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Leo Hill Leadership Speaker Series with Gigi Pritzker

Award-winning producer Gigi Pritzker to speak at CU Boulder

Gigi Pritzker Headshot

Gigi Pritzker, acclaimed producer and CEO of Madison Wells, will visit the Ƶ18 on Monday, Nov. 17, as the featured speaker in the Leo Hill Leadership Speaker Series, hosted by the CU Center for Leadership.

Pritzker’s talk will delve into the transformative power of bold storytelling—highlighting how film, television, and theater can drive cultural impact, amplify underrepresented voices, and inspire meaningful change.

“As Founder and CEO of Madison Wells, Gigi Pritzker stands among Hollywood’s most influential leaders,” said Chancellor Emeritus Phil DiStefano, who holds the Newton Endowed Chair in Leadership. “CU Boulder is honored to welcome this visionary producer, whose work has consistently earned recognition at the highest levels. Her insights will be invaluable to our students and community.”

This event marks Pritzker as the ninth speaker in the Leo Hill Leadership Speaker Series, joining past luminaries such as Molly Bloom, David Brooks, Robert Gates and Mae Jemison.

Gigi Pritzker is a trailblazing producer and CEO of Madison Wells, a studio dedicated to bold storytelling that elevates underrepresented voices and challenges convention across film, television and theater.

She began her career with the BBC documentaryBhutan, Kingdom of the Thunder Dragon, inspired by a year living in Nepal as a Stanford anthropology student. In 2001, she founded OddLot Entertainment, later merging it into Madison Wells in 2015. Under her leadership, the company has become a powerhouse in independent production, with projects regularly earning Academy Award and Tony nominations. In 2017, she was awarded an Emmy forCollisions.

Pritzker serves on the Sundance Institute Board of Trustees and is active in numerous philanthropic initiatives. A proud Chicago native, she continues to champion both emerging and established creators.

Her recent work includes:

  • Nonnas (Netflix #1 Global hit), starring Vince Vaughn and Susan Sarandon
  • Miss You Love You, with Allison Janney and Andrew Rannells
  • A documentary on New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern (Magnolia Films, HBO, CNN)
  • Acclaimed titles likeHell or High Water,Eyes of Tammy Faye,Hadestown,Shucked,Jaja’s African Hair Braiding, andGenius (National Geographic)

The Leo Hill Leadership Speaker Series is made possible by the Quigg and Virginia S. Newton Endowed Chair in Leadership.

Where: Macky Auditorium

When: Nov. 17, 2025 7:30 PM - 8:45 PM

How: Tickets can be purchased online.Students: $3.Faculty and Staff: $10,General Public: $20

Past Leo Hill speakers