Speakers Who Motivate & Move Millennial Audiences

Are you in the market for a motivational keynote speaker to help connect with and drive millennials, college, or university students in need of inspiration? Perhaps you’re looking for someone that can relate to and understand millennials and spark a lightbulb moment. Or maybe you are on the hunt for keynote speakers who would be a good fit for millennials and Gen Z-ers who struggle with motivation and yearn for tips on how to foster motivation beyond the classroom and as they enter into the workforce.

Here are the top motivational and inspirational keynote speakers that we recommend who are breaking the ceiling with their moving messages and connecting with millennial audiences in deep and meaningful ways:

• Katie Ledecky, Olympic Champion Swimmer; 10x Olympic Medalist, 15x World Champion, 14x World Record Breaker
• Ben Saunders, World Record-Breaking Polar Explorer & Repeat TED Speaker
• Mitch Joel, Technology and Innovation Expert & Best-Selling Author
• Jonah Berger, Wharton Professor, International Best-Selling Author, and Expert On Leading Innovation & Culture Change
• Dustin Garis, Former Chief Troublemaker at Procter & Gamble
• Dex Hunter-Torricke, Former Head of Communications at SpaceX, Executive Communications Manager at Facebook, & Executive Speechwriter at Google
• Dakota Meyer, Medal of Honor Recipient & New York Times Best-Selling Author of Into the Fire
• Jon Steinberg, Former COO and President of Buzzfeed, Former CEO of Daily Mail North America, CEO of Cheddar
• Shon Hopwood, Associate Law Professor at Georgetown University Law Center, Criminal Justice Reform Advocate, & Motivational Speaker
• Chris Gardner, Inspiration For the Film, The Pursuit of Happyness
• John O’Leary, President of Rising Above LLC
• Kevin Hines, Suicide Survivor, Wellness Advocate, Best-Selling Author, & Documentary Filmmaker
• Rob Jones, Retired Marine Sergeant, Paralympic Bronze Medalist, & Endurance Athlete
• Vernice Armour, First African-American Female Combat Pilot
• Scott Harrison, Founder & CEO of charity: water
• Seth Mattison, Expert on Workforce Trends and Generational Dynamics
• Peter Beinart, CNN Political Commentator, Editor-at-Large for Jewish Currents, and Associate Professor of Journalism & Political Science at City University of New York
• Crystal Washington, Technology Marketing Strategist & Futurist
• Charlie Linville, First Combat-Wounded Veteran to Summit Mount Everest, Former Marine EOD (Bomb) Technician
• Bakari Sellers, CNN Political Analyst & Former Representative from South Carolina
• Adam Sharp, Former Head of News, Government, & Elections at Twitter
• Charlotte Pearce, Millennial Entrepreneur & CEO of thriving business Inkpact
• Michael Parrish DuDell, Best-Selling Author, Expert on Millennial Workforce, & Entrepreneur
• Omar Soliman, Co-Founder of the Iconic international brand College Hunks Hauling Junk, Best-selling Author, TV Personality, and Growth Hacker for World-Class Organizations
• Nick Friedman, Renowned Co-Founder of world-class iconic brands, including international franchise College Hunks Hauling Junk & Moving, Co-Author of “Effortless Entrepreneur: Work Smart, Play Hard, Make Millions,” National TV Personality, and Thought Leader

Learn more about each of these keynote speakers below, and click through to their speaker profiles to find out even more about each individual and watch video footage from their recent keynote talks.

Katie Ledecky

Olympic Champion Swimmer; 10x Olympic Medalist, 15x World Champion, 14x World Record Breaker

Katie Ledecky is a 10-time Olympic Medalist (seven Gold, three Silver) and 15-time World Championship Gold Medalist, the most for any female swimmer. She has broken 14 World Records and 37 American Records in her career. Katie was the most decorated female athlete at both Tokyo and Rio Games and had the most decorated single Olympics performance ever by a U.S. female athlete in Rio. Katie’s success has earned her USA Swimming’s Golden Goggles Award as Female Swimmer of the Year an unprecedented six times. A recent graduate of Stanford University, Katie is passionate about the importance of education, especially STEM and leadership programs for girls. Katie went home with more hardware at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics -two gold medals and two silver medals, making her the most decorated female swimmer in individual events of all time. She also made history by winning gold at the first ever 1500m women’s event.

Check out Katie's speaker profile to learn more about her story and speaking topics.

BEN SAUNDERS 

World Record-Breaking Polar Explorer & Repeat TED Speaker

Ben Saunders is an incredible motivational storyteller that will be able to convince adventurous young college students that anything can be accomplished with ambition and passion. According to statistics, 75% of millennials are interested in traveling abroad, which makes Saunder’s successful 105-day, 1,800-mile expedition story one that will fully grab millennials' attention.

Check out Ben's speaker profile to learn more about his story and speaking topics and watch this video from one of Ben’s recent TED Talks as well one of his many inspirational talks on his speaker profile page. 

 MITCH JOEL

Technology and Innovation Expert & Best-Selling Author

Mitch Joel believes that two millennials shopping for a product, through their connected lives, may actually represent up to 5,000 consumers at once. This means by gaining insight from just 2 millennials, we learn a lot more about millennials and their habits than we think.

Check out Mitch's speaker profile to learn more about him and his speaking topics and watch this video as Mitch decodes the future. 

 JONAH BERGER

Wharton Professor, International Best-Selling Author, and Expert On Leading Innovation & Culture Change

Jonah Berger shares tactics for increasing your influence, leading change, and driving innovation. He understands why we share, what makes things catch on, and why we make certain decisions and how to influence it. He gives a powerful presentation that your millennial audience can relate to and take immediate action on. 

Check out Jonah's speaker profile to learn more about him and his speaking topics and watch this video as Jonah's breaks down how to make it easier for change to occur.

 DUSTIN GARIS

Former Chief Troublemaker at Procter & Gamble

Dustin Garis has an innovative approach to brand-building and corporate entrepreneurship that he shares with audiences. His deep insights and charismatic persona keep audiences captivated while helping organizations embark on the next frontier of innovation.

Check out Dustin's speaker profile to learn more about him and his speaking topics and watch this video as Dustin discusses the experience economy. 

 DEX HUNTER-TORRICKE

Former Head of Communications at SpaceX, Executive Communications Manager at Facebook, & Executive Speechwriter at Google

Dex Hunter-Torricke shares anecdotes from his time at the day's biggest brands to illustrate the impact of future technology on business. He believes in the power of this global generation and how communication can change the way the worlds' big problems are solved.

Check out Dex's speaker profile to learn more about him and his speaking topics and watch this video as Dex dissects artificial intelligence and the future of work.

 DAKOTA MEYER

Medal of Honor Recipient & New York Times Best-Selling Author of Into the Fire

Dakota Meyer delivers a motivational talk filled with vivid imagery, moving stories, and incredible life lessons. He recently launched the "Own the Dash" campaign to inspire others to take responsibility for their lives and make a difference. His personable style and emotional story connects well with millennial audiences.

Check out Dakota's speaker profile to learn more about him and his speaking topics and watch this video to discover what is your purpose with Dakota.

 JON STEINBERG

Former COO and President of Buzzfeed, Former CEO of Daily Mail North America, CEO of Cheddar

Buzzfeed's former president and COO, Jon Steinberg is a keynote speaker about disruption and innovation, known for growing the site’s revenue from $0 to $60 million in four years by capitalizing on native advertising before anyone else. He knows exactly what it takes to retain a competitive edge, how to spot trends before they happen, and how to grow exponentially by accessing the millennial consumer. Jon is currently the founder and CEO of Cheddar, a ground-breaking video-based media company that caters specifically to millennials. 

Check out Jon's speaker profile to learn more about him and his speaking topics and watch this video where Jon describes clicks as being for cavemen.

SHON HOPWOOD 

Associate Law Professor at Georgetown University Law Center, Criminal Justice Reform Advocate, & Motivational Speaker

Shon Hopwood’s story is one that has an unusual beginning: at federal prison. Now an Associate Professor of Law at Georgetown University Law Center, Hopwood’s initially learned to write briefs for other prisoners while serving an 11 year sentence stemming from a string of five bank robberies. Hopwood’s unique story inspires millennials by proving that there can be success after failure and that second chances do exist for those willing to work hard enough for them.

Check out Shon’s speaker profile to read more about his speaking topics and watch this video to see his exclusive interview on 60 minutes.

CHRIS GARDNER 

Inspiration For the Film, The Pursuit of Happyness

Many millennials have most likely seen this speaker’s film, The Pursuit of Happyness. Chris Gardner’s story is one that will grab your audience’s attention and truly motivate students to accomplish incredible goals of their own. Gardner went from homeless on the streets with a son to becoming a stock broker and CEO. His message of perseverance is one that will motivate any college student.

Check out Chris' speaker profile to read more about his speaking topics and find out why he would be best suited to address millennial audiences.

JOHN O'LEARY 

President of Rising Above LLC

John O'Leary's story began when he was only nine-years-old and was suffered burns on 100% of his body. Remarkably, he beat the odds and survived. His emotional journey and moving presentation will motivate young students by showing them they can beat the odds as well no matter what challenges they are up against. Students will walk away feeling transformed and with a new outlook on their future.

Check out John's speaker profile to find out more about him and watch this short clip of John speaking to get a preview of his presentation style.

KEVIN HINES 

Suicide Survivor, Wellness Advocate, Best-Selling Author, & Documentary Filmmaker

Mental health struggles are a growing problem in today’s world, and statistics show that more than 25% of college students have been diagnosed or treated by a professional for a mental health condition. Kevin Hines is one of only thirty-six people to survive jumping from the Golden Gate Bridge. His story will touch the lives of a college audience and motivate them to cherish life, strive for sound mental health, and focus on the positive aspects of their lives and work.

Check out Kevin's speaker profile to learn more about him and see why he is suited to address millennial audiences and watch this video of Kevin discussing his new documentary.

ROB JONES 

Retired Marine Sergeant, Paralympic Bronze Medalist, & Endurance Athlete

Rob Jones life was completely altered in a matter of seconds when he was injured by a landmine, resulting in a double above-the-knee leg amputation. Rob’s journey post-combat has taken him from amputee to Paralympic bronze medalist. Rob’s enthusiasm for life and high spirit will both encourage millennials to never settle and never give up, even when they think all hope is lost.

Check out Rob's speaker profile to learn more about him, or watch this video to get a glimpse of what Rob’s Journey was like and the messages he shares in his keynote speeches.

VERNICE ARMOUR 

First African-American Female Combat Pilot

Inspire and impress your audience with Vernice Armour's multiple accomplishments, including becoming America's first African-American female combat pilot. More than that, her engaging speaking style and passion for success will drive young millennials no matter what their interests are to chase big dreams. Beating the odds was no walk in the park for Vernice, but her gutsy attitude is contagious, and proves that with hard work and determination, anything is possible. She’ll surely hype your audience up and inspire them to create breakthrough results.

Check out Vernice's speaker profile to learn more about her speaking topics and watch this video to get a preview of Vernice’s speaking style.

SCOTT HARRISON 

Founder & CEO of charity: water

From nightclub promoter to volunteer in West Africa to Founder of a non-profit, Harrison’s journey is a story many college students will be pulled into. Harrison has worked to raise over $260 million and has done water projects in 24 countries around the world. His transformational story will be one to inspire students and show them that one movement can change the world.

Check out Scott's speaker profile to learn more about his speaking topics and watch this video of his "Water Changes Everything" presentation at LinkedIn’s InDay speaker series event.

SETH MATTISON

Expert on Workforce Trends and Generational Dynamics

Seth Mattison says that a great product or service is simply not enough anymore, and discusses the importance of offering a meaningful experience to customers living in a digital world. By 2020, it’s estimated that they’ll account for roughly 50-percent of the nation’s workforce. Seth Mattison can offer millennials valuable advice on how to do business moving forward.

Check out Seth's speaker profile to learn about him and his speaking topics and watch this video to learn Seth's views on next generation sales.

PETER BEINART

CNN Political Commentator, Editor-at-Large for Jewish Currents, and Associate Professor of Journalism & Political Science at City University of New York

Peter Beinart dissects the economic experience millennials have had in their short adult lives, and predicts how their voting patterns will impact politics long-term. We’re just beginning to understand the commercial and political impact millennials will have and Peter Beinhart offers some valuable insight.

Check out Peter's speaker profile to learn more about him and his speaking topics and watch this video to learn about the rise of insurrectionists.

CRYSTAL WASHINGTON

Technology Marketing Strategist & Futurist

Crystal Washington explains the practical applications of technology and social media in plain English and offers tips for using technology to strengthen client connections without losing that personal touch. Her speeches are interactive, engaging, and actionable so your sales team of millennials can implement her tactics as soon as they get back to their desks.

Check out Crystal's speaker profile to learn more about her and her speaking topics and watch this video where Crystal breaks down big data and social media.

CHARLIE LINVILLE

First Combat-Wounded Veteran to Summit Mount Everest, Former Marine EOD (Bomb) Technician

Charlie Linville shares his incredible story of summiting Mt. Everest after being wounded in Afghanistan with humility and humor. He encourages his audience members to stop saying "can't."

Check out Charlie's speaker profile to learn more about him and his speaking topics and watch this video where Charlie inspires other to never say "can't."

BAKARI SELLERS

CNN Political Analyst & Former Representative from South Carolina

Bakari Sellers is the youngest-ever member of the South Carolina state legislature and offers passionate political and social commentary and analysis informed by first-hand experience. As a rising voice in the Democratic party, he is a great speaker to provide insights into the current political landscape.

Check out Bakari's speaker profile to learn more about him and his speaking topics and watch this video where Bakari inspires the graduating class of NCU.

ADAM SHARP

Former Head of News, Government, & Elections at Twitter

Adam was Twitter’s first Washington employee, tasked with growing the platform into the news powerhouse it is today. He was also the longest-serving member of Twitter’s global media partnerships team and the brand’s most visible spokesperson. He talks about the impact of technology on incumbent industries and how to take advantage of new media to stay relevant and get ahead.

Check out Adam's speaker profile to learn more about him and his speaking topics and watch this video in which Adam describes how authenticity can be maintained with technology via a "handshake."

CHARLOTTE PEARCE

Millennial Entrepreneur & CEO of thriving business Inkpact

“Whatever technology does, what makes us human hasn’t changed,” says Charlotte Pearce. In other words, whatever innovation has done, there is a core approach to business that is key to success but often overlooked. “People remember how you made them feel,” and that feeling can go a very long way to cementing a business relationship. That philosophy is at the heart of her success in establishing and growing Inkpact, a company that uses technology to make business more personal.

Check out Charlotte's speaker profile to learn more about her and her speaking topics and watch this video where Charlotte describes the importance of the business relationship.

MICHAEL PARRISH DUDELL

Best-Selling Author, Expert on Millennial Workforce, & Entrepreneur

Michael Parrish DuDell is an entrepreneur, keynote speaker, and the bestselling author of Shark Tank Jump Start Your Business and Shark Tank Secrets to Success—the official business books from ABC’s hit show "Shark Tank."

Check out Michael's speaker profile to learn more about him and his speaking topics and watch this video where Michael explains how to win-over millennials, and activate and engage with this new generation of consumers.

OMAR SOLIMAN

Co-Founder of the Iconic international brand College Hunks Hauling Junk, Best-selling Author, TV Personality, and Growth Hacker for World-Class Organizations

Over a decade ago, Omar Soliman was just twenty-two when he co-founded the junk removal company College Hunks Hauling Junk with childhood friend Nick Friedman. Started as an idea to earn some extra money over summer break, Soliman has turned College Hunks into a multimillion-dollar, national franchise with more than 130 locations – truly demonstrating what it means to be an entrepreneur.

Check out Omar's speaker profile to learn more about him and his speaking topics and watch this video where Omar is interviewed by Stuart Varney on Fox Business.

NICK FRIEDMAN

Renowned Co-Founder of world-class iconic brands, including international franchise College Hunks Hauling Junk & Moving, Co-Author of “Effortless Entrepreneur: Work Smart, Play Hard, Make Millions,” National TV Personality, and Thought Leader

Over a decade ago, Nick Friedman was just twenty-two when he co-founded the now iconic junk removal company, College Hunks Hauling Junk, with childhood friend Omar Soliman. Starting as an idea to earn some extra money over college break in a beat-up cargo van, Friedman has turned College Hunks into a 150-million-dollar, national franchise with more than 100 locations – truly demonstrating what it means to be both a bold risk taker and a modern leader. He has been widely recognized and acclaimed for his company’s world-class culture and service, as well as his progressive approach to doing business in the 21st century.

Check out Nick's speaker profile to learn more about him and his speaking topics and watch this video of Nick speaking to the Chamber of Commerce.

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