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Mick Ebeling

CEO & Founder, Not Impossible Labs

Mick Ebeling has sparked a movement of pragmatic, inspirational innovation. As a career producer and filmmaker and now founder and CEO of Not Impossible, Ebeling harvests the power of technology and story to change the world.

Mike Africa Jr.

Hip Hop Artist, Writer, Member of MOVE

Mike Africa, Jr. is a member of The MOVE Organization, and the Black Philly Radical Collective. He is a motivational resilience speaker who pushes his “Never Give Up” message with his dynamic stage performances mixing music in his orations. 

Mike Reiss

Writer & Producer of The Simpsons

Four-time Emmy winner Mike Reiss—who has worked on The Simpsons continuously since episode one in 1989—shares stories, scandals, and gossip about working with America’s most iconic cartoon family ever. Now Available for Virtual Programs

Nikki Giovanni

Keynote Speaker: Poet, Educator & Best-Selling Author

Poet Nikki Giovanni was born in Knoxville, Tennessee, on June 7, 1943. Although she grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio, she and her sister returned to Knoxville each summer to visit their grandparents. Nikki graduated with honors in history from her grandfather's alma mater, Fisk University. Since 1987, she has been on the faculty at Virginia Tech, where she is a University Distinguished Professor.

Ruth E. Carter

Award-Winning Costume Designer

Ruth E. Carter is the two-time Academy Award winning American film costume designer. Best known for turning the Black Panther superhero into an African King, Carter makes history as the first Black person to win the category and earn Marvel Studios their first Oscar recognition.

Sean Astin

Actor, Director, Voice Artist & Producer Known For "Lord of the Rings"

In real life and on the screen, Sean Astin knows what it's like to be the underdog. In his corporate presentation, Sean uses a lot of the fun stuff- the speech from Rudy, anecdotes from Lord of the Rings, The Goonies and Memphis Belle- to draw the audience in. Then he shows audiences the keys to goal setting- how do you set goals, how do you push yourself beyond what you can do? He’s done something like 11 marathons and he just completed the Hawaiian Ironman. He’s extremely approachable and great with people.

Vir Das

Keynote Speaker: Bollywood Actor & Stand Up Comedian

Comedian and Actor Vir Das has hit the global comedy mega-leagues thanks to his boundless comedic talent, wildly successful world tours and incredible four Netflix specials. His latest special, Landing, premiered on the streamer on December 26, 2022 with Decider praising his “refreshingly different take on our current obsession with “punching up” and “cancel culture” and Paste Magazine gushing “even if he’s sending barbs someone’s way, his criticisms are packaged up so beautifully that you’re simply in awe until they hit their mark.”