EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
Lili Fournier is an award winning TV producer, director and host of the Quest series of specials which aired on PBS for over a decade, featuring some of the world’s influential leaders on human potential: the Dalai Lama, Sir Richard Branson, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Stephen Covey, Jane Goodall, Jack Canfield, Deepak Chopra et al. The Quest raised millions of dollars for PBS’s pledge efforts. She produced the television production of the historic By My Spirit concert featuring Placido Domingo, a tribute to peace and co-existence, in the presence of Queen Sophia.
PRODUCTION CONSULTANT
Salli Frattini has forged a successful and enviable career producing Network & Digital premieres of pop culture firsts, live events, live streams and scripted series for new media and entertainment properties including MTV, Google & YouTube, ABC, Disney, BET, Amazon, NBC Sports, Nickelodeon, & more. She was the first woman to executive produce a Super Bowl half-time show and her unmatched credits include the MTV Video Music Awards, MTV Movie Awards, YouTube Creator Summit, BET's Black Girls Rock franchise, Radio Disney Music Awards, the CPTV series "Harmony for Healing," and CW's special "My Last Days". See More.
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
Mark Poncher is the Executive Producer of WDL and COO of Empire Entertainment. See Virtual Events Deck. He has served as the Executive Producer of the Clinton Global Initiative conferences worldwide since 2006. He was Head of Production for the Baku 2015 European Games Ceremonies. Executive Producer of the 2014 and 2015 Rose Parade Opening and Closing Spectaculars and Ceremonies for the 2015 Special Olympics World Games in L.A. and more including Olympic Ceremonies in London. Together we will create one of the most significant Humanitarian campaigns in modern history.
DIRECTOR
Louis J. Horvitz is one of the most accomplished directors in the rarified, Top-Gun field of live television event broadcasting. Winner of 7 Prime Time Emmy’s, he has directed "The Annual Academy Awards" telecast a record 12 times, the Golden Globes ten times, and the Grammy Awards 9 years running. Primetime Emmy Awards" a total of 17 times, the "The Kennedy Center Honors" for 22 years. The "American Film Institute (AFI) Life Achievement Award" tributes a total of 31 times. Horvitz has great pride in the live, multi-network "Stand Up 2 Cancer" and the "XXI Winter Olympics Opening and Closing Ceremonies". He has received 16 Emmy nominations.
HONORARY PATRON
Archbishop Desmond Tutu rose to worldwide fame as an opponent of Apartheid. In 1984 he became the second South African to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Archbishop Tutu chaired the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and is currently the chair of The Elders. He works to build peace by nurturing visionary leadership. Make this humanity’s finest hour.
HONORARY CO-CHAIR
Kim Campbell's life, as Canada's first and only female Prime Minister, has been a life of firsts. Founding Member and Former Secretary-General, Club de Madrid Member and Chair Emeritas, Council of Women World Leaders Member and Former President, International Women’s Forum. She is committed to the advancement of women’s leadership, and speaks on issues related to gender, international politics, democratization, and climate change all over the world.
WOMEN'S DAY LIVE PATRON
Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji
H.H. Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji’s motto in life is, “In the Service of God and humanity.” Today, he is world renowned as a spiritual leader, visionary and divine guide, and has created programs worldwide with the world’s leaders to build a more sustainable world that works for all. Founder and Chairman of Parmarth Niketan.
WOMEN'S DAY LIVE CO-FOUNDER INDIA
Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswatiji, Ph.D was raised in an American family in Hollywood, California and graduated from Stanford University. She left America in 1996 to come and live permanently at Parmarth Niketan Ashram in Rishikesh, India. She is engaged in spiritual practice and dedicated service all over the world with Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji. We will work together with the Divine Shakti Foundation to support women and children to be socially and financially self sustaining.
Margaret Atwood is the author of more than 40 books of poetry, fiction and essays, including The Handmaid's Tale, now a critically acclaimed television series. A Canadian national treasure, this giant literary figure, is also an inventor, teacher and environmental activist. Some of her books include; the Blind Assassin, winner of the Booker Prize; and Alias Grace, The Robber Bride, Cat’s Eye, The Penelopiad -a retelling of the Odyssey. Her recent graphic series included Angel Catbird; and Hag-Seed, a novel about a revisitation of Shakespeare’s The Tempest. In 2017, she was awarded the German Peace Prize, the Franz Kafka International Literary Prize, and the PEN Center USA Lifetime Achievement Award.
Marci Shimoff is the woman's face of the biggest self-help book phenomenon in history, Chicken Soup for the Soul. Her six bestselling titles in the series, including Chicken Soup for the Woman’s Soul and Chicken Soup for the Mother’s Soul, have met with stunning success, selling more than 13 million copies worldwide. Her breakthrough methods for personal fulfillment and professional success are summed up in her International bestsellers Happy for No Reason and Love for No Reason. She presents a year long on line course, Your Year of Miracles. She is a veritable tour de force!
Shirin Ebadi, was awarded the 2003 Nobel Peace Prize for her efforts to promote human rights, in particular, the rights of women and children. She is the first Muslim woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. This internationally-recognized advocate of human rights, established the Million Signatures Campaign, which demanded an end to legal discrimination against women in Iranian law. In 2004, she was named by Forbes Magazine as one of the 100 most powerful women in the world. In January 2006, along with sister Laureate Jody Williams, Dr. Ebadi took the lead in establishing the Nobel Women's Initiative.
Liona Boyd, known as "The First Lady of the Guitar" has played for world leaders around the world including the British Royal Family, the King and Queen of Spain, and the Presidents of the United States and Mexico. Her virtuoso talents resulted in five Juno awards, five honorary degrees, and The Order of Canada. She has filled concert halls from Tokyo, Hong Kong, Beijing, Bangkok, New Delhi, Paris, Rio, to London, introducing millions to the art of classical guitar through her TV specials, and “Gold” and "Platinum" recordings. She is the co-writer of the “We are the Women of the World” anthem for Women’s Day Live.
Hanne M. Strong is the President of the Manitou Foundation, which she and her late husband, Maurice Strong, founded. Based in Crestone, Colorado, it granted land to many of the world’s wisdom traditions. It is the largest interreligious and sustainable living community in North America. She lead the fundraiser for the Millennium World Peace Summit of Religious and Spiritual Leaders held at the United Nations. She is a passionate advocate for environmental conservation. Maurice Strong was the Secretary General of the 1992 Earth Summit held in Rio de Janeiro, a forerunner of the climate change momentum today.
