Meet Marianne

Marianne Schnall is a journalist, author, and interviewer whose work has appeared in CNN.com, Refinery29, Thrive Global, Huffington Post, TIME.com, O, The Oprah Magazine, AOL Build, Marie Claire, Glamour, Women's Media Center, and many other media outlets. She is a regular contributor to ForbesWomen. Her wide-ranging interviews with global leaders span fields as diverse as entertainment, politics, business, spirituality, and environmental and social activism and include Oprah Winfrey, Maya Angelou, Melinda Gates, President Jimmy Carter, Jane Goodall, Wangari Maathai, Nancy Pelosi, Gloria Steinem, Kimberlé Crenshaw, Arianna Huffington, Anita Hill, Jane Fonda, Stacey Abrams, Amy Poehler and hundreds of others.

Marianne is the founder of Feminist.com, an online community that fosters awareness, education, and activism for people all across the world. She is also the founder of What Will It Take, a media platform bringing together existing stakeholders and champions of women’s leadership across industries and issues on a single platform to foster collaboration and coordination.

Marianne is the author of What Will It Take to Make a Woman President? Conversations About Women, Leadership & Power (recommended by Beyoncé), which features interviews with politicians, public officials, thought leaders, artists, and activists addressing the changing paradigms and issues around women, politics, and power. Her latest books, published by Simon & Schuster, include Leading the Way: Inspiring Words for Women on How to Live and Lead with Courage, Confidence, and Authenticity, and Dare to Be You: Inspirational Advice for Girls on Finding Your Voice, Leading Fearlessly, and Making a Difference. She was also a contributor to Robin Morgan’s anthology, Sisterhood is Forever: The Women’s Anthology for a New Millennium.

Marianne is the host of the podcast ShiftMakers, which highlights exclusive insights of luminaries and movement makers as they share wisdom on how to be an authentic changemaker today.

She has spoken at universities and conferences across the country, organized and moderated numerous events, salons, and panels, and appeared as a media source on outlets including CNN, BBC News, and NPR, as well as a contributor for WAMC’s nationally syndicated show “51%.”

Marianne graduated from Cornell University with a BA in English, and she is also a graduate of the Women’s Media Center’s Progressive Women's Voices media and leadership training program. She is the recipient of UN Women's Champion of Change Award and was ranked as one of the top global “Real Leaders 100” by Real Leaders Magazine. She is also an awardee of the International Women’s Media Foundation's Howard G. Buffett Fund for Women Journalists.

Through her writings, interviews, and websites, Marianne strives to raise awareness and inspire activism around important issues and causes.