About Us

The Simon & Schuster Speakers Bureau was established in 2008 to bring our authors to live audiences in the same manner we publish books: with excellence. On our roster, you will find some of the most compelling and diverse voices on today’s lecture circuit, including celebrity authors, bestselling novelists, award winning journalists, innovative thinkers, technology experts, and individuals who have led remarkable lives with lessons for us all. Simon & Schuster speakers appear at a broad range of engagements, from colleges and lecture series, to corporations, associations, industry conferences, and beyond, uniting audiences and sparking meaningful conversations worldwide. We hope you will browse our website and learn more about the wide range of speakers we represent. Our dedicated team of in-house lecture agents will be happy to assist with your event programming needs. With in-depth industry knowledge and a continually curated roster of in-demand speakers, our team is enthusiastic about connecting your audience with the right speaker to create a memorable experience.    

Simon & Schuster is a global leader in general interest publishing, dedicated to providing the best in fiction and nonfiction for readers of all ages, and in all printed, digital and audio formats. Its distinguished roster of authors includes many of the world’s most popular and widely recognized writers, and winners of the most prestigious literary honors and awards. It is home to numerous well-known imprints and divisions such as Simon & Schuster, Scribner, Atria Books, Gallery Books, Pocket Books, Adams Media, Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing and Simon & Schuster Audio and international companies in Australia, Canada, India and the United Kingdom, and proudly brings the works of its authors to readers in more than 200 countries and territories. For more information visit our website at www.simonandschuster.com.

Meet the Team!

Erin Simpson (she/her), Senior Director, joined S&S in 2019 to lead the relaunch of the Speakers Bureau. She has previously worked at the PRH Speakers Bureau, HarperCollins, and The Business Journals. A Penn State grad, she lives in Brooklyn with her family. When she’s not chasing her two kids around local playgrounds, she’s ideally on the beach with a book and a bagel.

Emily Varga (she/her), Manager, an agent on the Speakers Bureau team. She joined the Bureau in 2019 to help the in-house launch with Erin, and was previously a broadcast associate at CBS news. Emily works on pitching and event brokering. She is originally from New Jersey, but currently lives in Brooklyn and is an avid runner, sourdough baker, New York sports fan, and dog lover.

Lexie von der Luft (she/her), Coordinator, joined the Bureau in 2023 after graduating from Davidson College with majors in English and Political Science. She coordinates all event logistics, such as flights, lodging, and car services, and provides speakers with a detailed itinerary before events. Besides reading, Lexie is passionate about fashion, animated movies, and the power of friendship.

Leslie Zhina (she/her), Assistant, joined the Speakers Bureau in 2025 after graduating from New York University with a major in English Literature with a Creative Writing Concentration. She manages speaker social media and website presence. Leslie loves to write fiction and creative nonfiction, watch films, try out new recipes, and hang out with her bilingual cat, Philip.