Ben Casnocha

Ben has a track record of succesfully keynoting conferences and events. At 20 years-old, he is an author, world traveler, technology entrepreneur, and current college student, so he offers a truly compelling and unique perspective on some of the most important business and education issues today.

Ben is the author of the bestselling business book “My Start-Up Life: What a (Very) Young CEO Learned on His Journey Through Silicon Valley” which the New York Times called “precocious, informative, and entertaining.” He founded Comcate, Inc., an e-government software company, at age 14.

Ben’s work has been featured in dozens of international media including CNN, USA Today, CNBC, and ABC’s 20/20. At a conference in Paris PoliticsOnline named him one of the “25 most influential people in the world of internet and politics.” BusinessWeek recently named Ben “one of America’s top young entrepreneurs.” He writes prolifically on his blog which the San Jose Business Journal called one of the “Top 25 Blogs in Silicon Valley.” He also is a commentator for NPR’s “Marketplace.”

Ben has given speeches at dozens of universities and organizations around the world. He has traveled to more than 25 countries. He also co-runs the Silicon Valley Junto, an intellectual discussion society for business and technology executives. In his free time Ben enjoys playing chess, ping-pong, reading, and writing.

Entrepreneurship as Life Idea: Becoming CEO Of Your Own Life

In what one professor recently called “the most powerful presentation on entrepreneurship I have witnessed,” Ben declares entrepreneurship more a life idea than a business one. He explains several core entrepreneurial concepts that can applied to any aspect of life: creativity, screwing around, maintaining side projects, optimism, harboring a bias toward action, among others. Interweaving personal anecdotes and experiences, as well as drawing upon the lessons of hundreds of other entrepreneurs and leaders, Ben presents an inspiring and persuasive vision for the entrepreneurial life, and gives audience members specific tools to start their own businesses or simply become CEO of their own lives.

Generational Workplace Issues: Connecting with Gen Y

With a wealth of business experience at age 20, Ben is uniquely able to explain some of the most common generational challenges in companies today. What’s the best way to incentivize a member of the Facebook generation? What are their expectations for salary, responsibilities, and communication protocols? Which generational generalizations are accurate and which are propagated by consulting firms trying to make a buck? Walk away with a better understanding of the attitudes of the most connected generation in history — and how you can bring out their best in your organization.

Social Media: What It Means

Blogs. Social networks. Twitter. Podcasts. YouTube. These and other technologies are largely grouped under the heading “Social Media” — and they are fundamentally altering how millions of people use the internet to interact with friends and co-workers. Ben will cover what these words mean, and more important, how these technologies affect underlying behaviors of everyday internet users. He can review implications in the education world (how educators should use social media to better teach students) or the corporate world (how should employees be taught to use these tools?). Ben’s effectiveness lies in his ability to explain complex technology in layman’s terms.

The Art of Mentorship

Studies show that executives who were mentored at a young age went on to earn more money and be more successful than there non-mentored counterparts. Mentoring is widely seen as important, but rarely explained from the perspective of the “mentee” and mentor. Ben, who at a young age cultivated deep relationships with various Silicon Valley titans, will discuss the keys to a successful mentoring relationship, how to be a good mentee, how to find a mentor, and how to be a mentor yourself. Coming not from a spiritual guru or business consultant, but rather from someone who’s in the trenches right now working with mentors, Ben’s presentation brims with authenticity and practical advice for people involved in either (or both) roles of a mentoring relationship.

Leading and Succeeding in a Global World

Over the past few years, Ben has traveled to more than 25 countries and met thousands of entrepreneurs, students, journalists, and political leaders. Through this on-the-ground experience, Ben provides a wide-ranging look at the forces of globalization and what it means to aspiring businesspeople and, in particular, young people wanting to compete in the 21st century. From the shift of power to the east, to the internet’s impact on developing countries, Ben distills some of the key trends and offers practical advice on how to lead and succeed in an increasingly connected and competitive economy.

"He was phenomenal. I must have had 30 people come up to me and say 'what a refreshing speaker'. He was just phenomenal. He had four great points and he talked from the heart. We were so happy, I would definitely recommend him." — Anne Mathison, University of Wisconsin Continuing Ed / Adult Learning Program

"Ben's presentation about his entrepreneurial life philosophy was insightful and inspiring to everyone in the audience. Ben delivered his presentation with elegance and confidence; he was exactly the right person delivering exactly the right message!" — Deborah Murray, Director, Center for Rural Research and Development, University of Nebraska at Kearney

"Ben grabs and holds his audience with a rapid fire, succinct, insightful and motivational presentation. Aspiring entrepreneurs in attendance were well served by his insights into the entrepreneurial mind." — Robert Robb, Professor, University of Texas at Dallas

"It is rare these days when an entire auditorium of students sit without text messaging, and listen attentively while a speaker delivers his message. When Ben Casnocha spoke at Lone Star College - Montgomery, every student listened and afterwards asked pertinent, intelligent questions fueled by one of the most powerful speeches on entrepreneurship I have had the good fortune to witness." — James F. Zipperer, Professor of Economics, Lone Star College