Will Storr
Bestselling Author, A Story is a Deal & The Status Game | Award-Winning Journalist | Storytelling & Behavioral Science Expert
José Andrés
World-Renowned Chef & Humanitarian | Founder of World Central Kitchen | Presidential Medal of Freedom Recipient | #1 Bestselling Author of Change the Recipe
José Andrés is one of the world's most influential chefs and admired humanitarians. A Michelin-starred culinary innovator and founder of World Central Kitchen, he has served hundreds of millions of meals on the front lines of global crises, earning the Presidential Medal of Freedom. On stage, he tells unforgettable stories that leave audiences believing urgency, generosity, and bold action can change the world.
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José Andrés biography
José Andrés is one of the most influential chefs in the world and one of its most admired humanitarians, a man who has transformed both how America eats and how the world responds to disaster. A Michelin-starred culinary innovator turned global relief pioneer, he has built his life around a single, powerful conviction: that food is one of the most powerful tools we have to bring people together and change the world.
Motivational speaker José Andrés is the founder of World Central Kitchen, the nonprofit he created in 2010 that has revolutionized disaster relief by delivering fresh, nourishing meals on the front lines of hurricanes, earthquakes, wars, and humanitarian crises around the globe. From Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria to Ukraine and disaster zones on nearly every continent, his teams have served hundreds of millions of meals, often arriving before any other aid organization. For this work he has been twice named one of Time’s 100 Most Influential People and honored with the National Humanities Medal and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
From elBulli to a Global Humanitarian Movement
Born in Spain and trained under the legendary Ferran Adrià at elBulli, Andrés emigrated to the United States and became the chef who introduced Americans to Spanish tapas and avant-garde cuisine. Today his José Andrés Group operates around forty restaurants, from the two-Michelin-starred minibar to Jaleo, Zaytinya, and The Bazaar. He is a #1 New York Times bestselling author whose books include his life-lessons memoir Change the Recipe, an Emmy-winning television personality, and the recipient of the James Beard Foundation’s highest honors for both cooking and humanitarian service, as well as Spain’s Princess of Asturias Concordia Prize. Few people in any field have combined creative excellence and moral purpose so completely.
As a speaker, José Andrés is electric, warm, and deeply inspiring, telling unforgettable stories from the world’s kitchens and its hardest-hit communities. He speaks on leadership in crisis and the power of showing up, purpose-driven entrepreneurship, resilience and improvisation under pressure, and how a simple idea, a plate of food, can drive extraordinary change. Audiences leave moved and energized, with a renewed belief that urgency, generosity, and bold action can solve problems the world calls impossible.
José Andrés Speaking Videos
Creativity in cooking can solve our biggest challenges: Jose Andres at TEDxMidAtlantic 2011
ThinkFoodGroup | Chef José Andrés | Talks at Google
José Andrés Keynote Topics
Drawing on his bestselling book and an extraordinary life from the kitchen to conflict zones, Andrés shares the hard-won lessons that have guided him. He shows audiences how purpose, courage, and a willingness to break the rules can turn a simple idea into world-changing impact, and why each of us has the power to change the world for the better.
Through the story of World Central Kitchen, Andrés reveals a radically effective model of leadership forged in the world's worst disasters. He shows how to act with urgency instead of waiting for permission, improvise and adapt when plans fall apart, and mobilize people around a shared mission, lessons in decisiveness and resilience that resonate powerfully in any organization.
Andrés built a global restaurant group and a world-changing nonprofit on the same foundation: a clear sense of purpose. He shares how mission and business can reinforce one another, how to build teams that believe in what they do, and how putting values at the center of an enterprise creates not only impact but lasting success.
Part inspiration, part call to action, this keynote captures Andrés's core belief that food is far more than sustenance, it is dignity, community, and hope. He shows how something as simple as a warm meal can rebuild communities and restore humanity in the darkest moments, and challenges audiences to see the everyday tools of change already in their hands.
Speaker topics
FAQs on Booking José Andrés
Why José Andrés?
Booking José Andrés brings audiences a once-in-a-generation figure: a world-class chef, a visionary entrepreneur, and one of the most effective humanitarians alive. His World Central Kitchen has redefined disaster relief, and his restaurants have earned the highest honors in food, but what makes him unforgettable on stage is the raw inspiration of his story and his infectious conviction that anyone can change the world. Twice named one of Time's 100 Most Influential People and awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, he speaks with an energy, warmth, and moral clarity few can match. He is an ideal speaker for events on leadership, purpose, resilience, entrepreneurship, and social impact. To bring José Andrés to your next event, contact Aurum Speakers Bureau.
Who is José Andrés?
José Andrés is a Spanish-American chef, restaurateur, humanitarian, and author widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in food and one of the world's leading humanitarians. A Michelin-starred chef who popularized Spanish tapas in America, he leads the José Andrés Group of around forty restaurants and, in 2010, founded the nonprofit World Central Kitchen. He has twice been named one of Time's 100 Most Influential People and has received the National Humanities Medal, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and Spain's Princess of Asturias Concordia Prize.
What is World Central Kitchen?
World Central Kitchen (WCK) is the nonprofit organization founded by chef José Andrés in 2010, after the earthquake in Haiti. Its mission is to use the power of food to nourish communities in the wake of natural disasters and humanitarian crises. Known for being among the first responders on the ground, WCK mobilizes local chefs, restaurants, and volunteers to serve fresh, nutritious meals, and has provided hundreds of millions of meals in response to events including Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico, the war in Ukraine, and disasters around the world. Its fast, decentralized model has transformed how the world thinks about disaster relief.
What topics does speaker José Andrés cover?
José Andrés speaks on leadership in crisis, purpose-driven entrepreneurship, resilience and improvisation under pressure, and the power of food to change the world, drawing on his bestselling book Change the Recipe and his work with World Central Kitchen. His keynotes suit events on leadership, purpose, social impact, entrepreneurship, and resilience. To book José Andrés as a speaker, contact Aurum Speakers Bureau.
How to book José Andrés as a keynote speaker?
Aurum Speakers Bureau can help you book José Andrés as a speaker for your next event, conference, or board meeting. Simply fill out our contact form to inquire about José Andrés'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 José Andrés or any other top keynote speaker or celebrity of your choice.
How much is José Andrés speaking fee?
José Andrés 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 José Andrés 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 José Andrés.
How can I contact José Andrés?
We only work with José Andrés on paid speaking engagements. Aurum Speakers Bureau can assist you in booking José Andrés and will handle all negotiations, contracts, and logistics associated with having José Andrés 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 José Andrés for any other reason, we will be unable to assist you as we are not authorized to provide personal contact information.
Can I book José Andrés for a virtual keynote?
Yes, José Andrés is available for virtual keynotes and webinars. To book José Andrés for a virtual event, please complete the contact form or send us an email to inquire about the special fees for virtual engagements.
