Aspen Ideas Festival 2025

Aspen Ideas Festival 2025: 28 speakers across 28 talks tracked on Mezzo — including Ben Lamm, John Bolton, and Robert Waldinger.

Speaker Lineup

Alexandra MousavizadehCo-Founder and Co-CEO, Evident

ai strategy implementationfuture trends predictionsstartup founder journey

Also at: DLD

ai strategy implementationfuture trends predictionsstartup founder journey

Also at: DLD

Angela DuckworthMacArthur Fellow | Pioneering Grit & Success Research

goal settinggrowth mindsethigh performance habits

Also at: The TED Interview

goal settinggrowth mindsethigh performance habits

Also at: The TED Interview

Anna Deavere SmithPlaywright and actress | Transforms social narratives into theatrical experiences

organizational culturewellbeing mental healthfiction literary writing

Also at: TED

organizational culturewellbeing mental healthfiction literary writing

Also at: TED

Anthony D. RomeroACLU Executive Director | Civil Rights & Social Justice Advocate

diversity equity inclusioninclusive leadershipnonprofit leadership

Also at: TED

diversity equity inclusioninclusive leadershipnonprofit leadership

Also at: TED

Ben LammCo-Founder & CEO, COLOSSAL BIOSCIENCES | Pioneering De-Extinction & Sustainability

biotech health techconservation biologystartup founder journey

Also at: Cannes Lions · SXSW

biotech health techconservation biologystartup founder journey

Also at: Cannes Lions · SXSW

Brené BrownResearch Professor at University of Houston | Bestselling Author of 'Dare to Lead'

belonging psychological safetyemotional intelligencepsychological safety

Also at: Dare to Lead Conference · Microsoft Ignite Leadership Track · TED · TEDxHouston

belonging psychological safetyemotional intelligencepsychological safety

Also at: Dare to Lead Conference · Microsoft Ignite Leadership Track · TED · TEDxHouston

Casey NewtonTech journalism veteran | Founder of Platformer Newsletter decoding social media power

ai strategy implementationdigital transformationenterprise technology strategy

ai strategy implementationdigital transformationenterprise technology strategy

Christina TosiMilk Bar Founder & CEO | Culinary Entrepreneur

creative thinkingculinary artsstartup founder journey

Also at: TEDWomen

creative thinkingculinary artsstartup founder journey

Also at: TEDWomen

Christine BrennanUSA Today Sports Columnist | 16-Time Olympic Games Reporter

building personal brandinclusive leadershipstorytelling narrative

building personal brandinclusive leadershipstorytelling narrative

Daniel LubetzkyFounder of KIND Snacks | Advocate for Builder's Mindset over division

brand strategypurpose driven businessstartup founder journey

brand strategypurpose driven businessstartup founder journey

Emtithal MahmoudPoet & Activist | Speaking Truth to Power

global challengesrepresentation allyshipstorytelling narrative

Also at: TED

global challengesrepresentation allyshipstorytelling narrative

Also at: TED

Fred KruppEnvironmental Advocate | Transforming Business for Sustainability

climate action net zerocorporate social responsibilityesg sustainable business

Also at: TED

climate action net zerocorporate social responsibilityesg sustainable business

Also at: TED

Gregory BoyleFounder of Homeboy Industries | Champion of Second Chances and Community Healing

diversity equity inclusionsocial impact

diversity equity inclusionsocial impact

Hanna RosinAuthor & Journalist | The Rise of Women in Modern Society

demographic shiftsfuture trends predictions

Also at: TED

demographic shiftsfuture trends predictions

Also at: TED

John BoltonFormer National Security Advisor | Author of 'The Room Where It Happened'

crisis leadershipexecutive leadershipinternational expansion

Also at: TED

crisis leadershipexecutive leadershipinternational expansion

Also at: TED

Kate CrawfordLeading AI Scholar | 'Atlas of AI' Author & Microsoft Researcher

ai ethics governanceai strategy implementationsocial justice equity

ai ethics governanceai strategy implementationsocial justice equity

Kevin RuddFormer Australian Prime Minister | Global Leadership & China Relations

executive leadershipglobal challengesinternational expansion

Also at: TED

executive leadershipglobal challengesinternational expansion

Also at: TED

Nate SilverFounder of FiveThirtyEight | Statistical analyst and political forecaster

executive leadershipteam leadership

Also at: TED

executive leadershipteam leadership

Also at: TED

Nouriel Roubini'Dr. Doom' Economist Who Predicted 2008 Crisis | NYU Professor Emeritus

financial servicesfuture trends predictionsglobal challenges

financial servicesfuture trends predictionsglobal challenges

Regina DuganFormer Google Executive | Next-Gen Technology & Security

ai strategy implementationartificial intelligencecorporate innovation

Also at: TED

ai strategy implementationartificial intelligencecorporate innovation

Also at: TED

Robert WaldingerDirector of Harvard Study of Adult Development | Psychiatrist

emotional wellbeinghappiness meaninglongevity aging science

Also at: TEDxBeaconStreet

emotional wellbeinghappiness meaninglongevity aging science

Also at: TEDxBeaconStreet

Sanford BiggersContemporary Artist | Exploring Identity, Myth and History

creative thinkingstorytelling narrative

Also at: TED

creative thinkingstorytelling narrative

Also at: TED

Sarah JonesTony Award-winning performer | Multi-character artist, UNICEF Ambassador

belonging inclusion culturecontent storytelling marketingcreative thinking

Also at: TED

belonging inclusion culturecontent storytelling marketingcreative thinking

Also at: TED

Shigeru BanPioneering Architect | Humanitarian Design Solutions

design thinking

Also at: TEDxTokyo

design thinking

Also at: TEDxTokyo

Stuart BrownPlay Researcher | The Science of Play & Human Development

financial strategymindset psychologywellbeing mental health

Also at: Serious Play

financial strategymindset psychologywellbeing mental health

Also at: Serious Play

Walter HoodUrban Designer | Reimagining Public Spaces for the Future

culture design transformationdesign thinkingurbanization cities

Also at: TED

culture design transformationdesign thinkingurbanization cities

Also at: TED

Yancey StricklerCo-founder of Kickstarter | Executive leadership expert

executive leadershipteam leadership

Also at: TED

executive leadershipteam leadership

Also at: TED

Zanny Minton BeddoesEditor-in-Chief of The Economist | Global Economic Trends & Geopolitics

future trends predictionsglobal challengesstrategic decision making

future trends predictionsglobal challengesstrategic decision making