Harper Reed
CTO, Obama for America 2012 | CEO, 2389 Research Inc. | Founder, Modest Inc. (Acq. PayPal) | AI, Big Data & Digital Innovation Expert
Angela Duckworth
Psychologist & #1 NYT Bestselling Author | MacArthur Fellow | Rosa Lee & Egbert Chang Professor, UPenn | Founder, Character Lab
Angela Duckworth transformed how the world thinks about success. Her #1 New York Times bestseller Grit introduced a global audience to the science of passion and perseverance, and her TED Talk is among the most-viewed of all time. A MacArthur Fellow and professor at the University of Pennsylvania, she brings rigorous research and rare accessibility to the stage — challenging leaders to rethink what drives performance.
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Angela Duckworth biography
Angela Duckworth is the psychologist who changed how the world thinks about achievement. Through more than two decades of research at the University of Pennsylvania, she has built the scientific case that talent alone does not predict who succeeds — and that a specific combination of passion and long-term perseverance, which she calls “grit,” is a far more reliable indicator of outstanding performance.
Psychology speaker Angela Duckworth is best known for her landmark TED Talk on grit, which is among the most-viewed of all time, and for her #1 New York Times bestselling book Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance, which has sold more than five million copies worldwide. The book synthesizes findings from her research with athletes, soldiers, teachers, and executives to argue that the highest performers in any field share a quality that looks less like genius and more like sustained, deliberate effort over years.
Duckworth is the Rosa Lee and Egbert Chang Professor at the University of Pennsylvania, faculty co-director of the Penn-Wharton Behavior Change for Good Initiative, and founder and CEO of Character Lab, a nonprofit that translates psychological science into tools that help children develop the character strengths linked to long-term flourishing. A 2013 MacArthur Fellow — popularly known as the “Genius Grant” — she has advised the White House, the World Bank, and Fortune 500 CEOs, as well as professional sports organizations including NBA and NFL teams.
Situated: The Next Chapter of Her Research
Duckworth’s forthcoming book, Situated: Find the People and Places That Bring Out Your Best (Scribner, September 2026), extends her work in a new direction: if grit is a necessary ingredient for success, it is not always sufficient. Her new research reveals the powerful, often underestimated role that environment plays in shaping behavior — and shows how high performers deliberately design the situations around them to make excellence more likely. She also co-hosts the weekly podcast No Stupid Questions, part of the Freakonomics Radio Network, where she brings behavioral science to bear on everyday human questions.
As a speaker, Angela Duckworth gives senior audiences a research-grounded lens for rethinking performance, talent development, and culture. Her keynotes translate rigorous science into practical frameworks that resonate with leaders in business, education, sports, and government. Audiences leave with a clearer understanding of what actually distinguishes top performers — and what organizations can do to build more of them. Contact Aurum Speakers Bureau to book Angela Duckworth for your next event.
Angela Duckworth Speaking Videos
Angela Duckworth - Grit: the power of passion and perseverance
Angela Duckworth - Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance
Angela Duckworth Keynote Topics
Drawing from her landmark research and bestselling book, Duckworth makes the case that talent is not the differentiator between those who succeed and those who don't — sustained passion and perseverance are. She shares findings from her studies of West Point cadets, National Spelling Bee finalists, rookie teachers, and elite athletes to show what grit looks like in practice, how it can be measured, and — crucially — whether it can be developed. Audiences leave with a new framework for evaluating performance and a more honest conversation about what their organizations are actually selecting and cultivating.
Drawing from her forthcoming book, Duckworth presents the counterintuitive insight that even the grittiest people perform better when their situation works with them rather than against them. She reveals how the physical environment, the people around us, and the structures we work within shape behavior in ways that dwarf individual willpower — and shows how high performers like Michael Phelps and Jerry Seinfeld deliberately engineer their situations to make excellence the path of least resistance. A practical framework for leaders who want to build cultures that make great performance easier, not harder.
What qualities, beyond cognitive ability and technical skill, actually predict who thrives in a demanding organization? Duckworth brings findings from Character Lab and her university research to the question of what character strengths — grit, self-control, curiosity, gratitude — look like inside teams, how they interact, and what leaders can do to cultivate them. This talk is particularly suited to talent leaders, executives running transformation programs, and organizations that have invested heavily in hiring without getting the culture they expected.
Why do people so often fail to act in their own best interests — and what does the science say about closing the gap between intention and behavior? Drawing from her work co-directing the Penn-Wharton Behavior Change for Good Initiative, Duckworth presents what rigorous research has revealed about habit formation, motivation, and the conditions under which change actually sticks. Directly applicable to leaders trying to drive organizational change, health and wellness programs, and culture transformation.
Speaker topics
FAQs on Booking Angela Duckworth
Why Angela Duckworth?
Booking Angela Duckworth is an investment in one of the most impactful and evidence-based voices in the world of performance psychology. Her research has shaped how organizations across business, education, sports, and government think about talent, potential, and success — and she translates that science onto the stage with a clarity and warmth that makes complex findings immediately actionable. As the author of one of the bestselling business books of the past decade, a MacArthur Fellow, and one of the most-watched TED speakers alive, she commands authority without arrogance and delivers insights that stay with audiences long after the event. Contact Aurum Speakers Bureau to check availability and booking fees for Angela Duckworth.
What is Angela Duckworth's definition of grit?
Duckworth defines grit as the combination of passion and perseverance toward long-term goals. Crucially, neither element alone is sufficient: passion without perseverance produces excitement that fades, while perseverance without passion produces joyless slog. What distinguishes the grittiest individuals — in her research, elite performers across domains from athletics to academia to the military — is a sustained, almost obsessive commitment to a single overarching goal, pursued with consistent effort over years, even in the face of failure and setbacks.
What is Angela Duckworth's new book about?
Duckworth's second book, Situated: Find the People and Places That Bring Out Your Best (Scribner, September 2026), makes the case that while grit matters, the situations we put ourselves in may matter just as much. Her research reveals that the people around us, the physical spaces we inhabit, and the structures within which we work have a far greater influence on our behavior than most self-help advice acknowledges. The book offers practical tools for designing situations — at work and in life — that make your best self the default, rather than an act of willpower.
What topics does psychology speaker Angela Duckworth cover?
Angela Duckworth speaks on grit and performance, the science of character development, behavior change, talent identification, and building high-performing cultures. Her talks are grounded in peer-reviewed research and tailored to senior audiences in business, education, sports, and government. She is a natural fit for leadership conferences, talent strategy offsites, and transformation programs where organizations want rigorous science rather than motivational rhetoric. Aurum Speakers Bureau can advise on the right topic for your event and provide full details on Angela Duckworth's speaking fees and availability.
How to book Angela Duckworth as a keynote speaker?
Aurum Speakers Bureau can help you book Angela Duckworth as a speaker for your next event, conference, or board meeting. Simply fill out our contact form to inquire about Angela Duckworth's availability for a speaking engagement. One of our booking agents will respond to your request immediately and contact the speaker to let them know you want to hire them. We will assist you with obtaining speaking fees, booking information, and confirming availability for Angela Duckworth or any other top keynote speaker or celebrity of your choice.
How much is Angela Duckworth speaking fee?
Angela Duckworth speaking fees are determined by several factors, including the event's date, whether it's a virtual or in-person event, the duration, format, preparation required for their speech, and more. The same applies to the cost to hire any other top expert speakers and celebrities. The Speaker Fee Range listed on our website is simply a guideline and is subject to change without notice. If you would like to hire Angela Duckworth to deliver a keynote speech for your event, please fill out the contact form or email us at info@aurumbureau.com with as much detail as possible. One of our experienced agents will get in touch with you and let you know exactly how much it will cost to book Angela Duckworth.
How can I contact Angela Duckworth?
We only work with Angela Duckworth on paid speaking engagements. Aurum Speakers Bureau can assist you in booking Angela Duckworth and will handle all negotiations, contracts, and logistics associated with having Angela Duckworth speak at your event. We will be your sole point of contact throughout the process. Get in touch with Aurum Speakers Bureau today, and we will reach out to any motivational speaker or celebrity you want to enquire about speaking at your event. If you wish to contact Angela Duckworth for any other reason, we will be unable to assist you as we are not authorized to provide personal contact information.
Can I book Angela Duckworth for a virtual keynote?
Yes, Angela Duckworth is available for virtual keynotes and webinars. To book Angela Duckworth for a virtual event, please complete the contact form or send us an email to inquire about the special fees for virtual engagements.
