Contributors

Roberta Kaplan also known as Robbie Kaplan, is an American lawyer focusing on commercial litigation and public interest matters. Kaplan successfully argued before the Supreme Court of the United States on behalf of LGBT rights activist Edith Windsor, in United States v. Windsor, a landmark decision that invalidated a section of the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act and required the federal government to recognize same-sex marriages. She was a partner at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison before starting her own firm in 2017. In 2018, she co-founded the Time’s Up Legal Defense Fund.

Rupi Kaur is a poet, author, and performer. Her second book, the sun and her flowers—an instant global bestseller, is an artistic sibling to her debut, milk and honey—one of America’s bestselling books of 2017. milk and honey has sold over 5 million copies, been translated into more than 42 languages, and was on the New York Times Bestsellers List for over three years. Photo Credit: Nabil Shash

Raina Kelley is managing editor for "The Undefeated," ESPN's content initiative exploring the intersections of sports, race and culture. She oversees the site's day-to-day content and spearheads key initiatives, reporting directly to Kevin Merida, senior vice president and editor-in-chief for the cross-platform content hub. Before joining "The Undefeated," Kelley served as deputy editor at ESPN The Magazine, where she was a leading driver of ESPN's long-form journalism across different platforms (print, digital and audio-visual) and worked closely with some of the company's leading storytellers. Kelley joined ESPN in May 2011 as a senior editor at ESPN The Magazine responsible for the publication's coverage of the National Football League, tennis, action sports, the Olympics and ESPN Enterprise Unit. She was a member of the senior editorial leadership team responsible for successfully merging ESPN's print and digital content units under one umbrella.

Chrissy King is a writer, speaker, strength coach, and educator with a passion for creating a diverse and inclusive wellness industry. She empowers individuals to stop shrinking, start taking up space, and use their energy to create their specific magic in the world. With degrees in social justice and sociology from Marquette University, Chrissy merges her passion for social justice with her passion for fitness to empower individuals within the fitness and wellness industry to create spaces that allow individuals from all backgrounds to feel seen, welcome, respected, and celebrated. Pre-order Chrissy’s debut book, The Body Liberation Project, here.

Lily King is the award-winning author of five novels. Her most recent novel, Writers & Lovers, was published on March 3rd, 2020, and her first collection of short stories, Five Tuesdays in Winter, will be released on November 9, 2021. Her 2014 novel Euphoria won the Kirkus Award, The New England Book Award and was a finalist for the National Book Critics Award. Euphoria was named one of the 10 Best Books of 2014 by The New York Times Book Review. It was included in TIME's Top 10 Fiction Books of 2014, as well as on Amazon, NPR, Entertainment Weekly, Publishers Weekly, and Salon’s Best Books of 2014.

A #1 New York Times bestselling author of eight novels, including The Exiles, Orphan Train, and A Piece of the World, Christina Baker Kline is published in 40 countries. Her novels have received the New England Prize for Fiction, the Maine Literary Award, and a Barnes & Noble Discover Award, among other prizes, and have been chosen by hundreds of communities, universities and schools as “One Book, One Read” selections. Her essays, articles, and reviews have appeared in publications such as the New York Times and the NYT Book Review, The Washington Post, The Boston Globe, The San Francisco Chronicle, LitHub, Psychology Today, and Slate.

Jennifer Konner is an American TV writer and producer. She is best known as the showrunner and writer of the HBO series Girls. With Lena Dunham she runs a production company as well as the newsletter, Lenny Letter. After finishing school, Konner began working with friend and writing partner Alexandra Rushfield. They were both hired as writers for Judd Apatow’s sitcom Undeclared. They then went on to create two short-lived network shows together: Help Me Help You and In the Motherhood. After that the pair stopped writing together and Konner began working as a script doctor. She was hired on a few big-budget Hollywood films to help the writers flesh out their female characters, most notably Transformers 3. Konner was first introduced to Lena Dunham’s work through watching Dunham’s 2010 film Tiny Furniture. Konner was a big fan of the film and so jumped at the opportunity when HBO offered her the role of supervising Dunham for her new series Girls. Since then Konner has become the show’s official co-show-runner, an executive producer and she has written occasional episodes. The show premiered on HBO in 2012 and has since won numerous awards. Dunham and Konner are good friends and have collaborated on several other projects. They also started a production company together called A Casual Romance, with the intent of addressing the gender imbalance in TV and film. On her relationship with Dunham, Konner says “We just really love spending time together, which is good because we mostly have to be together all day every day.” In January 2015, Dunham and Konner released a documentary for HBO about Hilary Knight, the illustrator of the children’s books Eloise. Konner worked as the Executive Producer on the project and it was their first production with their company A Casual Romance. The production company’s most recent work, Suited, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on January 24, 2016. The film is a documentary that looks at a Brooklyn based tailoring company that tailors suits for members of the LGBTQ community. It was directed by Jason Benjamin and produced by Konner and Dunham. Suited premiered on HBO in June 2016. Konner and Lena Dunham collaborated to create Lenny Letter, a weekly online feminist newsletter. The pair started the project with the intention of giving a platform to young female voices to discuss feminist issues. The newsletter features political essays, personal stories, interviews, artwork and even an advice column from Dunham and Konner themselves called “Letters to Lenny.” One notable article was an essay written by actress Jennifer Lawrence about the gender wage gap in Hollywood.

Embodying the heart of a philanthropist and spirit of an entrepreneur, Maja Kristin makes a difference for people and communities worldwide. Her lifework underscores a passion for bridging differences, problem solving, impact investing and philanthropy to support worthwhile causes. Maja began her professional career in law specializing in civil cases for survivors of sexual abuse, and she is well known for her pioneering work against the Catholic Church for priest molestation. Relatively quickly, she recognized the importance of mediation in conflict and strengthened her natural bridging and communication skills. She taught negotiation and mediation at various law schools, co-founded the non-profit organization RockRose Institute (RRI), and currently participates on the boards of organizations with forward-looking agendas. Maja recently completed a three-generational memoir. She rounds out her life with strong connections to family, nature, and spirituality.

Jane Lauder, Executive Vice President, Enterprise Marketing and Chief Data Officer, The Estée Lauder Companies, is a leading voice in the beauty industry, including more than 23 years at The Estée Lauder Companies. As a leader of The Estée Lauder Companies’ enterprise-wise efforts to combine data-driven insights with creativity, Ms. Lauder leads the company-wide strategy to leverage business insights and analytics to build digitally-directed priorities to accelerate growth. Reporting to Fabrizio Freda, President and CEO of The Estée Lauder Companies, Ms. Lauder leads global and regional corporate marketing, consumer and product marketing insights, global consumer care and marketing planning, and advertising and promotion effectiveness. This includes enhancing the integration of cross-channel data to drive personalized marketing and omnichannel activation, as well as leading The Estée Lauder Companies’ enterprise-wide data and analytics transformation program. Prior to her role as EVP, Enterprise Marketing and Chief Data Officer, The Estée Lauder Companies, Ms. Lauder was Global Brand President, Clinique (2014 – 2019). During her tenure, Ms. Lauder led the transformation of brand strategy, distribution, product innovation and consumer reach, positioning Clinique for strong long-term growth. Under Ms. Lauder’s leadership, Clinique fundamentally shifted nearly one-third of product revenue from low-growth distribution channels to high-growth channels and tripled Clinique’s online business. Ms. Lauder oversaw the development of product innovations including Moisture Surge™ 72-Hour Auto-Replenishing Hydrator and Clinique iD™ and technology innovations with Clinique Clinical Reality™ to strengthen the brands skin care position in clinical efficacy and high-touch services and personalization. Prior to that, Ms. Lauder was the Brand President for the Origins, Ojon and Darphin brands (2008 – 2014). Under her leadership, Origins, a high-performance, natural skin care brand, grew and expanded globally. She was the vision and guiding force behind the launch of the brand’s greatest success story, Plantscription™ Serum. In 2010, Ms. Lauder’s portfolio of brands grew with the addition of Ojon, and in 2013, botanical skin care brand, Darphin, which is a leading pharmacy and professional high-end skin care brand that offers excellence in efficacy and sensorial experience. Ms. Lauder served as Senior Vice President, Global Marketing Clinique (2006 – 2008). In this role, she led the brand’s overall strategic marketing and positioning as well as product, category, market and channel expansion. Prior to Clinique, she spearheaded the creation and launch of the American Beauty and Flirt! brands as Vice President of Marketing BeautyBank, and oversaw the positioning, product development and creative direction for both brands. Ms. Lauder has been a member of the Board of Directors of The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. since July 2009. Currently, Ms. Lauder sits on the Board of Directors of Eventbrite, as well as the Board of Trustees for the New York Public Library and the Board of Directors of the Friends of the High Line in New York City. Ms. Lauder graduated from Stanford University and currently resides in New York City. She is the granddaughter of the Founder and namesake of The Estée Lauder Companies and the daughter of Ronald S. Lauder, Chairman, Clinique Laboratories, LLC.

Lavaille Lavette is a New York Times best-selling author/editor, educator, producer and social entrepreneur. She is the President & Publisher and Managing Partner at One Street Books, Lavette Books, and Ebony Media Publishing LLC. She often describes herself as a story hunter and story teller. Her latest publishing successes include Finding Me by Viola Davis (#1 New York Times Best Seller) and Shut Up and Listen by Tilman Fertitta (New York Times Best Seller). Lavaille recently return to writing in the children’s book space with four upcoming Little Golden books: Beyoncé: A Little Golden Book Biography (Jan. 3, 2022), Harry Belafonte: A Little Golden Biography (Jan. 3, 2022), Jayylen’s Juneteenth Surprise (May. 2, 2022), and Jayylen’s Juneteenth Surprise (Sept. 3, 2022) Lavaille is also the author of the best-selling children’s book series, Steve Harvey presents The Adventures of Roopster Roux and The Adventures of Roopster Roux sports series. The Roux series has received numerous accommodations from cities around the USA and the first ever convenience store/gas station with a literacy purpose based on the Roopster Roux series (The Roux) launched in Chicago Summer 2022, with additional locations planned for various cities throughout the USA. With a Master’s in Education, Lavaille has worked as an investment broker, school teacher, school district administrator, speechwriter, marketing executive and served as special advisor to former US Secretary of Education, Dr. Rod Paige, (US Department of Education 2001 – 2005). She is a Founding Board Member and the first President of the Luanda Africa Sister City Association. Being of service to others is one of her greatest joys. Lavaille is a Casa Child Advocate court appointed volunteer, a mentor with The Hay center, often fundraises for foster care programs and she is involved in a number of international charitable ventures. Over the past 15 years Lavaille has used her branding, merchandising and sales expertise to manage a number of business ventures with well- known celebrities and athletes in the publishing, aviation, food, retail and sports industry. Beyond her work in publishing, community engagement, nonprofit and the marketing spheres, Lavaille is co-founder of Every Child An Author, (ECAA) Class-by-Class, School-by-School. ECAA is on a mission to make every child in America a published author, one grade level at a time! (everychildanauthor.com) In her leisure time, Lavaille enjoys skateboarding, cooking and spending time with her husband John, family and friends.

Georgina Lawton is a ‘twentysomething’ journalist, author of Raceless: In Search of Family, Identity, and the Truth About Where I Belong, and host of Audible’s The Secrets In Us program. A former Guardian Weekend columnist, she regularly contributes to the paper and to a number of other publications such as: The Independent, ipaper, Stylist, gal-dem, Travel + Leisure, VICE, Time Out London and more.

Min Jin Lee is the author of the novels Free Food for Millionaires and Pachinko, a finalist for the National Book Award, and runner-up for the Dayton Literary Peace Prize. Lee is the recipient of the 2022 Manhae Grand Prize for Literature from South Korea, the 2022 Bucheon Diaspora Literary Award, and the 2022 Samsung Happiness for Tomorrow Award for Creativity and fellowships in Fiction from the Guggenheim Foundation, the Radcliffe Institute of Advanced Study at Harvard, and the New York Foundation for the Arts. Lee is an inductee of the New York Foundation for the Arts Hall of Fame and the New York State Writers Hall of Fame. She is a Writer-in-Residence at Amherst College and serves as a trustee of PEN America and a director of the Authors Guild. She is at work on her third novel, American Hagwon and a nonfiction work, Name Recognition.

Jenifer Lewis is an actress, singer, author and activist. With more than 500 appearances in film and television, Jenifer currently stars as the outspoken grandmother, “Ruby,” on the Emmy-nominated hit show “Black-ish.” A third spin-off from “Black-ish,” entitled “Old-ish,” is currently in development at ABC, and stars Jenifer alongside Laurence Fishburne. Jenifer’s bestselling memoir, “The Mother of Black Hollywood,” was hailed for its honesty and humor and she is currently writing her second book. Jenifer has successfully combined her art with her passion for social justice through numerous viral political songs including “Get Your Ass Out and Vote,” “All Hands on Deck, Take Your Knee Off Our Necks,” and “In These Streets” with Brandy and Roz Ryan. In June, it was announced that Jenifer will receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Publishing Agent Laurie Liss is an agent at Sterling Lord Literistic. She’s also Managing Partner and the Vice President of the agency. Book Agent Laurie Liss is interested in nonfiction and fiction with perspectives that are unique and well-developed. She has made it point of her agenting career to nurture unpublished and young authors, as well as under-published and self-published authors. Laurie Liss’ list represents her broad-based tastes. She looks for projects with heart that will positively impact society. Among her nonfiction clients are athletes, journalists, chefs, doctors, comedians, and clergy. Her novelists include full-time journalists, writers, and lawyer

Emily St. John Mandel is the author of six novels, most recently Sea of Tranquility, which has been translated into 25 languages and was selected by President Barack Obama as one of his favourite books of 2022. Her previous novels include The Glass Hotel, which was also on Obama’s list, was shortlisted for the Scotiabank Giller Prize, and has been translated into 26 languages; and Station Eleven, which was a finalist for a National Book Award and the PEN/Faulkner Award, won the 2015 Arthur C. Clarke Award among other honours, has been translated into 36 languages, and aired as a limited series on HBO Max. She lives in New York City and Los Angeles.

Sonia Manzano is a first-generation American of Latino descent who has affected the lives of millions of parents and children since the early 1970s, when she was offered an opportunity to play “Maria” on Sesame Street. Manzano was raised in the South Bronx where her involvement in the arts was inspired by teachers who encouraged her to audition for the High School of Performing Arts. She was accepted there and began her career as an actress. A scholarship took her to Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, and in her junior year, she came to New York to star in the original production of the off-Broadway show Godspell. Within a year, Manzano joined the production of Sesame Street, where she eventually began writing scripts for the series. She was thrilled to help write the story line for “Maria’s” marriage and birth of “Maria’s” baby, played for a while by Manzano’s real-life daughter Gabriela. Manzano has performed on the New York stage in the critically acclaimed theater pieces The Vagina Monologues and The Exonerated and Love Loss and What I Wore.