Motivational Speakers

Troy served as one of our two facilitators for our Summer Leadership Summit, a three day leadership conference for about 85 student leaders at Texas A&M University-Commerce. During that time, Troy effectively made powerful and meaningful connections with our diverse group of student leaders. Regarding Troy, one student said, He empowered me to empower myself. It doesn't get more real than that. In reference to the experiential leadership activities Troy facilitated, another student wrote that Troy did an excellent job of tying the activities to leadership. In reference to the arrow breaking exercise, a powerful activity which focuses on commitment, one student wrote, the arrow exercise really stretched my limits. Though we invited Troy to facilitate experiential leadership activities for our students, he is a talented keynote speaker as well. At Texas A&M University-Commerce, we have, in previous years, invited Troy to speak to our Lion Camp Students (Freshman Orientation). In addition to the great work Troy does with the general college student population, his background as a NCAA Division I student-athlete and Kappa Sigma fraternity member gives him a unique ability to connect with these particular student populations as well. - Sarah Reed, Coordinator of Orientation, Florida Gulf Coast University, FL

As residence life professionals, we are constantly challenged with offering interactive and creative new ways to train our resident assistants. In my role, as the Assistant Director for Staff & Programs at Loyola University Chicago, I am charged with overseeing all training programs in our department. I was desperately hoping that as a facilitator Troy could accomplish two important tasks: a) convey important and relevant information and b) keep the student leaders focused and engaged through an 8-hour training program. He did this... and then some! Troy's kind demeanor, excellent listening skills, and creative ideas are incredibly useful when planning a strong training program for our staff. Since Loyola was in need for training-revival, I brought Troy in for a third time! The first two times were at a different institution. For Loyola's Winter Rejuvenation Training, Troy and I decided to focus on several topics including increasing a deeper staff bond, understanding personal conflict styles, diversity, and unveiling some of our inner fears all while building trust with their peers. Once again, he accomplished all these goals and the staff continues to rave about his facilitation style and was incredibly gracious to our department for making their training fun, educational, and most importantly memorable. Troy has a keen sense of how to find and develop the perfect activities for each small or large group. He caters precisely to the needs of your department and adds such a creative flare and personal touch to his training programs. He genuinely believes that by engaging and taking important physical and emotional risks during training will not only create a deeper sense of belonging (because of the shared experiences) but it will also ignite new energy in individuals to offer these types of creative and highly engaged programs to their residents. - Rabia Khan, Assistant Director of Residence Life Staff & Programs, Loyola University Chicago, IL

Troy surpassed even the high expectations of our committee and students. He had our normally non-risk taking students on their feet interacting with each other with smiles on their faces despite the packed, non-air conditioned room we were in. His message, Life Unlimited, was appropriate for new students and extremely positive and upbeat. Students raced to his follow-up workshop, ‘Break on Through', as soon as he finished his keynote in order to insure a space in the first come first served workshop. Again, despite the heat, the students' comments were rave reviews. It was obvious that they took his message - that you can break through your barrier with determination and confidence - to heart. All afternoon I met students proudly carrying their broken boards with smiles on their faces. It was a tremendously successful and rewarding day. Troy's ‘Be the Change' workshop for our staff and student leaders won him more kudos and a greater awareness of the power of acknowledgement. It was a long day for Troy but he even volunteered to meet later with several of our student leaders for a hike and dinner which had a tremendous positive impact on them. We are all part of Troy's fan club. He has our highest recommendation. - Ann Friedman, Counselor, Center for Academic Planning and Support & Aileen Clay, Director, Student Life, Manchester Community College, NH

Troy Stende... has been contracted with my institution almost a dozen times to facilitate leadership trainings, full weekend leadership retreats, and keynotes for our Achievement Lecture Series. His lectures, workshops, or retreats, have always gone above and beyond expectations. My colleagues and I know that if we are looking for a person who will motivate our students and teach them the skills to deal with team dynamics, we can call on Troy... He is professional and amazing when it comes to connecting a group. We have laughed and cried together because he makes you feel so powerful by assisting you to face your biggest fears... I applaud Troy for all his hard work, but most of all I owe him a huge thank you for every one he has touched at my school, including myself. - Mareta Sizemore, Student Life Director, Broward Community College, FL

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