|
Jason Ryan Dorsey knows the courage and determination it takes
to turn a calling into a career.
Growing up in small-town Texas, Jason never quite fit in. He
started high school at 4’10" and often felt picked on. He
responded to the bullying with humor and by hanging out with
local “troublemakers." At a critical time, Jason’s
tenth-grade science teacher intervened. The teacher, Mr.
Price, challenged Jason to do something positive with his
quick wit and street smarts. Inspired by Mr. Price’s belief
in his abilities, Jason left high school to start college
early.
Going to college early and out-of-state changed Jason’s
perspective about what was possible for his future. He spent
a summer studying medicine in south Florida, another summer
working on an archeological dig in Ashkelon, Israel, and a
year in upstate New York attending college full time.
Jason’s New York experience included tutoring college
students who were struggling academically and from difficult
backgrounds—an area in which he excelled.
After his year in New York, Jason enrolled at the University
of Texas at Austin as an 18-year-old junior. Through hard
work and calculated risks he positioned himself for
excellent job opportunities upon his graduation. But on
January 7, 1997, at 1:58AM, Jason made a life-changing
decision. He decided to forego his safe path into corporate
finance and instead follow his passion for helping his peers
from tough backgrounds transition into college and the
workforce. To do this Jason chose to write a book revealing
the lessons he learned going from a small-town with
seemingly few opportunities to being 18 years old and having
an extensive network, experienced mentors, valuable
internship, and excellent job prospects.
Taking a major financial and personal risk, Jason wrote and
self-published Graduate to Your Perfect Job at age 18. Soon
he was $50,000 in debt and sleeping on the floor of a
friend’s one-car garage apartment. With nowhere to go but
up, Jason told everyone he could about his book and mission.
Eventually a local school invited Jason to speak to their
toughest students on how to get a great job. The students
enjoyed Jason’s humor and practical strategies. That speech
led to Jason keynoting a statewide teacher conference, which
led to him keynoting a statewide business leaders
conference, which led to many more speeches…Only two years
after taking the risk to follow his passion, Jason keynoted
his first national conference for 5,000 education and
business leaders—the other keynote speaker was First Lady
Barbara Bush!
Jason’s unique high-energy humor quickly made him
the most sought after young speaker in America. He
has now delivered over 1,500 keynotes at events across the
US and as far away as India, Finland, Spain, The
Netherlands, and Egypt. And he’s been featured as a
voice for his generation on 20/20, NBC’s Today Show, ABC’s
The View, TeenPeople and in The Wall Street Journal.
In recognition of his entrepreneurial success, Jason won the
Austin Under 40 Entrepreneur of the Year Award in Education
when he was 25 years old.
Graduate to Your Perfect Job has now sold over
200,000 copies and is currently used in 1,650+ schools,
colleges, and workforce development programs. Jason followed
the success of his first book with two more critically
acclaimed books, Violence Not Allowed and 50
Ways to Improve Schools for Under $50. These books have
been recognized by leaders such as the President of the
United States and multiple Commissioners of Education for
their innovative approach and inspiring call-to-action.
Three years ago, Jason realized that many of his peers were
struggling to find their place in the “real world." These
talented but frustrated Twentysomethings did everything
their parents and college advisors told them to do, but they
were disappointed with the results. Jason felt this emerging
generational crisis of purpose and direction—one he
understood from his own life journey—warranted his full
attention. He’s now spent three years researching this
complicated issue and the result is My Reality Check
Bounced! The Twentysomething’s Guide to Cashing In on Your
Real-World Dreams. This peer-to-peer book shares the
inspiring stories, step-by-step actions, and practical
strategies any Twentysomething can rely on to break free of
their rut and start living with more meaning and courage. To
read the first chapter of My Reality Check Bounced!
CLICK HERE.
Ten years after choosing to follow his passion, Jason has
expanded his speaking and consulting expertise to benefit
corporate executives, managers, community leaders and
entrepreneurs. He teaches them exactly how to retain,
motivate, and lead new hires and young professionals.
Jason’s message is credible and entertaining. He uses his
unique frontline perspective—gained from speaking to 350,000
of his peers about workplace strategies—to candidly reveal
his generation unique perspective, personality, and
workplace priorities. Jason is an ideal liaison between his
generation and employers, because it is estimated that
100,000 of his peers have used his books to land their first
job or a better job.
Jason also does a lot of work in the education market:
Jason
Ryan Dorsey
Bestselling Author, International Speaker, Life
Saved by a Teacher
Primary Adult Education Keynote: How Educators Saved
My Life!
Primary audience: school and district administrators, school
boards, classroom educators, counselors, youth workers,
education-related parenting organizations, and federal or
state grant recipients
Primary event: state and national education conferences,
school/district in-services (usually at the start of each
semester)
Talk customized to each audience and event goals (and also
funding source if grant-funded or grant-related such as
Career Pathways, Title I, Special Needs, NCLB, etc.)
Preferred format: 45-60 minute keynote with breakout or one
two-hour training/in-service
Additional Popular Adult Education Keynote:
Improving School Culture Starts with Leadership
Primary audience: school and district administrators, school
boards, classroom educators, counselors, youth workers,
education-related parenting organizations, and federal or
state grant recipients
Primary event: school reform conferences and initiatives,
school and district in-services, and education leadership
academies
Talk customized to each audience and event goals (and also
specific reform initiatives such as Small Learning
Communities, Middle to High School transition, comprehensive
school reform, state mandates for increasing high school
graduation or college enrollment rates, etc.)
Preferred format: 45-60 minute keynote with breakout or one
two-hour training/in-service
Additional Popular Adult Education keynote:
Inspiring Hard-to-Reach Students: Making Personal
Responsibility Contagious
Primary audience: youth workers, schools struggling with
underperforming students, administrators leading challenging
schools, and educators with tough-to-reach students
Primary event: conferences for educators serving
tough-to-reach students, in-services for underperforming
schools, major conferences for youth workers such as foster
care, DHHS, juvenile probation, etc.
Talk customized to each audience and event goals (and also
any student, staff, and community data provided by client)
For more information on how to book Jason Dorsey or ask
about fees, please contact FIVE STAR Speakers & Trainers
at 913.648.6480 or
hotspeaker@fivestarspeakers.com
|
|
