Steven Olikara is a nationally recognized changemaker and entrepreneur working at the intersection of media, politics, and culture. He is the founding CEO of Bridge Entertainment Labs (BEL), harnessing the power of storytelling and entertainment to transform America’s divisions. He has advised studios from Paramount to Disney on stories that unite Americans across lines of difference.

A prominent voice in the pluralism and depolarization movements, Steven is a frequent commentator on national media, contributing to CBS News, CNN, NPR, Variety, and USA Today, among others. Steven also serves as Senior Fellow for Political Transformation at the USC Schwarzenegger Institute, and he is the Founder of Future Caucus (formerly the Millennial Action Project), 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, earning national recognition for his fresh approach to politics. His story is featured in the documentary, The Reunited States (Amazon Prime and PBS). An avid musician and former radio DJ, he co-authored the book “JFK: The Last Speech” on the role of artists in democracy. Steven has also advised multi-platinum recording artists on their social impact initiatives.

A proud Wisconsin native, he is a Truman Scholar, a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree in 2017, and a World Economic Forum Global Shaper.