Managing Partner at Emerson Collective, Former U.S. Secretary of Education (2009 - 2016)
Arne Duncan: Biography at a Glance
- Arne Duncan served as U.S. Secretary of Education from 2009 to 2016 under the Obama Administration, where he focused on educational reforms and policies.
- Prior to his role in the federal government, Duncan was the CEO of Chicago Public Schools from 2001 to 2008, where he successfully opened 100 new schools and enhanced educational programs.
- Duncan's leadership in Chicago earned praise for uniting stakeholders around initiatives that improved teacher quality and expanded after-school, summer learning, early childhood, and college access programs.
- He currently leads Chicago CRED, a nonprofit dedicated to reducing gun violence in Chicago by providing outreach, education, and employment opportunities for at-risk young men.
- Duncan is also the managing partner at Emerson Collective, an organization focused on removing barriers to human potential.
- Duncan brings unparalleled expertise in educational reform, leadership, and community impact, offering valuable insights for organizations seeking to inspire audiences to drive meaningful change.
Media
- EmersonCollective.com
- Emerson Collective: A new way to think about conflict – and how we get out of it
- The Nation: The Legacy of Arne Duncan, ‘A Hero in the Education Business’
- Empowering young people to end Chicago’s gun violence problem
- The Atlantic: Arne Duncan: ‘Everyone Says They Value Education, But Their Action...
- What Obama’s Secretary of Education Thinks About Schooling Today
Videos
Biography
Arne Duncan served as U.S. Secretary of Education from January 2009 through January 2016 as part of the Obama Administration. Prior to joining the Obama Administration, Duncan served as chief executive officer of Chicago Public Schools. From 2001 to 2008, Duncan won praise for uniting the city’s stakeholders behind an education agenda that included opening 100 new schools; expanding after-school, summer learning, early childhood, and college access programs; dramatically boosting the caliber of teachers; and building public-private partnerships around a variety of education initiatives.
He currently leads Chicago CRED, a nonprofit trying to achieve a transformative reduction in gun violence in Chicago. Through partnerships with local business leaders, community organizers, and nonprofit groups, Duncan aims to provide outreach, therapeutic, education, and employment opportunities for the young men most likely to be engaged in gun violence. He is also the managing partner at Emerson Collective, an organization dedicated to removing barriers so people can live to their full potential.
Secretary Duncan graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University in 1987, majoring in sociology. At Harvard, he served as co-captain of the basketball team and was named a first team Academic All-American.
News
"Can Arne Duncan Save Chicago?"
"Arne Duncan: Giving Hope to Chicago's Youth Through CRED"
"What ails education? ‘An absence of vision, a failure of will and politics’"
"People are saying education reform hasn’t worked. Don’t believe them."
"Arne Duncan: We value our guns more than we value our children"
"Hiring returning citizens is good for business"
"Trump doesn’t want an educated workforce, Obama education secretary says"
Topics
How Schools Work: An Inside Account of Failure and Success From One of the Nation’s Longest-Serving Secretaries of Education
As former Chief Executive Officer of the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) and US Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan provides a unique perspective on how schools work and where schools are letting children down. Arne shares how to fix America’s schools with an incredible firsthand look at successful, creative approaches, focus on the right data and strong advocacy for early childhood education. He believes that education should be the ultimate equalizer. No matter race, class or zip code, access to a great education is a national-security issue and an economic issue: the best-educated workforce keeps jobs in the U.S. and breaks cycles of poverty.
The Great Optimist
As Managing Partner of Emerson Collective, an organization dedicated to removing barriers to opportunity so people can live to their full potential, Arne Duncan leads Chicago CRED (Creating Real Economic Destiny). CRED aims to reduce the number of shootings and gun violence in Chicago. While many see dismal criminal and gun violence statistics, Arne is up close and personal with citizens living in the most violent, hopeless areas of the city. At CRED, he works with young adults and formerly incarcerated citizens to provide mentors, job opportunities, health services that can turn around individuals one-by-one, thus transforming a city. Above all, Arne speaks with incredible hope and optimism about the hard work, character and strength of the youth he encounters daily. Learn about the work they are doing in Chicago, and how they are learning from other cities around the nation to transform the economic hope of a city.
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FAQs
How do I book Arne Duncan for my event?
Contact CAA Speakers at (424) 288-2898 or speakers@caa.com to book Arne Duncan to speak at corporate or private events, keynote speeches, speaking engagements, workshops, fireside chats, motivational speaking, or virtual appearances.
Quick booking process- Email CAA Speakers with event details
- Get availability confirmation within 24 hours
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As one of the most influential talent agencies in the world, CAA handles all speaking engagements from contract to event day coordination.
Who is Arne Duncan's booking agent?
CAA Speakers is the preferred booking agency to contact for Arne Duncan’s speaking engagements. Contact speakers@caa.com for all Arne Duncan in-person appearances and keynote speaking requests.
Contact Arne Duncan's agent- Email: speakers@caa.com
- Website: caa.com/caaspeakers
- Response: Within 24 hours
CAA Speakers can check Arne Duncan's speaking calendar with direct access to availability and official pricing. While many websites may list Arne Duncan, CAA Speakers is the direct source for authentic information about availability and pricing.
What is Arne Duncan's speaking fee?
Arne Duncan's speaking fee varies by event type, location, and requirements. As a top keynote speaker, Arne Duncan's fee reflects their expertise and market demand.
Speaking fee factors:- Event type and audience size
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Additional costs: Travel, accommodation, A/V requirements, and optional meet-and-greets.
Contact CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com for Arne Duncan's current speaking fee and detailed cost breakdown.
How much does it cost to book Arne Duncan as a keynote speaker?
The cost to book Arne Duncan as keynote speaker includes their speaking fee plus travel and logistics expenses.
Total booking cost includes:- Arne Duncan's keynote speaking fee
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Email speakers@caa.com for Arne Duncan's exact booking cost and customized pricing proposal.
How to contact Arne Duncan for speaking engagements?
Contact CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com for all Arne Duncan speaking engagements.
Official contact for Arne Duncan bookings:- Email: speakers@caa.com
- Website: https://www.caa.com/caaspeakers/arne-duncan
- Response time: 24 hours
Include your event date, location, audience size, and budget when contacting CAA about booking Arne Duncan.
Is Arne Duncan available for virtual speaking events?
Yes, Arne Duncan speaks at virtual events with professional-grade equipment and interactive presentation style.
Arne Duncan's virtual event options:- Live virtual keynotes with Q&A
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Contact CAA Speakers for Arne Duncan's virtual event availability and technical specifications.
What events can I book Arne Duncan for?
Book Arne Duncan for corporate conferences, industry events, private functions, and virtual presentations. Arne Duncan customizes content for any audience size or event type.
Event types:- Corporate meetings and conferences
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Arne Duncan engages audiences from private executive meetings to large conferences with thousands of attendees.
Contact CAA Speakers to discuss how Arne Duncan can customize their presentation for your specific event.
Arne Duncan booking information and availability
Check Arne Duncan's speaking availability through CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com. Book 3-6 months in advance for best date selection during peak seasons (September-November, March-May).
Availability factors:- Event date and location
- Speaking fee and budget
- Lead time for booking
- Peak conference seasons
- 3-6 months: Best availability
- 3-6 months: Best availability
- 2-3 months: Good availability
- 1-2 months: Select availability
- Under 30 days: Limited availability
Contact CAA early in your planning process to secure Arne Duncan for your preferred event date.
Book Arne Duncan keynote speaker through CAA
Book Arne Duncan through CAA Speakers for guaranteed authentic representation and professional event coordination. CAA is the preferred booking agent for Arne Duncan, with direct access to their speaking availability and decades of experience representing the world’s top keynote speakers.
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Will Arne Duncan speak at private events?
Yes, Arne Duncan speaks at private corporate events, executive retreats, board meetings, and exclusive functions.
Private event types:- Executive retreats and board presentations
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Private event benefits: Customized content, enhanced interaction, complete confidentiality, and flexible scheduling.
Contact CAA Speakers for Arne Duncan's private event availability and confidential pricing proposals.
How quickly will I get a response about booking Arne Duncan?
CAA Speakers responds to Arne Duncan booking inquiries within 24 hours during business days. Complex requests or international events may take up to 48 hours for detailed proposals.
Response timeline:- Initial acknowledgment: Within 24 hours
- Availability confirmation: 24-48 hours
- Detailed pricing proposal: 48-72 hours
- Urgent requests: Same-day priority response
Include complete event details (date, location, audience size, budget) for fastest response times.
How far in advance should I book Arne Duncan?
Book Arne Duncan 3-6 months in advance for best availability, especially during peak speaking seasons. Early booking ensures better date selection and rate negotiations.
Recommended booking timeline:- 3-6 months: Optimal availability and pricing
- 2-3 months: Good availability
- 1-2 months: Select availability
- Under 30 days: Limited availability
Peak seasons: September-November and March-May book fastest. Contact CAA Speakers early for priority consideration.
How do I get Arne Duncan pricing information?
Get Arne Duncan pricing information by contacting CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com with your event details. Receive detailed cost breakdown within 24-48 hours with no obligation to book.
For accurate pricing, include:- Event date and location
- Audience size and type
- Event format and duration
- Budget parameters
CAA provides transparent pricing with all costs included - speaking fee, travel, accommodation, and technical requirements.