Steven Olikara

Steven Olikara is a nationally recognized social entrepreneur and commentator working at the intersection of media, politics, and culture to transform America’s divisions. He is the founding CEO of Bridge Entertainment Labs, a nonprofit advising studios from Paramount to Disney on stories that strengthen social cohesion. A prominent voice in the pluralism and political reform movements, he is a Senior Fellow at the USC Schwarzenegger Institute and the Founder of Future Caucus, the largest cross-partisan organization of young elected officials in the U.S.

In 2022, he made history as the first South Asian candidate for U.S. Senate in Wisconsin. His nuanced political and cultural analysis is frequently featured on national media, including CNN, CBS News, and Variety, and he is the co-author of the book JFK: The Last Speech, on the role of artists in democracy. Named a Truman Scholar, a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, and a Global Shaper by the World Economic Forum, his story is featured in the documentary, The Reunited States, on Amazon Prime and PBS.