Professor Keynote Speakers

Browse Professor Speakers

Professor keynote speakers allow us to move beyond the classroom in asking the right questions. Asking a good question requires us to move beyond what previously thought we knew about an issue or a person to explore the difficult and the unknown, the awkward, and even the unpleasant. GDA has many professor keynote speakers to inspire and lead to meaningful and deeper connections.


Keynotes: 9 Books: 11 Videos: 6

Commander Mary Kelly Featured

Renowned Economist and Leadership Expert

Mary Kelly, PhD, CDR, US Navy (retired) is a nationally recognized and renowned economist and leadership expert specializing in improving business efficiency and maximizing available resources.

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Keynotes: 3 Books: 0 Videos: 5

Dr. David Ricketts Featured

Innovator, Scholar and Harvard Innovation Fellow

Engaging audiences across the globe on innovation, science and technology, Dr. Ricketts guides and teaches executives, leadership teams and innovators. He helps leaders to understand the untapped value in their market and discover and solve high-impact problems, in order to outperform their competition.

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Keynotes: 6 Books: 5 Videos: 3

Vivek Wadhwa Featured

Author, Academic, Speaker, Entrepreneur

Called “Silicon Valley’s most provocative voice” for his ideas on technology trends, globalization, U.S. competitiveness, and the future, Vivek Wadhwa’s work puts him at the heart of where innovations are being developed that will change the very way in which we work and live.

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Keynotes: 0 Books: 3 Videos: 1

Ken Bain

Author Of ‘What The Best College Teachers Do'

Dr. Ken Bain, author of What the Best College Teachers Do and its sequel, What the Best College Students Do. Both books are top-selling treatises on higher education and winners of the Virginia and Warren Stone Prize for an outstanding book on education and society.

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Keynotes: 5 Books: 4 Videos: 7

Harry Broadman

Litigation Expert/Academic on Emerging Markets and Global Transaction Advisory

Dr. Broadman has been at the forefront of global business and policy decisions over the past three decades. He shares a compelling perspective on opportunities and risks shaping our economic future. Harry has a deep understanding of the global marketplace and its complex spectrum of business, policy and consumer environments. 

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Keynotes: 10 Books: 5 Videos: 6

Robert B. Cialdini, PhD

New York Times Bestselling author and the foundational expert in the science of influence

Dr. Robert Cialdini has spent his entire career conducting scientific research on what leads people to say “Yes” to requests. The results of his research, his ensuing articles, and New York Times bestselling books have earned him an acclaimed reputation as a respected scientist and engaging storyteller.

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Keynotes: 5 Books: 1 Videos: 3

Dr. Adam Gazzaley

Professor in Neurology, Physiology and Psychiatry, Founder & Executive Director of Neuroscape.

Dr. Adam Gazzaley obtained an M.D. and a Ph.D. in Neuroscience. He is now Professor in Neurology, Physiology and Psychiatry at University of California, San Francisco and the Founder & Executive Director of Neuroscape, a translational neuroscience center engaged in technology creation and scientific research. 

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Keynotes: 2 Books: 6 Videos: 6

Erin Gruwell

Educator and Founder of the Freedom Writers Foundation

Erin Gruwell is a teacher, an author, and the founder of the Freedom Writers Foundation. By fostering an educational philosophy that values and promotes diversity, Erin transformed her students’ lives.

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Keynotes: 1 Books: 0 Videos: 3

Brenda Jones Harden

Professor at University of Maryland College Park, Committee of the Board ZERO TO THREE Chair

Brenda Jones Harden, PhD, is a Professor in the Department of Human Development and Quantitative Methodology, University of Maryland College Park. Dr. Jones Harden is a Chair, Committee of the Board of ZERO TO THREE.

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Keynotes: 8 Books: 1 Videos: 1

Shahir Masri

Environmental Scientist, Author, and Speaker

Shahir Masri is author of the book, Beyond Debate: Answers to 50 Misconceptions on Climate Change and a contributing writer for The Hill. He co-founded the National Outreach Project "On The Road For Climate Action," empowering everyday people to help solve the climate crisis through community outreach and education. 

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Keynotes: 8 Books: 3 Videos: 3

Heather E. McGowan

Future-of-Work Strategist

Future-of-work strategist Heather E. McGowan averages 75 speaking events a year from small audiences of c level executives to large forums of thousands. Her speaking while grounded in the changing nature of work extend to include talking points on leadership, DEI/DEIB, engagement, empowerment, culture, innovation, and transformation. 

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Keynotes: 1 Books: 2 Videos: 1

Patricia Moore

2020 CHANGEMAKER Award, Renowned Gerontologist, and Designer

Patricia Moore is an internationally renowned gerontologist and designer, serving as a leading authority on consumer lifespan behaviors and requirements. For a period of three years (1979-1982), in an exceptional and daring experiment, Moore traveled throughout the United States and Canada disguised as women more than eighty years of age. 

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Keynotes: 8 Books: 2 Videos: 4

Blake Michelle Morgan

Customer Experience Futurist, Keynote Speaker, Author

Blake Morgan is a leader in customer experience. She is a keynote speaker and customer experience futurist and author of two books on customer experience. Her second book is called “The Customer Of The Future: 10 Guiding Principles For Winning Tomorrow’s Business” (HarperCollins).

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Keynotes: 2 Books: 7 Videos: 3

Mike Riera

Educator and One of the Country's Foremost Authorities on Understanding Children and Teenagers

Mike Riera, Ph.D., is one of the country's foremost authorities on understanding children and teenagers. The cornerstone of his philosophy is the essential shift for parents, from managers in their teenagers' lives to consultants.

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Keynotes: 4 Books: 4 Videos: 1

Mark Schaefer

Keynote Speaker, Consultant, Bestselling Author of "Known"

Mark Schaefer is a globally-recognized keynote speaker, educator, business consultant, and author. Mark has worked in global sales, PR, and marketing positions for more than 30 years and provides consulting services as Executive Director of Schaefer Marketing Solutions.

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Keynotes: 4 Books: 1 Videos: 2

Melissa A. Schilling

Professor of Management at New York University Stern School of Business and Innovation Researcher

Melissa A. Schilling is the Herzog Family Professor of Management at New York University Stern School of Business. Professor Schilling’s research focuses on innovation and strategy in high technology industries such as smartphones, video games, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, electric vehicles, and renewable energies.

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Keynotes: 4 Books: 3 Videos: 8

Steven Van Belleghem

Customer Focus Expert, Author, Keynote Speaker

Steven is an expert in customer focus in a digital world. He is a popular international keynote speaker. In his keynote presentations, Steven takes his audience on a journey to the world of modern customer relationships in a clever, enthusiastic and inspiring way.

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Keynotes: 1 Books: 4 Videos: 4

Tony Wagner

Expert in Residence, Harvard Innovation Lab

Tony is the foremost spokesperson in America on the topic of how schools and corporations must adapt to the challenges of the innovation era.

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Keynotes: 4 Books: 12 Videos: 10

Nicholas J Webb

Top Keynote Speaker on Innovation, Healthcare, Leadership, Workforce and Customer Experience

Nick is one of the Top Keynote Speakers in the World. His books, What Customers Crave, What Customers Hate, Innovation Mandate, The Healthcare Mandate, Happy Work and his just released, Lucid Leadership are Number One Bestsellers. His Five-Star, Customized Live and Virtual Talks are High Energy, Fun and Impactful. 

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