She Made History.
Now Hear Her Tell It.
The First Black Woman Elected to the United States Senate
Ambassador Carol Moseley Braun brings more than four decades of history-making leadership to the stage. From marching with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on the streets of Chicago to shattering barriers in the U.S. Senate, from representing America as Ambassador to New Zealand and Samoa to her current role as Chair of the U.S. African Development Foundation, she has lived the story of American progress — and she tells it with warmth, wit, and hard-won wisdom.
Her talks draw on her new memoir, Trailblazer: Perseverance in Life and Politics, and connect the lessons of the civil rights movement to the challenges and opportunities we face today. Ambassador Moseley Braun is available for keynote addresses, fireside conversations, panel discussions, and university lectures.
1st
BLACK WOMAN U.S. SENATOR
1st
WOMAN SENATOR FROM ILLINOIS
U.S.
AMBASSADOR TO NEW ZEALAND & SAMOA
Chair
U. S. AFRICAN
DEVELOPMENT
FOUNDATION
SPEAKING TOPICS
Each talk is tailored to your audience and can be adapted for keynotes, panels, or intimate conversations.
01
Breaking Barriers: A Life of Firsts
The personal story behind the historic achievements — from a working-class childhood on Chicago's South Side to the halls of the U.S. Senate. What it takes to walk through doors that were never meant to open for you, and how to hold them open for those who follow.
Ideal for: Leadership events, women's conferences, university convocations
03
Women in Leadership: Perseverance and Power
Lessons in resilience, authenticity, and navigating spaces not designed for you — from someone who didn't just survive those spaces but changed them forever. What she learned about leading with conviction, building alliances, and staying true to yourself when the pressure to conform is relentless.
Ideal for: Women's History Month, professional associations, ERGs, sororities
02
The Unfinished Work: Civil Rights Then and Now
As one of the last leaders who marched alongside Dr. King and carried that mission into the halls of Congress, Ambassador Moseley Braun offers a perspective that simply cannot be replicated — connecting the movement's origins to today's most urgent questions.
Ideal for: Black History Month, MLK events, civic organizations, faith communities
04
From Chicago to the World Stage
A story that spans state politics, the U.S. Senate, international diplomacy, and a presidential campaign — about civic engagement, the power of showing up, and why democracy needs every voice. A talk that reminds audiences what public service looks like when it's rooted in purpose, and why the next generation of leaders matters more than ever.
Ideal for: Political science programs, civic groups, international affairs events
"A forthright and impactful overview of an impressive and storied life in public service."
— Booklist
"If ever there was proof of the value of diversity, we saw it today."
— Senator Barbara Boxer
Bring Ambassador Moseley Braun to Your Event
Available for in-person and virtual engagements nationwide. Hosting organizations are asked to cover travel expenses for out-of-town events. Signed copies of Trailblazer can be arranged for attendees.
Please include your event date, location, expected audience size, and organization name. We respond within 48 hours.