Cynthia Erivo

Keynote Speaker | Oscar-Nominated Actress, Author, Singer-Songwriter, & Producer, and Emmy, Grammy, & Tony Award-Winning Performer

CYNTHIA ERIVO is a multi-talented force in music and acting, captivating audiences on stage and screen. Known for shaping powerful narratives that transcend race, gender, and cultural boundaries, Erivo has an uncanny ability to continuously evolve her body of work with poignant breakthrough characters that hit emotional cores. In 2024 and 2025, she starred as Elphaba in the film adaptation of Wicked (Parts I & II) opposite Ariana Grande’s Glinda, and in 2023, she produced her debut film, Drift, under her production company, Edith’s Daughter. Erivo gained acclaim for portraying Aretha Franklin in National Geographic’s Genius: Aretha in 2021, earning an Emmy nomination. Erivo’s breakout came in 2019 with two Oscar nominations for Harriet, where she played Harriet Tubman and co-wrote “Stand Up.” Her Broadway role in The Color Purple won her a Tony, Emmy, and Grammy. Erivo has also released a debut album, Ch. 1 Vs. 1, and authored a children’s book, Remember to Dream, Ebere. Beyond her influential and critically acclaimed performances, Erivo is a fearless voice for women and people of color who raises awareness and sets new standards for diversity across the arts.