“Being such a powerful person, how do you ground yourself, humble yourself and put things in perspective,” asked journalism major Spencer Petty.

Elizabeth Banks, director, writer, and producer of Charlie’s Angels, was interviewed by Professor Stacy L. Smith, founder of the Annenberg Inclusion Initiative and associate professor of communication. They discussed Banks’ latest film, her work, inclusion in film and the importance of female-driven projects.

PBS NewHour journalist, Lisa Desjardins spoke to USC Annenberg students and alumni on Oct. 22 as part of the R. Rebecca Donatelli Expert-in-Residence in Political Analysis and Media series. She was interviewed by Christina Bellantoni, director of the USC Annenberg Media Center and they discussed everything from job tips to the current political climate. This is a quick highlight of their discussion.

“Every day I think, ‘Am I doing right by the institution and by journalists? Am I doing what I need to do to preserve credibility and integrity of the industry?’” said POLITICO Editor Carrie Budoff Brown to a packed audience in the Wallis Annenberg Hall Forum last month.

“I think what I’ve learned from working on Moonlight is, we see what happens when you persecute people,” Mahershala Ali said as he accepted the 2017 Screen Actors Guild Award for outstanding performance by a male actor in a supporting role

“Authenticity is one of the most important values that I learned in my life,” said Paige Adams-Geller, founder and creator of premium denim brand Paige during a “Lunch with a Leader” event last month. “I was always people-pleasing; it was how I defined myself.”

On March 29, Congressman Joe Kennedy III was at USC Annenberg in conversation with Bob Shrum, director of the USC Dornsife Center for the Political Future.

“I seem these days always to be in search of what is affirming,” said Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. “I am desperately drawn to what is meaningful, what is human, what is beautiful.”