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JASON RYAN DORSEY
“THE GEN-Y GUY,” CONNECTING GENERATIONS.
Jason Ryan Dorsey is a bestselling author, acclaimed speaker, and award-winning entrepreneur. Often referred to as the “Gen Y Guy,” Jason has been featured on 60 Minutes, 20/20, NBC’s Today Show, ABC’s The View, and in The Wall Street Journal and Fortune Magazine. Jason’s keynotes and trainings have impacted diverse audiences across the United States and as far away as Egypt, Finland, Spain, and India.
During a typical year, Jason keynotes events ranging from executive conferences and management retreats to Generation Y rallies and educator events. His bestselling books have sold over 250,000 copies and are required reading in 1,650 schools, colleges, and workforce programs. In recognition of Jason’s business achievements, he won the Austin Under 40 Entrepreneur of the Year Award at age 25—one of the youngest winners ever.
Jason’s nontraditional path began at age 16.
Growing up in a rural community, Jason saw few opportunities and abundant obstacles. It didn’t help that he began high school at 4’10!” Jason responded to feeling ostracized and picked on by hanging out with the local “troublemakers.” At a critical moment, a teacher challenged Jason to do something positive with his quick wit and street smarts. Inspired by this teacher’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. He spent a summer studying medicine in Florida, another summer working on an archeological dig in Israel, and then a year attending college full-time in upstate New York. It was during his studies in New York that Jason discovered he had a talent for tutoring students who were struggling academically and from a tough background. After a year in New York, Jason transferred to the University of Texas Business Honors Program to be closer to his family. By age 18, Jason was a junior in college with an extensive network, respected mentors, and tremendous job opportunities. He also saw that too many of his peers were struggling to transition into college and their career. Determined to help, Jason authored and then self-published Graduate to Your Perfect Job in his college dorm room.
Jason celebrated his 19th birthday $50,000 in debt and sleeping on the beige carpet of a tiny garage apartment. He had never felt more alive or vulnerable.
Jason keynoted his first national conference for 5,000 education and business leaders at age 20. The other keynote speaker was First Lady Barbara Bush!
Word of Jason’s book and message eventually reached the media. Soon education and business leaders were asking him to keynote their high-profile conferences. Graduate to Your Perfect Job—which included a diagram of how to tie a tie—went on to become a national bestseller. It is estimated over 100,000 members of Generation Y have used the book as a resource to enter the workforce.
Jason initially chose to focus his speaking efforts on educator and Gen Y events because of the difference his teacher made in his life. In the last ten years, Jason has spoken on-site at over 700 schools and colleges. He used this exposure to write his acclaimed school improvement book, 50 Ways to Improve Schools for Under $50
Jason’s focus on generational dynamics in the workplace began after he was contacted by business leaders from across the country wanting to know how to retain and motivate their Generation Y employees. Jason quickly realized that his experience speaking to 350,000 Gen Y’ers about real world issues—and being a member of Generation Y himself—gave him a unique frontline perspective. He sheds light on this perspective in his 2007 book, My Reality Check Bounced!
To understand the realities of leading a multigenerational workforce, Jason interviewed employees and managers representing each generation in a variety of industries. His goal was to learn their beliefs, priorities, and preferences in order to find common ground in the workplace. Jason used this experience and extensive research to develop a framework and specific strategies business leaders can use to increase employee loyalty, teamwork, and discretionary effort across all four generations.
Now 29, Jason has delivered over 1,800 keynote and trainings to audiences as large as 13,000. He plans to release a new book about Generation Y in the Fall of 2008.
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