Overcoming Adversity: Facing Health Challenges and Finding Balance
Based on his first book, What I Learned When I Almost Died, renowned veteran executive producer CHRIS LICHT shares his journey surviving a near-fatal brain hemorrhage. Licht was at the helm of MSNBC’s Morning Joe—one of the most popular shows on cable TV. He had become a real-life Jerry Maguire: hard-charging, obsessively competitive, and willing to sacrifice anything to get it done. He felt invincible. Then one day, Chris heard a pop in his head, followed by a whoosh of blood and crippling pain. Doctors at the ER said he had suffered a near-deadly brain hemorrhage. Chris’s life had almost been cut short, and he had eight long days in a hospital bed to think about it. In this inspiring talk, Chris tells the story of what happened next.
Leadership: Authenticity, Creativity, and Reinvention
Veteran executive producer and Chairman and CEO of CNN CHRIS LICHT has spent decades in the media business, transforming shows and networks through his leadership and earning countless accolades. In this compelling talk, he shares his insights about his journey as a leader, leveraging authenticity and creativity to build strong and resilient teams and leading large-scale transformations by leaning into innovation and empathy.
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Speaker Spotlight: Chris Licht, Titan of the Television Landscape
Throughout his career, veteran executive producer CHRIS LICHT has been at the helm of major networks and produced news programming, bringing a unique perspective to the world of news and entertainment, with grave concerns about the ever-broadening lack of trust in media by the America public. A breakdown in civil discourse, rising political polarization, and widespread distrust of media are threatening the fabric of a stable society. Licht has keen insight into how the media must adapt to regain trust and restore faith in journalism and its special place in a democratic republic.
Drawing on his depth of experience, Licht shares key insights about building resilient teams, change management, and leading transformative large-scale organizations by leaning into innovation and empathy.
Christopher Licht is an award-winning producer, journalist and author. He has served as Chairman and CEO of CNN Worldwide and Showrunner/ Executive Producer of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, CBS This Morning, and MSNBC’s Morning Joe. Licht brings a unique perspective to the world of news and entertainment, with grave concerns about the ever-broadening lack of trust in media by the America public. A breakdown in civil discourse, rising political polarization and widespread distrust of media are threatening the fabric of a stable society. Licht has keen insight into how the media must adapt to regain trust and restore faith in journalism and its special place in a democratic republic.
Licht began his career at KNBC in Los Angeles before helping lead the transition of KNTV in the San Francisco Bay Area to an NBC owned and operated station. Licht served as executive producer of MSNBC’s Scarborough Country and then went on to help create and launch the iconic Morning Joe program. At CBS, Licht created CBS This Morning, which achieved unprecedented ratings and cultural success for the network. He also served as CBS's executive vice president of special programming, consulting on various forms of content for divisions across the network. In 2016, Licht joined The Late Show with Stephen Colbert as executive producer and showrunner. By 2021, The Late Show was the most-watched program in late-night television.
Licht experienced a life-affirming event in April 2010 when he suffered a cerebral hemorrhage in Washington, D.C. He wrote a book about the experience, What I Learned When I Almost Died: How a Maniac TV Producer Put Down His BlackBerry and Started to Live His Life.
Licht is a multiple Emmy, Peabody and DuPont award-winner. He is a member of the Robin Hood Leadership Council and serves on the board of Chicago’s The Second City. Licht graduated from Syracuse University's S. I. Newhouse School of Public Communications with a degree in broadcast journalism and political science. He also serves as a member of the Newhouse Advisory Board.
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