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𝐁𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐝 𝐁𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐚𝐥𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝐛𝐞𝐠𝐮𝐧.

In this quiet pre-event moment with Cherri Gregg, David was doing what thoughtful speakers do best: listening, testing ideas and getting a feel for the room before the microphones were turned on.

David’s work has long explored the forces that hold people together—trust, character, belonging, community and our responsibility to one another. Those ideas were especially relevant at 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘋𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘤𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘺 𝘚𝘶𝘮𝘮𝘪𝘵, where the conversation was not only about institutions, but about the relationships and shared commitments that make democratic life possible.

What I appreciate about David is that he does not treat big civic questions as abstract. He brings them back to how people live, connect and choose to show up for one another.

This was the conversation before the conversation—and a reminder that the most meaningful moments onstage often begin well before anyone sees them.

Brooks Gregg of Seventy

𝐑𝐨𝐱𝐚𝐧𝐞 𝐆𝐚𝐲 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐛𝐢𝐠, 𝐚𝐛𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐚 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐭 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐢𝐭.

At 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘋𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘤𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘺 𝘚𝘶𝘮𝘮𝘪𝘵, her conversation with Cherri Gregg moved beyond democracy as a system and into the harder questions of how it is actually experienced.

Who is heard?
Who is protected?
Who feels represented?
And who is still being asked to wait?

Roxane brought the kind of clarity that does not make a complicated subject simpler than it is. Instead, she made the stakes more human.

With Cherri guiding the conversation so thoughtfully, the discussion created space for honesty, nuance and a deeper examination of what a stronger, more inclusive democracy really requires.

That was exactly why Roxane’s voice belonged in this room.

And yes, after a conversation that serious, I still remembered to get the photo.

Gay Gregg of Seventy

𝐒𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐦𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐲𝐨𝐮. 𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐦𝐬 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐝𝐨 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐛𝐲 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭.

Over two days in Philadelphia, the Committee of Seventy brought together historians, writers, civic leaders, educators, policymakers and citizens to consider a question that feels increasingly urgent:

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐜𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐲 𝐫𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐮𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐰?

Jon Meacham opened the summit at the National Constitution Center with the historical perspective that helps us understand the present more clearly. The following day, Roxane Gay and David Brooks joined Cherri Gregg at the University of Pennsylvania for a thoughtful conversation about citizenship, culture, trust and our shared civic future.

What struck me most was not simply the caliber of the speakers. It was the quality of attention in each room.

People came ready to listen, reflect and engage with ideas that do not have easy answers.

That is what the best gatherings can create: not just a program, but a space where people think differently together.

And behind every meaningful experience is a team doing the detailed, often invisible work required to make it possible.

I was proud to work alongside Lauren Cristella, Cherri Gregg, Vince Stango, Stephanie Rio, Amy Kusen, Dan Bright, Andrew McGinley, Justin Villere, Tanisha Bezue, Heather Bowlan, Violet F., Elizabeth Burdett, MPA and Rachael Garnick—and the broader teams at Committee of Seventy, National Constitution Center and University of Pennsylvania.

Thank you for the trust, care and collaboration that brought 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘋𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘤𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘺: 250 𝘠𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘗𝘢𝘵𝘩 𝘈𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘥 to life.

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𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐛𝐨𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐝𝐨 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐠𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧. 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞, 𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐞.

Proud to continue serving on The Forum of Executive Women'𝐬 𝐁𝐨𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐃𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐞 𝐃𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 2026–2027—𝐦𝐲 6𝐭𝐡 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐚𝐫𝐝, and a meaningful one, as the organization enters its 50𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫.

The Forum has built an important platform for expanding the influence and impact of women leaders throughout the Philadelphia region. I'm looking forward to deepening that work—and to helping create the conversations, connections and experiences that move the mission forward.

Grateful to serve alongside Meghan Pierce, Kate (Groark) Shields, Tracey Jasey, Sarah Brand, Lauren Cristella, Jessica Sharp, Rev. Dr. Lorina Marshall-Blake and this remarkable group of leaders.

A recognizable name may help get the event approved. It does not guarantee the right experience.

The stronger question is not, “Who will impress people?”

It is:
• Who understands this audience?
• Who can make the subject useful now?
• Who will challenge the room without losing it?
• Who can connect the idea to the organization’s priorities?

Recognition gets attention. Fit determines whether the conversation matters.

Save this before your next speaker shortlist.

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