Named to TIME’s “100 Most Influential People in the World,” CECILE RICHARDS is celebrated for her vocal, dedicated and strategic leadership as well as her extensive advocacy work at grassroots organizations, in the non-profit sector and in Washington. The author of a new book and instant New York Times Bestseller, “Make Trouble: Standing Up, Speaking Out, and Finding the Courage to Lead,” Richards offers powerful insights and sharp commentary on leadership, women’s rights, social justice, and politics. A dynamic and empowering speaker who has addressed audiences everywhere from Talks at Google to Harvard University, Richard's new keynote Make Trouble motivates audiences to powerful action, sharing transformative lessons on resilience and leadership, and encouraging people to take risks, make mistakes, and make trouble along the way.
"Cecile Richards was a fascinating, engaging, and charming speaker. With humor, grace and first-rate storytelling, she kept an audience of 800 New Yorkers - women and men, old and young - engaged and excited during an important and stimulating conversation. Her appearance was one of the “hits” of our season."

—Temple Emanu-el Streicker Center
Watch Cecile Richards in conversation at Harvard's Kennedy School >>
Cecile Richard's impressive career accomplishments include:
The former president of the Planned Parenthood Federation and Planned Parenthood Action Fund, Richards led a federation of more than 600 health centers, providing high-quality health care to millions of people each year, and directed a staff of more than 500 employees in the national office. Under her leadership, the number of Planned Parenthood supporters swelled to 12 million, four times more than when she joined, and the organization expanded advocacy efforts to include fighting for access to health care. 

Credited with helping to restore Planned Parenthood's fiscal health, raising its public profile, expanding its online presence to more than 9 million individual visitors to its website per month, and much more. As Mayor Michael Bloomberg said: "Planned Parenthood is vital, and under Cecile’s leadership it has been dynamic, strategic and most importantly effective."

 
Richards served as Deputy Chief of Staff for Nancy Pelosi, playing a key role in the congresswoman's election as the first female Majority Leader for either party in Congress.

Founded and served as CEO of America Votes, a coalition of 42 national grassroots organizations working to maximize registration, education, and voter participation.  

A lifelong social justice advocate, Richards began her career organizing low-wage workers in the hotel, health care, and janitorial industries.

Richards continues her advocacy work on the boards of the Ford Foundation, the JPB Foundation, and the Texas Freedom Network.  
Among Cecile Richards numerous Awards:
  • Council of Fashion Designers of America Board of Directors Tribute
  • Non-Profit Times, Power and Influence Top 50
  • New York Women’s Bar Association President’s Award
  • National Urban League, Women of Power Award
  • Columbia University, Mailman School of Public Health Visionary Leadership Award
  • Glamour Woman of the Year
  • INFORUM 21st Century Visionary Award
  • Marie Claire, Women On Top Award
  • Puffin/Nation Prize for Creative Citizenship
Groups that have hosted Cecile Richards include: 
Latest news from Cecile Richards
Having just released her acclaimed bestseller Make Trouble, which is more than just a compelling memoir but a call to action, Richards has been sought-out to shed light on the book, leadership, women's rights, and politics today at events at Politics and Prose, The University Book Store, the Paramount Theater in Austin, Parnassus Books, and more. Richards is also making headlines and in-demand by major media outlets such as CBS’ This Morning, NPR, MSNBC’s The Rachel Maddow Show and Morning Joe, The Washington Post, Vanity Fair, Vogue, and more. 

Set to address an audience of 2,800 at the Connecticut Forum for their event Women Rising: Redefining Power in 2018. 

Addressed a sold-out crowd at The Temple Emanu-El Streicker Center, providing insights into her memoir and lessons on activism. 

“Cecile Richards’s story is powerful and infinitely readable. Whether you are newly ‘woke,’ a longtime activist, or just a caring citizen wondering how to advance democracy in hard times, Make Trouble has the answers... She is the best teacher on earth—someone you trust.”

—Women's Rights Icon Gloria Steinem
 

“[T]he guidelines for starting any organization are spot-on: direct, down-to-earth, and highly practical...”

—Kirkus Reviews

"In these difficult times in which equality-minded folks are desperate to find purpose and connection, Make Trouble is a roadmap to both"

— Author Glennon Doyle 

“...With insight and humor, Cecile Richards offers a call to action for aspiring organizers and leaders. A must-read for anyone hoping to make a difference and trying to figure out where to start.”

—Senator Kamala Harris
 
Richard's interviews are engaging and substantive, showcasing the insightful commentary and tremendous passion she's heralded for as a speaker:
Forbes: What It Takes to Stand Up, Make Change
Business Insider's
"Success! How I Did It"
With over 160K followers on Twitter, Cecile Richards keeps audience tweeting praise at each event:
From the Women's March on Washington to the Aspen Ideas Festival, Cecile Richards has motivated people to powerful action. An awe-inspiring leader whose lessons translate to every industry and every age, Richards leaves audiences both deeply informed and emboldened to make meaningful change.