Through her production company based at Paramount Pictures, Obst recently produced the smash hit How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days with Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey. She also produced Abandon at Paramount, the directing debut of Academy Award winner Stephen Gaghan featuring Katie Holmes and Benjamin Bratt. Obst's best-selling non-fiction book, Hello, He Lied: And Other Truths from the Hollywood Trenches, was #1 on the LA Times Best Seller's List in both hardback and paperback.

Always at work on new projects, Lynda continues to write books and frequently contributes to many publications including the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, and Slate. She began her career in journalism with the New York Times Magazine, but moved from New York to Hollywood in 1979. Before long she found she had great talent for film development working for moguls such as Peter Guber and David Geffen in developing such films as Flashdance, and Clue. In 1985 Lynda partnered with Debra Hill to form Hill/Obst Productions at Paramount Pictures. Among their films were Adventures in Babysitting, and Heartbreak Hotel, directed by Chris Columbus. Lynda started her own production company in 1989 and moved to Columbia Pictures. There she produced The Fisher King with Robin Williams and Jeff Bridges, This is My Life, Nora Ephron's directing debut, and Sleepless in Seattle, with Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. At Fox, her films included The Siege, starring Denzel Washington and Bruce Willis, One Fine Day, starring Michelle Pfeiffer and George Clooney, Hope Floats, starring Sandra Bullock and Harry Connick Jr., and Contact, starring Jodie Foster and Matthew McConaughey based on the Carl Sagan novel. She also produced Someone Like You with Ashley Judd, Greg Kinnear and Hugh Jackman, and the television miniseries The 60's starring Julia Stiles.

Lynda Obst's business savvy applies to virtually all careers. Now, more than ever, the successful manager must think, act, and plan like a Hollywood producer. You have to develop projects, sell the budget, assemble the team, manage execution, launch and market. And then, you have to start all over again. No one can speak about these skills with more insight or credibility than Lynda. As one of Hollywood's most successful producers and one of its most powerful women, she knows what it takes to thrive amid constant pressure and change. In this remarkable presentation, Lynda shares her experiences in the cutthroat world of Hollywood, and what she has learned about:

In the tough and unforgiving Hollywood film industry, Lynda Obst has been an incredible success. Her smart, entertaining and best-selling book, Hello He Lied: And Other Truths from the Hollywood Trenches reveals the hard work and strategic thinking Lynda used to achieve her goals, as well as the obstacles she encountered along the way.

In this dynamic and powerful presentation, Lynda takes her audience inside heated negotiations with top Hollywood players and personalities, and reveals what she's learned in more than twenty years in the business: how to swim with the sharks and not get eaten. Sharing her engaging stories and hard-earned wisdom, Lynda offers pragmatic advice, as well as a fascinating peek into Hollywood's powerful elite.