PCBC 2024: Keynotes

Keynote Speakers

A PCBC hallmark, our keynote sessions feature engaging and thought-provoking speakers – legendary thinkers and doers in the fields of business, strategy, performance, entertainment, leadership and motivation.

Open to all registered attendees

Bakari Sellers

My Vanishing Country

Wednesday, June 19
8:30–9:30am

Based on his New York Times best-selling memoir, My Vanishing Country, Bakari Sellers takes audiences on an eye-opening journey through America’s past, present and future. Part memoir, part historical and cultural analysis, Sellers explores and honors the lives of America’s forgotten black working-class men and women—people who are often overlooked by the media but have nonetheless played a pivotal role in shaping our country. In a courageous conversation about race and America’s path forward, Sellers will inspire us to tackle society’s challenges head-on, beginning with a willingness to engage meaningfully with one another—even those (especially those) who see the world differently than we do.

Bakari Sellers made history in 2006 when, at just 22 years old, he became the youngest member of the South Carolina state legislature and the youngest African American elected official in the nation. He is an attorney, activist, CNN political analyst, two-time bestselling author, and podcast host addressing topics ranging from politics, race, sports, media, the presidential campaign, and much more.

Sahar Yousef

Tuning the Brain for Creativity and Innovation

Thursday, June 20
8:30–9:30am

There are scientific realities about how the human brain works, but our current work culture is not in line with this reality, resulting in stress, burnout and underperformance. Sahar Yousef is a cognitive neuroscientist who helps leaders and their teams get their most important work done in less time—optimizing the way they work so they’re more productive, creative and energized. In this powerful keynote presentation, she’ll share the three biggest mistakes of productivity and performance (and why we make them), simple tools to increase your team’s output by 25% without increasing hours worked, and daily practices to boost focus, memory, energy, health and creativity.

Dr. Sahar Yousef is a faculty member at UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business, where she teaches one of the most popular MBA courses, “Becoming Superhuman: The Science of Productivity and Performance.” She is one of the world’s leading experts on cognitive training and is featured as a top scientist in the Headspace wellbeing app, used by over two million people every day.

Past years' keynote speakers include: