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Judy Smith

Judy Smith

Keynote Speaker: America's Premier Crisis Management Expert; Inspiration for ABC's "Scandal"

Judy Smith Biography

Judy A. Smith is a crisis strategist and communications advisor whom The Washington Post describes as “America’s best-known corporate fixer.”

For more than 25 years, Smith has counseled presidents and world leaders through global crises, advised Fortune 50 CEOs through complex challenges, and helped manage the reputations of some of the world’s highest-profile individuals. In 1993, she founded Smith & Company, a strategic advisory firm considered to be one of the top crisis firms in the world, which has offices in Washington D.C., Los Angeles, New York and London.

Smith has brought her unique combination of communication skills, media savvy, legal and political acumen to clients facing a wide array of issues and challenges throughout the United States and abroad. She honed her skills through her experiences with some of the most historic and sensational events of our time, including the Iran-Contra investigation, the prosecution of former Washington D.C. Mayor Marion Barry, the 1991 Gulf War, the Los Angeles riots, the President Clinton scandal involving Monica Lewinsky, the congressional inquiry of Enron, the General Petraeus CIA scandal, the Sony Corporation hacking crisis, as well as the the United Nations Foundation and World Health Organization response to the SARS epidemic.

Perhaps best known in media circles for her expertise as a crisis management advisor, Smith has been on speed dial for a host of high-profile celebrity and entertainment clients over the course of her career including, but not limited to, Angelina Jolie, Monica Lewinsky, Senator Craig from Idaho, Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr., actor Wesley Snipes and the family of Chandra Levy. That work involves everything from managing unwanted press attention to rehabilitating reputations.

In addition, Smith is a long-time counselor to some of the world’s largest and most influential companies such as Amazon, Facebook, Panera, Lowes, Sony, Kaiser, United Healthcare, and Walmart. She provides her clients with strategic advice on a variety of corporate communications issues such as mergers and acquisitions, product recalls, intellectual property litigation, corporate positioning, diversity and other corporate, investor and public relations matters.

A former federal prosecutor, Smith worked in the U.S. Attorney’s office for the District of Columbia as well as the Office of the Independent Counsel, where she handled high-profile investigations. Smith cut her teeth in communications and crisis in the halls of the West Wing. She served as Deputy Press Secretary to President George H.W. Bush, during which time she worked on a host of domestic and international issues and became the first Black woman to deliver a White House press briefing. She holds a Bachelor’s in Science degree in public relations from Boston University and a JD from the American University Washington College of Law, where she was the first Black woman to serve on the Executive Board of the Law Review.

Smith is an experienced and sought-after commentator who frequently appears in print and on television to offer commentary on crisis management. She has been featured in numerous national publications including the Washington Post, National Journal, the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Fortune, and Fast Company and has appeared on all of the major tv networks. Smith also speaks at events throughout the year before conference audiences, corporate boards, academic institutions, and other professional groups. She is the author of the book "Good Self, Bad Self," which The New York Journal of Books described as containing “a wealth of insight," and was included on the Forbes "50 Over 50" list in 2023.

As a result of her wide ranging and ground-breaking career, Smith served as the real-life inspiration behind Olivia Pope, the lead role in the hit TV series entitled, "Scandal," for which she served as Co-Executive Producer.

Smith has received numerous communications and leadership awards and is active in community service. She serves on the boards for Save the Children, Carbon Health, Global Citizen, Ariel Investments and the Washington National Cathedral.

Contact a speaker booking agent to check availability on Judy Smith and other top speakers and celebrities.

Judy Smith Speaking Topics

Women in Corporate America: From Competition to Collaboration

Social Media Revolution or Evolution: Crisis Communication & Public Relations in the Digital Age

Good Self, Bad Self: Transforming Your Worst Qualities into Your Biggest Assets

Whether the problem is debt, infidelity, indiscretion, or merely an embarrassing email sent to the wrong reader, we have all found ourselves in bad situations of our own making. And whether that puts you in a delicate position or a full-blown crisis, it can sometimes feel as if there is no way out. Enter Judy Smith, America's #1 crisis management expert. In "Good Self, Bad Self," based on her book by the same name, Smith shares her methods, gleaned from years of professional experience, for smoothing over a bad situation while providing the tools to prevent similar incidents from ever happening again.

Exploring the underlying factors of some very public and often unpleasant scandals, Smith shows how different situations could have been prevented. As she shares her method of repairing the damage that these situations can cause, Smith also explains what we can all be doing in our own lives to prevent a crisis from getting started. Nobody's perfect, and the same character traits that bring us success can lead to our downfall. It is the way each of us deals with personal character flaws that dictates whether we're going to succeed or fail. In "Good Self, Bad Self," Judy Smith distills years of experience to share the tools we all need to face our mistakes and ultimately overcome them.

Crisis 101: Surviving & Thriving in an Era of Perpetual Crisis

The instant and global nature of the Information Age has made the ability to navigate crises of all stripes a critical component of an organization's success. Due to perpetual 24/7 news cycles and ever-expanding digital media platforms, it is harder than ever to successfully communicate a message or shape public opinion. In this presentation, speaker Judy Smith - one of the nation's top crisis managers - outlines the best practices in crisis management she has gleaned over 25 years of experience on the frontlines of many of the most high-profile crises and scandals around the world.

Judy Smith Videos

Judy Smith - Career Advice
Judy Smith on what we can contribute to the world
Judy Smith on problem-solving, well-being and taking action | At the ...

How do I book Judy Smith to speak at my event?

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

How much does it cost to book Judy Smith for a speaking engagement?

Speaking fees for Judy Smith, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. For the most current speaking fee to hire Judy Smith, 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 Judy Smith speak about?

Judy Smith is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Inspirational, Success, Personal Growth, Work-Life Balance, Women, Empowerment, Business Ethics, Communication, Strategic Leadership, Influential Women, College, Diversity, Government, Marketing, Entrepreneurship, Health, Commencement, Authors, Business Leadership, Public Health, Virtual Speakers, Social Activism, Black Heritage, Resilience, Business, Motivational, Global Health, Economy, Social Justice, Female Leadership and Women's History Month.

Where does Judy Smith travel from?

Judy Smith generally travels from Washington, DC, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.

Who is the agent for Judy Smith?

AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Judy Smith 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 Judy Smith 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 Judy Smith 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.


Judy Smith is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics including Inspirational, Success and Personal Growth. Please contact us for live or virtual event fee details. Judy Smith generally travels from Washington, DC, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Vernice "FlyGirl" Armour, Erin Brockovich and Lisa Leslie. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Judy Smith for an upcoming event.

Judy Smith Speaking Topics

  • Women in Corporate America: From Competition to Collaboration

  • Social Media Revolution or Evolution: Crisis Communication & Public Relations in the Digital Age

  • Good Self, Bad Self: Transforming Your Worst Qualities into Your Biggest Assets

    Whether the problem is debt, infidelity, indiscretion, or merely an embarrassing email sent to the wrong reader, we have all found ourselves in bad situations of our own making. And whether that puts you in a delicate position or a full-blown crisis, it can sometimes feel as if there is no way out. Enter Judy Smith, America's #1 crisis management expert. In "Good Self, Bad Self," based on her book by the same name, Smith shares her methods, gleaned from years of professional experience, for smoothing over a bad situation while providing the tools to prevent similar incidents from ever happening again.

    Exploring the underlying factors of some very public and often unpleasant scandals, Smith shows how different situations could have been prevented. As she shares her method of repairing the damage that these situations can cause, Smith also explains what we can all be doing in our own lives to prevent a crisis from getting started. Nobody's perfect, and the same character traits that bring us success can lead to our downfall. It is the way each of us deals with personal character flaws that dictates whether we're going to succeed or fail. In "Good Self, Bad Self," Judy Smith distills years of experience to share the tools we all need to face our mistakes and ultimately overcome them.

  • Crisis 101: Surviving & Thriving in an Era of Perpetual Crisis

    The instant and global nature of the Information Age has made the ability to navigate crises of all stripes a critical component of an organization's success. Due to perpetual 24/7 news cycles and ever-expanding digital media platforms, it is harder than ever to successfully communicate a message or shape public opinion. In this presentation, speaker Judy Smith - one of the nation's top crisis managers - outlines the best practices in crisis management she has gleaned over 25 years of experience on the frontlines of many of the most high-profile crises and scandals around the world.

Judy Smith Videos

Judy Smith - Career Advice
Judy Smith on what we can contribute to the world
Judy Smith on problem-solving, well-being and taking action | At the ...
Judy Smith on Responding to a Crisis
How to handle a crisis - Former Bush Sr advisor, Judy Smith ...

Judy Smith Reviews

  • College of William & Mary - Apr 03 2017

  • Judy Smith was so personable and really blew the crowd away with her willingness to go into the crowd and engage our students. This is one of the largest events our campus has seen that brought together our students, faculty and staff and a great way to kick off future programming here at University of Richmond.
    University of Richmond - Feb 27 2014

Judy Smith News

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