Condoleezza Rice
Secretary of State (2005-2009)
Professor, Author
Monday, August 9th
Condoleezza Rice is a professor of political science at Stanford University and author. She served as assistant to President George W. Bush for national security affairs from January 2001 to 2005 and went on to become the 66th secretary of state of the United States through January 2009.
Rice joined the Stanford University faculty as a professor of political science in 1981 and served as the university’s provost from 1993 to 1999, during which team she won two of the highest teaching honors: the 1984 Walter J. Gores Award for Excellence in Teaching and the 1993 School of Humanities and Sciences Dean’s Award for Distinguished Teaching. Author of several books about international conflict and politics, Rice earned her place in history following September 11, 2001, forging new perspectives on foreign relations as the United States entered an era of strategic national security.
Rice has also been involved in a number of humanitarian pursuits, most notably with PEPFAR (The President's Emergency Plan for Aids Relief) and in creating and serving on the board of the Millennium Challenge Corporation. Both endeavors increased aid to developing countries and the world's poorest, most disadvantaged populations.
Sir Richard Branson
Founder and President, Virgin Group
Tuesday, August 10th
Sir Richard Branson is the founder and president of Virgin Group. One of the world's most recognized and respected brands, Virgin has expanded into air and rail travel, hospitality and leisure, telecommunications, financial services, health and wellness, and clean energy through more than 300 companies in 30 countries. A leader in product innovation and customer service, the Virgin family of airlines includes Virgin Atlantic, Virgin America, VAustralia and Virgin Blue.
Richard has been involved in a number of world-record-breaking attempts since 1985. In 1986 his boat, "Virgin Atlantic Challenger II," crossed the Atlantic Ocean in the fastest ever recorded time. This was followed a year later by a hot air balloon crossing of the same ocean in "Virgin Atlantic Flyer." In 2004, Richard launched Virgin Unite to tackle tough challenges facing the world. Richard pledged 100% of profits of Virgin transportation companies to clean tech investments, and this year he launched the Carbon War Room to mobilize capital, innovation, expertise and entrepreneurs to advance climate change efforts.
In 1999 Richard was knighted for "services to entrepreneurship." His blog can be read on www.virgin.com, and his Twitter handle is @richardbranson.
Award-winning journalist Alexis Glick will interview Sir Richard Branson during Tuesday's General Session and Luncheon.
Lance Armstrong
World Champion, Cancer Activist
Wednesday, August 11th
Armstrong, whose appearance is made possible by Amadeus, is an American professional road racing cyclist, Tour de France record-breaking champion, cancer survivor and activist. If scripted by Hollywood, his story would be dismissed as trite melodrama: A deadly disease strikes a promising athlete. Despite desperately thin odds, he manages not only to beat the affliction but also to return to the sport and win its top prize. Unbelievable, except it's true.
But the story doesn't end on the finish line at the Tour de France. Armstrong’s experience made him a part of a cancer community, and motivated him to unleash the same passion and drive he does in bike races to the fight against cancer. Since he made history in 1999, he has won the tour six more times and has become one of the most recognizable and admired people of this era. Armstrong has been awarded virtually every sports honor there is and has become a symbol of hope and inspiration. In conjunction with The Lance Armstrong Foundation, he also continues to be a leader and activist on behalf of cancer survivors around the world.
Interviewer for Tuesday, August 10th
Alexis Glick
Award-winning journalist, Former Top Finance Professional
Alexis Glick will interview Sir Richard Branson during Tuesday's General Session
An award-winning journalist and former top finance professional, Alexis Glick is a distinguished media veteran renowned for her exceptional financial savvy, deft interview skills and straightforward, engaging style. Most recently, she was Vice President of Business News at Fox Business News (FBN), responsible for overseeing all aspects of FBN's business programming. Additionally, she served as anchor of two of FBN’s most popular programs: “Money for Breakfast” and “The Opening Bell”. Joining Fox News in 2006, Glick was the first employee of FBN and one of the primary contributors to its launch.
Prior to joining Fox News, Glick was a correspondent for NBC News’ “Today Show”, where she co-anchored the third hour of the program. Before joining “Today”, she was the senior trading correspondent for CNBC and reported from the floor of the New York Stock Exchange for CNBC’s morning program “Squawk Box”.
Earlier in her career, Glick was an executive director at Morgan Stanley, where she headed floor operations at the New York Stock Exchange. A member of the New York Stock Exchange since 2002, she was the first and youngest woman to manage such an operation for a bulge bracket firm, and served as one of its top producers on the Listed Equity Trading Desk. She began her career as an analyst at Goldman Sachs in the Equities Division.
Glick is a graduate of Columbia University and serves as a member of the board of directors of the Columbia College Alumni Association. In 2006, she was awarded Columbia’s John Jay Award for distinguished professional achievement. Recently, Irish American Magazine named her to their distinguished list of the Top 30 Irish American media journalists. She is the proud mother of three young boys.