Walter Isaacson

Walter Isaacson is an acclaimed American journalist, biographer, and professor, known for authoring best-selling biographies of influential figures such as Steve Jobs, Albert Einstein, and Leonardo da Vinci. His distinguished career in journalism began with roles at The Sunday Times in London and the New Orleans Times-Picayune. In 1978, he joined Time magazine, where he progressively held positions as political correspondent, national editor, and editor of new media. His literary career also commenced during this period, co-authoring ‘The Wise Men: Six Friends and the World They Made’ in 1986.

Isaacson’s leadership culminated in becoming Time magazine’s 14th editor in 1996. He released his first major biography, ‘Kissinger: A Biography,’ in 1992. Isaacson transitioned into executive leadership, serving as Chairman and CEO of CNN from 2001 to 2003, notably guiding the network through the events of September 11, 2001. Following this, he became the President and CEO of the Aspen Institute in 2003, a role he maintained for fifteen years until 2018.

During this period, he continued to author highly acclaimed biographies including ‘Benjamin Franklin: An American Life’ (2003) and ‘Einstein: His Life and Universe’ (2007). His 2011 biography, ‘Steve Jobs,’ became an international best-seller and garnered the Gerald Loeb Award in 2012. In the same year, he was named one of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people. His prolific writing continued with ‘The Innovators: How a Group of Inventors, Hackers, Geniuses, and Geeks Created the Digital Revolution’ in 2014, followed by ‘Leonardo da Vinci’ in 2017.

In recognition of his enduring contributions, he was awarded the National Humanities Medal in 2023. He continues to actively shape intellectual discourse through his academic position at Tulane University and his ongoing interviews for ‘Amanpour & Company,’ solidifying his reputation as a leading voice in history and biography.