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Celeste Headlee

Celeste Headlee

Keynote Speaker: Communication & Human Nature Expert, Award-Winning Journalist, Author

  • Travels From:
  • Speaking Fee:
    Live Event Fee: $30,000 - $50,000
    Virtual Event Fee: $10,000 - $20,000
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Celeste Headlee Biography

Celeste Headlee is an internationally recognized journalist and radio host, professional speaker and author of bestselling book "We Need To Talk: How To Have Conversations That Matter" and "Do Nothing: How to Break Away from Overworking, Overdoing, and Underliving." Her latest is "Speaking of Race: Why Everyone Needs to Talk About Racism and How to Do It." Her TEDx Talk, “10 Ways to Have a Better Conversation,” has been viewed over 26 million times.

In her 20-year career in public radio, Headlee has been the Executive Producer of On Second Thought at Georgia Public Broadcasting and anchored programs including Tell Me More, Talk of the Nation, Here and Now, All Things Considered, and Weekend Edition. She also served as co-host of the national morning news show, The Takeaway, from PRI and WNYC, and anchored presidential coverage in 2012 for PBS World Channel.

Headlee is a regular guest host on NPR and American Public Media. She is the host of Newsweek’s “Debate” podcast, and hosts a podcast for the National Gallery of Art called “Sound Thoughts on Art.” She is also the host of “Women Amplified,” a podcast from the Conferences for Women, the largest network of women’s conferences in the nation, drawing more than 50,000 people to its annual events.

Headlee is also the president and CEO of Headway DEI, a non-profit that works to bring racial justice and equity to journalism and media through targeted training and interventions, and she serves on the board for the National Center of Race Amity. Headlee is the granddaughter of composer William Grant Still, known as the Dean of Black American Composers and she is a trained operatic soprano. She lives in the DC area with rescue dog, Samus.

Contact a speaker booking agent to check availability on Celeste Headlee and other top speakers and celebrities.

Celeste Headlee Speaking Topics

Leading/Building Team Culture in the “New Normal”

Navigating the recent/current events radically changing an already fast-evolving work landscape

Melding insights from both We Need to Talk and Do Nothing, team culture workshop(s) are tailored to meet a company’s specific structure (fully in office workforce, fully remote workforce, combination of the two), Celeste addresses topics including:

  • Work from home stress – how work stress actually increases in a work from home scenario noting studies that reveal going into an office can provide employees with stress relief and the importance in any transition to a work from home structure to address the increased chances for burnout
  • How to communicate remotely and maintain morale and team cohesion - i.e., transactivity
  • How to remain productive despite the distractions of home - accountability of team members, etc.
  • How to give feedback to remote workers in a constructive way, how often to check in
  • Scheduling your workday to increase productivity
  • Small changes that have big impacts when it comes to creative problem solving and streamlining processes
  • How to structure a conference call to keep them short and effective

Do Nothing

Breaking away from overworking, overdoing, and underliving

Celeste Headlee’s Do Nothing examines the cult of productivity addressing long-held assumptions about time use, idleness, hard work and habits that are ultimately doing us harm, providing tangible to reverse the trend that’s making us all sadder, sicker and less productive, to return to a way of life that allows us to thrive. In her Do Nothing focused workshop(s) tailored to meet a company’s specific structure (fully in office workforce, fully remote workforce, combination of the two), Celeste addresses topics including:

  • Burnout – what it is, how to recognize it, actionable ways to avoid it
  • Work/Life Balance
  • Productivity – including the myths about it and ways to TRULY be more productive

Ten Ways To Have Better Conversations

Celeste Headlee’s Having Better Conversations presentation focuses on the science-based fundamentals of communication and includes thought-provoking topics like the smarter you are the worse you are at communicating. This highly motivational talk, with 10 practical lessons, is designed to inspire self-confidence and introduces strategies for enhancing personal and professional relationships by simply becoming better at having conversations.

Celeste's workshop offers concrete actions to improve attendees' conversational skills and to broaden their view of what constitutes a good (and civil) conversation. Having a conversation is like playing a game of catch. Communication has increased in our technological age, but meaningful conversation has plummeted. If a conversation is one-sided, the ball drops. When your job hinges on how well you talk to people, you learn a lot about how to have conversations - and that most of us don't converse very well. Celeste knows the ingredients of a great conversation; honesty, brevity, clarity and a healthy amount of listening. She argues that listening is the true power of what separates those of us who can gain a competitive advantage in whatever it is we are trying to achieve. Knowing what conversational tool should be used (and when) is critical to cultivating relationships.

Celeste Headlee Videos

Celeste Headlee Speaks On Her Book, "We Need to Talk"
Celeste Headlee on the Importance of Small Talk
10 ways to have a better conversation | Celeste Headlee

How do I book Celeste Headlee to speak at my event?

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

How much does it cost to book Celeste Headlee for a speaking engagement?

Speaking fees for Celeste Headlee, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Celeste Headlee are $30,000 - $50,000 for live events and $10,000 - $20,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Celeste Headlee, 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 Celeste Headlee speak about?

Celeste Headlee is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as News & Media, Broadcasting, TED, Communication, Creativity and Authors.

Where does Celeste Headlee travel from?

Celeste Headlee generally travels from Atlanta, GA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.

Who is the agent for Celeste Headlee?

AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Celeste Headlee 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 Celeste Headlee 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 Celeste Headlee 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.


Celeste Headlee is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics including News & Media, Broadcasting and TED. The estimated speaking fee range to book Celeste Headlee for live events is $30,000 - $50,000, and for virtual events $10,000 - $20,000. Celeste Headlee generally travels from Atlanta, GA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Cassandra Worthy, Erica Dhawan and Erik Qualman. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Celeste Headlee for an upcoming event.

Celeste Headlee Speaking Topics

  • Leading/Building Team Culture in the “New Normal”

    Navigating the recent/current events radically changing an already fast-evolving work landscape

    Melding insights from both We Need to Talk and Do Nothing, team culture workshop(s) are tailored to meet a company’s specific structure (fully in office workforce, fully remote workforce, combination of the two), Celeste addresses topics including:

    • Work from home stress – how work stress actually increases in a work from home scenario noting studies that reveal going into an office can provide employees with stress relief and the importance in any transition to a work from home structure to address the increased chances for burnout
    • How to communicate remotely and maintain morale and team cohesion - i.e., transactivity
    • How to remain productive despite the distractions of home - accountability of team members, etc.
    • How to give feedback to remote workers in a constructive way, how often to check in
    • Scheduling your workday to increase productivity
    • Small changes that have big impacts when it comes to creative problem solving and streamlining processes
    • How to structure a conference call to keep them short and effective

  • Do Nothing

    Breaking away from overworking, overdoing, and underliving

    Celeste Headlee’s Do Nothing examines the cult of productivity addressing long-held assumptions about time use, idleness, hard work and habits that are ultimately doing us harm, providing tangible to reverse the trend that’s making us all sadder, sicker and less productive, to return to a way of life that allows us to thrive. In her Do Nothing focused workshop(s) tailored to meet a company’s specific structure (fully in office workforce, fully remote workforce, combination of the two), Celeste addresses topics including:

    • Burnout – what it is, how to recognize it, actionable ways to avoid it
    • Work/Life Balance
    • Productivity – including the myths about it and ways to TRULY be more productive

  • Ten Ways To Have Better Conversations

    Celeste Headlee’s Having Better Conversations presentation focuses on the science-based fundamentals of communication and includes thought-provoking topics like the smarter you are the worse you are at communicating. This highly motivational talk, with 10 practical lessons, is designed to inspire self-confidence and introduces strategies for enhancing personal and professional relationships by simply becoming better at having conversations.

    Celeste's workshop offers concrete actions to improve attendees' conversational skills and to broaden their view of what constitutes a good (and civil) conversation. Having a conversation is like playing a game of catch. Communication has increased in our technological age, but meaningful conversation has plummeted. If a conversation is one-sided, the ball drops. When your job hinges on how well you talk to people, you learn a lot about how to have conversations - and that most of us don't converse very well. Celeste knows the ingredients of a great conversation; honesty, brevity, clarity and a healthy amount of listening. She argues that listening is the true power of what separates those of us who can gain a competitive advantage in whatever it is we are trying to achieve. Knowing what conversational tool should be used (and when) is critical to cultivating relationships.

Celeste Headlee Videos

Celeste Headlee Speaks On Her Book, "We Need to Talk"
Celeste Headlee on the Importance of Small Talk
10 ways to have a better conversation | Celeste Headlee

Celeste Headlee Reviews

  • I can't remember what my interaction with Chelsea was, but all the work that Debbie did was great. Celeste was great on stage and had real content that our audience enjoyed. Thank you.
    Texas Society of Association Executives - Sep 19 2016

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