Roben Farzad

Journalist, Broadcaster & Host of Public Radio’s “Full Disclosure”
  • Host of public radio’s “Full Disclosure," where he explores the forces that are shaping the current and future business landscape
  • Demystifies complex concepts in business, tech, economics, and policy with creative analysis and forward-thinking strategies for organizational innovation
  • Brings his engaging and charismatic personality — and his ability to make complex topics accessible and entertaining — as a keynote presenter, emcee, or moderator

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For a fresh take on today’s business landscape, paired with creative analysis on hot topics in tech; innovation; the economy; policy, media; and more, look no further than widely respected journalist, broadcaster, and author Roben Farzad. Farzad hosts public radio’s “Full Disclosure,” where he takes listeners on an audio exploration into the business of culture and the culture of business. In an exceptional career spanning more than two decades, Farzad has established himself as one of the most authoritative and influential voices on the matters that are driving industry and society forward in every corner of the globe.

Exclusively represented by Leading Authorities speakers bureau, Farzad brings incisive analysis, engaging storytelling, and a commitment to getting to the crux of the matter on the issues that are shaping the future of business, culture, and society. His gripping narrative style creates a unique experience for groups as he demystifies disruption and complex concepts in business, while thoughtfully interjecting pop culture references into his analysis in a way that makes the topics at hand that much more relatable and understandable to the audience. Farzad is exceptionally talented at uncovering compelling business cases where people least expect them, and, as an expert with master-level knowledge in various topic areas, can draw out tailored takeaways on what matters most to bankers, financiers, and leaders and professionals across industries.

A perennial presence in the media, Farzad frequently appears as a commentator on MSNBC, a special correspondent for “PBS NewsHour,” and on public radio’s midday radio newsmagazine “Here & Now,” as well as other public radio programming. He is also recognizable from his appearances on CNN, C-SPAN, CNBC, NBC’s “Dateline,” ABC’s “Good Morning America,” and more of the nation’s leading media outlets. Farzad was previously a senior writer for Bloomberg Businessweek, where he covered Wall Street, emerging markets, and international finance. His 2007 cover story on Colombia’s economic renaissance was brandished on Capitol Hill during free trade debates. Before that, he served as a reporting fellow for the New York Times and staff writer for the Wall Street Journal’s magazine, SmartMoney. In addition to his highly regarded work reporting from all over the world and interviewing the world’s most captivating figures in business and culture, Farzad is the bestselling author of Hotel Scarface: Where Cocaine Cowboys Partied and Plotted to Control Miami. In the book, Farzad leads readers on an insightful, tell-all journey into the rise and fall of the infamous Mutiny Hotel in Miami and the social and economic forces that shaped Miami’s drug-riddled underworld during the 1970s and 1980s.

Born in Iran and raised in Miami, Farzad is a graduate of Princeton University’s School of International Affairs and the Harvard Business School. He began his career in investment management at Goldman Sachs, on a team that managed more than $1.8 billion in assets. With a byline that has appeared in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Miami Herald, and Boston Globe — to name a few, he remains a passionate advocate for the power of journalism in amplifying the stories we need to know, and sparking change in the world.  

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Full Disclosure with Roben Farzad

Full Disclosure: Everything That’s Going on in the World Around You. In this keynote, acclaimed journalist, broadcaster, and author Roben Farzad brings the trademark wit and incisive analysis he displays as host of public radio’s “Full Disclosure” to your meeting. As he leads a deep dive into the intertwining worlds of business, culture, tech, economics, politics, and policy, he draws out tailored analysis on what’s going on in the world today and the ways in which we can anticipate that evolution in tech, policy, and the markets will shape the future of business and society. As he seamlessly weaves in pop culture references and applies them in ways that relate to the audience and gets them thinking about transformative issues and ideas in new and exciting ways, he offers thoughtful approaches for how organizations can navigate disruption to their businesses and industries with confidence and clarity.  

Disrupt or Be Disrupted: The Tech & Business Trends You Need to Know. From artificial intelligence and machine learning to the latest developments in fintech, e-commerce, and digital media, Roben Farzad, journalist and host of public radio’s “Full Disclosure” program, investigates the latest trends and emerging technologies that are shaping the future of business and innovation. While providing expert insights on the evolving business landscape, Farzad points to real-life examples of organizations that are successfully adapting to remain competitive in a marketplace that is rife with change and disruption, and highlights which strategies can be leveraged by other companies looking to do the same. His roadmap for how to keep ahead of the curve and move business in sync with disruption serves as a valuable starting point for organizations and individuals looking to tap into the most up-to-date tech and market insights to position their businesses for long-term success.  

Trends & Transformation: A Look at the Global Economy. For more than two decades, journalist and public radio host Roben Farzad has established himself as a source of truth for what’s really going on with the markets and the economy. Having reported in-depth on the biggest economic stories of our time, and had his analysis referenced by political leaders, Farzad brings new perspectives on the issues in a way that gets groups thinking about the impact on their organizations from important angles they have yet to consider. In this talk, he walks the audience through a high-level overview of the current micro and macroeconomic outlook as he helps them make sense of rising interest rates, continued inflation, supply chain issues, global conflict, and the various other factors that have brought the markets to where they are today and will influence the future of the economy. Able to create engaging stories from the facts that are in front of us, he problem-solves alongside groups as he helps them uncover opportunities to adapt their businesses based on what’s going on around them.

Informed and Engaged: What’s New in Politics & Policy. With a deep understanding of the complexities that exist within politics and policy, and a reputation for drawing out exclusive remarks from the leaders at the center of the biggest debates in Washington, D.C., Roben Farzad leads groups through a comprehensive look into the inner workings of the political landscape. Calling issues as he sees them and pointing to facts and figures that lend credibility to his analysis, Farzad brings audiences up to speed on the moment’s most pressing issues in politics, through the domestic and global lenses, and helps everyone in the room grasp how looming policy decisions impact every aspect of their day-to-day, as well as ways to pivot based on how events unfold.

Moderated by Roben Farzad. In addition to being a sought-after keynote speaker, public radio’s Roben Farzad, host of “Full Disclosure,” is an experienced moderator who is often called upon to facilitate high-level discussions and debates featuring experts from various industries and backgrounds. As a moderator, he sets the tone for the session and establishes rapport with panelists to keep the conversation on track and make room for every perspective to be heard.

Roben Farzad, the Emcee. The host of public radio’s “Full Disclosure,” Roben Farzad is known for his engaging and charismatic personality, and his ability to make complex topics accessible and entertaining. As an emcee, Farzad brings his unique blend of humor and intelligence to your event, keeping the audience engaged and entertained throughout the proceedings. Audiences benefit from his expertise in a wide range of topics, from business and finance to politics and culture which allows him to connect with speakers from a variety of backgrounds and fields, providing context and cohesion from start to finish, and ensuring everyone leaves informed, entertained, and inspired.

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