Mary Williams

Mary Williams

Keynote Speaker: Jane Fonda's Adopted Daughter; Author, "The Lost Daughter"

  • Speaking Fee:
    Live Event Fee: $10,000 - $20,000
    Virtual Event Fee: Contact us for details
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Mary Williams Biography

To say Mary Williams grew up in a troubled family in Oakland, CA, is an understatement. But, at age 13, she started spending summers at a children's camp run by Jane Fonda and her then-husband Tom Hayden and was eventually adopted by Fonda and went to live with the family in Santa Monica, CA. There, she thrived and lived a life of opportunity and adventure. The author of a children's book, "Brothers in Hope: The Story of the Lost Boys of Sudan," and articles for McSweeney’s and O magazine, Williams chronicles her journey of identity, redemption and forgiveness in her new memoir, "The Lost Daughter."

An award-winning actress, political activist, fitness guru and former fashion model, Jane Fonda has been in the public eye since the 1960's. She's won a Tony nod, two Oscars and an Emmy and, after taking a 15-year break, returned to the screen in the box office hit, Monster-in-Law, and in a recurring role on HBO's The Newsroom. She's also produced and starred in over 20 exercise videos. Passionate, outspoken and controversial, she co-founded the Women's Media Center, helped establish the Jane Fonda Center for Adolescent Reproductive Health at Emory University and penned two memoirs.

Contact a speaker booking agent to check availability on Mary Williams and other top speakers and celebrities.

Mary Williams Speaking Topics

Family Philanthropy

The author will share her 15 years of experience working as a trustee of the Fonda Family Foundation.

The Cross-Cultural Adoption Experience

Mary discusses the transition from a radically Afrocentric family into a family of white privilege and how she has managed to balance the two.

Confronting Fear

Mary Williams will share her experiences confronting fear as a child growing up in a dysfunctional, violent home and an equally treacherous inner city neighborhood. As an empowered adult she will share with audiences her brave decision to confront her fears both literal (working in below freezing temps in Antarctica, hiking the Appalachian Trail solo) and emotional (after nearly thirty years mourning the brutal murder of a sister and reconnecting with her birth mother).

Family Estrangement and Reconciliation

Mary discusses her most courageous journey -- returning to Oakland and reconnecting with her biological mother and family, many of whom she hadn’t seen since the day she left home decades prior.

Exploration of the Outdoors for Emotional Healing

From hiking the Appalachian Trail alone to living for six months in the far reaches of Antarctica, Mary shares her epic story of self-discovery.

Mary Williams Videos

Why Troy Garity Says His Adopted Sister’s Race Was Never a Factor
Mary Williams on Being Invited to Live with Jane Fonda: Oprah’s
Tavis Smiley interviews Mary Williams and Jane Fonda

How do I book Mary Williams to speak at my event?

Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Mary Williams 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 Mary Williams, 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 Mary Williams or any other speaker of your choice.

How much does it cost to book Mary Williams for a speaking engagement?

Speaking fees for Mary Williams, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fee for a live event is $10,000 - $20,000. For the most current speaking fee to hire Mary Williams, 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 Mary Williams speak about?

Mary Williams is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Family & Parenting, Fiction Authors and Author.

Who is the agent for Mary Williams?

AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Mary Williams 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 Mary Williams 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 Mary Williams 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.


Mary Williams is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics including Family & Parenting, Fiction Authors and Author. The estimated speaking fee range to book Mary Williams for live events is $10,000 - $20,000. Please contact us for virtual event fees. Mary Williams can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Martellus Bennett, Yuyi Morales and Samantha R. Vamos. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Mary Williams for an upcoming event.

Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 19/03/2025.

Mary Williams Speaking Topics

  • Family Philanthropy

    The author will share her 15 years of experience working as a trustee of the Fonda Family Foundation.

  • The Cross-Cultural Adoption Experience

    Mary discusses the transition from a radically Afrocentric family into a family of white privilege and how she has managed to balance the two.

  • Confronting Fear

    Mary Williams will share her experiences confronting fear as a child growing up in a dysfunctional, violent home and an equally treacherous inner city neighborhood. As an empowered adult she will share with audiences her brave decision to confront her fears both literal (working in below freezing temps in Antarctica, hiking the Appalachian Trail solo) and emotional (after nearly thirty years mourning the brutal murder of a sister and reconnecting with her birth mother).

  • Family Estrangement and Reconciliation

    Mary discusses her most courageous journey -- returning to Oakland and reconnecting with her biological mother and family, many of whom she hadn’t seen since the day she left home decades prior.

  • Exploration of the Outdoors for Emotional Healing

    From hiking the Appalachian Trail alone to living for six months in the far reaches of Antarctica, Mary shares her epic story of self-discovery.

Mary Williams Videos

Why Troy Garity Says His Adopted Sister’s Race Was Never a Factor
Mary Williams on Being Invited to Live with Jane Fonda: Oprah’s
Tavis Smiley interviews Mary Williams and Jane Fonda
  • How do I book Mary Williams to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Mary Williams 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 Mary Williams, 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 Mary Williams or any other speaker of your choice.
  • How much does it cost to book Mary Williams for a speaking engagement?

    Speaking fees for Mary Williams, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fee for a live event is $10,000 - $20,000. For the most current speaking fee to hire Mary Williams, 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 Mary Williams speak about?

    Mary Williams is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Family & Parenting, Fiction Authors and Author.
  • Who is the agent for Mary Williams?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Mary Williams 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 Mary Williams 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 Mary Williams 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.
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MARY WILLIAMS

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