Top 5 Speakers for Youth Leadership Conferences (2026–2027)

Finding the Right Keynote Speaker for Your Youth Leadership Conference

Picture 2,400 students in matching jackets. The lights go down. Your state officers just finished their script, and the next 45 minutes belong to whoever you booked.

No pressure, right?

If you plan a state convention, a fall leadership conference, or a student council summit, you know that keynote can make the whole event. Or it can be the part everyone scrolls their phone through. There's a lot riding on this moment - including your reputation.

I've been on a lot of convention stages, and I've watched a lot of great speakers from the back of the room. So when advisors ask me, "Who else should we look at?" I've got answers. Here they are.

These five speakers know how to hold a room full of student leaders, not just a gym full of students. That's a different skill. Student leaders have already heard the pep talk. They want something they can actually take home to their chapter and inspire them to be the leader they aspire to be.

Full disclosure: all five of us are represented by the same speaker bureau, Top Youth Speakers. I'm not going to pretend otherwise. I know this roster, and these are the speakers I'd point a convention planner toward.

(In no particular order. Well, mostly. I put myself last. More on that later.)

The Top 5 Youth Leadership Conference Speakers for 2026–2027

1. A'ric Jackson | Generation Leadership

If you want a speaker who gets a room on its feet before he says a word, it's A'ric. Known as

the "Beyonce" of the youth speaking world, he grew up on welfare in a small suburb outside Chicago. Now he's spoken to more than 400,000 students across the U.S. and Canada.

His keynote, Generation Leadership, teaches that leadership isn't a title. It's how you show up, the choices you make, and how you use your voice. DECA booked him to close the 2026 Ultimate DECA Power Trip this November in Louisville, and he's keynoted FBLA, HOSA, FCCLA, NASSP LEAD conferences, and state student council conferences across the country.

Best for: CTSO conferences and student council conventions that want high energy and a real story.

Learn more: A'ric Jackson's student leadership keynote

2. John Beede | Everest Climber and High-Altitude Leadership

John climbed the tallest mountain on every continent, including Everest. Then he turned

those climbs into lessons on goal-setting, grit, and teamwork for student leaders.

He's spoken in 49 states and 7 countries, and his keynote High-Altitude Student Leadership is built for officer teams learning to work together toward "impossible" goals. The photos and video alone make it feel more like a concert than a speech. The Texas Association of Student Councils and the North Carolina Association of Student Councils both have glowing things to say about him.

Best for: student council, FCCLA, HOSA, and BPA conferences that want adventure plus a practical goal framework.

Learn more: John Beede's youth leadership keynotes

3. Ketric Newell | Identity and Breaking Limiting Beliefs

Ketric has spent more than 20 years working with under-resourced and at-risk youth, and he founded the Teen Dream Center in Nashville. His message comes from the trenches, not a textbook.

His keynote Who Told You That? helps students spot the false labels that hold them back. He brought that message to the 2026 Nebraska FCCLA State Leadership Conference, challenging members to examine the beliefs that shape their confidence and leadership.

Best for: conferences that want students to leave with confidence, not just a to-do list.

Learn more: Ketric Newell's keynotes for students

4. Lasada "LP" Pippen | Voice, Identity, and Leading With Confidence

LP is a keynote speaker and communication coach who has spoken in 40+ states and delivered 200+ keynotes. His whole thing is helping people say it better: speak clearly, connect deeper, and lead with confidence. For a student leader, that's most of the job.

His student keynote, Students Who Win, is built on three moves: win the choice, win from within, and win the next move. He also coaches student leaders and ambassadors after the keynote, so the message doesn't end when the session does.

Best for: officer trainings and leadership conferences that want students to find their voice.

Learn more: Lasada Pippen's student leadership programs

5. Tanner Clark | One Second of Strength

Look, I wasn't going to write a "best youth speaker" list and leave myself off it. That's just bad marketing.

I help student leaders learn the One Second of Strength mindset: the idea that you're always One Second of Strength away from a completely different life. At the Kansas FFA State Convention, I gave 2,400 members three one second shifts to cultivate a great life: shift the rooms your in, shift how you spend your time, and shift your inner thoughts. Then an auditorium filled with light as phone flashlights lit up the room to help leaders see how they can impact others. You can read the full story here.

My keynotes give student leaders tools they'll actually use, like the S.O.S. Approach: set an intention, observe if you're on track, shift when you're not. I've keynoted FFA, FBLA, Tennessee Teen Institute, and National Charity league events and I am contracted to speak at upcoming DECA and Student Council conferences.

Here's what Mary Kane, Executive Secretary of the Kansas FFA Association, said after the session: "They appreciated an honest message that spoke to their hearts."

Best for: CTSO state conventions and leadership conferences that want honesty, a framework, and a moment the room won't forget.

Learn more: Tanner Clark's youth leadership keynote

How to Choose a Keynote Speaker for Your Youth Leadership Convention

A school assembly and a convention keynote are two different jobs. Here's what I'd look for if I were sitting in your seat.

• They've done conventions, not just assemblies. A convention has business sessions, award runs, a student speaker before them, sometimes a laser light show. Ask which state or national conventions they've keynoted in the last two years.

• Watch recent video. Ask for footage from the last 12 months in front of a big room. A website bio can say anything.

• Student leaders need a tool, not just a story. Your members have heard the pep talk. Look for a framework they can take back to their chapter and teach to someone else.

• They'll work with your theme. Your state officers picked a theme for a reason. A great keynote speaker builds the talk around it instead of dropping in the same speech they gave last week.

• They connect before the mic. The best speakers spend time with your officers and members before they go on. Ask what they do in the hour before the session.

• Breakouts and advisor sessions. Many convention speakers can add a workshop for officers or a session for advisors. That stretches your budget and the message.

• Talk to someone who booked them. Ask for a reference from a state advisor or executive secretary, not just a quote on their website.

  
  

Frequently Asked Questions About Youth Leadership Convention Speakers

How far in advance should we book a convention keynote speaker? For a spring state convention, start talking to speakers the fall before and vis-a-versa for fall conferences. The best dates go fast and the best speakers schedules fill up even faster, especially in March and April when FFA, FBLA, DECA, HOSA, and FCCLA state conferences overlap.

How long is a typical convention keynote? Most run 30 to 60 minutes. Tell your speaker exactly how much time they have, and what comes right before and after them.

Can these speakers do more than one session? Most can. Ask about adding a breakout for chapter officers, an advisor session, or a second general session.

What's the difference between a youth leadership speaker and a regular motivational speaker? A leadership speaker talks to students who already lead, or want to. The message is less "you matter" and more "here's how to lead the people around you."

Do these speakers work with CTSOs like FFA, FBLA, DECA, HOSA, and FCCLA? Yes. Every speaker on this list works with student leaders, and most have keynoted CTSO or student council conventions.

Invite Youth Leadership Keynote Speaker Tanner Clark to Your Convention

Any speaker on this list will serve your students well. I know them personally and can vouch for their message and stage presence. If you want a keynote built around your theme, experience at CTSO events, with a framework your members will actually use for the rest of their life and a moment they'll still talk about at next year's convention, I'd love to be considered. Call (877) 528-9061, Monday–Friday 8 AM–5 PM CT, or fill out the form at https://www.onesecondofstrength.com/student-leadership-keynote-speaker.

One Second Can Change Everything.