Brendon's College Video

Brendon's Biography

Brendon Burchard, who has been called “the student leader’s leader,” is author of the academically acclaimed book The Student Leadership Guide, founder of The College Success Bootcamp, and an award-winning speaker on student life and leadership. Recognized as the nation’s leading authority on student retention and development, he has appeared on ABC World News, CBS News, and over 65 radio station interviews from across the country. Through his books, newsletters, and partnerships, Brendon reaches more students than any other individual in the world. Most recently, he authored the inspirational novel about second chances in life and love entitled Life's Golden Ticket.

His first book The Student Leadership Guide is now in its third edition and used at dozens of universities around the world. It has been featured or recommended by the prestigious Robert K. Greenleaf Center for Servant Leadership, The National Leadership Institute, The International Leadership Association, The Association of College Unions International, The United States Naval Academy, University Business Magazine, and Kiwanis International.

Brendon has an impressive track record of student and corporate leadership experience. In high school he was managing editor for the nation’s #1 ranked student newspaper. In college he supervised the toughest dorms on campus, conducted workshops on romantic relationships and communication, and chartered a peer mediation program. In graduate school he taught public speaking courses, worked as a peer counselor, and served as a commissioned facilitator and mediator for his university. He also maintained a 4.0 GPA. Brendon holds a BA in political science and an MA in organizational communication from The University of Montana.

Since graduating, Brendon has served as a leadership and human performance consultant for Accenture and the world’s greatest retailers including JCPenney, eBay, Best Buy, Nordstrom, Levi Strauss & Company, Gateway, and Walgreens. He has designed a Fortune Global 500 company’s leadership and innovation program, co-created several university leadership curriculums and conferences, developed a large retailer’s executive coaching training, moderated a panel of CEOs for a History Channel production, and served on several nonprofit advisory boards. Brendon speaks to thousands of students and professionals each year and is currently the education advisor for Military.com, where his bi-monthly newsletters reach over 2 million military members and their families.

Brendon is most recently author of Life's Golden Ticket, an inspirational novel about second chances in life and love.

Brendon's Speech Topics

LIFE’S GOLDEN TICKET: AN INSPIRATIONAL JOURNEY TO SUCCESS

Imagine you are just 19 years old. Your life is in shambles because of a disastrous relationship and a business decision has sent you tumbling over the edge of sanity into depression. Then one night rounding a dark corner in a car traveling at 85 miles an hour…everything changes. As your car careens off the highway, you hear three important questions: the questions we are all asked at the end of our lives. Those questions, and their terrifying answers, inspire you to start anew, to create a different kind of life—a life guided by choice and contribution. This is your second chance at life.

This is Brendon’s story. And for over a decade he has sought to earn his second chance by helping others release the past, rediscover their strengths, and resolve to making a greater difference in the world. In this dynamic, emotional, and life-changing presentation, Brendon guides participants through the most important questions in life and, amazingly, lifts them to higher levels of motivation and morality so that they can start their own lives anew. Join Brendon as he discusses his book and teaches participants to:

• Create and master change

• Let go of the past and the thoughts holding them back

• Overcome fear and create on-demand confidence

• Hold themselves accountable to higher standards

• Take more action in creating the lives of their dreams

• Break down barriers between their coworkers and loved ones

• Make a greater difference in others’ lives and in their workplaces and communities

THE PROMISE OF LEADERSHIP: UNLEASHING HUMAN POTENTIAL

Where have all the leaders gone? And what is leadership anyway? These two questions set Brendon Burchard on a course to discovering the secret success strategies of today’s most effective leaders. Few speakers today understand the realities of both our emerging leaders and our most seasoned executives. But as the author of The Student Leadership Guide, the best-selling student leadership text in the country, and The Leader’s Guide to Innovation, a handbook used to train an 85,000 person Fortune 500 company, Brendon “gets” leadership. His leadership work has been recognized and recommended by the prestigious Robert K. Greenleaf Center for Servant Leadership, The National Leadership Institute, The International Leadership Association, The United States Naval Academy, and dozens of the top business schools around the country.

Join Brendon in this enlightening and empowering session as he teaches participants to:

• Hear the call of leadership

• Define leadership for themselves

• Envision a compelling future

• Enlist others in collaboration and service

• Embody principles people will believe in

• Empower others with trust and shared responsibility

• Evaluate their ethics and performance

• Encourage their collaborators to grow and contribute
   

BEYOND THE NEXT NEW THING: MASTERING CHANGE & INNOVATION

Why is change so hard? How do we create and master change so that we can be deemed “innovative” enough to stay ahead of the competition? These questions led Accenture to ask Brendon to research and write The Leader’s Guide to Innovation, an executive handbook that was used as the foundation to train a global company's 85,000 people on leading innovation. In this it’s-time-to-change call- to-action, Brendon answers these questions:

• How can we understand and create change?

• What is innovation anyway?

• What cultural habits exist in innovative companies?

• What inhibits or activates innovation?

• What proven principles, processes, and practices make innovation happen…again and again.

TRENDS IN INDIVIDUAL GIVING AND ONLINE MARKETING & FUNDRAISING

One question drives every nonprofit organization in the world: how do we raise funds and awareness for our organization so that we can grow and make a greater difference? As an active volunteer and board member of several nonprofits, Brendon knows how important this question is and he's helped dozens of nonprofits across the country improve their performance.

In this inspiring and innovative session, he will teach your audience:

• What are the current trends and future hallmarks of individual giving?

• How are these trends going to affect how we attract and retain donors in coming years?

• How can we use online marketing best practice to raise more funds and awareness?

• How can we better leverage our volunteer base to grow our brand?

• How do we track, expand, and segment our donor base through proven online marketing tools and techniques?

• How do world class nonprofits raise funds online and through email marketing?
   

GET OUT OF MY FACE, DUDE: THE NEW RULES OF YOUTH MARKETING  

Does your company “get” this generation? Is it wildly successful at attracting younger customers, getting them to buy, and getting them to remain loyal? If not, there’s a reason: youth marketing is harder today then ever. Waving free products (pizza anyone?) and services (a month of free wireless?) doesn’t work anymore. (If it ever really did). Call this generation what you will—some have said lazy, selfish, entitled, and confused—the reality is today’s youth is more ambitious, connected, philanthropic, and savvy than any generation in history. Agree? Disagree? Let Brendon Burchard get the conversation going with your audience. Brendon is the author of the best-selling student leadership book in the country and founder of The College Success Bootcamp, the nation’s premiere college success and readiness program. Brendon knows today’s youth and can help your organization connect.


IF YOU BUILD IT (RIGHT), THEY WILL CONTRIBUTE: GROWING FAST WITH ONLINE MARKETING

Is your organization growing fast enough? Are you building a large enough list of new and dedicated customers in order to ensure your survival? Are you leveraging your current customers often enough and effectively enough to grow your business even when new customer acquisitions slow? Is your online marketing sexy enough to keep bringing ‘em in and bringing ‘em back? Who are you kidding…VERY few companies can answer yes to all of these questions. The reality is that most online marketing stinks—when was the last time you couldn’t wait to open a marketing email or click on an online ad banner? Brendon has helped dozens of startups, Fortune 500 companies, and international nonprofit organizations dramatically improve their online marketing and fundraising abilities. Your audience NEEDS to hear this information, even if they have no clue how to build a webpage or send out a CAN-SPAM compliant mass email.


ABOVE ALL, BE CLEAR: COMMUNICATION & CONFLICT STRATEGY

What do the world’s best speakers and negotiators have in common? What differentiates a happy marriage from a divorce-ready couple, and a great boss from a small-time tyrant? It all comes down to simple, straightforward and largely unpracticed principles of communication and conflict—it’s about how you talk, listen, argue and persuade. Armed with a Master’s degree in communication and several years of experience as a relationship counselor and executive coach, Brendon teaches audiences the advanced communication techniques they need in order to create healthy relationships at work and at home. In this captivating session, participants learn to let down their guard; communicate with integrity and compassion; fight the urge to be controlling; effectively manage conflict; put others in the spotlight; and build more giving and fulfilling relationships.

Praise for Brendon

“Brendon was an energetic and inspiring leader to kick off Minnesota's Scholars of Distinction in Leadership Summit. We had extraordinary feedback from the participants; students and their advisors as well as educational leaders were on their feet and involved as active learners in this day-long event. The full-day format allowed Brendon to go deeper into his message of servant-leadership. We all grew during the day and were challenged to go forth and make a difference in our communities.”

—Karen Newell, Project Leader, Minnesota Scholars of Distinction in Leadership

“It was pure inspiration having Brendon Burchard as our keynote speaker for our leadership conference. I've never seen a speaker connect with so many students on such a personal level. Our students and staff raved about how much they learned from him, how he inspired them to commit to making changes in their lives, in their relationships, and in their leadership practice.”

—Jennifer Clark, Student Leadership Institute
Coordinator, The University of Houston Clear Lake

“Brendon brought an incredible enthusiasm and energy to our leadership development program. He truly connected with students through his real life experiences and powerful metaphors. He engaged students in the leadership process and inspired them to take the next step. He proved to them that life and leadership can be fun, passionate, exciting, and fulfilling.”

—Cairn Lindloff, Student Activities and Leadership Development, The University of Montana

“Students said that Brendon was awesome and amazing! He boiled life and leadership down to the basics and engaged students in the process of realizing their greatest potential as humans and leaders.”

—Matt Kitchie, Office of Student Activities and
Organizational Leadership, Miami University

“The value of Brendon’s genuine personal sharing coupled with his obvious passion and commitment to his mission provided a vivid and thought-provoking experience for our students.”

—Jean Harrison, Freedom & Responsibility faculty, Concordia University

“The feedback from your presentation has been glowing. I enjoyed the day immensely and cannot remember a presentation that so thoroughly engaged a group of students, teachers, and administrators for an entire day!”

—Wendy A. Behrens, MN Department of Education,
Gifted & Talented Education Specialist

“Thanks for impacting our students as we support their development and deeper understanding of leadership. Your great work and passion supports all of our efforts.”

—Karl Brooks, Director, Student Leadership Institute,
DePaul University

“Brendon relates very well to students and lives servant leadership. Kiwanis International is blessed to have him on our Key Leader facilitator team.”

—Lanton L. Lee, Director of Leadership Education and Development, Kiwanis International

Booking Brendon

To book a speech with Brendon or receive a copy of his speaking packet and video, email us or call 1-800-816-8528. Please include your name, title, event date, and estimated attendance in all messages.  His speaking fee is all-inclusive, meaning you pay one fee and our team handles all Brendon's travel arrangements. We will work with your organization to ensure you have everything you need to make your event a success.