Carla Hills Speaking Fee: $100,000 to $125,000

Carla A. Hills began her journey in Los Angeles, where she was born in 1934 and inspired early on by the biography of Alexander Hamilton. She graduated cum laude from Stanford University in 1955, where she also captained the tennis team, and earned her J.D. from Yale Law School in 1958. Shortly after, she passed the California bar and served as an assistant district attorney in Los Angeles—balancing her early career with married life and motherhood. In the private sector, Hills co‑founded the law firm that became Munger, Tolles & Olson, where she specialized in antitrust and federal civil litigation. She also taught antitrust law as an adjunct professor at UCLA and co-authored "The Antitrust Adviser." Her trajectory took her to public service in 1973 as Assistant Attorney General in the Civil Division of the Department of Justice, and in 1975 she was appointed Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. She was the third woman ever to serve in a U.S. Cabinet. Hills’s most prominent role came in 1989, when President George H. W. Bush appointed her U.S. Trade Representative. In that position, she spearheaded negotiations for the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and led U.S. delegations in the Uruguay Round of GATT that formed the modern World Trade Organization. Her efforts were recognized internationally—with Mexico honoring her in 2000 with the Order of the Aztec Eagle, its highest award for non‑citizens. Following her public service, Hills founded and serves as Chairman and CEO of Hills & Company International Consultants, advising global firms on trade, investment, and risk assessment. She also holds senior roles with Albright Stonebridge Group and serves on the boards or advisory councils of a range of institutions and corporations, including AIG, Chevron, Coca‑Cola, J.P. Morgan Chase, Rolls‑Royce, and Gilead Sciences. Her nonprofit commitments include leadership positions at the Council on Foreign Relations, National Committee on U.S.–China Relations, Inter‑American Dialogue, Peterson Institute, Trilateral Commission, and the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Known for her sharp intellect, steady voice in trade diplomacy, and inclusive mentorship, Hills continues to bridge policy and business—especially in North America and Asia. She combines rigorous legal acumen with a pragmatic approach to global engagement. Based in Washington, D.C., she remains a trusted advisor on trade, diplomacy, and cross-cultural dialogue.