Marc Kielburger, a husband, father, and renowned social entrepreneur. His passions uniquely integrates biohacking, longevity medicine, and consciousness to inspire others in the pursuit of living fulfilled lives.For more than 30 years, Marc has helped companies, foundations and individuals bring purpose to life. He has worked closely with major global brands like Microsoft, Unilever, Walgreens, and Allstate to help create positive social movements, and has helped prominent individuals like Oprah Winfrey, Richard Branson and Sheryl Sandberg develop and deliver inspirational legacy projects.
With Oprah, Marc developed and launched the O Ambassadors program, a multi-million dollar program that connected over one million North American youth at 2,000 different schools with their peers in developing countries. Today, Marc co-leads Legacy+, a foundry of strategists, designers, creators, storytellers and innovators that brings purpose to life for companies, foundations and individuals by building real movements and legacy projects with real impacts. A prolific author, Marc has co-authored 10 books, including the New York Times bestseller ME to WE and the international best-seller WEconomy.
His latest book is the newly released What Is My Legacy?: Realizing a New Dream of Connection, Love, and Fulfillment. Released on Martin Luther King Day 2025, the book has been celebrated for its profound insights on building a purposeful life. People Magazine wrote a feature shortly before its release, noting “the book draws on neuroscience, psychology, epigenetics and their own lived experiences, to create a new framework the authors call ‘Living Legacy.’" Co-written by his brother Craig Kielburger along with Martin Luther King III and Arndrea Waters King, What is My Legacy? features a foreword by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and contributions from luminaries like Simon Sinek, Jay Shetty, Julia Roberts, Pete Carroll and Melinda French Gates, among many others.He serves as Co-Host of the My Legacy Podcast & Syndicated Radio Show on iHeart - alongside his co-authors from the What Is My Legacy? book. The podcast steps inside the lives of extraordinary individuals, engaging in conversation about redefining what it means to create a living legacy. Each episode uncovers untold stories, deepened by the insights of those who know them best - friends, family, mentors. From groundbreaking achievements to deeply personal challenges, My Legacy offers an intimate look at the connections that shape us all.
Marc also serves as Chancellor of Legacy College in Kenya, which offers diverse programs to Kenyan leaners along with international continuing education opportunities for global learners offered by a distinguished faculty of instructors and thought leaders. Marc is also the co-founder of the Dalai Lama Center, which empowers youth around the globe through social and emotional learning to cultivate compassion, resilience, and inner peace. As a motivational speaker, Marc has hosted more than 130 stadium events across North America and the UK, welcoming over 1.5 million attendees. His stages have featured Nobel Laureates, global leaders like His Holiness the Dalai Lama and President Mikhail Gorbachev, and entertainment icons like Selena Gomez and Natalie Portman. Millions more have engaged with these events through primetime broadcasts on ABC, CBS, CTV, and Hulu.
Marc is a member of YPO, a global leadership community of over 35,000 chief executives, and he is a regular contributor to Entrepreneur.com, where he writes about integrating purpose into business and building meaningful legacies. A member of the Order of Canada, Marc has been named Canada’s Most Admired CEO in the public sector and was inducted into Canada’s Walk of Fame.His journey is rooted in compassion and service, values he embraced from an early age. A graduate of Harvard University in International Relations, he went on to earn a Rhodes Scholarship and completed a law degree at Oxford University. Marc's dedication to education and service is further reflected in the 10 honorary doctorates and degrees he has received, underscoring his profound impact on society. Every day, Marc works to empower individuals, organizations, and communities to help them live legacies they are proud of and that contribute to more fulfilled lives. His remarkable history is a testament to the power of connection, leadership and unwavering commitment to making the world a better place.
The youth empowerment events began in 2007 as a way to highlight the achievements of young people who were making a difference, and to help inspire a generation of youth to become more globally aware and civically engaged.
“These events were a way to honor and inspire young movement builders. There has always been recognition for young people who excel in academics or athletics, but there was nothing to celebrate the achievements of youth giving back to their communities. In just over a decade, the events led to students performing over 40 million volunteer hours for causes they cared about,” Marc says.
Featuring high-energy, motivational performances and speeches from major celebrities (e.g. Prince Harry, Jennifer Aniston, Will Ferrell, Magic Johnson, and Selena Gomez) the annual events highlighted students’ community and global service achievements throughout the year and helped to inspire the thousands of audience members to keep working on social causes of their own choosing.
“There’s always been recognition for young people who excel in academics or athletics, but there was nothing to celebrate the achievements of youth giving back to their communities”.
Beyond the entertainment stars of the day, the events also featured powerful voices, from youth activists like Malala Yousafzai to inspirational leaders like His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Mikhail Gorbachev, Elie Wiesel, and Dr. Jane Goodall.
Tickets to the events could not be purchased; instead, they had to be earned. Students secured their seats by taking one local action (e.g. collecting food for homeless shelters) and one global action (e.g. doing a fundraiser to support educational programs in the developing world) throughout the school year.
The events were designed to be “cause-inclusive”, meaning educators and students could work to identify the social cause that resonated most with them and work to make an impact on that specific issue.
In 2015, ABC began airing the events across North America in prime time, attracting millions of viewers on TV and online. Since the first event in Toronto in 2007, there were over 130 youth empowerment events in the United States, Canada, and the UK, hosting and honoring approximately 1.5 million young people.
A social enterprise is a purpose-driven business that focuses, primarily, on delivering social missions and creating impact rather than just profits. It can generate funds for charity, create meaningful employment, offer programs, or raise awareness for philanthropic causes.
By using innovative business strategies, social enterprises address major social and environmental challenges, often exceeding what traditional charities can achieve. They forge strong partnerships with the business sector, using corporate networks to amplify their impact.
In 2010, Marc and his team founded a social enterprise that empowered underserved rural communities globally through the sale of artisan products and Fairtrade coffee and chocolate, lifting families out of poverty.
By using innovative business strategies, social enterprises address major social and environmental challenges, often exceeding what traditional charities can achieve.
Artisanal products were sold through major retailers, often allowing customers to see directly how their purchase made an impact. Under the innovative model, which began with just 20 artisans, women who once spent their days fetching water, farming, and doing whatever they could to survive and support their families were able to follow their dreams as entrepreneurs and artists.
Partnerships were established with artisans in Kenya and Ecuador, empowering women to build a brighter future for themselves, their families, and communities. Women were able to earn twice as much as what is considered a fair wage in their country without giving up their traditional way of life. In total, over 1,500 jobs were created for women.
The operation also offered small-business training for marginalized women to further develop a source of income to support their families, empowering female artisans in Kenya and Ecuador with financial literacy skills.
Purpose-led travel is a modern approach to discovering the world, guided by a deeper mission or intention beyond simply sightseeing.
This style of travel allows individuals to connect with social or environmental causes they are passionate about, give back to communities and actively participate in creating positive change. It could involve volunteering for community development projects, participating in conservation efforts, or contributing to educational initiatives. Purpose-led travel benefits the communities and environments being visited while also offering travelers a profound sense of fulfillment.
Marc, an expert in this field, has designed and coordinated purpose-led travel operations in Africa, Asia and South America for over two decades. He and his team have welcomed high-profile guests like The British Royal Family, Martin Luther King III, Nelly Furtado, Holly and Sir Richard Branson, Natalie Portman and Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella.
In a world that is increasingly polarized, culturally immersive travel promotes respect, empathy, and a sense of unity among people with diverse backgrounds from across the globe.
With immersive, culturally rich destinations in Kenya, India, and Ecuador, visitors are guided in understanding, respecting, and connecting with the local culture, people, and heritage of the destination. Travelers take part in local rituals, learn traditional crafts or skills, and cook and share meals with local residents. In doing so, travellers gain a deeper appreciation for the destination's uniqueness and richness.
This form of travel not only enriches the traveler's own journey but also contributes to the preservation of cultural heritage by supporting local artisans, traditions, and economies. It allows travelers to break down stereotypes, challenge assumptions, and celebrate the shared humanity that binds us all together.
Marc’s ability to create impact on a massive scale, combined with his natural gift for oration, helps audiences connect with their own inner passions while he provides them with the motivation and tools to launch or grow their own social movements.
With a deep understanding of the intricacies of social dynamics, Marc has a rare ability to connect with people from all walks of life, igniting their enthusiasm and empowering them to become agents of positive change.
Marc’s speeches are a masterful blend of storytelling, data-driven insights, and heartfelt conviction that draw on his three decades of experience in launching and building world-changing movements. From starting a global children’s charity as a teenager, to being the driving force behind multiple, innovative social enterprises, to his experiences sharing the stage with dynamic leaders and entertainers around the world, Marc shares compelling narratives that highlight the power of collective action.
Marc’s speeches are a masterful blend of storytelling, data-driven insights and heartfelt conviction that draw on his three decades of experience in launching and building world-changing movements.
Through his engaging speeches, workshops, and seminars, Marc empowers his audiences with the tools they need to overcome challenges, navigate complexities and sustain momentum in the long journey of movement-building.
Marc underscores the importance of authenticity, resilience and strategic thinking in movement-building. Whether speaking to a room of budding activists or C-suite corporate leaders, Marc’s speeches not only ignite a fire within his audiences, but also equip them with an action plan to mobilize communities, spark conversations and effect tangible change.
