Opening Session with Luvvie Ajayi Jones

Wednesday, March 23
8:30 AM–10:00 AM

Oregon Convention Center, Hall A–A1

New York Times best-selling author, podcast host and professional troublemaker, Luvvie Ajayi Jones will kick off the PLA 2022 Conference by challenging attendees to overcome their fears and get comfortable with being uncomfortable.

 

Luvvie Ajayi Jones is a New York Times best-selling author, sought-after speaker, and podcast host who thrives at the intersection of comedy, media, and justice. Her debut book, I'm Judging You: The Do-Better Manual, hit the New York Times best-sellers list at #5 in its first week. Her latest book, Professional Troublemaker: The Fear-Fighter Manual, was released on March 2, 2021 and also became an instant New York Times best-seller.

Selected for Oprah Winfrey’s inaugural Supersoul 100 list for “elevating humanity,” Ajayi Jones is known for her trademark wit, warmth, perpetual truth-telling, and trouble-making. Internationally recognized, she has graced stages around the globe for some of the world's most innovative companies and conferences, including Google, Facebook, Amazon, Twitter, MAKERS, SXSW, and the Obama White House. Her wildly popular TED talk, "Get comfortable with being uncomfortable," has over 5 million views and climbing.

On a mission to call fear out, she hosts her podcast, Professional Troublemaker, where she and her guests engage in entertaining, transparent conversations about living life loudly, with courage and conviction, humor and honesty; recognizing that the things we must do are more significant than our fears. For all things culture with a critical-yet-humorous lens, visit her site, AwesomelyLuvvie.com. Ajayi Jones also hosts her own social platform called LuvvNation and is co-creator of the #SharetheMicNow2020 global movement. The campaign amplified the voices of Black women by having white women with huge followings swap social media platforms with Black women.

Her alma mater, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, honored her with the Outstanding Young Alumni Award, and the Council of Urban Professionals presented her with their Breakthrough Award. Her work has been featured in outlets such as The New York Times, NPR, Forbes, Inc, Fortune, Essence, Chicago Tribune, and more.

Born in Nigeria, bred in Chicago, and comfortable everywhere, Ajayi Jones enjoys laying around in her plush robe, eating a warm bowl of jollof rice in her free time. Her love language is shoes.

 

PLA thanks OCLC for its exclusive support of this event.