Founder of the USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative; Advocate for Representation & Equality in the Entertainment Industry

Los Angeles, CA, USA
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Dr. Stacy L. Smith Biography

Dr. Stacy L. Smith is the recipient of the 2025 James Irvine Foundation Leadership Award and the founder of the USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative, a leading global think tank dedicated to research and advocacy on inequality within the entertainment industry. Smith has contributed significantly to the body of knowledge on this subject, authoring over 100 book chapters, articles, and reports on media and entertainment inequality. Her influence has extended to the digital stage as well, with her TED Talk reaching over 1.1 million views.

Smith has been a prominent figure at various high-profile venues, presenting her findings and advocating for change at institutions such as the United Nations, the White House, and film festivals in Sundance and Toronto. Her expertise has even been called upon by the U.S. Congress, where she has testified on the issue of inequality within the entertainment industry. In 2018, Smith introduced the inclusion rider, a contractual clause for actors that can require the cast and crew on a film to meet certain diversity criteria, which gained significant recognition during the Academy Awards.

Continuing her advocacy for representation in film, Smith launched the 4% challenge to encourage the hiring of more women directors, a campaign supported by Time’s Up, an advocacy group for women in the entertainment industry. Smith also champions Latino representation in film and has collaborated with actress and producer Eva Longoria. Alongside Cate Blanchett and Coco Francini, Smith co-launched the Proof of Concept Accelerator, an initiative backed by the Netflix Fund for Creative Equity, designed to support underrepresented creators in turning their ideas into reality.

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Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 12/09/2025.

Dr. Stacy L. Smith Videos

The Hidden Inequality in Podcasting: What the Numbers Reveal (with Dr. Stacy L. Smith)

The Hidden Inequality in Podcasting: What the Numbers Reveal (with Dr. Stacy L. Smith)

White men dominate podcasting. Our new report, Inequality in Popular Podcasts, reveals that the medium celebrated as the most accessible form of...

Kering | Women In Motion Talk with Taraji P. Henson and Dr. Stacy L. Smith, USC |Best of Cannes 2025

Kering | Women In Motion Talk with Taraji P. Henson and Dr. Stacy L. Smith, USC |Best of Cannes 2025

Kering’s Women In Motion is pleased to welcome actress and producer Taraji P. Henson in conversation with Dr. Stacy L. Smith, USC Annenberg...

What is an inclusion rider? - YouTube

What is an inclusion rider? - YouTube

At the 2018 Oscars, Francis McDormand's last two words of her best actress acceptance speech was "inclusion rider." USC Annenberg Dean, Willow Bay,...

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Dr. Stacy L. Smith is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics. The estimated speaking fee range to book Dr. Stacy L. Smith for your event is available upon request. Dr. Stacy L. Smith generally travels from Los Angeles, CA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Lisa Gelobter, Maya Wiley, Ijeoma Oluo, Tarana Burke and Yara Shahidi. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Dr. Stacy L. Smith for an upcoming live or virtual event.

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