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2021 Social Innovation Summit Announces Impressive List of Speakers

The free, all-digital event will feature sessions with Selena Gomez, Shaquille O'Neal and Paris Hilton, as well as speakers from Tesla, Craigslist, Comcast, UBS, PwC, Lyft, Starbucks and Kauffman Foundation.

Social Innovation Summit recently unveiled a one-of-a-kind lineup for its virtual, purpose-driven convening on June 8-10th. The all-digital event will be free. It will feature speakers from corporate social responsibility, foundation, startup, nonprofit, government and philanthropy sectors. Speakers will discuss their best practices, insights and personal experiences navigating the evolving landscape. Selena Gomez, Shaquille O’Neal and Paris Hilton will also take the virtual stage at the event. They will share their unique experiences within mental health advocacy, closing the racial wealth gap and empowering female creators and leveraging platforms for good, respectively.

Speakers worth listening to

The 10,000+ attendees will hear directly from an esteemed lineup of speakers on topics related to responsible leadership in times of crisis; COVID relief; economic empowerment and the future of work; diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging; impact investing, SDGs and philanthropy; mental health and wellness; and education, among many other relevant topics. Some of the notable speakers include:

  • Selena Gomez, Founder & Creator of Rare Beauty, Mental Health Advocate, Actress, Artist & Producer
  • Shaquille O’Neal, Basketball Hall-of-Famer & Steady Co-Founder
  • Paris Hilton, Entrepreneur, DJ & Advocate
  • Chris Reilly, Director, Recruiting & Workforce Development – Tesla
  • Craig Newmark, Founder – Craigslist & Craig Newmark Philanthropies
  • Dalila Wilson-Scott, President, Comcast NBCUniversal Foundation; Executive Vice President & Chief Diversity Officer – Comcast
  • Dolores Huerta, Founder & President of the Dolores Huerta Foundation & Community Organizer
  • Greg Johnson, Executive Vice President & General Manager, Consumer Group – Intuit
  • Jamie Sears, Head of Community Affairs & Corporate Responsibility, Americas – UBS
  • Katharine Jensen, Executive Director, Vertex Foundation; Head of Corporate Responsibility – Vertex Pharmaceuticals
  • Lisa Boyd, Director, Social Impact – Lyft
  • Marley DiasAuthor, Activist, Executive Producer & Founder  #1000BlackGirlBooks
  • Neda Whitney, SVP & Head of Marketing, Christie’s Americas – Christie’s Auction House
  • Pamela Norley, President – Fidelity Charitable
  • Philip Gaskin, Vice President, Entrepreneurship – Kauffman Foundation
  • Saba SileExecutive Director, Clinical Development – Horizon Therapeutics
  • Shannon Schuyler, Chief Purpose and Inclusion Officer, U.S. – PwC
  • Virginia Tenpenny, Chief Global Social Impact Officer – Starbucks

Speakers as leaders

This year’s Summit will take place in bite-size sessions from 11:00 am-1:00 pm ET and 2:00 pm-4:00 pm ET from June 8-10th. Each morning and afternoon session will feature a variety of virtual formats, including digital main stage conversations, interactive breakouts/workshops and VIP networking to ensure ample time for hands-on learning and compelling discussions among experts.

“The past year has greatly disrupted every industry and community worldwide, creating a more urgent need for action-oriented social impact leaders who can step up to support those in need during the pandemic, social upheaval and beyond,” shared Zeev Klein, founder and curator of Social Innovation Summit. “Because leaders across corporate, public and nonprofit sectors are increasingly expected to tackle society’s greatest challenges, this year’s virtual Summit aims to equip attendees with actionable best practices and lessons learned from today’s top changemakers to ensure everyone walks away from the Summit more prepared to drive short- and long-term change.”

Celebrating innovation

In recognition of the most impactful collaborations and social impact initiatives during a year of unprecedented challenges, the Summit is also presenting its inaugural SIS Awards to elevate groundbreaking ideas and shine a spotlight on the most innovative leaders addressing the most urgent social issues.

The event will showcase a notable list of sponsors, including AARP, American Medical Association, Auth0, AVID, Best Buy, Blackbaud, Briteweb, Comcast NBCUniversal, Data Clinic, Delphos International, Discovery Education, eBay, Fidelity Charitable, Herman Miller, Horizon Therapeutics, human-I-T, Kauffman Foundation, Lyft, Mentor Spaces, Microsoft, PwC, Road Trip Nation, Starbucks, Strada Education Network, Travelers, Two Sigma Impact, UBS, Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Voxy EnGen and WE Communications.

Attendees can register for free here. To engage in Summit-related conversations, follow the official event hashtag #SIS21 and follow us across social channels.

About Social Innovation Summit


Operating at the nexus of technology, philanthropy and business, Social Innovation Summit brings together the brightest minds – across industries, sectors and generations – to catalyze inspired partnerships that are disrupting social impact. We have worked diligently to curate and convene a social good community that is an influential and action-oriented agent for impact, and a unique platform in which the norm is challenged, the new is embraced and the unexpected is celebrated. Online registration is now open for the Summit’s three-day virtual experience on June 8-10th, 2021, which will include main stage programming, interactive breakout sessions and VIP opportunities. For more information, please visit http://www.socialinnovation.com/.

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