00:00Good evening, everybody. Changemakers aren't simply people who adapt to the world as it is.
00:05They're the visionaries who dare to see the world as it could be, who challenge the comfortable
00:11status quo and insist on building something better for every single one of us. That's exactly the
00:17conviction that drives our team at Waymo every single day, where our mission is to build the
00:23world's most trusted driver. We design our technology to serve everybody, but we know that
00:29for women in particular, trust is never a given. From an early age, women are conditioned to move
00:36through the world on high alert. Something as routine as getting from point A to point B often
00:42requires a constant, exhausting mental calculation. In Waymo, that burden lifts. There is no stranger
00:51to assess, no performative politeness to navigate, just a predictable, serene sanctuary, backed
00:59by a 95% reduction in serious injury crashes compared to human drivers. It gives people,
01:06especially women, the freedom to move with total confidence, to use their minds, and to
01:12take back their time. Which brings me to tonight. When Variety created the Changemaker Award, they
01:19set out to honor those who take their platform and transform it into a powerful launching pad
01:24for others. And when you look across our culture for a parallel to that sense of safety and sanctuary,
01:31one team stands in a class of its own. The recipient of the inaugural Variety Changemaker Award is the
01:39Jennifer Hudson Show. In a world that can often feel chaotic and overwhelming, the Jennifer Hudson Show offers
01:53that exact same sense of sanctuary. Every day, Jennifer and her extraordinary team turn daytime television
02:01into a space where people from all walks of life feel seen, feel safe, and feel genuinely celebrated.
02:09From global icons to inspiring youth, from selfless educators to frontline healthcare workers, this show
02:16doesn't just host conversations. They lift people up. Through over $3 million in direct community giving and
02:24groundbreaking episodes dedicated to racial healing and collective resilience, they spark real lasting
02:31change. Waymo and the Jennifer Hudson Show may operate in very different lanes, one in
02:37autonomous mobility, the other in media and entertainment, but we share the exact same human
02:42mission, lifting burdens and creating safe spaces. And making room for moments of genuine connection and
02:49pure joy. Under Jennifer's extraordinary leadership and recognized by 18 Daytime Emmy nominations and
02:57five AACP Image Awards, this team proves what is possible when you lead with empathy, authenticity, and heart. I am
03:10thrilled and deeply honored to present the first ever Variety Changemaker Award to the Jennifer Hudson Show.
