Presidential Guest Speaker: Jennifer Breheny Wallace

Jennifer Breheny Wallace is an award-winning journalist and bestselling author of two instant New York Times bestsellers, Never Enough: When Achievement Culture Becomes Toxic — And What We Can Do About It and Mattering: The Secret to a Life of Deep Connection and Purpose, both published by Penguin Random House.

Wallace is the founder of The Mattering Institute and co-founder of The Mattering Movement, a national nonprofit advancing mattering practices in K–12 schools. She serves on the Advisory Board for Making Caring Common at the Harvard Graduate School of Education and was a guest lecturer for NYU’s Fall 2025 course, Education, Mattering, and the American Dream.

A maternal mental health advocate at Calm, Wallace also consults for Netflix, is a BCG BrightHouse Luminary, and has partnered with The LEGO Group on its global “Play Unstoppable” campaign, addressing perfectionism and fostering confidence through play.

Wallace began her journalism career at CBS’s 60 Minutes, where she was part of a team awarded the Robert F. Kennedy Award for Excellence in Journalism. She contributes to The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post and frequently appears on national television to discuss her work.

She serves on the board of the Coalition for the Homeless in New York City, where she lives with her family. Wallace will speak on Thursday, October 15, from 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.