The third child of Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Naomi Tutu grew up in apartheid South Africa and has focused her work on eradicating racial oppression. Growing up as the daughter of Archbishop Desmond Tutu has offered her many opportunities and challenges in her life. Her experiences have taught her how much we all lose when any of us is judged purely on physical attributes. Tutu has become a respected authority on race relations and a tireless advocate for peace and human rights.

She was educated in Swaziland, the United States and England, and has divided her adult life between South Africa and the U.S. Tutu has served as a development consultant in West Africa and a program coordinator for programs on Race and Gender and Gender‐Based Violence in Education at the African Gender Institute at the University of Cape Town. She has also led Truth and Reconciliation Workshops for groups dealing with different types of conflict. She has also taught at the Universities of Hartford and Connecticut and Brevard College.

Tutu began her public speaking career as a college student at Berea College in Kentucky in the 1970s when she was invited to speak at churches, community groups and colleges and universities about her experiences growing up in apartheid South Africa. In her speeches she blends the passion for human dignity with humor and personal stories.