Shirley Franklin

Shirley Franklin

Keynote Speaker: Executive Board Chair of Purpose Built Communities; Former Mayor of Atlanta, Georgia; Visiting Professor at The LBJ School

Shirley Franklin Biography

Shirley Franklin is the executive board chair of Purpose Built Communities, the former mayor of Atlanta, George, and a visiting professor at The LBJ School in Austin, Texas.

In 2022, she was inducted as a Georgia Trustee, an honor given by the Georgia Historical Society in conjunction with the Governor of Georgia to individuals whose accomplishments and community service reflect the ideals of the founding body of Trustees, which governed the Georgia colony from 1732 to 1752.

Franklin was the 58th Mayor of Atlanta and the first African American woman to hold the office of a major Southern city in 2002 where she served two terms until 2009. Prior to elected office, Franklin served in the executive position, Chief Administrative Officer and Chief Operating Officer in the mayoral administrations of Mayors Maynard Jackson and Andrew Young completing 21 years of public service in 2010.

As Mayor and as city administrator, Franklin developed and led all aspects of local government of day-to-day municipal operation. Her record of accomplishment as a collaborator and partner with communities and businesses alike set the stage for the unprecedented growth of the city and region into the 21st century.

Ms. Franklin is best known for tackling major government operations, leading the city investment in critical water and airport infrastructure and promoting ethics reform. Her administration planned and executed over $5 billion in the improvements to the water infrastructure as well as Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport. For example: In 2002, Franklin announced an initiative called "Clean Water Atlanta" to address and begin improving the city's sewer system. She led the acquisition of the Morehouse College Collection for the Martin Luther King Jr. Papers. Ms. Franklin is also known for launching the Atlanta Beltline and the Regional Commission on Homelessness by developing successful business and public sector partnerships and alliances.

Aside from her public appearance, Ms. Franklin has participated in Community Service for nearly 40 years. Most notably, she led the Board of Directors of the National Center for Civil and Human Rights for 14 years.

Franklin serves on the Board of Directors of the Volcker Alliance and is a former board member of Mueller Water Products and Delta Air Lines. She is a contributor to several books: "Leaders on Ethics," "Real-World Perspectives on Today's Business Challenges," "Principles for a Successful Life," "Megaregions- Planning for Global Competitiveness," and "Investing in What Works for America's Communities."

In 2005, TIME Magazine named Franklin one of the five best big-city American mayors. In October of that same year, she was included in the U.S. News & World Report "Best Leaders of 2005" issue. Mayor Franklin was the recipient of Profile in Courage Award in 2005, issued by the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation. The foundation praised her management of the city of Atlanta during the critical period of enormous deficit and loss of public confidence in government.

Contact a speaker booking agent to check availability on Shirley Franklin and other top speakers and celebrities.

Shirley Franklin Videos

2018 Dan Sweat Award: Shirley Franklin
Shirley Franklin: The 2018 MLK Day Address

How do I book Shirley Franklin to speak at my event?

Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Shirley Franklin for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Shirley Franklin, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Shirley Franklin or any other speaker of your choice.

How much does it cost to book Shirley Franklin for a speaking engagement?

Speaking fees for Shirley Franklin, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Shirley Franklin are Below $10,000 for live events and Below $10,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Shirley Franklin, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.

What topics does Shirley Franklin speak about?

Shirley Franklin is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Political, Government, Women's Rights, Civil Rights, Diversity & Inclusion, Social Activism, Reproductive Rights, Female Leadership, Leadership, Workshop, Economy, Finance, Democrat, Women, Overcoming Adversity, Real Estate, Business and Culture.

Where does Shirley Franklin travel from?

Shirley Franklin generally travels from Atlanta, GA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.

Who is the agent for Shirley Franklin?

AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Shirley Franklin for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Shirley Franklin for your next private or corporate function.

What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Shirley Franklin or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.

Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.


Shirley Franklin is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics including Political, Government and Women's Rights. The estimated speaking fee range to book Shirley Franklin for live events is Below $10,000, and for virtual events Below $10,000. Shirley Franklin generally travels from Atlanta, GA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Bushra Amiwala, Rebecca Walker and Lolita Taub. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Shirley Franklin for an upcoming event.

Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 18/03/2025.

Shirley Franklin Videos

2018 Dan Sweat Award: Shirley Franklin
Shirley Franklin: The 2018 MLK Day Address

Shirley Franklin Reviews

  • LaGrange College - Jan 20 2018

  • How do I book Shirley Franklin to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Shirley Franklin for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Shirley Franklin, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Shirley Franklin or any other speaker of your choice.
  • How much does it cost to book Shirley Franklin for a speaking engagement?

    Speaking fees for Shirley Franklin, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Shirley Franklin are Below $10,000 for live events and Below $10,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Shirley Franklin, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
  • What topics does Shirley Franklin speak about?

    Shirley Franklin is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Political, Government, Women's Rights, Civil Rights, Diversity & Inclusion, Social Activism, Reproductive Rights, Female Leadership, Leadership, Workshop, Economy, Finance, Democrat, Women, Overcoming Adversity, Real Estate, Business and Culture.
  • Where does Shirley Franklin travel from?

    Shirley Franklin generally travels from Atlanta, GA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.
  • Who is the agent for Shirley Franklin?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Shirley Franklin for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Shirley Franklin for your next private or corporate function.
  • What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Shirley Franklin or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
  • Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

    If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.
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All American Entertainment (AAE) exclusively represents the interests of talent buyers, and does not claim to be the agency or management for any speaker or artist on this site. AAE is a talent booking agency for paid events only. We do not handle requests for donation of time or media requests for interviews, and cannot provide celebrity contact information.