The USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work is excited to welcome veteran, leadership strategist, best-selling author and USC alumna Kristen Kavanaugh as keynote speaker for its 2026 Commencement Ceremony on May 15. Her career journey has taken her from the U.S. Naval Academy to the frontlines of military service, from grassroots community leadership to executive roles at the highest levels of the private sector.

Kavanaugh, MSW ’12, is the co-founder and CEO of The Agency Initiative, an Austin-based consulting firm focused on organizational effectiveness and courageous leadership. Dedicated to creating a world where more leaders choose courage in their most critical moments, she equips executive teams to navigate complexity with clarity, integrity and impact. She has spent her life serving people and building systems that work for everyone.

She co-authored "Courage Over Fear: Harness the Power of Agency to Lead in Uncertain Times," born out of her work with organizations navigating polarization and transformation in the face of uncertainty. It offers a practical path for leaders to align their values, decisions and actions in high-stakes environments, and makes the case for a different kind of leadership — one rooted in trust, resilience and curiosity rather than control and fear.

“I feel deeply honored to join the graduates of the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work at such a defining moment for our country,” Kavanaugh said. “Their choice to step into this work now is an act of courage — choosing purpose and service in a moment that demands it most.”

Her tenure as senior director of inclusion, talent and learning for Tesla formulated many of her foundational ideas on the need for courageous leadership on a global scale. Kavanaugh’s work has been featured in leading institutions across the country, her voice has been heard from TEDx to the Democratic National Convention, and her writing on LGBTQ+ military and veteran experiences has been published in academic texts and professional references. Whether addressing national security, leadership or inclusion, Kavanaugh brings clarity, candor and motivation to every room she enters.

“Kristen has been a tremendous ambassador for the social work profession,” said Vassilios Papadopoulos, interim dean of USC Social Work. “Her fearless conviction and dedication to meeting the needs of society through authentic and effective leadership practices is a message that will encourage our graduates as they begin their careers.”

Kavanaugh is also host of The Drive Home podcast, a candid exploration of the emotional cost of modern life. Designed for the average commute, episodes examine how politics, work relationships, and the digital age shape how people think and feel, helping listeners make sense of themselves in a world that increasingly makes little sense.