Golden Gavel Award
Toastmasters’ most prestigious award, the Golden Gavel, has been presented annually since 1959 to an individual distinguished in the fields of communication and leadership. The illustrious list of Golden Gavel honorees includes Dr. Joyce Brothers, Walter Cronkite, Stephen Covey, Anthony (Tony) Robbins, Debbi Fields Rose, Muhammad Yunus, and Zig Ziglar.
Recent Recipients
![2024 Honoree Lisa Sun waving on stage](medias/images/2024convention/2024-convention-gg-lisa-sun.jpg)
Lisa Sun, 2024 Honoree
Lisa Sun is the Founder and CEO of Gravitas, a fashion brand on a mission to catalyze confidence. Sun is the national best-selling author of Gravitas: The 8 Strengths That Redefine Confidence. She has always had a passion for style, inclusivity, and helping people look and feel their best.
Upon receiving the award, she told the audience, "This is so humbling…Toastmasters changed my life. You all do something very extraordinary…because you help people overcome the greatest fear which is speaking in front of others. It is something that you give as a gift in a risk-free environment. Public speaking is a way in which we change the world…we advocate for ourselves, we advocate for others, we advocate for causes and so thank you all for making a difference.”
![Yolett-McPhee-McCuin at the podium speaking](medias/images/2021-convention/golden-gavel-award-page/2023-golden-gavel-yolett-mcphee-mccuin.png)
Yolett McPhee-McCuin, 2023 Honoree
Yolett McPhee-McCuin, affectionately known as 'Coach Yo,' is the head coach for the University of Mississippi women's basketball program, which was returned to national prominence under her leadership.
She puts an emphasis on teaching, developing, and inspiring through character-building and leadership, on the court and in life.
Upon receiving the award, she told the audience, "I am a lifelong learner, and so I try to give back by teaching as much as I can."
![Shirley Davis on stage speaking](medias/images/2021-convention/golden-gavel-award-page/2022-golden-gavel-shirley-davis-phd.png)
Shirley Davis, PhD, 2022 Honoree
Shirley Davis, PhD, is an award-winning global workforce expert; as an international speaker, she delivers more than 100 speeches a year.
She is president and CEO of SDS Global Enterprises, which provides high-performing/inclusive solutions for workplace cultures. She was inducted into the Diversity and Inclusion Hall of Fame in 2021, and is the author of five books, including her newest—Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for Dummies.
![Liza Pavlakos](medias/images/2021-convention/golden-gavel-award-page/2021-golden-gavel-liza-pavlakos.png)
Liza Pavlakos, 2021 Honoree
Liza Pavlakos is a successful entrepreneur and a powerful speaker who has inspired audiences across six continents after overcoming homelessness, abduction, intense abuse, and human trafficking.
Founder of Positive Breakthroughs, she works with a team of experienced chartered psychologists, psychotherapists, counselors, and coaches who are committed to offering therapy to all individuals regardless of their age, race, culture, disability, sexual orientation, or socio-economic background.
![Julian Treasure](medias/images/thumbnails/2020-golden-gavel-julian-treasure.png)
Julian Treasure, 2020 Honoree
Julian Treasure is a sound and communication expert whose mission is to help people and organizations to listen better and create healthier and more effective sound, including speaking.
In 2003, Treasure founded The Sound Agency, an audio-branding company that asks and answers the question, “How does your brand sound?”.
Treasure’s five TED Talks have been viewed more than 100 million times. He is the author of: How to Be Heard and Sound Business.
![Jia Jiang](medias/images/2021-convention/golden-gavel-award-page/jia-jiang-2019-golden-gavel-honoree.png)
Jia Jiang, 2019 Honoree
“Being recognized by Toastmasters International as the 2019 Golden Gavel Award recipient is a great honor,” says Jiang. “I look forward to sharing my experiences with Toastmasters’ members and educating them on the benefits of rejection training.”
![Keith Ferrazzi, 2018 Honoree](medias/images/2021-convention/golden-gavel-award-page/keith-ferrazzi-2018-golden-gavel-honoree.png)
Keith Ferrazzi, 2018 Honoree
“I am honored to be presented with the prestigious Golden Gavel Award,” says Ferrazzi. “Toastmasters is a wonderful organization that has helped millions of people develop and improve their communication skills. Joining the group of past Golden Gavel recipients is humbling.”
![Erin Gruwell, 2017 Honoree](medias/images/2021-convention/golden-gavel-award-page/erin-gruwell-2017-golden-gavel-honoree.png)
Erin Gruwell, 2017 Honoree
“Toastmasters was a game-changer for me personally and professionally, and contributed to the growth of the Freedom Writers,” says Gruwell. “Being selected as the 2017 Golden Gavel Award recipient is an incredible honor and I accept the award on behalf of all of the teachers out there who, every day, go into a classroom and give of themselves so their students can learn to use wings to fly.”
![Tony Buzan, 2016 Honoree](medias/images/2021-convention/golden-gavel-award-page/tony-buzan-2016-golden-gavel-honoree.png)
Tony Buzan, 2016 Honoree
“It’s a great honor to be recognized by Toastmasters International as the 2016 Golden Gavel award recipient,” says Buzan. “I look(ed) forward to sharing my knowledge and experiences with an audience of esteemed communicators and leaders.”
![Muhammad Yunus, 2015 Honoree](medias/images/2021-convention/golden-gavel-award-page/muhammad-yunus-2015-golden-gavel-honoree.png)
Muhammad Yunus, 2015 Honoree
“It’s a tremendous honor to be recognized by Toastmasters International as the 2015 Golden Gavel Award recipient,” says Yunus. “Early in my life I committed myself to eliminating poverty and I accept this award on behalf of everyone who strives to serve and help the poor.”
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Past Golden Gavel Award RecipientsBack to Top
Year Recipient Industry 2024 Lisa Sun Entrepreneur, speaker, author 2023 Yolett McPhee-McCuin Transformational leader, women's basketball coach, founder of a non-profit organization 2022 Shirley Davis, PhD Global workforce expert, leadership coach, executive, author 2021 Liza Pavlakos Communication expert 2020 Julian Treasure Entrepreneur, philanthropist, speaker 2019 Jia Jiang Owner of Rejection Therapy, CEO of Wuju Learning 2018 Keith Ferrazzi Speaker, consultant, entrepreneur, author 2017 Erin Gruwell Teacher 2016 Tony Buzan Author 2015 Muhammad Yunus Nobel Laureate, economics professor, humanitarian 2014 Rohana Rozhan Business leader 2013 Susan Cain Leadership expert, author 2012 John C. Maxwell Leadership expert, author 2011 Robin Sharma Leadership expert, author 2010 Carolyn Kepcher Author, media personality, business leader 2009 Bruce Tulgan Author; founder and chairman, RainmakerThinking 2008 Pamela Wallin Canadian journalist, media personality 2007 Barbara De Angelis Radio personality, author 2006 Jim Kouzes Leadership expert, author, speaker 2005 Marcus Buckingham Leadership expert, author, speaker 2004 Dr. Stephen Covey Author; co-founder, Franklin Covey Company 2003 Debbie Fields Rose Author; founder, Mrs. Fields Cookies 2002 Dr. Richard Lederer Author, communication and leadership expert 2001 Jim Cathcart Author, speaker, human-development expert 2000 Nido Qubein Speaker, consultant, entrepreneur 1999 Zig Ziglar Speaker, author 1998 Jeanne Robertson Speaker, humorist 1997 Dr. Deepak Chopra Author, speaker 1996 Dr. LeRoy Walker President, U.S. Olympic Committee 1995 Tony Robbins Author, seminar leader 1994 Les Brown Motivational speaker 1993 Peter Legge Speaker, publisher 1992 Dr. Kenneth H. Blanchard Author, management expert 1991 Bill Gove Professional speaker, seminar leader 1990 Tom Peters Author, management expert 1989 Joel H. Weldon Professional speaker, seminar leader 1988 Grace M. Hopper Rear Admiral, U.S. Navy Reserve (retired); computer pioneer 1987 Dr. Wayne Dyer Psychologist, author, speaker 1986 Art Linkletter Author, speaker, TV personality 1985 Marva Collins Educator 1984 Dr. Charles W. Jarvis Humorist, lecturer 1983 Mark Russell Humorist, writer, lecturer 1982 Dr. Joyce Brothers Psychologist, author, speaker 1981 James L. Hayes Management expert, speaker 1980 Dr. Kenneth McFarland Philanthropist, lecturer, author 1979 Bob Richards Motivational speaker, Olympic champion 1978 Dr. Robert H. Schuller Theologian, author, lecturer 1977 Gordon Sinclair Newsman, broadcaster, author 1976 Earl Nightingale Broadcaster, author 1975 John W. Warner Administrator, American Revolution Bicentennial Administration 1974 Bobby Richardson Speaker, athletic coach 1973 Dr. S.I. Hayakawa Author, lecturer 1972 Cavett Robert Author, lecturer 1971 Wallace Jamie Director of International Public Relations, Carnation Company 1969 Walter Cronkite Newsman, journalist 1968 Greer Garson Stage, screen and television personality 1967 John W. Fisher Commissioner and Chairman of the Board, Canadian Centennial Commission 1966 Eugene J. McNeeley Former President, AT&T 1965 Robert Moses City planner and president, New York World's Fair 1964-65 1964 Lowell Thomas Writer, commentator, lecturer 1963 Dr. Ralph C. Smedley Founder, Toastmasters International 1962 Reed Harris Executive Assistant to the Director, U.S. Information Agency 1961 Eric Johnston President, Motion Picture Association of America 1960 Joseph N. Welch Boston attorney 1959 Dr. Frank C. Baxter Professor Emeritus, USC; television personality