Keynote Topics
CMG Speaks presents our Diversity & Disability Speakers
Diversity & Disability Speakers
Browse Our Speakers
Jennifer Bricker is an American acrobat, aerialist, and was born without legs. She was a featured performer on Britney Spears' Circus Tour which traveled internationally and as the headliner at the prestigious Palazzo hotel in Las Vegas, New York’s Lincoln Center, and the Shangri La Hotel in Dubai. She was the first disabled high school tumbling champion in the state of Illinois.
American Acrobat, Aerialist, and Author
Keynote Topics: Leadership, Diversity & Disability, Motivational, Overcoming Adversity
Travels From: Los Angeles, CA
David Paterson was the 55th Governor of the State of New York. His best selling book “Black, Blind, and In Charge'' held top of the charts for many months. While in office, David reduced New York’s fiscal deficit by nearly $40 billion and has been an advocate for protecting the rights of the disabled, LGBTQ+ communities, and relentlessly fights against hate crimes and all racial inequality.
55th Governor of New York and Author of “Black, Blind, and In Charge”
Keynote Topics: Political, Diversity & Disability, Leadership, Overcoming Obstacles, Motivational, LGTBQ+ & Allies
Travels From: New York, NY
Tammie Jo Shults is a retired commercial airline captain, author, and former naval aviator. Known for being one of the first female fighter pilots to serve in the United States Navy, following active duty she became a pilot for Southwest Airlines. On April 17, 2018, as captain of Southwest Airlines Flight 1380, Shults safely landed a Boeing 737-700, saving 148 passengers, after the aircraft suffered an uncontained engine failure with debris causing rapid decompression of the aircraft. She retired from Southwest Airlines in 2020.
Former Naval Aviator, Pilot, and Author
Keynote Topics: Author, Aviation, Inspirational Women, Leadership, Diversity, Faith
Travels From: Boerne, Texas
Ilyasah Shabazz is an educator and motivational speaker focusing on the preservation and growth of the legacy of her late father, Malcolm X. Ms. Shabazz is the acclaimed author of Growing Up X: A Coming-of-Age Memoir, serves as President of The Malcolm X & Dr. Betty Shabazz Memorial and Educational Center, and leads a youth empowerment movement, The WAKE-UP Tour™ . Drawing on her remarkable upbringing and diverse life experiences, Ms. Shabazz speaks on Diversity, Overcoming Adversity, and her journey to preserve and promote her family’s legacy.
Daughter and Spokeswoman for the Legacy of Malcolm X
Keynote Topics: Overcoming Adversity, Diversity, Linked to Legends
Travels From: New Rochelle, NY
Born on a train between Mumbai and Kolkata, Tushar Gandhi was raised in Mumbai and holds a printing diploma from the Government Institute of Printing Technology. He founded the Mahatma Gandhi Foundation in 1998 and has been President of the Lok Seva Trust since 1996. Tushar appeared in the films "Hey Ram" and "Road to Sangam," and his book Let's Kill Gandhi was a bestseller in 2007. He chaired the Australian Indian Rural Development Foundation in 2008, led the 75th-anniversary Dandi March reenactment in 2005, and served as Goodwill Ambassador of CISRI-ISP from 2007 to 2012. In 2018, he petitioned the Supreme Court to curb cow-vigilante lynch mobs, became a Director of the Gandhi Research Foundation in 2019, and was appointed Ambassador for “Return to Palestine” in 2023.
Author & the Great-Grandson of Mahatma Gandhi and Kasturba Gandhi
Keynote Topics: Leadership, Diversity, Political, Faith, Motivational
Travels From:
André Thornton is a motivational and faith-based speaker, a twenty-one year veteran of the MLB and recipient of the coveted Roberto Clemente Award, acclaimed author of Triumph Born of Tragedy, and the CEO of ASW Global Inc. Drawing on his faith and life experiences, Mr. Thornton educates and inspires audiences about Executive Leadership, Organizational Change, Overcoming Adversity, and Diversity. Mr. Thornton is a remarkable speaker, having honed his craft over the course of more than one thousand professional engagements.
Former MLB and Cleveland Indians Player, Roberto Clemente Award Recipient, CEO of ASW Global Inc.
Keynote Topics: Team Building, Leadership, Diversity, Overcoming Adversity, Faith
Travels From: Mogadore, OH
J’Marie Moore is the first daughter of a famous boxer to fight professionally. J’Marie is a woman of faith and the daughter of legendary boxer Archie Moore. Archie was the longest reigning World Light Heavyweight Champion. J’Marie, better known in the ring as THE LADY MONGOOSE went 2-0 as a pro between 1997 and 2000
J'marie Moore
Daughter of legendary boxer Archie Moore, Former Professional Boxer, Author, and Coach
Keynote Topics: Inspirational Women, Faith, Leadership, Diversity & Disability, Motivational
Travels From: Baja California, Mexico
Roberto Clemente, Jr. is a universally respected philanthropist, humanitarian, entrepreneur, producer, former broadcaster, and professional baseball player. Roberto’s father, Roberto Clemente Sr. was the first Latin American player to compile 3,000 hits in MLB history and the first Latino to enter into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Roberto Sr. used his platform and immense athletic gift to serve others and devote his short life to helping make the world a better place, something Roberto Jr. has duplicated and taken very seriously. Roberto Jr. utilizes his experiences not only as an Afro-Latino but beyond to leverage his platform to help thousands of others on an intensely diverse array of subjects and today’s challenges.
Philanthropist, CEO, Former Broadcaster & Professional Baseball Player
Keynote Topics: Diversity, Motivational, Business, Leadership, Sports
Travels From: Puerto Rico
Browse Our Speakers
Jennifer Bricker is an American acrobat, aerialist, and was born without legs. She was a featured performer on Britney Spears' Circus Tour which traveled internationally and as the headliner at the prestigious Palazzo hotel in Las Vegas, New York’s Lincoln Center, and the Shangri La Hotel in Dubai. She was the first disabled high school tumbling champion in the state of Illinois.
American Acrobat, Aerialist, and Author
Keynote Topics: Leadership, Diversity & Disability, Motivational, Overcoming Adversity
Travels From: Los Angeles, CA
David Paterson was the 55th Governor of the State of New York. His best selling book “Black, Blind, and In Charge'' held top of the charts for many months. While in office, David reduced New York’s fiscal deficit by nearly $40 billion and has been an advocate for protecting the rights of the disabled, LGBTQ+ communities, and relentlessly fights against hate crimes and all racial inequality.
55th Governor of New York and Author of “Black, Blind, and In Charge”
Keynote Topics: Political, Diversity & Disability, Leadership, Overcoming Obstacles, Motivational, LGTBQ+ & Allies
Travels From: New York, NY
Tammie Jo Shults is a retired commercial airline captain, author, and former naval aviator. Known for being one of the first female fighter pilots to serve in the United States Navy, following active duty she became a pilot for Southwest Airlines. On April 17, 2018, as captain of Southwest Airlines Flight 1380, Shults safely landed a Boeing 737-700, saving 148 passengers, after the aircraft suffered an uncontained engine failure with debris causing rapid decompression of the aircraft. She retired from Southwest Airlines in 2020.
Former Naval Aviator, Pilot, and Author
Keynote Topics: Author, Aviation, Inspirational Women, Leadership, Diversity, Faith
Travels From: Boerne, Texas
Ilyasah Shabazz is an educator and motivational speaker focusing on the preservation and growth of the legacy of her late father, Malcolm X. Ms. Shabazz is the acclaimed author of Growing Up X: A Coming-of-Age Memoir, serves as President of The Malcolm X & Dr. Betty Shabazz Memorial and Educational Center, and leads a youth empowerment movement, The WAKE-UP Tour™ . Drawing on her remarkable upbringing and diverse life experiences, Ms. Shabazz speaks on Diversity, Overcoming Adversity, and her journey to preserve and promote her family’s legacy.
Daughter and Spokeswoman for the Legacy of Malcolm X
Keynote Topics: Overcoming Adversity, Diversity, Linked to Legends
Travels From: New Rochelle, NY
Born on a train between Mumbai and Kolkata, Tushar Gandhi was raised in Mumbai and holds a printing diploma from the Government Institute of Printing Technology. He founded the Mahatma Gandhi Foundation in 1998 and has been President of the Lok Seva Trust since 1996. Tushar appeared in the films "Hey Ram" and "Road to Sangam," and his book Let's Kill Gandhi was a bestseller in 2007. He chaired the Australian Indian Rural Development Foundation in 2008, led the 75th-anniversary Dandi March reenactment in 2005, and served as Goodwill Ambassador of CISRI-ISP from 2007 to 2012. In 2018, he petitioned the Supreme Court to curb cow-vigilante lynch mobs, became a Director of the Gandhi Research Foundation in 2019, and was appointed Ambassador for “Return to Palestine” in 2023.
Author & the Great-Grandson of Mahatma Gandhi and Kasturba Gandhi
Keynote Topics: Leadership, Diversity, Political, Faith, Motivational
Travels From:
André Thornton is a motivational and faith-based speaker, a twenty-one year veteran of the MLB and recipient of the coveted Roberto Clemente Award, acclaimed author of Triumph Born of Tragedy, and the CEO of ASW Global Inc. Drawing on his faith and life experiences, Mr. Thornton educates and inspires audiences about Executive Leadership, Organizational Change, Overcoming Adversity, and Diversity. Mr. Thornton is a remarkable speaker, having honed his craft over the course of more than one thousand professional engagements.
Former MLB and Cleveland Indians Player, Roberto Clemente Award Recipient, CEO of ASW Global Inc.
Keynote Topics: Team Building, Leadership, Diversity, Overcoming Adversity, Faith
Travels From: Mogadore, OH
J’Marie Moore is the first daughter of a famous boxer to fight professionally. J’Marie is a woman of faith and the daughter of legendary boxer Archie Moore. Archie was the longest reigning World Light Heavyweight Champion. J’Marie, better known in the ring as THE LADY MONGOOSE went 2-0 as a pro between 1997 and 2000
J'marie Moore
Daughter of legendary boxer Archie Moore, Former Professional Boxer, Author, and Coach
Keynote Topics: Inspirational Women, Faith, Leadership, Diversity & Disability, Motivational
Travels From: Baja California, Mexico
Roberto Clemente, Jr. is a universally respected philanthropist, humanitarian, entrepreneur, producer, former broadcaster, and professional baseball player. Roberto’s father, Roberto Clemente Sr. was the first Latin American player to compile 3,000 hits in MLB history and the first Latino to enter into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Roberto Sr. used his platform and immense athletic gift to serve others and devote his short life to helping make the world a better place, something Roberto Jr. has duplicated and taken very seriously. Roberto Jr. utilizes his experiences not only as an Afro-Latino but beyond to leverage his platform to help thousands of others on an intensely diverse array of subjects and today’s challenges.
Philanthropist, CEO, Former Broadcaster & Professional Baseball Player
Keynote Topics: Diversity, Motivational, Business, Leadership, Sports
Travels From: Puerto Rico
Browse Our Speakers
American Acrobat, Aerialist, and Author
55th Governor of New York and Author of “Black, Blind, and In Charge”
Former Naval Aviator, Pilot, and Author
Daughter and Spokeswoman for the Legacy of Malcolm X
Author & the Great-Grandson og Mahatma Gandhi and Kasturba Gandhi
Former MLB and Cleveland Indians Player, Roberto Clemente Award Recipient, CEO of ASW Global Inc.
J'marie Moore
Daughter of legendary boxer Archie Moore, Former Professional Boxer, Author, and Coach
Philanthropist, CEO, Former Broadcaster & Professional Baseball Player
