John Beede
Student Keynote
06:08
Audiences Include:
Adult, College & Higher Ed Speakers, Educators & Staff Speakers, Grade 6-8 Students, Grade 9-12 Students, School Leadership Speakers, Student, Student Leadership Speakers, Support Staff Speakers
Topics Include:
Conference Keynote Speakers, Inspirational Speakers, Leadership Development, Lived Experience Speakers, School Assembly Speakers, Workshop Facilitators
Typical Fee: $5K-$6K
- Successfully Climbed the Seven Summits, Including Mount Everest
- Nationally Featured on 60 Minutes, The Weather Channel, and TEDx
- Author of The Warrior Challenge (Random House)
John Beede is an Everest mountaineer and nationally recognized speaker who helps audiences develop the mindset and strategies needed to overcome challenges and reach their biggest goals.
His presentations combine unforgettable adventure stories with practical takeaways that drive lasting personal and professional growth.
John has climbed the tallest mountains on every continent, including Mount Everest. He’s been struck by lightning, swum with great white sharks, and survived avalanches, tornadoes, and even a hurricane—where he danced the hokey pokey in the eye of the storm. These aren’t just extreme stories. They’re powerful metaphors that teach grit, resilience, and follow-through in a way that sticks.
His sessions are high-energy and results-focused. One moment, audiences are laughing and cheering. Next, they’re locked in as John shares the mindset that helped him survive the planet’s harshest environments. More importantly, they walk away with clear frameworks for setting goals, building discipline, and pushing through adversity.
With over 580,000 audience members in 46 states and six countries, John has delivered keynotes for students, educators, and corporate teams. He’s been featured on 60 Minutes, The Weather Channel, and TEDx, and is the author of The Warrior Challenge from Random House.
Whether he’s speaking at a student assembly, staff in-service, or leadership conference, John brings a unique mix of adventure, strategy, and inspiration that drives real impact.
Speaking Topics
John will customize any presentation to align with your event goals.
The High-Altitude Formula for Reaching Your Personal Summit
In this inspiring and action-driven keynote, John Beede uses the powerful metaphor of mountain climbing to teach students how to identify their goals, build a clear plan, and push through challenges with grit and purpose. Sharing unforgettable stories from his climb to the summit of Mount Everest, John equips students with the mindset and tools to pursue their biggest dreams, no matter the obstacles in their way.
Learning Outcomes:
-
Define Your Summit: Learn a repeatable process for identifying meaningful, personal goals that motivate long-term growth.
-
Plan the Climb: Discover how to break down big goals into actionable steps—and actually follow through.
-
Stay the Course: Gain mindset tools to overcome self-doubt, setbacks, and tough days with resilience and momentum.
Six-hundred students and advisors were laughing hysterically and hanging on every word of John’s presentation.
Indiana Department of Education • Students
What if students could walk into a room and make a lasting impression on a teacher, a future employer, or their peers? In this interactive workshop, John Beede shares seven proven habits to help teens build trust, form stronger relationships, and influence others with authenticity and confidence.
Whether they’re preparing for job interviews, student elections, or simply looking to be a more positive force in their school, this workshop gives students practical tools to connect with anyone, ethically and effectively.
Learning Outcomes:
-
Connection on Command: Learn how to create rapport with anyone in seconds using psychologically sound techniques.
-
Crush First Impressions: Discover the keys to making a memorable impact in interviews, presentations, and everyday conversations.
-
Relationship Mastery: Build deeper, more genuine relationships with peers, mentors, and future professional contacts.
John kicked off our conference, speaking to our 1,300 students and he definitely had the group motivated and fired up for the rest of the conference. He was swarmed with students for the rest of his time on site. His leadership and goal-setting messages definitely stuck with our kids.
Texas Association of Student Councils •
Reaching the summit of Mount Everest isn’t just about strength—it’s about strategy, mindset, and teamwork under pressure. In this energizing keynote, John Beede uses powerful metaphors from his Everest expedition to inspire staff and school leaders to pace themselves, support one another, and stay committed to the mission, especially when the climb gets steep.
Through jaw-dropping adventure stories and relatable challenges from the education front lines, John equips your team with fresh perspective, practical tools, and renewed motivation to lead with clarity and resilience.
Learning Outcomes:
-
Build Sustainable Momentum: Learn how to generate energy and progress, even when burnout looms.
-
Strengthen Team Culture: Identify the right teammates, tune out the toxic noise, and foster a team that lifts one another to the top.
-
Lead with Resilience: Gain strategies for pacing, persistence, and staying focused on long-term goals—no matter the setbacks.
The rousing and spontaneous standing ovation was an immediate indication of John's successful keynote. The most impressive aspect were the number of students who, during the rest of the conference, kept discussing amongst themselves their individual list of "summits" or goals to be reached.
South Dakota Association of Student Councils •
Decision-Maker Reviews
What other clients say about booking John.
4.98
128 bookings
The advisers were thanking me for the best keynote in the history of our organization, and I tend to agree. Yours was the perfect keynote to kick off our conference in a positive and exciting direction.
Washington FBLA • Conference Keynote
John kicked off our conference, speaking to our 1,300 students and he definitely had the group motivated and fired up for the rest of the conference. He was swarmed with students for the rest of the time he was on site. His leadership and goal-setting definitely stuck with our kids.
Texas Association of Student Councils •
Six-hundred students and advisors were laughing hysterically and hanging on every word of John’s presentation.
Indiana Department of Education •
By FAR, the favorite speaker of our conference delegates.
North Carolina ASC •
Audience-Member Reviews
Real feedback from students and staff. See how John leaves a lasting impact—shifting mindsets, sparking change, and moving audiences to action.
download_for_offline Audience Reviews
Upcoming Events
Preview or book John while he’s in your area
Event Materials
Everything You Need to Host John
Books by John Beede
Expand the impact of John’s message
The Warrior Challenge
8 Quests for Boys to Grow Up with Kindness, Courage, and Grit
Book John for your event
Book John Beede for your event
- Represented by TYS — Trusted by 5,900+ Organizations
- Customized Presentation Tailored to Your Audience and Event Goals
- Flat-Rate Pricing — No Surprise Travel Costs
lock No commitment. We'll contact you within 1 business day.