A speaker for Students who want to design happy, healthy, & wealthy lives
Helping college Students Find Their Voice, Build a personal brand, and Confidently position themselves for their desired career
College is one of the most defining identity transitions of a person’s life.
Students feel pressure to know exactly who they are, where they’re going, and what steps to take.
But…reality check: That’s NOT realistic.
Many working professionals are still trying to figure out those answers years after earning their degree. So, why are we expecting students, who are navigating academic pressure, career uncertainty, changing technology, and social media noise to have all the answers before they even officially enter the labor market?
That’s where Alexis Castorina comes in.
Through high-energy keynotes and interactive workshops, Alexis gives students and emerging leaders practical tools to understand who they are, communicate their unique value, build supportive relationships, and create the positioning and momentum that lands them an exciting role in their ideal industry long before commencement.
Best-selling author
adjunct professor
20+ Years in award-winning Marketing & Communications
MBA & Executive Advisor
certified career coach
certified facilitator
founder, cymatic leadership
certified master practitioner of NLP
250,000+ students reached through financial-education programming
stand-up comedian
university keynote and student success speaker trusted by:
students need practical tools to build a professional identity & navigate the rapidly changing workplace.
…what they Don’t Need is Another boring Lecture or university keynote speaker
Imagine a credible expert + real talk + humor to help students answer questions like:
“What am I actually good at?”
“How do I choose a path when I have multiple interests?”
“How do I stop comparing myself to everyone else?”
“How do I speak up, network, and advocate for myself?”
“How do I stay grounded when the world, work, and technology keep changing?”
“Who do I need to become to build the life and career I want?”
“How do I position myself to stand out from other candidates applying to the jobs I want so that I’m the obvious choice to hire?”
“How do I create a personal brand and develop a strategic narrative that attracts my ideal opportunities and employers?”
Alexis creates an experience where students can laugh, reflect, and take meaningful action on building their brands and networks before they even graduate.
About alexis
A Speaker Who Understands the Transition From Student to Professional
Alexis Castorina, MBA, is a bestselling author, keynote speaker, adjunct professor, certified career coach, and identity and communication transformation strategist.
She brings more than 20 years of experience across enterprise organizations, higher education, universities, startups, nonprofits, and national consumer-education initiatives. Before founding Cymatic Leadership, Alexis held senior marketing and communications roles in the financial services industry and was instrumental in the launch and growth of Zelle®, where she led consumer education, financial-literacy, and cybersecurity initiatives.
She also co-designed Money Moves: Modern Banking & Identity Protection, a digital learning program that reached more than 250,000 students across 4,500+ schools.
Today, Alexis helps students and emerging leaders develop the human skills that remain essential in the age of AI: self-awareness, communication, influence, resilience, trust, and the ability to adapt with purpose.
Her signature style combines real-world strategy, behavioral insight, storytelling, and stand-up comedy—because transformation sticks when people feel seen, safe, and engaged.
programs for colleges and universities
Keynotes & Workshops That Give Students Tools They Can Use
Alexis offers three signature keynotes and workshops. All programs can be customized for your audience, goals, and desired learning outcomes.
REBRAND YOU™
How to Navigate Change, Reclaim Your Identity, & Design What Comes Next
A proven framework to examine your identity, rewrite the narrative holding you back, and step into your next chapter with purpose and momentum.
*Based on her bestselling book Rebrand YOU: A Proven Guide to Redesign Your Life — On Purpose
PLAY TO WIN
How Humor, Trust, & Psychological Safety Build Stronger Leaders and Communities
A research-backed guide to using Conscious Comedy, neuroscience, and a lighthearted leadership approach to energize teams, improve communication and connection, and drive measurable results.
own the room
How to Build Your Voice, Influence, & Professional Presence Before Graduation
A neuroscience-backed framework to master state management, build confidence, and develop the strategic communication and influence strategies required to win in high-pressure and evolving environments.
keynote & WORKSHOP details and LEARNING OUTCOMES FOR STUDENTS
REBRAND YOU™
How to Navigate Change, Reclaim Your Identity, & Design What Comes Next
Students are often told to choose a major, map a career, build a résumé, and make a plan. But a plan is hard to create when they are still figuring out who they are.
Based on Alexis’ bestselling book and proprietary REBRAND Framework™, this keynote helps students move beyond old stories, limiting beliefs, and external expectations so they can build a path aligned with their strengths, values, and possibilities.
Students will learn how to:
Identify the beliefs and patterns shaping their decisions
Clarify strengths, values, and the experiences that make them distinct
Reframe uncertainty as an opportunity for growth and exploration
Build a practical plan for their next chapter
Develop the confidence to evolve without needing every answer first
Best for: Orientation, First-Year Experience, Career Services, Student Success, Graduation, Greek Life, Honors Programs, and Women’s Leadership Programming
OWN THE ROOM
How to Build Your Voice, Influence, & Professional Presence Before Graduation
Many students have ideas, talent, and ambition—but do not yet know how to articulate their value, advocate for themselves, or build relationships that create opportunity.
This keynote gives students an approachable framework for strategic communication, ethical influence, confident self-advocacy, and authentic personal branding.
Students will learn how to:
Communicate with clarity in interviews, meetings, presentations, and high-pressure moments
Build professional presence without pretending to be someone else
Tell a more compelling story about their strengths and experiences
Build trust-based relationships with peers, mentors, faculty, and future employers
Use self-awareness and state management to show up more confidently
Best for: Business Schools, Communication Programs, Career Readiness, Entrepreneurship Centers, Student Government, Greek Life, and Emerging-Leader Programs.
PLAY TO WIN
How Humor, Trust, & Psychological Safety Build Stronger Leaders and Communities
Students cannot lead, collaborate, or contribute fully when they are afraid of looking foolish, saying the wrong thing, or being judged.
In this high-energy program, Alexis uses humor, storytelling, and communication tools to show students how connection and psychological safety create stronger teams, healthier communities, and more courageous leadership.
Students will learn how to:
Use humor to reduce tension and create authentic connection
Build a more trusting, inclusive culture within teams and organizations
Handle difficult conversations with empathy and courage
Develop the confidence to participate, contribute, and lead
Best for: Student Leadership, Resident Assistants, Peer Mentors, Campus Life, Student Organizations, Greek Life, and Faculty/Staff Development
Students Leave With More Than Inspiration
They leave with a framework they can return to as they navigate academic decisions, internships, relationships, career changes, leadership opportunities, and life after graduation.
After one of Alexis Castorina’s programs, students are better positioned to:
Name the strengths and values that guide their next step
Articulate their personal and professional story
Recognize and reframe self-limiting narratives
Build confidence in times of change and uncertainty
Seek out mentors, community, and aligned opportunities
Lead themselves and others with greater clarity and courage
What Students and Educators Say
“I wanted to take a moment to share how insightful, inspiring and informative yesterday's TED Talk was. I would truly appreciate the opportunity to have her return in the future. As she was speaking, I found myself deeply connected to her message, and I believe many others felt the same. It really resonated in a way that encouraged both reflection and growth.”
— Graduate Student Sharing Feedback with Doctoral Professor “Alexis equipped our leaders with a framework to better support employees through change. She reinforced that investing in identity-aware leadership can improve engagement, retention, and adaptability, leading to more effective and sustainable organizational transformation.”
— Dr. Meger D. Chappell, Professor, Newberry College“My sincere appreciation for you sharing your story and passion with us. Your message truly resonated with me, and I left feeling both inspired and challenged to continue evolving—personally and professionally.”
— Kristen Watson, Organizational Development and Leadership Graduate Student, Newberry College“The conversation helped me view change as an opportunity to redefine purpose, strengths, and value rather than as a disruption to stability.”
— Newberry College Organizational Development and Leadership Participant“Alexis is such a powerful and relatable speaker. She effortlessly blends humor with business in a way that can easily be applied to anybody. Her energy and passion are infectious!”
— Lindsay Fricks, Educator and Coach for Top 1% Realtors“Alexis is a fabulous presenter and made a huge impact on my students.”
— Future Business Leaders of America TeacherOn campus or online, maximum impact
Flexible Programs tailored to audience size and goals
From big to small. Alexis customizes each program to your students, goals, format, and event theme.
She works closely with event organizers to customize each experience — ensuring your students get exactly what they need, delivered in a way that actually sticks.
Campus-wide keynotes— 45 to 60 minutes
Interactive student workshops — 90 minutes to half-day
Leadership retreats and intensives
First-year and orientation programming
Career readiness and professional-development events
Faculty and staff development
Virtual programs and webinars
Optional Rebrand YOU book, workbook, and discussion-guide integration.
College & University Speaker FAQs
Who is Alexis Castorina?
1
Alexis Castorina is a college and university keynote speaker, bestselling author, adjunct professor, and identity and communication strategist. She is the founder of Cymatic Leadership and brings more than 20 years of experience in corporate marketing, communications, education, leadership development, and consumer education, including leadership experience supporting the launch and growth of Zelle.
What topics does Alexis Castorina speak about for college and university audiences?
2
Alexis speaks about student confidence, identity, career clarity, communication, professional presence, influence, leadership, resilience, psychological safety, personal branding, and navigating change in the age of AI.
Her programs help students move from overthinking and uncertainty to greater clarity, confidence, connection, and aligned action.
What is the REBRAND YOU™ keynote for college students?
3
REBRAND YOU™ is Alexis’s keynote and framework for students navigating transition, career questions, identity shifts, self-doubt, or uncertainty about what comes next.
Based on her bestselling book, the program helps students reflect on their strengths and values, examine limiting narratives, explore possibilities, reframe uncertainty, activate a next-step plan, build relationships, and continue developing through change.
What is OWN THE ROOM for college and university students?
4
OWN THE ROOM is a keynote or interactive workshop that helps students communicate with clarity, build authentic influence, strengthen professional presence, advocate for themselves, and build trust-based relationships with peers, faculty, mentors, and future employers.
It is especially relevant for career readiness, business schools, student leadership programs, entrepreneurship centers, and emerging-leader initiatives.
what campus events are a fit for alexis castorina?
5
As a keynote speaker for emerging leaders, Alexis is a fit for:
College and university orientation programs
First-Year Experience and student-success initiatives
Career-readiness events
Student leadership conferences
Business-school and entrepreneurship programming
Women’s leadership events
Honors programs
TRIO and first-generation student initiatives
Student organization and resident-assistant retreats
Graduation and “what’s next?” programming
Faculty and staff professional development.
Does Alexis offer virtual and in-person programs?
6
Yes. Alexis offers virtual and in-person college and university keynotes, interactive workshops, leadership retreats, student-development programs, and faculty or staff professional-development sessions.
Programs can be customized to your audience, event theme, institutional goals, and format.
What outcomes do students gain from an Alexis Castorina keynote or workshop?
7
Students leave with practical tools to:
Identify their strengths, values, and professional identity
Communicate their story and value with greater confidence
Reframe self-limiting beliefs and uncertainty
Navigate career and identity transitions with more clarity
Build meaningful relationships with peers, mentors, faculty, and future employers
Take a purposeful next step toward their academic, professional, and personal future.
Architect their professional presence as college students
Why is Alexis Castorina qualified to speak to college and university audiences?
8
Alexis is an adjunct professor, bestselling author, certified career coach, and leadership consultant with more than 20 years of experience in communications, education, brand strategy, and leadership development.
She co-designed a digital financial-literacy program with EVERFI that reached students in thousands of schools, and her work has included consumer education and national communications initiatives supporting Zelle. She’s a career readiness speaker and loves teaching college communication workshops, university leadership workshops, and ensuring college students are equipped with the tools they need to build a professional presence and personal brand in order to be successful professionals and leaders before, during, and after earning their degree.
Give Your Students a Framework for What Comes Next
Bring Alexis Castorina to your campus for an unforgettable, practical, and high-energy experience that helps students find clarity, communicate with confidence, and take ownership of their next chapter.
Rebrand YOU: A Proven Guide to Redesign Your Life—On Purpose
The ultimate exit strategy to pivot from living on autopilot and relaunch into your highest potential.