Travels from Ontario, Canada
Craig Kielburger's speaking fee falls within range: $15,000 to $20,000
Social entrepreneur, New York Times best-selling author, and syndicated columnist Craig Kielburger likes to give back to the world in as many ways as he can. It’s a trend he’s followed since co-founding Free The Children in 1995, at the age of 12. Today, Free The Children is the world’s leading youth-driven charity and Craig remains a full-time volunteer. The organization has come a long way from its humble beginnings as a group of kids working out of a garage, with more than 1.7 million young people involved in its programs.
In North America, Free The Children provides comprehensive service-learning programs, including annual We Day celebrations, attended by more than 100,000 students from 3,000 participating schools. Internationally, the organization works in eight developing countries to provide a holistic and sustainable development model that includes education, health care, food security, clean water, and alternative income programs, each intended to help bring children the basic necessities to grow up. Its health and clean water initiatives alone have empowered more than a million people. Other programs include the construction of more than 650 schools in developing countries.
Together with his brother Marc, Craig co-founded Me to We, an innovative social enterprise. It advances an alternate vision of philanthropy, by providing socially conscious, environmentally friendly products and experiences that support the work of Free The Children. Half of Me to We’s annual net profits are donated to Free The Children while the other half is reinvested to help the growth and development of its social mission. They provide organic clothes, not manufactured in sweatshops or with child labor, as well as life-changing international volunteer trips, leadership training programs, and artisan accessories handmade by local women.
As an author, Craig has written ten books and continues to pen a syndicated column called “Global Voices.” The Oprah Winfrey Show, 60 Minutes, National Geographic, TIME, and The Economist have all featured Craig’s work. He has 13 honorary doctorates and degrees, and has received The Order of Canada, The Roosevelt Freedom Medal, and the World Children’s Prize for the Right of the Child.
New York Times
What began as a group of kids working out of a garage now has more than 1.7 million young people involved in its programs Free The Children in North America provides comprehensive service-learning programs, including its We Day celebrations attended annually by more than 100,000 students from 3,000 participating schools who earn their entry through service activities.
Internationally, the organization works in eight developing countries providing a holistic and sustainable development model, including education, health care, food security, clean water, and alternative income programs. Free The Children programs include the construction of more than 650 schools and school rooms in developing countries. Its health and clean water initiatives have empowered more than one million beneficiaries.
Craig is also the co-founder with his brother of Me to We, an innovative social enterprise that advances a new vision of philanthropy by providing socially conscious products and experiences that support the work of Free The Children. Half of Me to We’s annual net profits are donated to Free The Children, while the other half is reinvest to grow the enterprise and its social mission. Me to We provides sweatshop-free and organic clothes, as well as life-changing international volunteer trips, leadership training programs, and artisan accessories handmade by women in developing countries.
Craig is the author of ten books. The Oprah Winfrey Show, 60 Minutes, as well as National Geographic, TIME, and The Economist have featured Craig’s work. He has 13 honorary doctorates and degrees, and has received The Order of Canada, The Roosevelt Freedom Medal, and the World Children’s Prize for the Rights of the Child.
Craig’s life changed forever when he read an article in the newspaper about a 12-year-old boy who had been murdered for standing against child labor. Craig himself was only 12 when he first went to visit Asia for 7 weeks, to see the effects of poverty and child labor. What he saw made him fight even harder to start a charity organization to help lift young people out of poverty, to help children in developing nations go to school.
As he says, “One of the most frequent questions we ask these kids is if you could have any dream at all, anything, what would it be? Their most frequent answer? A chance to go to school.”
Craig encourages young people to get active, to be involved in the wider world. He says, “Kids, when you go back to school you can start a conversation with your fellow students and teachers that says, ‘Imagine if our school got together and we adopted a sister village in Africa, or got involved here locally, imagine what we can do.’ It takes courage, it takes commitment, takes time. But as Dr. King once said, ‘We do this work not because it’s easy, we do this work because it is necessary.’”
Along with his brother Marc, Craig presses the issue of world poverty: “It’s very possible in our lifetime to end the worst forms of poverty in our world. Every World Bank study, U.N. Study, every Government agency, every academic who has ever seriously looked at this question says our world has more than enough. It’s a question of whether we care enough.”
Craig Kielburger and his brother Marc offer several motivational and engaging keynotes. They seek to inspire action and social responsibility in young people especially, but they also have programs suited for the association and corporate worlds.
The motivational program “Me to We: How One Person Can Make a World of Difference” helps audiences implement the “Me to We” philosophy to create their own positive marks on the world.
Their program titled “The World Needs Your Kid: How to Raise Kids Who Care and Contribute” is directed towards parents and educators interested in raising and mentoring kids to be active, engaged citizens. Other informative talks are geared towards business leaders and their teams.
Social Entrepreneurship: What For-profit Companies Can Learn from High-performing Non-profit Organizations
The WEconomy: How Your Company Can Profit from Purpose. Thought-provoking and informative for all levels of your company as well as business students. Great for professional development sessions, company retreats to celebrate the company’s purpose and CSR efforts.
Purpose and profit are the greatest human motivators. WEconomy is the definitive roadmap for bringing the power of both forces together—achieving purpose with profit in your career, company, and changing the world.
We all inherently know that purpose is powerful, but in this speech, based on the revolutionary new book by Craig and Marc Kielburger and Holly Branson, WEconomy: You can find meaning, make a living, and change the world, Craig will share, how to unleash purpose within your career, company, and life goals. This speech will help you profit with purpose, whether you’re the one calling the shots or a junior employee looking to advance.
Custom building from your company’s unique mission, vision and values, Craig will celebrate with your team the inherent purpose of your company and the power you have to make a difference in the world.
In this talk, he will outline strategies to: • Find a cause that drives your company and your career goals to new heights • Boost employee productivity and their love for the company and mission • Inspire brand fanatics to stay loyal to you, your company, and your cause • Add a halo to your product, grow your geographic reach, innovate for “the next big thing”, engage Boomers to Gen Z, and much more!
Your audience will walk away feeling inspired and empowered with a road map of tips that can be implemented in your office today—either simple steps or a comprehensive plan, tailored to your needs. This is your blueprint for living by your personal values, achieving career success, and changing the world.
Craig will share his story about how he and his brother Marc founded WE, an organization with a start-up mentality that grew from 12 kids in the suburbs to a $50 million a year charity that makes doing good, doable. WE has partnered with some of the biggest companies in the world, helping them tap into their purpose, including KPMG, Unilever, Microsoft and Virgin. Craig will share learnings from some of WE’s biggest supporters, from world-class business leaders like Sheryl Sandberg and Sir Richard Branson, to the methods of megastars he has encountered like Oprah Winfrey and Earvin “Magic” Johnson, who make the world a better place through purposeful—and highly profitable—business strategies. These cross-sector relationships aren’t just good for the charity—WE partners are proven to gain increased brand recognition and intent to purchase.
Unconventional Leadership: Lessons l learned from Oprah, Nelson Mandela, Grandma, and more
Inspiring for corporate, non-profit, association and university and college business audiences.
In this highly interactive keynote that pushes the boundaries of traditional speeches with stunning videos, visuals and a choose-your-own-adventure delivery allowing audience members to pick the stories they want to hear, Craig shares actionable leadership lessons that anyone relate to and employ in their work, education or personal life.
Over the course of Craig’s dynamic presentation, he will share powerful stories and lessons of leadership he and his brother Marc Kielburger have learned from their mentors and some of the world’s greatest leaders, from Mother Teresa to Nelson Mandela. Relevant whether you are a company, association, community group, planning an educators conference or student leadership conference, participants will walk away with thought-provoking ideas and tips for creating personal and organizational change.
Weaving the tale of his journey from a 12 year old starting a charity in his parents’ living room, determined to make a difference, to become the leader of a global enterprise with over 1000 employees spanning 5 continents, Craig will share intimate stories that helped shape the strategic decisions that were made along the way. Craig will provide insights and lessons from the extraordinary leaders who have coached and mentored him in some of the most important leadership lessons one can receive – from taking big risks, to accountability, emotional intelligence and being a shameless idealist. This multimedia-rich speech asks the audience to pick which stories they want Craig to tell, creating an engaging experience that will resonate for large or intimate audiences, tailor-made to be relevant for the audience, whether it’s the C-suite or junior employees.
This true choose-your-speech journey takes audience interaction to a new level. Featuring surprise gifts for participating audience members, this interactive experience lets the audience pick from over 100 well-known Nobel Laureates, heads of state, titans of industry and more to hear the stories they most want told.
Unlike any speech you’ve ever seen before, Unconventional Leadership mixes inspiration with strong educational value. This engaging and visually rich keynote experience delivers important lessons that everyone – from the C-Suite to the intern and the educator to the business student – needs to know.
As Craig weaves the tale of his journey to becoming leader of a global enterprise spanning 5 continents, employing over 1000 people, his savvy insights and advice are peppered with accounts of the extraordinary leaders who have coached and mentored him. Whether it’s an anecdote involving President Clinton or Kid President, Sheryl Sandberg or Richard Branson, Mohammad Ali or Magic Johnson, Mother Teresa or one of the many top CEOs who have shared their wisdom, attendees will be entertained, inspired and come away with actions and advice they can apply to their own professional and personal lives.
ME to WE: Making Doing Good, Doable
An uplifting and inspirational speech that will give you the tools to start making a difference today. Inspiring for all audiences.
In this uplifting, inspirational, and deeply personal speech that will bring forth laughter and emotions from all audiences, Craig will share his moving story about how he started a movement to change the world when he was just 12 years old and brought a newspaper clipping to class about a young boy in Pakistan who was killed for speaking up about child labour.
His group of twelve 12-year-olds led him to Oprah Winfrey’s couch where she vouched to help him build 100 schools, changing thousands of lives around the world, and careening Craig’s to new heights. Over two decades later, Craig is the leader of WE, an organization responsible for building thousands of schools and school houses around the world, helping millions of people lift themselves out of poverty.
In their two decades of humanitarian work, Craig and Marc Kielburger have visited dozens of countries, meeting people from all walks of life. They have learned from some of the greatest leaders of our time, including Nelson Mandela and Mother Teresa, and have shared simple meals with families struggling in the world’s slums and war zones. Along the way, they have discovered a simple but profound truth—that anyone has the power to change the world, and that real fulfillment starts with having the courage to reach out and help others.
By sharing the ME to WE philosophy, described in their New York Times bestseller, ME to WE: Finding Meaning in a Material World, Craig will provide your audience with: - The inspiration for you to discover your own purpose and help you start your own journey to make a difference; - Provide tangible tips for anyone to make a difference – whether as a parent, student, front-line staff or CEO.
The World Needs Your Kid: Raising Kids Who Care and Contribute
Insights and tips on guiding young people to be engaged global citizens. Ideal for social workers, coaches, families, educators, communities, parents, caregivers, ECE workers, and anyone who cares for children.
Raising kids in a complex, fast-paced social world can be challenging. In this speech based on their international bestseller, The World Needs Your Kid: Raising Children Who Care and Contribute, Craig will reflect on deep, personal stories about his parents – both educators – and provide key insights on guiding children to be compassionate and engaged global citizens.
Craig and Marc Kielburger are experts in creating opportunities to engage young people in service learning. Through their charity’s WE Schools program, they annually engage over 25,000 educators and 15,000 schools around the world and give young people tangible ways to make a real difference locally and globally.
He will also share tips, stats and facts that he’s learned through extensive research, over a thousand interviews with experts on mentorship and early childhood development, and methods to engage kids in service learned from over 20 years of experience working with 15,000 schools engaged in WE Schools programming. These tips will have huge benefits that not only help them succeed academically, but become leaders and active global citizens with an understanding and empathy for the issues that face the world today.
Making Caring Cool Again: Engaging and Inspiring Next Generation Philanthropists
Thought-provoking and informative for intimate conversations or large audiences of philanthropic individuals, YPO families, and Giving Pledge families.
In the age where selfies and the “me” not “we” mentality is more prevalent than ever, how do parents raise caring and compassionate children and set them on a life path for success and start a family tradition of giving back?
WE is the answer. In this speech, leading social activist, New York Times best-selling author and co-founder of the WE movement, Craig Kielburger will share an insider’s perspective on empowering today’s youth and offer tips that will help families find their North Star in values that will engage kids in philanthropy for a lifetime.
With a life-time of first-hand experience working with young people, combined with a wealth of research and interviews with experts from the philanthropic and education worlds, and by learning from expert partners such as Foundation Source, Craig will help give families the tools to inspire families to find their cause, rally together and set up young people to become stewards of their family’s legacy and become the next generation of world change-makers today.
Inspiring the next generation to find their place and change the world.
“Me to We boldly and brilliantly challenges us to step beyond the world of self and into the world of others. Craig and Marc Kielburger have powerfully and practically captured in these pages the journey we must take as individuals, families, and nations.” Matthew Kelly, author of The Seven Levels of Intimacy
“I have hosted Craig for special events at two separate occasions and he has in both cases been enormously successful, not just in educating, exciting and entertaining a group, but much more uniquely in inspiring a group to action. One of the audiences was the San Diego Chapter of YPO [Young Presidents′ Organization], and this particularly discerning group rated Craig and his team our strongest event in the entire year.” Michael Stone, Young Presidents′ Organization, San Diego
“To date, Craig has shared his moving and educational messages to our clients, field sales groups and employees on 14 separate occasions. Each time, Craig greatly exceeds our expectations and seldom have our events created the level of positive feedback and excitement that we have seen with these events. Perhaps, more importantly, at every event Craig has made himself available to spend time with each audience member who desired to speak to him after each presentation.” Neil Taylor, Vice President, Marketing, Investors Group
“Craig Kielburger was among the most memorable keynote speakers FEI Canada has had at our annual conference for the country’s senior financial executives…Craig gave an energetic, empowering, inspiring and entertaining speech which encouraged our members to think about how they can effect positive change in both their private and professional lives.” Michael Conway, President & CEO, FEI Canada
“Craig’s remarks were exactly what I was hoping for…direct and inspiring. His delivery was outstanding…lots of energy, able to be heard at the back of the arena, and clearly passionate about his subject. I do believe the grads will remember their convocation speaker, which is a feat. I don’t remember mine!” Lambton College, Convocation
“I have had nothing but rave reviews for this event from both clients and consultants. Craig did an outstanding job and was our best speaker ever. His passion and enthusiasm shone through the minute he took the stage. I think the standing ovation at the end said everything about what people thought of Craig and the event. It was our best Dinner Seminar ever!” Bill Charles, Regional Director, Investors Group
“I’m going to look at things differently because of his speech.” New York Times
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WEconomy: You Can Find Meaning, Make A Living, and Change the World
Your guide to ‘Business with Benefits’… for All!
Purpose and profit are powerful human motivators. Combined, this power can change the world.
WEconomy is your guidebook to the greatest evolution in business since the assembly line. Discover the secret to achieving purpose with profit in your career and company, all while driving positive impact.
Do you crave more meaning in your job? This book is your roadmap. Are you seeking to inspire employees? CEOs are discovering that purpose is the key to increasing productivity and retaining top performers. If you’re in sales, unleash the power of purpose to inspire customers to be passionate brand ambassadors. If you are an aspiring social entrepreneur, learn how to massively scale your mission.
Get paid to change the world — who wouldn’t want to be the person doing that?
Uncover the methods of megastars like Oprah Winfrey, Earvin “Magic” Johnson, and Sir Richard Branson, who make the world a better place through purposeful—and highly successful—business strategies. The stellar authorial team share in candid detail, the setbacks and achievements they experienced building successful enterprises and charities—with purpose.
With the tips inside this book, you, your business, or your charity can:
– Find a cause that drives you and your career goals to new heights – Create a job that you love and be celebrated by your peers, boss, and industry – Inspire brand fanatics to stay loyal to you, your company, and your cause – Add a halo to your product, grow your geographic reach, innovate for “the next big thing,” engage Boomers to Gen Z, and much more! – This is your blueprint for living by your personal values, achieving career success, and changing the world.
The World Needs Your Kid: Raising Children Who Care and Contribute / Edition 2
The Dalai Lama has observed that the greatest challenge facing our time is that we′re raising a generation of passive bystanders. If he is right, then the most vital work in this moment belongs to parents, grandparents, mentors and teachers. Inside this inspiring guide, you′ll find life lessons from remarkable individuals, committed parents, and compassionate children.
Contributors include Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Mia Farrow, Jane Fonda, Robert Kennedy Jr., Jason Mraz, and Dr. Jane Goodall. Read revealing stories and insights from the not-so-typical childhoods of Craig and Marc Kielburger. The brothers, whose work now inspires more than a million youth every year, share groundbreaking lessons on teaching kids to care. Discover how small actions every day can make the world a better place. Find out how those same small actions can have a lasting influence on your child′s life. After all, it′s a proven fact that doing good for the world does a world of good for friendships, grades, and self-esteem.
Order Here
Me to We: Finding Meaning in a Material World In this profound and practical book, Craig and Marc Kielburger outline their life-changing philosophy one that redefines success and happiness by turning the focus away from “me” toward “we” our communities, our nation, and the world.
Weaving together lessons, stories, and inspirational contributions from people all of walks of life, Me to We shows readers how to grow and develop by being socially conscious and responsible, engaging in daily acts of kindness, building meaningful relationships through community.
Both a manifesto and a manual, Me to We offers ways to get involved such as:
Me to We offers nothing less than a plan for a new way of living and celebrates the purest, most basic impluse of humanity reaching out to others. Order Here
Free The Children: A Young Man Fights Against Child Labor and Proves that Children Can Change the World
Craig Kielburger is an activist prodigy who, at 12, was talking to national leaders, lecturing in public forums, and following the burning passion that would not allow him to overlook cruel injustices thrust upon children around the world. Inspired by a newspaper article about a young boy′s murder at the hands of his boss in Pakistan, Kielburger set forth on an international crusade against child sweatshops, virtual slave labor, and the abhorrent working conditions to which many children worldwide are subjected. An inspiring book about the power young people can wield to change the world, Free the Children is a must-read from a remarkable young man.
The author has appeared on 60 Minutes and CNN and has been featured in People, React, and the New York Times.
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