The Best Commencement Speakers
The best commencement Speakers of 2026
As the Class of 2026 steps forward, the right keynote doesn’t just mark the moment — it defines it. We represent voices who combine candor, depth, and hard-won wisdom to send graduates into the world with genuine momentum. A memorable commencement speech does more than mark the occasion — it sparks momentum. The right speaker delivers insight, challenges assumptions, and leaves graduates with a lasting sense of purpose long after the diplomas are handed out.
#1: Gary Vaynerchuk
CEO, VaynerMedia · Serial Entrepreneur
Gary Vaynerchuk brings unmatched candor to every stage. His commencement-style messages cut through the noise, teaching graduates to bet on their strengths, reframe failure as data, and stay ruthlessly future-focused. Gary brings an honest, actionable perspective on what it actually takes to win.
#2: Ryan Holiday
Bestselling Author · Stoic Philosopher
Author of The Obstacle Is the Way and Discipline Is Destiny, Ryan Holiday distills timeless Stoic wisdom into practical tools for resilience and focus. For graduates entering an uncertain world, his message is both grounding and clarifying: the obstacle isn’t in the way. It is the way.
#3: Blake Mycoskie
Founder, TOMS · Creator of One for One · Founder, ENOUGH
Blake Mycoskie built TOMS into a global movement that gave away 100 million pairs of shoes — then stepped back, struggled quietly with depression, and returned with a harder and more honest message: success will never make you feel enough. His newest venture, ENOUGH, is a movement redefining self-worth. For a generation conditioned to measure their value by metrics and milestones, Blake’s talk is the antidote they didn’t know they needed.
#4: Jesse Itzler
Co-Founder, Marquis Jet · Author, Living with a SEAL · Endurance Athlete
Jesse Itzler sold a private jet company to Warren Buffett, helped pioneer coconut water, ran 100 miles nonstop, and lived with both a Navy SEAL and a group of monks — all in service of one obsession: building a life resume, not just a work one. His message challenges graduates to stop being realistic and start designing a life defined by experiences, courage, and intention. Hilarious, high-energy, and genuinely moving.
#5: Rashida Jones
Former President, MSNBC · CEO, Uncensored
Rashida Jones made history as the first Black executive to lead a major U.S. television news network. She is a masterclass in leading with instinct, showing up under pressure, and knowing when to walk away and build something new. For graduates entering an uncertain landscape, her story is exactly what they need to hear.
#6: Christina Tosi
Founder, Milk Bar · 2× James Beard Award Winner · Author
Christina Tosi built a national dessert empire by asking one question: What is that one thing that will make me excited to wake up every morning? Her message to graduates is about unlocking the creative spirit — embracing rule-breaking, learning from failure, and having the courage to build something that’s unmistakably, unapologetically you. Energizing, warm, and impossible not to love.
#7: Claude Silver
Chief Heart Officer, VaynerX · Author, Be Yourself at Work
The world’s first Chief Heart Officer, Claude Silver, was told for years that she thinks too much with her heart. She’s now built a career proving that’s a superpower. Her concept of “emotional optimism” — leading with authenticity, empathy, and genuine human connection — is the operating system the next generation of leaders desperately needs. For graduates entering workplaces hungry for culture and belonging, Claude’s message lands.
#8: Dominique dawes
3× Olympian · Gold Medalist ·Entrepreneur
Dominique Dawes became the first African-American woman to win an individual Olympic medal — then turned around and became a vocal advocate for tearing down the toxic culture she survived. Her philosophy, D-3 (Determination, Dedication, Desire), gives graduates a personal framework for converting setbacks into fuel and building a foundation that outlasts any single achievement.
#9: Jefferson Fisher
Trial Lawyer · NYT Bestselling Author · Communication Expert
Jefferson Fisher became the most-followed litigation attorney in the world… from the driver’s seat of his car. His NYT bestseller, The Next Conversation, and his podcast have reached millions with a simple premise: say it with control & confidence. For graduates about to navigate their first real negotiations, conflicts, and relationships, Jefferson’s practical communication toolkit is extremely useful on graduation day.
#10: Will Guidara
Former Co-Owner, Eleven Madison Park · Author, Unreasonable Hospitality
Will Guidara took Eleven Madison Park from a struggling brasserie to the best restaurant in the world by realizing that food is just the ingredient, and human connection is the dish. Co-producer of the Emmy Award-winning series The Bear and author of the bestselling Unreasonable Hospitality, Will teaches graduates that in any field, the leaders who win are the ones who make people feel genuinely seen.