Our Authors

Christopher Kennedy Lawford spent 20 years in the film and television industries. He is the author of two New York Times bestselling books, Symptoms of Withdrawal (2005) and Moments of Clarity (2009).

In recovery for more than 25 years from drug addiction, Lawford campaigns tirelessly on behalf of the recovery community. He presently works with the United Nations, the Canadian Center on Substance Abuse, the White House Office on Drug Control Policy, and the World Health Organization. Lawford holds a Master’s certification in clinical psychology from Harvard Medical School—where he held an academic appointment as a lecturer in psychiatry.

John Lawson, founder of 3rd Power Outlet and ColderIce Media, started his first business while still in high school. Later in life, John discovered how profitable online selling could be, and his company 3PO was born. Just five years later, it brought in $1 million in sales. To date, 3PO’s 300,000-plus transactions have garnered more than $25 million.

Mixergy calls Lawson a “power seller.” American Express hawks him as their “featured businessman.” Startup Nation says he’s the “savviest” in social media, and Small Biz Trends named him “Influencer of the Year.” He is an award-winning social media strategist, spokesperson for several corporations, commercial television personality, and a sought-after keynote speaker and instructor.

Tan Le is recognized as one of the most influential pioneers in the emerging field of brain-computer interface. An inventor, explorer, and entrepreneur, she is the founder and CEO of EMOTIV, a San Francisco-headquartered neuroinformatics company that is on a mission to improve understanding of the human brain and to develop a platform for researchers, developers, and consumers around the world to be part of a global innovation task force. Her first-of-its-kind “brainwear” reads user’s brainwaves, making it possible to control virtual objects with mere thoughts. Her company’s brainwear is leading the way to a bold new future, tapping into the power of the human brain and pushing the boundaries of our cognitive powers to open up new possibilities for improving performance and health, and ultimately, to prevent disease.

Born in South Vietnam, Tan migrated to Australia as a refugee with her family in 1981. She began university studies at the age of 16 and went on to complete a bachelor’s degree in law (honors) and commerce (honors) in 1998 at Monash University. In 1998, Tan was named Young Australian of the Year, catapulting her into a prominent role as a social activist and public speaker. She was voted one of Australia’s 30 Most Successful Women Under 30, and her story was featured in the “Hope” section of the Eternity Exhibition of the National Museum of Australia. Tan was featured in Fast Company’s Most Influential Women in Technology in 2010 and Forbes’ 50 Names You Need to Know in 2011. She was named a National Geographic Emerging Explorer in 2013 and has been honored by the World Economic Forum (WEF) as a Young Global Leader since 2009. Tan currently serves on the WEF’s Global Future Council on the Future of Neurotechnologies and Brain Science. The WEF’s Network of Global Future Councils is the world’s foremost interdisciplinary knowledge network dedicated to promoting innovative thinking on the future.

Dr. Paul J. LeBlanc is President of Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU). Since 2003, under Paul’s leadership, SNHU has grown from 2,800 students to over 150,000 learners and is the largest nonprofit provider of online higher education in the country. Paul served as Senior Policy Advisor to Under Secretary Ted Mitchell at the U.S. Department of Education, working on competency-based education, new accreditation pathways, and innovation. He serves on the National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity (NACIQI) and on the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine’s Board on Higher Education and Workforce (and served on its Committee on Quality in Undergraduate Education). He also serves on the ACE Board and chairs the AGB Council of Presidents. Paul immigrated to the United States as a child, was the first person in his extended family to attend college, and is a graduate of Framingham State University (BA), Boston College (MA), and the University of Massachusetts (PhD). From 1993 to 1996 he directed a technology start-up for Houghton Mifflin Publishing Company, was President of Marlboro College (VT) from 1996 to 2003, and became President of SNHU in 2003. His wife Patricia is an attorney and they have two daughters, Emma and Hannah.

Mike LeBlanc is a decorated Marine Corps major, Harvard Business School graduate, and proven entrepreneur with a track record of building and scaling companies at the highest levels. He is the cofounder of Foundation Future Industries, a defense-focused robotics company building autonomous systems for the Department of Defense, and previously served as the cofounder of Cobalt Robotics, a Silicon Valley startup backed by Sequoia, Founders Fund, and Coatue before its acquisition in 2024. With 13 years of service in the Marines LeBlanc deployed three times to the Middle East, led 150 troops against ISIS, and served as an economic and technology advisor to the Pentagon. His leadership and strategic vision have been featured in The Wall Street Journal, CNBC, Fast Company, and Business Insider.