Joanne Lipman is one of the United States most prominent journalists and commentators. She was founding Editor-in-Chief of Conde Nast Portfolio and a deputy managing editor of The Wall Street Journal. Currently a Newsweek columnist and adviser to news organisations such as CNN and Yahoo, she is a frequent television commentator, appearing on CNN, CBS and CNBC, among others.

Melanie Kupchynsky began studying violin at the age of four with her father and the subject of the book, 'Mr K'. She has since been a violinist with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra for more than twenty years, during which time the symphony has won twenty one Grammys.