Nancy GibbsSpeaker and Booking Agent Information

The Divided States of America; What Pulls Us Apart and How Can We Come Together

Over these past years, we’ve seen a historic level of division and polarization, affecting everything from politics to commerce to culture to family life. As a longtime journalist, Nancy Gibbs has explored the role played by the press in deepening these divisions and explored new research on ways to mend our civic fabric. The vast majority of Americans dislike the bitter flavor of public life and want to see progress on acute challenges we face; so what steps can we take as citizens, voters, communities, and a country to bridge the divides and move forward together?

The Presidents Club

No one who has not served in the Oval Office can fully understand what the job does to you. That simple truth helps account for the remarkable bond among American Presidents, who belong to the world’s most exclusive fraternity. Behind the scenes, the most unlikely political partners reached out to one another for help with problems no one else could solve: Harry Truman secretly enlisted Herbert Hoover on a post-war mission to save millions of lives; John F. Kennedy turned to Eisenhower after the Bay of Pigs invasion went terribly wrong, and Lyndon Johnson asked Ike to rush to Washington to help him bind the country’s wounds after Kennedy’s assassination. Bill Clinton used to call Richard Nixon late at night for advice. Presidential historian Nancy Gibbs, former Editor in Chief of TIME, is co-author of the bestselling The Presidents Club who has interviewed five US Presidents about their remarkable private relationships. This is an exploration of how the most powerful men in the world put country before party and gave each other the support they needed to do the world’s hardest job.

Leading While Female: A Confession and an Invitation

The evidence grows every day that organizations are more likely to succeed when they have diverse leadership. But what does this mean day to day, especially at a time when gender politics is increasingly visible and complicated? This lecture explores ways of understanding ambition, success, and personal and professional development to empower both men and women in a changing society. It draws on research and lessons learned from people Nancy Gibbs has met, leaders she has covered, and challenges she faced as the first woman to become Editor in Chief of TIME. As the nature of work changes and career paths become much less predictable, this is an opportunity to think creatively about how we balance our gifts, needs, and opportunities in pursuit of success and fulfillment.