with the New Executive Award from the Open Society Foundations. Currently, Dr. Mason serves as the President and CEO of Future Forward Women, a legislative exchange and policy network committed to advancing progressive public policies at the state and federal levels. She continues to be a leading voice in the movement for gender and racial equity, leveraging her platform to drive systemic change and empower marginalized communities.