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Trust AAE Speakers Bureau for Booking Top Professional Speakers. Find a Keynote Speaker Today.
Laysha Ward

Laysha Ward

Keynote Speaker: Executive Vice President and Chief External Engagement Officer at Target

Laysha Ward Biography

Laysha Ward is an accomplished C-suite executive with 30 years of leadership experience at Target. She has demonstrated an ability to lead through rapid change, solve problems, build innovative community programs, and collaborate with key stakeholders to support organizational goals and objectives.

In 2017, Ms. Ward was named Executive Vice President, Chief External Engagement Officer, overseeing Target’s enterprise-wide approach to engage and deepen relationships with cross-sector stakeholders to drive positive business and community impact. She is a founding member of the Racial Equity Action and Change committee (REACH), established in 2020 to help lead the organization’s strategy to drive lasting impact for Black team members, guests and communities.

Ms. Ward began her career with Target in 1991 as a member of the store sales and management team of Marshall Fields in Chicago. She was named Director of Community Relations in 2000 and promoted to Vice President of Community Relations and Target Foundation in 2003. She previously served as Executive Vice President, Chief Corporate Social Responsibility Officer before being named to her current position.

In 2008, President Bush nominated and the U.S. Senate confirmed Ms. Ward to serve on the board of directors of the Corporation for National and Community Service, the nation’s largest grantmaker for volunteering and service. She continued on the board under the Obama Administration, where she served as board chair. Later that year, she was promoted to President of Community Relations and the Target Foundation.

She serves on the Aspen Institute Latinos and Society Advisory Board and the Stanford Center for Longevity Advisory Council; is a member of the Executive Leadership Council, the Economic Clubs of New York and Chicago, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, and The Links, and serves on the boards of Greater MSP, the Minnesota Orchestra, and the Northside Achievement Zone. Laysha is also a member of Denny’s Corporation board of directors and United Airlines board of directors.

She received a bachelor’s degree from Indiana University, master’s degree from the University of Chicago, and an Honorary Doctorate of Laws from the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey School of Public Affairs.

She and her husband, Bill, reside in Minneapolis, MN.

Contact a speaker booking agent to check availability on Laysha Ward and other top speakers and celebrities.

Laysha Ward Videos

2019 Commencement Address: Laysha Ward
2016 Catalyst Awards Conference: Laysha Ward

How do I book Laysha Ward to speak at my event?

Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Laysha Ward for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Laysha Ward, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Laysha Ward or any other speaker of your choice.

How much does it cost to book Laysha Ward for a speaking engagement?

Speaking fees for Laysha Ward, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Laysha Ward are $50,000 - $100,000 for live events and $10,000 - $20,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Laysha Ward, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.

What topics does Laysha Ward speak about?

Laysha Ward is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Influential Women, Creativity, Inspirational, Business Leadership, Human Resources, DEI, Diversity, Social Justice, Civil Rights and Social Activism.

Where does Laysha Ward travel from?

Laysha Ward generally travels from Minneapolis, MN, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.

Who is the agent for Laysha Ward?

AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Laysha Ward for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Laysha Ward for your next private or corporate function.

What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Laysha Ward or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.

Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.


Laysha Ward is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics including Influential Women, Creativity and Inspirational. The estimated speaking fee range to book Laysha Ward for live events is $50,000 - $100,000, and for virtual events $10,000 - $20,000. Laysha Ward generally travels from Minneapolis, MN, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Gisel Ruiz, Cynthia Marshall and Cassandra Worthy. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Laysha Ward for an upcoming event.

Laysha Ward Videos

2019 Commencement Address: Laysha Ward
2016 Catalyst Awards Conference: Laysha Ward

Laysha Ward News

  • Laysha Ward

    Laysha L. Ward is President of Community Relations for Target Corporation. Both she and her husband, Bill, are active supporters of NAZ and their partner organizations.

  • Facebook to guide $5M Target giveaway

    'Target recognizes technology and social media are an integral part of our guests' lives,” said Laysha Ward, the company's president of community relations.

  • To Understand Education Crisis, Read The Hunger Games | Laysha ...

    Laysha Ward is the President of Community Relations at Target. Target is on track to invest $1 billion in education by the end of 2015. "The Hunger Games: ...

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