Jason Ryan Dorsey

Biography

Jason Ryan Dorsey is a thought leader on Gen Y and bridging the generations.

Recognized as The Gen Y Guy, Jason is an acclaimed keynote speaker, bestselling author, corporate consultant and award-winning entrepreneur. In the past twelve years, he has delivered 1,800 keynote speeches around the world - earning standing ovations from audiences as large as 13,000. Jason`s clients have taken him to all 50 states and as far away as Egypt, Finland, Spain, and India. In a typical year, he delivers more than 120 customized programs at events ranging from CEO summits and high-profile education conferences to international association meetings.

A proud member of Gen Y (who text messages his mom every day), Jason has been featured as a generational expert on 60 Minutes, 20/20, The Today Show, The View, in Fortune Magazine and over 100 other media outlets. In recognition of his business achievements, Jason won the Austin Under 40 Entrepreneur of the Year Award at age 25 - one of the youngest winners ever. Jason`s newest book is titled Y-Size Your Business: How Gen Y Employees Can Grow Your Business and Save You Money.

A NONTRADITIONAL PATH

Jason`s nontraditional path began at age 16.

Growing up in small-town Texas, Jason saw few opportunities and abundant obstacles. At a pivotal time, one of his high school teachers encouraged Jason to leave his hometown behind and start college early. Inspired by this teacher`s belief in his abilities, Jason attended college programs in Florida, Israel, and New York on his way to becoming a junior at The University of Texas at Austin Business Honors Program at age 18.

While at UT, Jason built an extensive network from scratch, attracted respected mentors through cold calling, and positioned himself for great job opportunities. He also saw that many people his age - Generation Y - were struggling to make the same transition from education to career. Jason realized he could help them by sharing what he had learned firsthand, so at age 18 he authored and self-published Graduate to Your Perfect Job in his college dorm room.

Publishing his own book landed Jason $50,000 in debt and sleeping on the floor of a tiny garage apartment. He never felt more alive or vulnerable.

Through hard work and persistence Jason`s book and message eventually reached the media. Business executives and education leaders began asking Jason to keynote their conferences and share how they could unlock Generation Y`s potential - from the view of someone in Generation Y. The result was Jason speaking to business leaders around the world, on-site at over 700 schools and colleges, and earning standing ovations from audiences as large as 13,000!

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! Graduate to Your Perfect Job - which included a diagram of how to tie a tie - became a national bestseller and required reading in over 1,650 schools, colleges, and workforce programs. It is estimated over 100,000 members of Generation Y have used Graduate to Your Perfect Job as a resource to enter the workforce. Jason followed the success of his first book with three more including his budget friendly school improvement book, 50 Ways to Improve Schools for Under $50.

Jason`s next book, My Reality Check Bounced!, was written in direct response to requests from Generation Y young professionals who were frustrated with their real-world situation. In My Reality Check Bounced! Jason shares practical actions and candid stories that help readers to conquer their fears, get a head start on their career, and find a meaningful life direction.

Since taking the risk to write and publish his first book in his college dorm room, Jason`s books have sold more than 250,000 copies.

FROM GEN Y TO BRIDGING THE GENERATIONS

Jason`s focus on bridging the generations in the workplace began when he was asked to teach corporate executives how to motivate, retain, and develop Gen Y employees - his own generation. Jason discovered the key to maximizing Gen Y employee performance was to address the bigger issues of understanding, connecting, and leading across all four generations in the workforce. After extensive research, site visits, and in-depth interviews, Jason developed a step-by-step methodology for best employing Gen Y that also leverages the value each generation brings to the workplace. Jason shares these frontline-tested insights in his customized keynotes as well as in his newest book, Y-Size Your Business: How Gen Y Employees Can Save You Money and Grow Your Business.

WHERE IS JASON NOW?

His mom says when he`s not on the road speaking, or typing feverishly at a late-night coffee shop, Jason can usually be found in Austin, Texas eating Tex-Mex with his friends or hanging out with his mentors.

Publications

Y-Size Your Business: How Gen Y Employees Can Save You Money and Grow Your Business

Jason`s new hardcover book, Y-Size Your Business: How Gen Y Employees Can Save You Money and Grow Your Business, was released in November 2009. This breakthrough book delivers a step-by-step methodology and over 50 best practices for unlocking the talent, loyalty, and performance of the fastest growing generation in the workforce - and how to do so while saving you money.

Titles

Crossing the Generational Divide: Making the Four Generations in Your Workforce a Competitive Advantage In Any Economy

For the first time in US history, four distinctly different generations are working side by side. Each of these four generations (Matures, Baby Boomers, Generation X, and Generation Y) is guided by a different set of values, beliefs, and expectations. In Crossing the Generational Divide, bestselling author Jason Ryan Dorsey entertainingly reveals each generation`s preferences and priorities to highlight what they bring to the workforce - and how to build on their common ground.

Jason then shares his frontline-tested process which participants can immediately rely on to lead a culture of cross-generation communication, innovation, engagement, teamwork, and performance. Filled with surprising statistics, step-by-step strategies, and laugh-out-loud stories, participants leave this presentation prepared to make their multigenerational workplace a competitive advantage in any economy.

Y-Size Your Business: How Gen Y Employees Can Save You Money and Grow Your Business

Generation Y is the fastest growing demographic in the United States workforce. Along with a new definition of "business casual," Gen Y adheres to a different set of workplace beliefs and priorities than other generations already employed. We also bring tremendous potential and big expectations (just ask, we`ll tell you). Gen Y`s attitude toward work can make us a growing challenge or a strategic opportunity depending entirely on how business leaders respond.

In Y-Size Your Business, Jason cuts through the stereotypes to teach participants Gen Y`s workplace mindset. He then reveals a step-by-step process and specific actions that employers can immediately adopt to unlock the talent, loyalty, creativity, and performance of this emerging workforce.

As a member of Gen Y, Jason is uniquely qualified to discuss his generation`s workplace mindset. He balances an insider`s view of Gen Y (he texts his mom every day) with the workplace realities facing executives and managers in an increasingly competitive global market. He also tailors his presentation to focus on the aspects of the Gen Y employment life cycle most important to your organization:
Attracting and Hiring Gen Y
Onboarding and Engaging Gen Y
Motivating and Leading Gen Y
Developing and Professionalizing Gen Y
Retaining Gen Y

Y-Size Your Sales: How to Sell to Gen Y so We Love to Buy (and brag about our purchase on Facebook)

The 80 million members of Gen Y have finally come of age. And we`re spending money. More than $200 billion this year alone! Companies in every category are competing fiercely for Gen Y`s attention, affection, and customer loyalty. The companies and individuals that successfully attract and keep Gen Y customers will see an immediate ROI and a powerful competitive advantage.

In Y-Size Your Sales, bestselling author Jason Ryan Dorsey, The Gen Y Guy, shows business leaders and sales professionals exactly what Gen Y covets in a buying experience and why. He then reveals specific actions that companies and individuals can adopt to attract Gen Y`s attention, build our trust, close the sale, stay in touch, and drive priceless word-of-mouth referrals.

Specific sales elements that Jason covers can include: lead generation, customer experience, building an online following, mobile integration, brand loyalty, selling intangibles (such as insurance) and big ticket items, retail, and peer-to-peer referrals. All participants leave with specific strategies you can use right away.