Katie Koestner

CEO, Speaker, Founder of Take Back the Night, Author, Policy Expert, Activist

Ms. Koestner is an internationally recognized author, activist, and educator around technology, safety and healthy relationships. She has appeared on the cover of TIME Magazine, The Oprah Winfrey Show, NBC Nightly News, CNBC Talk Live, CNN, Larry King Live, Good Morning America, Later Today, MSNBC, Entertainment Tonight and other national television programs. Katie is the subject of an HBO movie and has lectured at over 5000 schools and universities around the world. Ms. Koestner is the founder of the Take Back the Night Foundation, which is an international organization working to end sexual violence, support survivors and raise awareness.

Ms. Koestner has assisted the US Department of Education in developing and providing programs to women in high risk communities. Her testimony on Capitol Hill was instrumental in the passage of federal student safety legislation. She has presented to the Division 1 Basketball Coaches at the Final Four, to the top 200 officers of the Department of Defense at the Pentagon, and to Chinese Delegates at the UN. In 2007, Coe College awarded her an honorary doctorate for her extensive work on student safety and public service. In 2022, Ms. Koestner received the Edith Surgan Victim Activist Award from the National Organization for Victim Advocacy.