Tara Kangarlou is an award-winning global affairs journalist, recognised for her comprehensive reporting and production for NBC-LA, CNN, and Al Jazeera America. As a keynote speaker, Tara brings her vast experience and profound insights into global conflicts and humanitarian issues. One of her most notable achievements is founding Art of Hope, a nonprofit supporting the mental health of war-torn refugees.
Tara's early career is marked by her robust educational background and early journalistic ventures. She earned a Bachelor's degree in English Literature from UCLA and a Master's degree in Journalism from USC. This academic foundation equipped her with the skills necessary to embark on a dynamic career in journalism. Her initial roles included significant contributions to CNN, where she covered major events like President Obama’s 2013 inauguration and the Boston Marathon bombings. Her journalistic prowess quickly gained recognition, paving the way for her prominent role in global reporting. Most recently, Tara has become a Board Member of the International Women's Media Foundation and an Adjunct Professor at Georgetown Univesity Walsh School of Foreign Service, where she teaches the power of humanised storytelling and journalism.
prestigious Edward R. Murrow Award and an Emmy Award for her exceptional reporting. Additionally, her book, ‘The Heartbeat of Iran’, has garnered critical acclaim, earning her the Nautilus Book Award and making her an Amazon bestseller. Tara's dedication to humanitarian causes and her exceptional storytelling make her a compelling keynote speaker. Her talks not only highlight pressing global issues but also emphasise the importance of mental health, cultural diplomacy, and empathy. Engaging with her enables audiences to gain a deeper understanding of the world’s complexities and the shared humanity that binds us all.
Hire Tara Kangarlou as a keynote speaker for her unique ability to connect complex global issues with personal, human stories. She discusses topics such as global affairs, the Middle East, humanitarian issues and mental health, bringing depth and empathy to her presentations. Tara Kangarlou’s firsthand experience in conflict zones and her work with refugees provide invaluable insights into the realities faced by vulnerable populations. Her expertise in cultural diplomacy and storytelling further enhances her ability to foster understanding and empathy among diverse audiences. By hiring Tara, organisations gain a speaker who not only informs but also inspires action and compassion.
How to hire Tara Kangarlou
Contact the Champions Speakers Agency to provisionally enquire about hiring Tara Kangarlou for your next event, today. To get in touch, simply call an official booking agent on 0207 1010 553 or email us at [email protected] for more information.
** We do not accept requests for autographs, signed merchandise, fan mail, birthday messages or any other non-commercial contact with the speakers or acts. Each speaker on the website may not have necessarily worked with Champions in the past but are known to perform such engagements within the industry.
Tara Kangarlou's official speaking topics are listed below:
Global Affairs
As a world-class journalist, Tara can discuss and moderate conversations around politics and global affairs with a strong focus on people’s stories and the realities at stake for ordinary people affected by the issues at hand. Tara has years of experience interviewing high-ranking officials, heads of state, and movers and shakers from the public and private sectors, where her knowledge of the topic, confidence, and passion for the issue come through in each sitting and conversation.
The Middle East Region (With Expertise in Iran & the Levant)
Born and raised in Iran until her late teens and a well-traveled reporter in the region, Tara has lived and breathed the air in the Middle East for almost all her life. Her indisputable knowledge of the colours, complexities, and nuances of life in the region makes her an exceptional thought leader, speaker, and interviewer on a host of issues covering the Middle East, Afghanistan, and North Africa. More so, her extensive knowledge of real life on the ground, the people, their culture, aspirations and grievances make Tara an outstanding person who can wisely, authentically and empathetically engage in any conversation and discourse on the region.
Humanitarian Issues & the Global Refugee Crisis
Having covered a host of humanitarian issues worldwide for years, Tara’s textured knowledge of the many challenges facing the global refugee crisis, humanitarian issues worldwide and the politics around the topic - especially those pertaining to women and girls, as well as migrant challenges make her an ideal candidate to moderate or speak on the topic.
Immigrant Life & the Quest for Homeland
Tara’s own immigrant journey leaving Iran for the US makes her a well-versed authority in unpacking the complexities of immigrant life in a new country and the meaning of “home”. Her own battle in breaking stereotypes against Iranians, Arabs, Muslims and those from the Middle East in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks in the US in addition to her cumbersome personal story breaking in the mainstream American news industry all make her an authentic voice to discuss the host of challenges, emotional struggles, and daily realities of life as an immigrant.
Mental Health & Aid Work
In her years of covering global humanitarian issues - in particular the impact of war, conflict, and displacement on children and youth, Tara has been a staunch and vocal advocate for the mental and psychological well-being of war-torn refugees and caregivers affected by war. Angered by what she saw in the field, in late 2016, Tara founded the first American nonprofit organization committed to the mental and psychological well-being of war-torn refugees, IDPs, and vulnerable members of host communities in some of the most devastated parts of our world. To date, ART OF HOPE has served 3000 individuals in Lebanon, Southern Turkey, Eastern Ukraine and elsewhere in the Middle East cope with the invisible wounds of war and displacement. In addition, Tara’s own struggles with anxiety as a working journalist in the field topped with losing her older sister to Mental Health, make her an empathetic and knowledgeable voice on this vital issue that affects people in various forms."
Cultural Diplomacy
Having seen the power of people-to-people engagement in her reporting and storytelling, Tara is a big believer and practitioner in the field of cultural engagement between people and societies — especially those lacking engagement due to political issues at hand. Tara’s work has often focused on the powerful and progressive outcomes of cultural engagement between estranged societies and people by way of art, music, storytelling, and food. In many ways, her award-winning book The Heartbeat of Iran is a case study of such an effort where she allows the Western world to engage with ordinary Iranian people (from different walks of life) through storytelling. In Tara’s own words, "It is through cultural engagement, storytelling, and exchange between people of different societies and backgrounds that fear gives way to understanding, bigotry to knowledge, and prejudice to empathy."
The Art of Storytelling
An exceptionally masterful storyteller, Tara knows how to engage her audience in seeing, hearing, and feeling those whose stories she shares. Whether for television, print or a wider global audience, Tara has a way of bringing out the heart and soul of the issue in her words, writing, and storytelling. Furthermore, Tara has facilitated numerous storytelling workshops for her charity organization ART OF HOPE and other schools and organizations. Embedded in her strong journalism and reporting skills, Tara is a talented, soulful, and authentic storyteller for a wide range of readers, viewers and audiences worldwide.
Journalism & Reporting from the Frontline
Few people can manoeuvre so effortlessly between various countries and societies whilst easily connecting with the people on the ground. Rooted in her training and humility, Tara has deeply embedded herself in a diverse host of communities around the world — many extremely vulnerable and dangerous at times — to capture the stories and realities of life for the people on the ground. She is also an active board member at IWMF (International Women’s Media Foundation) where she advocates for the safety, security, and mental well-being of female journalists on the frontline. Charged by her motto of “accuracy, transparency, and trust”, Tara takes her vast knowledge of field reporting to her classroom where she teaches journalism and the power of humanized storytelling at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service. Rooted in her knowledge of the craft, she educates and engages the next generation of journalists, diplomats and policymakers on the vital need to capture the realities at stake for people whose lives are being affected by whatever crises at hand.
Cultural Inclusion & the Power of Diversity - For Adults & Children
Born out of her own struggles as an Iranian immigrant, Tara openly talks about the challenges of being the “other” in the room; and ultimately why, at this stage, she believes in the power of “owning our heritage and roots” instead of giving up our “identity” in order to belong. These are realities that she has written about extensively and oftentimes talks about in public. Tara often times taps into this important topic in her speaking engagements for adults, professionals as well as youngsters and students — especially through her inspiring chapter in Rebel Girls’ latest book Dear Rebel.
The Need for Empathy in Politics, Governance & Peace Building
Building on her robust belief in cultural diplomacy, Tara can deeply tap into the need for engagement and empathy in bridge-building between cultures and societies— especially those estranged countries and communities. From her own experiences as an immigrant to her multifaceted journey as a global affairs journalist, Tara knows firsthand the dangers of misinformation, bigotry and isolation in shedding light on the realities of life in various parts of the world as well as the desperate need to connect people by way of understanding, mutual interests, and dialogue — elements that will evoke empathy, which in the longer term can be an effective vehicle for peace-building, growth, and engagement.
Lifestyle, Charity Events & Fundraising
Due to her deep knowledge of a wide range of issues and engagements with various brands, companies, and charities, Tara is an exceptional person to host, moderate, and represent luxury brands, credible charities and mission-oriented companies. A graceful chameleon, on the one hand, Tara can be covering the Iranian presidential election, and the war in Syria while being on the ground in the largest refugee camp in the world, while on the other, covering the Academy Awards, and teaching at one of the top universities in the world and partnering with a luxury lifestyle brand on mental health and fundraising for a cause.
Official Feedback from In-Person & Virtual Events
Feedback from In-Person Events:
"Tara is an eloquent and engaging speaker who can effortlessly hold the attention of an audience with her thought-provoking questions and conversations. It was a pleasure to have her moderate my book launch and to hear her at other speaking engagements." - Maria, Founder, KUMA
"Tara is an exceptional moderator and host as she leads very insightful conversations, unpacking complex subjects with a truly simple, refined and engaging approach. I have seen Tara in action many times, hosting and facilitating multiple events and covering several topics; from current affairs to mental health to fashion and female empowerment Tara manoeuvres within topics effortlessly and with the full confidence and knowledge of a true professional. Tara is able to connect with any kind of audience, including children. Her thorough preparation, professionalism and her personality enrich any conversation, whilst entertaining very varied audiences." - Alessandra, Head of Training Europe & Middle East, Loewe
"Tara is not only a knowledgeable, deep and prolific writer but also an inspiring speaker and a masterful moderator. She brings clarity and solicitousness to the nuances of the Middle East region, especially on the complexities that are often missed or misunderstood in Iran. An intentional storyteller, Tara brings truth to power in her writings, her interviews and speaking engagements." - Merissa, Director, Middle East Program, The Wilson Center
"Tara is a world-class journalist who brings her many years of television news experience into any event entwined with authentic empathy and breadth of knowledge on a host of topics that are a direct result of her reporting in the field. She has a warm heart full of passion that is unparalleled to those in her industry." - Michelle, Head Booking Producer & Senior Producer, NewsNation
"Tara brings a great depth of expertise, knowledge and wonderful energy to the table every time. She fully understands the brief and fulfils it with skilled professionalism." - Marketing Consultant
- 2024 - Contributed to discussions on conflict resolution and peacebuilding at the Wilson Center
- 2023 - Appointed to the Board of Directors at the International Women’s Media Foundation (IWMF)
- 2023 - Keynote Speaker at Northeastern University, Boston, MA 2021 - Independent Publisher Book Awards for 'The Heartbeat of Iran'
- 2021 - Nautilus Book Awards for 'The Heartbeat of Iran'
- 2021 - Amazon #1 Middle East BestSeller for Three Consecutive Weeks for 'The Heartbeat of Iran'
- 2019 - Art of Hope recognised as a Force for Change by HRH Duke and Duchess of Sussex
- 2018 - Network 20/20 Ted Sorensen Award for impact journalism and humanitarian work in conflict zones
- 2017 - Keynote Speaker at the International Conference on Syrian Education, Istanbul, Turkey
- 2017 - Live Streaming Anchor for Concordia Summits, New York City
- 2016 - Founded 'Art of Hope', the first American nonprofit focused on supporting the mental health of war-torn refugees and IDPs
- 2015 - Led Al Jazeera America’s team reporting from inside Iran during the historic nuclear negotiations
- 2013 - Emmy Award with K-NBC
- 2013 - Edward R. Murrow Award with K-NBC
- 2012 - Honoured with the SPJ Award for Excellence in Journalism
- 2011 - Hosted & produced a TEDx talk at Stanford University
