Maria Ressa

CEO of Rappler, Journalist, Author, Freedom Advocate

2021 Nobel Peace Prize Winner

If you’re looking to inspire your audience with a fearless, fighting journalist and pioneering digital entrepreneur, consider Rappler.com CEO Maria Ressa.

Her 2021 Nobel Peace Prize forever recognized her brave efforts to call out “fake news” and disinformation. Maria’s techniques and tools are next-gen, but her ability to uncover corruption is old-school and hard edge. She’s a reporter in the true sense of the term “freedom of speech:” she’s currently out on bail pending the appeal of her conviction of cyber-libel. Add it to the pile – she’s had at least 10 arrest warrants – so far.

In the meantime, you be the judge: Maria exposed the Duterte government’s corrupt practices, an evil that unfortunately is not just limited to the Philippines. Calling out the world’s bad actors is a life calling for Time magazine’s Person of the Year (2018) and one of its 100 Most Influential People (2019).

Maria is globally acknowledged for her brave – sometimes life-risking/sometimes one-woman – battles to “safeguard freedom of expression, which is a precondition for democracy and lasting peace.” Now she is ready to share her story and advise how to create, grow and maintain corporate governance, values and strategy. She’ll also connect the dots as to how social media often deceives and entrenches political power, a dilemma that we all face.

Need to know more? Devour the 2020 documentary A Thousand Cuts, which features Maria’s ballsy reporting on the abuses of the Duterte presidency.

How to Stand up to a Dictator, Maria’s third book, is an urgent cry for readers worldwide to recognize and understand the dangers to our freedoms before it is too late.

Translated into 18 languages, How to Stand up to a Dictator is now available in the U.K. through Penguin Books and available worldwide via Harper Collins.

How To Stand Up To A Dictator - UK Edition  How to Stand Up to a Dictator

Maria now travels the world speaking to organizations of all kinds on freedom of the press, democracy, and corporate governance.

Read more on Maria’s work:
Maria Ressa, Dmitry Muratov’s 10-point plan to address the information crisis
THe Guardian Interview: Nobel peace laureate Maria Ressa: ‘In 2024, democracy could fall off a cliff’

Please contact us to receive her complete biography.

 
 

Sample Talks

The crowd was mesmerized. Speechless, until one guest asked how she had hope. Maria’s energy and positivity allows her to deliver the message we all so desperately need to hear in a way we can truly understand it and reflect on it. Maria was warm and open, curious about our group and completely engaging. Only we as individuals can solve the problem of facts: around our dinner tables and in our communities, by listening to people firsthand."
Darla C. StuckeyPresident & CEO - (Society for Corporate Governance)
"On behalf of Mediacorp, we would like to thank you for participating in our CNA Leadership Summit 2022: Women Inspiring Change on International Women’s Day, Tuesday, 8 March. It was our privilege to have you as our speaker in our keynote fireside chat session.  Your candid insight on journalism’s advocacy, viral disinformation, women’s empowerment and holding on to ideals are certainly insightful and inspiring at the Summit. We hope you enjoyed the session as much as we did."
CJ Young, LeadCommercial Engagement, News Group (Mediacorp Pte Ltd) (Virtual)
"Many Thanks for your wonderful speech on May 29th in the 2022 Asia Journalism Forum. Your speech impressed the audience. Your voice is a bell tolling for the coming tremendous crisis of truth and trust which are bases of democracy. And you won't be alone with the many allies standing by you, including us."
Eve ChiuCEO, The Foundation for Excellent Journalism Award
"Maria was one of the major reason why this congress became such a success. Her engagement, communication skills and her empathy and openness toward other participant is rare. She is a queen."
Veslemøy ØstremProgram Committee - (World Expression Forum)
"Her remarks were insightful, engaging and inspiring. She explained in a lively and interesting way a very complex and sophisticated story, drawing on current events and data. A real feast for the brain and the heart."
Nathalie Des RosiersPrincipal - Massey College, University of Toronto (Camden Conference)
"Thank you for joining us as a plenary speaker at the 2021 Skoll World Forum and for your thoughtful preparation in developing your keynote. The Closing Plenary aired this morning to a community of 1000+ and the admiration for you and your work was off the charts. There were more than 100 comments from attendees during your segment – I won’t post them all, but these encapsulate the sentiments:
    • Maria Ressa is our hero
    • I'm utterly in awe of this woman's courage
    • What a voice of reason and strength! Thank you @MariaRessa
    • “Without facts we don't have truth, without truth we don't have trust" ..Amazing Maria
    • Maria Ressa is an absolute legend, inspiration, and champion. #iLike3sToo
    • This woman is just so amazing. It's great to hear from her here.
    • I am bowing deeply to Maria Ressa and her amazing courage, inspiration and crystal clear message. WOW!!!
    • Thanks, I accept the assignment! Pulling for you!
Jessica FleutiDirector & Curator, Convenings (Skoll Foundation)
"Maria was a delight to work with and a stand-out speaker at the conference. Her speaking style is engaging and her story is compelling - and frightening. Thank goodness she injects humor from time to time! Our survey results are not all in yet, but I know from verbal feedback that she was the crowd favorite" 
Charlotte SingletonChair, Program Committee (Camden Conference)
"Maria’s interview was my favorite during the festival. We have received great feedback about it. She gave us a good range of both very specific examples when answering questions, and context by connecting those to the bigger, global picture-- esp on freedom of the press as it relates to our predominantly American audience." 
Katie CassettaPM (Aspen Ideas Festival) (Virtual)
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