Mike Veny Motivational Speaker from New York City, NY

"The only way to do great work is to love what you do." Steve Jobs Mike Veny is one of America's leading mental health speakers and a high energy drum circle facilitator. He delivers educational, engaging, and entertaining presentations to meetings and conferences throughout the world. As a 2017 PM360 ELITE Award Winner, Mike is recognized as one of the 100 most influential people in the healthcare industry. Mike is fiercely committed to wellness, suicide prevention, and helping people work together more smoothly. If you are looking for a proven speaker who can address the stigma surrounding mental health and deliver a corporate drumming event, then you have come to the right place. With 15 years of experience electrifying audiences and making meeting planners look good, his mission is to empower people to connect authentically. Mike's path to becoming a public speaker became evident at an early age. He convinced the staff at psychiatric hospitals to discharge him three times during his childhood. In addition to being hospitalized as a child, he was expelled from 3 schools, attempted suicide, and was medicated in efforts to reduce his emotional instability and behavioral outbursts. By the fifth grade, Mike was put in a special education class. Aside from getting more individualized attention from the teacher, he learned that pencil erasers make a great sound when tapped on a desk. He had no idea that drumming would become his career or his path to recovery. Event planners say remarkable things about the impact his work has their events. "Mike Veny has an innate ability to connect with people, draw them out, and get them to participate. This is not an easy task when you are responsible for closing a two and a half day conference on a Friday." MaryBeth Schneider – Assistant Executive Director for Training and Self-Advocacy, NYSARC "Mike's ability to connect with students is a talent that very few adults have. His ability to address a group of 200 students and have them engaged for well over an hour shows just how deep his talent runs." Jesicah Rolapp – Principal, Los Angeles Leadership Academy "Mike Veny participated in our 2013 community mental health awareness conference and was nothing short of outstanding. I believe his candor, humor, and transparency are applicable in a variety of corporate and community settings." Sophie Clark – Executive Director, NAMI Washington, DC Similar benefits await when you hire Mike to take your event to the next level. What sets Mike apart from other speakers is his authenticity and his straightforward, easy-to-understand tools that audience members can apply immediately. It's that simple! You can feel confident having Mike as your keynote speaker or workshop facilitator. Over the years, his expertise has been honored with remarkable and notable accolades, including serving on the Board of Directors of The Fender Music Foundation, the Rotary Club of Wall Street New York, an Ambassador for Self Employment in the Arts, and a presenter at the Haiti Entrepreneurship Camp. He also starred in several OC87 Recovery Diaries documentary films, two of which were featured at the 2017 Reel Minds Film series. Mike's perspectives have been featured on ABC, NBC, and CBS news. He's a regular guest on The Fresh Outlook TV news show, a writer for Corporate Wellness Magazine and Mental Illness is An Asset, his compelling TEDx talk has been used in college classrooms and gotten sensational reviews. Five things about him and his experience that might surprise and delight you – while serving your work together: 1. He does not use Powerpoint or speak with notes in his presentations. 2. He's a member of the Rotary Club of Wall Street. Being a Rotarian has contributed to his happiness. 3. He loves to travel and is obsessed with luggage, packing techniques, and travel checklists. 4. He takes his morning routine very seriously. 5. He enjoys a really good steak cooked medium rare. Connect with Mike today and explore how he can add value to your upcoming and give your audience the memory of a lifetime.