Brandon Leake Speaker Biography
Award-Winning Poet, Artistic Educator, America’s Got Talent Winner, and Motivational Speaker
An artistic visionary whose roots lie in the ghettos of south side Stockton, California, Brandon Leake is a spoken word poet, educator and motivational speaker and the winner of the fifteenth season of America’s Got Talent.
Journey
Being born and raised to a single parent household with his mother, Carla Leake-Gibson, Brandon was accustomed to the complexities of playing this game of life with the decks stacked against you. However, with a strong home life and some divine intervention Brandon made it out of his neighborhood ghetto into a college classroom. This journey came with its many trials from the loss of integral members of his family and abusive home life, but these trails mixed with this spiritual collegiate journey would soon blossom into a beautiful poetic journey.
American’s Got Talent
Brandon was the first spoken word poet to be on America’s Got Talent and received the Golden Buzzer award in the first round from Howie Mandel. He performed pieces about his sister who died, his father, Black Lives Matter and his daughter. He was named the champion of the 15th season in September 2020, Go Home with $1 Million Cash Prize, a Brand New Car Kia Stinger & Star in Luxor Las Vegas.
Keynote Speaker
He has spoken in 36 US states, New Zealand, Mexico and Canada with his Dark Side Tour to promote his published poetry and his album called Deficiencies: A Tale from My Dark Side.
Academics
He teaches at Brookside school daycare center, where he worked with his wife. He is also an academic advisor at San Joaquin Delta College.
Called to Move
Leake is the founder and CEO of Called to Move (CTM), an organization that helps youth through poetry. He founded the organization in 2012 at Simpson University. This pursuit led to Brandon leading workshops around the world with several curricula he developed himself.
Web Series
In October 2020, it was announced Leake would service as the producing partner and contributor to the Team Harmony Foundation’s new international web series, HATE: WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO?
Leake is from Stockton, California. He is married and has one daughter who was born shortly before his first audition.[
Brandon Leake Speaking Topics
DEI - Mosaic
Mosaic is a keynote address that can range from 30 min to 60 min that features 2 spoken word pieces from Brandon Leake, and addresses the topic of diversity, equity, and inclusion from the perspective of the stained glass window versus the melting pot. Brandon utilizes your company's personal mission, his story and storytelling ability, alongside relevant cultural prompts to illustrate that we are better not only together, but when we are utilizing our unique cultural pieces to our advantage instead of trying to assimilate to being singularly minded. There is beauty in our uniqueness, our cultures hold value in their uniqueness, allowing for them to hold space.
DEI - Black Art
Black Art is a DEI-focused keynote that can range from 30 min to 60 min that features 2 spoken word pieces from Brandon Leake, and addresses the topic of diversity, equity, and inclusion from the perspective of the historical utilization of art in black communities as vehicles to advocate for freedom, equality, and equity. This particular keynote addresses the need for our creativity to remain at the forefront of industries, even if they aren’t artistry based, because creativity is what will allow for us to find space for blackness and black culture, and it has a historical precedent.
Motivational/Inspirational - Dreamers
Dreamers is a motivational speaking keynote that can range from 20 min to 30 min, and utilizes spoken word and Brandon’s unique story to encourage his audience to look within themselves to reflect not only on what they would like to do but to also examine who they would like to become. The end result of this keynote should be people walking away with a clear road map to accomplishing their dreams and goals.
Motivational/Inspirational - Discipline Over Motivation
Discipline Over Motivation is a keynote address that can range from 30 min to 60 min and it examines the immense benefits of discipline over motivation. It utilizes stories from both Brandon’s life, and stories from other disciplined people (Kobe Bryant, Serena Williams, Martin Luther King Jr., Denzel Washington) and provides a story arch for listeners to attach themselves to, to learn not only the skill and benefit of discipline but then prompts them to examine where their discipline if faltering and how they can revive it.
Brandon Leake Books
B-Sides: Lifes Scraps Can Still Be Beautiful
Purchase BookBrandon Leake Videos
Brandon Leake Articles
Brandon Leake Speaker Testimonials
The way Brandon Leake’s poetry impacted me the most was at the REACH Conference, where I realized that I was not too emotional and I was loved for exactly who I AM. This moment with Brandon was the final push I needed to accept Jesus into my heart.
- | Irie Dickerson
Thank you Brandon Leake for inspiring me! This really impacted me and made me change my perspective because I used to think I was going to be what everyone tells me I will be, but now I KNOW I can do anything.
- | David G.
Brandon Leake’s poetry brings hope back to Stockton and the culture in general. He leads by example never trying to fit in but always standing out with love and passion he has for what he does. He showed me a lot, to never be ashamed of who you are and always keep God first.
- | Kevin Goodwin
