Bruce George

Bruce George is a celebrated cultural pioneer and visionary thought leader with a career spanning more than three decades. He is the Founder of the Genius Is Common Movement—a global call to action that redefines the meaning of genius and empowers individuals across all walks of life to recognize the brilliance in their everyday talents. Whether through art, entrepreneurship, caregiving, or street smarts, George’s work inspires youth, educators, creatives, and underserved communities to embrace their innate genius as a birthright rather than a privilege.

As co-founder of "Russell Simmons Presents Def Poetry Jam" on HBO, George helped bring the voices of spoken word artists to the mainstream, earning both a Peabody Award and a Tony Award for the groundbreaking series. In 2024, President Joe Biden honored George with the President’s Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing his enduring impact on creative empowerment and social consciousness.

A self-described “Word Engineer,” George wears many hats: activist, educator, speaker, writer, poet, master quoteologist, bibliophile, digital realtor, muckraker, and iconoclast. His wide-ranging body of work is fueled by an unwavering commitment to the democratization of genius and a passion for challenging societal norms.