Laura Schwartz

Named one of The 100 Most Influential People in the Global Event Industry by Eventex 2019-2023 and one of the top 7 speakers in the United States, Laura Schwartz has been a Professional Emcee and Keynote Speaker since 2001. Laura began her professional career in 1993 as the youngest female presidential appointee in history serving as the White House Director of Events for the Clinton Administration. After which, in addition to speaking, published her first book "Eat, Drink and Succeed” and currently appears on television as the American contributor on Australia’s #1 Today Show. Laura has been featured by and is a published writer in Fast Company, Elle Magazine, Marie Claire and other periodicals. In 2021, along with her cast from ITV News, was awarded the International Drum Award for Podcast of the Year.

Laura and her wife reside in Chicago where they are involved in civic and philanthropic endeavors with the Shirley Ryan Ability Lab and the Economic Club of Chicago. Globally, Laura serves as an active board member of the Clean the World Foundation, the United Nation’s WASH Cluster and the American Heart Association.

For more information, please visit www.LauraSchwartzLive.com.

THE WHITE HOUSE YEARS

Laura Schwartz, the Director of Events for the Clinton Administration, created and executed more than 1,000 White House events including State arrival ceremonies and dinners, America’s Millennium Celebration and NATO’s 50th Anniversary. While producing the President’s events on the world stage, Laura demonstrated the ability to inspire a nation and the world through powerful productions. She arrived at the White House, with no political connections, at just 19 years of age as a volunteer answering phones in the press office. Immediately proving her value, Laura climbed her way up the ranks to Staff Assistant, the Midwest Press Secretary, the Director of Television, and ultimately, the White House Director of Events. Following the administration, Laura travelled the world with Former President Clinton for the Global Initiative.

PROFESSIONAL SPEAKER, EMCEE AND INTERVIEWER

Laura has been taking her empowering presentations to stages across the world since 2001 and is well known for her dynamic keynotes and as a mistress of ceremonies for multi-day conferences and events. Whether addressing an intimate gathering of 30 or a crowd of 30,000, Laura captivates audiences with her positive energy, expertise and enthusiasm. Laura has received high marks for her work as emcee for many prominent corporations including Hewlett Packard, Microsoft, Mercedes Benz, Cathay Pacific, HSBC, BlackRock, Pacific Life, MACY’S, Hilton Worldwide, Oprah Winfrey Network, Hyatt, PepsiCo, Coldwell Banker, Asembia Pharmaceutical and more.

LAURA’S BOOK EAT, DRINK & SUCCEED

In “Eat, Drink & Succeed!” Laura shares the secrets to building powerful, effective partnerships in our companies, communities and beyond, adding color with personal anecdotes from her life and White House years. Through her acclaimed speaking series, she takes those same details to stages, boardrooms, classrooms and ballrooms around the world empowering, motivating and inspiring each audience to Eat, Drink & Succeed!

TELEVISION WORK

Laura has been a prominent face on television around the world since 2001. She is an authoritative source and commentator on a wide range of topics, including the American presidency, domestic and foreign affairs, business, women’s issues and global philanthropy. Laura is the American Contributor to Australia’s #1 Morning Program, “The Today Show” as well as seen regularly on the BBC and ITV News London. Along with her cast of ITV London, Laura and team won the prestigious Drum Awards “Podcast of the Year” in 2021.

HONORS AND BOARD INVOLVEMENT

Laura has been recognized as one of the 100 Most Influential People in the Global Event Industry by Eventex 2019-2023 and is widely known for her civic, philanthropic and professional leadership and is humbled to have won numerous awards and accolades. In 2015, Laura was the first American woman to be featured as the cover story of The United Arab Emirates leading entrepreneurial magazine and appeared as a featured contributing writer to Fast Company magazine. She has been recognized by various magazines; named one of the Best Keynote Speakers by Meetings and Conventions magazine, as well as by Successful Meetings magazine. She was also featured in the Meetings Professional magazine of MPI, named an “Elle Boss” by Elle magazine and featured in Glamour and Marie Claire. She serves on the boards of the American Heart Association, the Clean the World Foundation and Common Threads. She was named one of the “100 Most Influential Women in Chicago” by Today’s Chicago Woman magazine and named one of Chicago’s “Most Bold and Beautiful” by Chicago magazine for her community involvement. In 2009, the prestigious Oxford Union in England invited Laura to speak on the Foreign Policy Legacy of the United States and the role of Women in the World.

Laura is a proud member of the National Speakers Association (NSA) and the Meeting Professionals International (MPI).

She travels extensively both domestically and internationally to work with Fortune 500 companies, independent businesses, industry associations, universities, and non-profit organizations, motivating people from all over the world to reach their fullest potential!