For the second year, the partnership between New Orleans Entrepreneur Week (NOEW) and New Orleans Book Festival (NOBF) unites two of New Orleans’ most impactful events, celebrating the intersection of culture, innovation, and big ideas. Through complementary programming and shared initiatives, this collaboration offers an unmatched opportunity to connect, learn, and inspire. Together, NOEW and NOBF showcase New Orleans as a vibrant hub where creativity fuels innovation, connections spark opportunity, and ideas – whether on the page or in the marketplace – have the power to make a lasting impact.

📈 New Orleans Entrepreneur Week: March 24–29, 2025


📚New Orleans Book Festival: March 27–29, 2025

CROSSOVER PROGRAMMING

Special “crossover sessions” in this year’s Book Fest programming align with this year’s NOEW themes, offering dynamic conversations and insights across key topics:

FRIDAY, MARCH 28

Igniting Startup Growth in the Crescent City | 3:30 PM


Authors/Speakers: Heidi Raines, Scott Wolfe
Location: NOEW, Loyola, JPMorgan Chase & Co Main Stage
NOEW Theme: Scale it Here
Book: Shared Voices: A Framework for Patient and Employee Safety in Healthcare

Learn from industry experts as they break down the strategies, challenges, and key lessons of securing seed and Series A funding. This discussion will offer real-world insights on navigating early-stage investment rounds to drive startup growth.

My Black Country | 3:30 PM


Authors/Speakers: Alice Randall, Arthel Neville, Grace Gibson, Layla McCalla
Location: NOEW, Loyola,  JPMorgan Chase & Co Main Stage
NOEW Theme: Start it Here
Book: MY BLACK COUNTRY

Hosted by Arthel Neville, the final NOEW event will feature the new MY BLACK COUNTRY memoir and album by award-winning  author and songwriter Alice Randall with guest performances by Black Americana Festival artist/entrepreneurs Dusky Waters and Teena May, and artists Grace Gibson, Leyla McCalla and special guests. Presented in partnership with Loyola’s College of Music and Media and the New Orleans Book Festival.


SATURDAY, MARCH 29

The Intelligence Revolution: How AI and Big Data are Changing the World | 12:00 PM - 12:45 PM


Authors/Speakers: Steven Johnson, Nicholas Mattei
Moderator: Robin Forman
Location: NOBF, Tulane University, Marshall Family Commons
NOEW theme: (Not So) Artificial Intelligence

Dive into the profound impact of artificial intelligence and big data on modern society, with Steven Johnson and Nicholas Mattei. They join Tulane Provost Robin Forman to unpack how these technologies are transforming education, industry, government and our daily lives, while exploring the opportunities and ethical challenges they bring.

Unit X: How the Pentagon and Silicon Valley are Transforming the Future of Warfare | 4:00 PM - 4:45 PM


Speakers/Authors: Christopher Kirchhoff
Moderator: Michael Wallace
Location: NOBF, Tulane University, Stibbs 203 - Lavin-Bernick Center
NOEW theme: (Not So) Artificial Intelligence

Christopher Kirchhoff (co-author of Unit X) shares an insider’s look at the Defense Innovation Unit, an elite unit within the Pentagon tasked with bringing Silicon Valley’s technology to the U.S. military.

NOTABLE INFLUENTIAL VOICES IN SOCIETY & BUSINESS:

The following additional authors speaking at New Orleans Book Festival align with the NOEW themes—exploring leadership, innovation, and impact. Learn more about them and their programming here.

  • DON LEMON: Journalist and author, Lemon’s expertise in media and communication can provide insights into how entrepreneurs and businesses can effectively shape narratives to drive impact and connect with diverse audiences.

  • NATE SILVER: Nate Silver is the New York Times bestselling author of The Signal and the Noise and On the Edge. He writes the popular Substack “Silver Bulletin,” and was the founder of FiveThirtyEight. A pioneer in the field of data journalism, he has been named one of Fast Company‘s 100 Most Creative People in Business, TIME's 100 Most Influential People, and Rolling Stone's 100 Agents of Change.

  • MAX BOOT: Historian and author, Boot’s expertise on historical and geopolitical dynamics offers valuable perspectives on leadership, strategy, and innovation during periods of uncertainty and change.

  • FRANCIS S. COLLINS, MD: Former Director of the National Institutes of Health, Collins’ work bridges genetics, medical research, and policy, making him an ideal contributor to discussions on biotech entrepreneurship and the future of health innovation.

  • KIM SCOTT: Kim Scott is the author of Radical Respect and Radical Candor. Kim was a CEO coach at Dropbox, Qualtrics, Twitter, and other tech companies. She was a member of the faculty at Apple University and before that led AdSense, YouTube, and DoubleClick teams at Google.

  • ROB LALKA: Rob is the Albert R. Lepage Professor in Business at Tulane University’s Freeman School of Business and Executive Director of the Lepage Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. He is the author of The Venture Alchemists, named one of the best business books of 2024, and a three-time recipient of the A.B. Freeman School’s Excellence in Intellectual Contributions Award.

  • MICHELLE K. JOHNSTON: A management professor, executive coach, and leadership expert serving as the Gaston Chair of Business at Loyola University New Orleans, Kim’s Her bestselling book, The Seismic Shift in Leadership, explores how connection drives results. Recognized as a top business leader and keynote speaker, she is also a member of the elite 100 Coaches group.

  • CHRIS LIPP: Chris Lipp is a social psychologist and author of three books on personal power and persuasion. His first book The Startup Pitch introduced the modern framework for investment pitches that is now used ubiquitously by global accelerators and institutions. He regularly works with business leadership and delivers talks to large organizations. Currently he serves as professor and director of management communication at Tulane University Freeman School of Business, where he teaches popular classes in leadership communication.