Former Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs
Richard Stengel: Biography at a Glance
- A New York Times bestselling author, Stengel’s collaboration with Nelson Mandela produced his autobiography, Long Walk to Freedom, as well as Mandela’s Way about his experience working with the South African Leader.
- In 2024, he helped launch a new school of leadership dedicated to Nelson Mandela and designed to create a new generation of leaders who, like Mandela, can solve problems and rifts that seem intractable.
- A longtime Editor of TIME, Stengel remains focused on the crossroads of media, policy, and politics – and speaks widely on fake news and disinformation, the case for national service, diplomacy, and leadership.
- Under his stewardship, TIME won its first-ever Magazine of the Year Award as well as numerous other National Magazine Awards, including for general excellence.
- Stengel also won an Emmy for executive producing the TIME documentary: Beyond 9/11: Portraits of Resilience.
- A Senior Adviser to Snap Inc., Stengel keeps pace with technology and policy as startup companies must comply with government regulations as they seek a profitable business model.
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Biography
As a longtime Editor of TIME (2006-13) and former Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, Richard Stengel has seen and led the transformation of mainstream media. Describing his role at the State Department as “Chief Marketing Officer of Brand USA,” Stengel remains centered at the crossroads of media, policy, and politics – and speaks widely on fake news and disinformation, the case for national service, diplomacy, and leadership lessons from reporting on the world’s great leaders. As Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs (2013-16), Stengel brought public diplomacy into the 21st century, modernizing communications, expanding the department’s digital footprint, and ensuring that every ambassador was on social media. His latest book, Information Wars: How We Lost the Global Battle Against Disinformation and What We Can Do About It, covers his efforts as the single person in government tasked with unpacking, disproving, and combating both ISIS’s messaging and Russian disinformation.
At the State Department, Stengel launched and led numerous programs and initiatives, including the Global Engagement Center, the United States’ only stand-alone anti-ISIL messaging entity, the Sawab Center in Abu Dhabi, the first joint American and foreign counter ISIL messaging hub – now a template for others around the world – and English for All, a government-wide effort that promotes teaching English abroad. He also oversaw all of the department’s extensive educational exchanges including the Fulbright Scholarship. Witnessing the global rise in disinformation – coupled with increasing restrictions on press freedom, Stengel led the department-wide effort of counter-ISIS messaging and counter-Russian disinformation.
Prior to the State Department, Stengel was the managing editor of TIME for seven years, transforming it into a digital and social media powerhouse on a global scale. He oversaw all print, digital, tablet and marketing functions, and redesigned re-focused and reinvigorated TIME. Under his stewardship, TIME won its first-ever Magazine of the Year Award as well as numerous other National Magazine Awards, including for general excellence. Stengel also won an Emmy for executive producing the TIME documentary: Beyond 9/11: Portraits of Resilience.
He has penned more than 25 cover stories for TIME including “The Case for National Service,” which helped launch the national service movement and contributed to the passage of the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act.
A New York Time’s bestselling author, Stengel’s collaboration with Nelson Mandela produced his autobiography, Long Walk to Freedom, as well as Mandela’s Way about his experience working with the South African Leader. Stengel later served as an associate producer of the Oscar-nominated documentary, Mandela.
In addition to being an author and journalist, Stengel is a distinguished fellow with the Atlantic Council’s Digital Forensic Research Lab and a Strategic Advisor to Snap Inc.
Named the Walter Shorenstein Media and Democracy Fellow at Harvard Kennedy School’s Shorenstein Center for 2017, Stengel was the Ferris Professor of Journalism at Princeton University where he taught “Politics and the Press.” He is a magna cum laude graduate of Princeton University and won a Rhodes Scholarship to Oxford where he studied English and history.
As Senior Adviser to Snap Inc., Stengel keeps pace with technology and policy as startup companies must comply with government regulations as they seek a profitable business model.
He is a regular guest on The 11th Hour with Brian Williams; Morning Joe and Andrea Mitchell Reports.
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FAQs
How do I book Richard Stengel for my event?
Contact CAA Speakers at (424) 288-2898 or speakers@caa.com to book Richard Stengel 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
- Review speaking fee and contract terms
- Sign agreement and finalize logistics
As one of the most influential talent agencies in the world, CAA handles all speaking engagements from contract to event day coordination.
Who is Richard Stengel's booking agent?
CAA Speakers is the preferred booking agency to contact for Richard Stengel’s speaking engagements. Contact speakers@caa.com for all Richard Stengel in-person appearances and keynote speaking requests.
Contact Richard Stengel's agent- Email: speakers@caa.com
- Website: caa.com/caaspeakers
- Response: Within 24 hours
CAA Speakers can check Richard Stengel's speaking calendar with direct access to availability and official pricing. While many websites may list Richard Stengel, CAA Speakers is the direct source for authentic information about availability and pricing.
What is Richard Stengel's speaking fee?
Richard Stengel's speaking fee varies by event type, location, and requirements. As a top keynote speaker, Richard Stengel's fee reflects their expertise and market demand.
Speaking fee factors:- Event type and audience size
- Travel distance and logistics
- Presentation length and customization
- Virtual vs. in-person delivery
Additional costs: Travel, accommodation, A/V requirements, and optional meet-and-greets.
Contact CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com for Richard Stengel's current speaking fee and detailed cost breakdown.
How much does it cost to book Richard Stengel as a keynote speaker?
The cost to book Richard Stengel as keynote speaker includes their speaking fee plus travel and logistics expenses.
Total booking cost includes:- Richard Stengel's keynote speaking fee
- Travel and accommodation
- Technical requirements and A/V setup
- Optional add-ons like book signing and meet & greets
- Virtual presentations
- Local/regional events
- Off-peak booking periods
- Flexible event dates
Email speakers@caa.com for Richard Stengel's exact booking cost and customized pricing proposal.
How to contact Richard Stengel for speaking engagements?
Contact CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com for all Richard Stengel speaking engagements.
Official contact for Richard Stengel bookings:- Email: speakers@caa.com
- Website: https://www.caa.com/caaspeakers/richard-stengel
- Response time: 24 hours
Include your event date, location, audience size, and budget when contacting CAA about booking Richard Stengel.
Is Richard Stengel available for virtual speaking events?
Yes, Richard Stengel speaks at virtual events with professional-grade equipment and interactive presentation style.
Richard Stengel's virtual event options:- Live virtual keynotes with Q&A
- Interactive workshops and breakouts
- Hybrid events (in-person + virtual)
- Pre-recorded presentations
Virtual events offer global reach, flexible scheduling, and reduced travel costs while maintaining Richard Stengel's engaging presentation quality.
Contact CAA Speakers for Richard Stengel's virtual event availability and technical specifications.
What events can I book Richard Stengel for?
Book Richard Stengel for corporate conferences, industry events, private functions, and virtual presentations. Richard Stengel customizes content for any audience size or event type.
Event types:- Corporate meetings and conferences
- Industry summits and trade shows
- Private executive retreats
- Educational institution events
- Virtual and hybrid conferences
Richard Stengel engages audiences from private executive meetings to large conferences with thousands of attendees.
Contact CAA Speakers to discuss how Richard Stengel can customize their presentation for your specific event.
Richard Stengel booking information and availability
Check Richard Stengel'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 Richard Stengel for your preferred event date.
Book Richard Stengel keynote speaker through CAA
Book Richard Stengel through CAA Speakers for guaranteed authentic representation and professional event coordination. CAA is the preferred booking agent for Richard Stengel, with direct access to their speaking availability and decades of experience representing the world’s top keynote speakers.
CAA booking advantages:- Direct access to Richard Stengel's calendar
- 24-hour availability confirmations
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- Full logistics coordination
- Industry-leading client service
Trusted by Fortune 500 companies for their most important speaking engagements. Contact speakers@caa.com to book Richard Stengel for your next event.
Will Richard Stengel speak at private events?
Yes, Richard Stengel speaks at private corporate events, executive retreats, board meetings, and exclusive functions.
Private event types:- Executive retreats and board presentations
- Client entertainment and VIP gatherings
- Corporate celebrations and award ceremonies
- Private dinners and exclusive functions
Private event benefits: Customized content, enhanced interaction, complete confidentiality, and flexible scheduling.
Contact CAA Speakers for Richard Stengel's private event availability and confidential pricing proposals.
How quickly will I get a response about booking Richard Stengel?
CAA Speakers responds to Richard Stengel 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 Richard Stengel?
Book Richard Stengel 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 Richard Stengel pricing information?
Get Richard Stengel 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.