Spike Lee to Join Us On the Main Stage at Talent Connect 2023

We’re thrilled to announce that acclaimed filmmaker Spike Lee will be joining us as a keynote speaker on the main stage at Talent Connect this fall. Talent Connect, LinkedIn’s premier event for global talent leaders and practitioners, will be coming to you live from New York City over the week of October 2 — both as an exclusive in-person event for invited senior industry leaders and as an online broadcast that’s free and open to everyone.

Whether you’re joining us in New York or watching from your home or office, you’ll be able to hear all of our inspiring keynote addresses. The full lineup will be announced soon (stay tuned here on the Talent Blog and at the Talent Connect homepage for more details), but we couldn’t wait to share the news that Spike will be the event’s closing speaker on October 4.

Known for a filmography that spans four decades and more than 20 feature films — including BlacKkKlansman, Inside Man, Malcolm X, and Do the Right Thing — Spike is also a documentarian, director of music videos and commercials, children’s book author, president of the ad agency Spike DDB, and a tenured professor at NYU.

He’s also never been one to shy away from sharing his opinion. “I’ve learned that you have to speak truth to power,” Spike told The Guardian. “When I take my last breath, which won’t be soon by the way, it’ll be written that I was on the right side of history. But it’s an individual choice. There’s certain times when you know there’ll be repercussions and you’ve got to make a choice to speak out or clam up.”

His keynote will highlight what he believes it means to be a successful leader; why he’s a strong proponent for career development and mentorship; how he’s worked tirelessly to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion in the film industry; and how he’s navigated the twists and turns of his own career.

Spike will also share why he started a new fellowship, Spike Fellows Program, to support undergraduate students at three Historically Black Colleges and Universities — Clark Atlanta University, Spelman College, and Spike’s alma mater, Morehouse College. The program, which announced its inaugural class earlier this year, looks to support and provide opportunities for young, up-and-coming filmmakers with academic debt relief, industry mentorship, post-graduate internships, and full-time employment.

“We want this thing to be a legacy,” Spike said in an interview. “It is my opinion that we focus too much in front of the camera and being in the spotlight, but in all honesty, there’s more longevity behind the camera, and you have a lot more creative control behind the camera.”

We hope you’ll join us virtually or in New York for what’s sure to be a fascinating keynote at Talent Connect 2023. And stay tuned for more details about our speaker lineup, breakout sessions, and more. Registration for the online broadcast, Talent Connect Show, is now open — click here for more details.