author. speaker. motivator.
Affectionately known as "America's #1 Success Coach," Jack Canfield is the originator of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series and a leading authority in the areas of self-esteem, achievement motivation, and peak performance. [www.jackcanfield.com]
political powerhouse. media mogul. author.
Arianna Huffington is the co-founder and Editor in Chief of the Huffington Post and the author of twelve books. [www.huffingtonpost.com]
author. speaker. linchpin.
Seth Godin is a prominent author, blogger and speaker. [www.squidoo.com/linchpin]
yogi. philanthropist. dynamic teacher.
Krishna Kaur is the founder of YOGA for Youth, a program that takes yoga, meditation, and stimulating discussions on the philosophy of yoga to urban youth. [www.yogaforyouth.org]
producer. philanthropist. tv legend.
Norman Lear has enjoyed a long career in television and film. He is also a political and social activist and philanthropist. [www.normanlear.com]
race car driver. activist. carbon free girl.
Leilani Münter is a professional race car driver and an environmental activist who uses her voice in the number one spectator sport in America as a catalyst for change. [www.leilanimunter.com]
Freedom Fighter. Philanthropist. Game Changer.
By going undercover to meet slaves and slaveholders, Kevin Bales exposed modern slavery's penetration into the global economy. He co-founded Free the Slaves, which has helped to liberate thousands of slaves. [www.freetheslaves.net]
mom. big dreamer. lady in red.
Sophie Chiche, lifebyme.com founder and curator, enjoys asking deep questions and living a life of meaning. Today she's launching Shape House, an urban sweat lodge, a place to melt away fears and fat. [www.shapehousela.com]
Writer. Entrepreneur. Daily Lover.
Entrepreneur and writer Mastin Kipp founded TheDailyLove.com, which merges pop culture with inspiration, and co-founded The Love Yourself Company, an apparel company that has started a global self-esteem movement. [www.TheDailyLove.com]
singer. musician. crier.
Liz Phair is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. [www.lizphair.com]
archbishop. author. peaceful leader.
Archbishop Desmond Tutu is Chairman of The Elders, a group of world leaders who address some of the world's most pressing problems. He works energetically for human-rights and in his ministry. [www.tutu.org]
author. ceo. humanitarian.
Zainab Salbi is the founder and CEO of Women for Women International, a group dedicated to helping women survivors of war rebuild their lives. [www.womenforwomen.org]
speaker. psychotherapist. life embracer.
Despite his physical challenges, Sean Stephenson has taken a stand for a quality of life that has inspired millions of people around the world. He's a professional speaker, psychotherapist, and author. [www.timetostand.com]
yogi. meditator. teacher.
Kia Miller teaches Yoga at Yoga Works in Los Angeles, leads teacher trainings, and runs retreats and workshops on meditation, chakras, pranayam, and mantras, and other practices. [www.kiamiller.com]
creator. writer. idea geek.
Simon Mainwaring is an ex-Nike/Wieden creative, former Worldwide Creative Director at Motorola/Ogilvy, branding/advertising writer, author/speaker/blogger, Australian, idea geek. [www.simonmainwaring.com]
Strategist. Writer. Life Coach.
Shannon Bindler is a style editor, life coach, and the co-founder of Get Up Girl, an empowerment company that inspires women to shine. [www.getupgirl.com]
Designer. Art Director. Passionate Creator.
Grammy-nominated art director/designer/photographer Mathieu Bitton has designed over 450 CDs and movie posters. He's a renowned collector of and authority on black films and their soundtracks. [www.candytangerine.com]
Agent. Producer. Photography Enthusiast.
Opus Reps founder and agent-producer Jorge Perez travels the world producing photo shoots with great photographers and celebrities. He's also very involved with Meals on Wheels in Los Angeles. www.opusreps.com
realness
Joan Shulman
coach. empowered introvert. green thumb.
A coach with a passion for introverts, Joan Shulman supports heart-centered professionals who love what they do but struggle to self-promote. She believes everyone possesses the innate wisdom needed to create fulfillment. [www.fullcirclelifecoach.com]
As an introvert, I know the push-pull to be someone I’m not. In a world where extroversion is lauded, I’ve learned to follow my heart on a path that celebrates fewer, deeper relationships and honors the need for quiet and rest. Realness has come to matter the most to me.
My mother was a consummate extrovert. I cringed when she dragged me across the street to introduce me to another child who could be a “nice friend” for me – the message being that I couldn’t possibly do that on my own. Looking back, it isn’t clear whether she did it for me or to soothe her discomfort about my quiet way in the world.
Earlier in my career, I’d accept invitations to attend and speak at large networking events. I did it because I truly believed it was the only way to grow a business and because I didn’t want to offend or disappoint anyone. From the outside, I appeared to be at ease, but on the inside, discomfort lurked. While I knew I had to find a way to share my work with a larger audience, I also began to acknowledge my discomfort with the cultural assumption that in order to be successful I needed to be an extrovert.
A profound time of growth came with the realization that I no longer needed to apologize – for what I’m not, for what I need, or for who I am. Aiming to please is an easy way to avoid tending to ourselves. If we make choices only to serve others, is that really compassion, or are we circumventing what needs to be done to create our own meaningful life?
My work is about empowering others to step outside their comfort zones – to stretch in ways they never thought possible. The vision I hold for others is their own – not their mother’s, the conference coordinator’s, or their coach’s.
There’s irony in that the traits of an introvert are exactly what I use to attract others to my work: my love of people and exploring the human condition, my sense of humor that makes for frequent belly-laughs, and my uncanny way of sensing truth.
I honor realness in my daily life by connecting with nature through my animals and gardens, through meaningful relationships with remarkable people, and, when time allows, by having a good nap!
– Joan Shulman
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pre-healer. self seeker. innate clairvoyant.
Dr. Tiny Jaentsch is trained in Eastern and Western medicine. She created The Fear-less Sessions, an illness-prevention kick-start designed specifically for people who've battled cancer and are in remission but fear it might return. [www.tinyjaentsch.com]
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magician. illusion engineer. wonder sharer.
Franz Harary is a magic designer and producer whose groundbreaking innovation in the field of live illusions is unmatched. His clients have included David Copperfield, Madonna, the Grammys, the Academy Awards, and the Super Bowl. [www.franzhararyproductions.com]
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business expert. arbiter of style. smarty pants.
Small business expert Amy Swift has helped launch thousands of businesses and ideas. She founded Smarty to give entrepreneurs authentic space to partner and grow. [www.smartypeople.com]
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vegan chef. author. king of yummy.
Tal Ronnen is a chef, cookbook author, and teacher. He started the Veg Advantage program, which helps food-service operators integrate vegetarian options into their daily operations. [www.talronnen.com]
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author. speaker. flash mobber.
Kim MacGregor is a transformational leader, author, speaker, and the founder of the global movement "I Believe She's Amazing." [www.IBelieveShesAmazing.com]
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education pioneer. classroom collaborator. inspired perspirer.
Joel Pelcyger, a nationally respected educator, has served as Head of PS1 Pluralistic School since 1971 when he co-founded the independent elementary school in Santa Monica, CA. [www.psone.org]
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entrepreneur. wise woman. success embracer.
Kiva Leatherman is the founder of the Wise Women Network, inspiring women to stop living vicariously though others and embrace financial, emotional, and physical success on our own terms. [www.wisewomennetwork.com]
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jokester. humorous healer. quick quipper.
Actor, comic, and writer, Teddy Margas, is co-founder of the Queers of Comedy. He's appeared in StreepTease, Margaret Cho's Blind Dinner Party, and The Women of Woody, An Evening of Iconic Woody Allen Women performed by an All-Male Cast. [www.teddymargas.com]
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