Kick-Off Keynotes
Tom Leu’s Collegiate Kick-Off Keynotes

Tom Leu, a former Academic Dean, is a dynamic keynote speaker, corporate trainer, professional photographer, music industry insider, and radio host. Tom’s clients include Fortune 500 companies, Colleges, Universities, and the Entertainment Industry. He offers unique and proprietary content producing one-of-a-kind “edutainment“ offerings you can’t get elsewhere.

Tom has trained with the world’s leading experts on strategic communications, leadership, personal development, and body language. Weaving words and images into unforgettable and actionable multimedia presentations, Tom challenges, empowers and moves audiences to “see things” differently, and Talk shiFt™ for improved personal and professional outcomes.


Tuning Into WIIFM – Faculty In-Service

Tuning Into WIIFM – Faculty In-Service

This In-Service training is an expanded version of the popular WIIFM Keynote talk that focuses on the “What’s In It For Me?” frequency and how to flip the communications script with 180° delivery of compelling content with real-world relevance.

Using principles of Communichology™, Professional coach Tom Leu teaches from the unique vantage point where communication skills and human psychology collide. This multi-media and interactive session explores the practical applications of harnessing “selfless-selfishness” strategies to meet your individual and institutional communication goals by understanding and meeting the needs of others first. This talk emphasizes critical retention & engagement strategies for faculty to use inside and outside of the classroom.

Attendees of this talk gain an impactful and entertaining understanding of powerful persuasion and influence techniques that foster learning inside and outside of the classroom. Participants learn proven strategies that encourage subject matter engagement to aid in student satisfaction, retention, and recruitment. This session empowers attendees to take a macro-view of their messages’ impact and long-term relevance.

To truly have an impact in education and beyond, we all need to tune into the “WIIFM” frequency that others are continually broadcasting. Incorporating “selfless-selfishness” strategies into our daily interactions by effectively answering the question “What’s In It For Me?” for others FIRST, produces a win/win outcome for all parties involved. In today’s over-communicated economy and culture, the most effective among us are those who are “smart” emotionally and socially, and who are superior communicators. Sharpening the intuitive skills necessary to manage our personal and professional interactions with others successfully is an all-important art and science. Possessing high-levels of these skills is no longer just nice to have, but necessary to truly influence successful outcomes on-campus, on-the-job, and at home.

Educator Learning Outcomes:

  • Learn how to build rapport, connect, and gain trust quickly and genuinely.
  • Consistently see the highest gains in attendance, retention, engagement, and student learning outcomes.
  • How to fine-tune your instructional approach to make your messages even more effective inside and outside of the classroom.
  • Understand the critical communicational differences between: details vs. discovery; lecture vs. learning; pedagogy vs. passion.
  • Harness the power of “selfless-selfishness” to transform all personal and professional relationships positively.

Key Focus Areas:

  • Faculty Development
  • Student Engagement
  • Advanced Communications
  • Leadership
  • Collaboration
  • Professional Development
  • Academic Success

Operating virtually? Check out Tuning Into WIIFM – Virtual Faculty In-Service to enjoy this program remotely.

Key Focus Areas:
Faculty Development Student Engagement Advanced Communications Leadership Collaboration Professional Development Academic Success

My Generation – Faculty Keynote

My Generation – Faculty Keynote

Perfect your ability to strategically engage with all four generations that coexist on today’s college and university campuses. Through My Generation, you’ll learn new ways of hacking and cracking the codes of the supposed generation gaps by dialing into the three key motivators driving all human behavior, regardless of age.

This fun, interactive, and insightful talk applies generational insights and strategies to higher education challenges on today’s college campuses. Tom teaches how to move beyond merely bridging generational gaps to blowing them up, by fostering heightened understanding and collaboration that produce increased learning outcomes for today’s leading colleges and universities.

We all have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to come together and work together, regardless of our varying ages, to produce improved outcomes for each generation, dependent upon how each of us chooses to adapt. From Baby Boomers to Generation X, to Millennials, and now Generation Z… the challenge is real to transcend basic empathy and understanding, to executing critical generational communication shifts, producing improved institution and classroom outcomes.

Learning outcomes:

  • Learn new ways to view generations that inspire new action from members of each generation.
  • Uncover new value in the unique strength and talent every generation brings—from Baby Boomers to Generation Z.
  • Leave with specific actions that can be used immediately to drive key outcomes such as communication, trust, innovation, retention, and motivation.

Operating virtually? Check out My Generation – Virtual Faculty Keynote to enjoy this program remotely.

Key Focus Areas:
Faculty Development Student Engagement Advanced Communications Leadership Professional Development And Academic Success

Seeing Things – Faculty Keynote

Seeing Things – Faculty Keynote

Seeing Things, literally through lenses, figuratively despite filters. Professional coach Tom Leu will guide you as you learn how new perceptions shift perspectives to shape new outcomes in higher education with this visually intense talk that challenges participants to “see” the extraordinary within the ordinary… literally and figuratively based on Tom’s principles of Communichology™.

Seeing Things is about deliberately examining and exploring different perceptual distinctions and perspectives of the world around us. Featuring a multitude of images shot across the country from his published photography works, Tom challenges higher education professionals to adjust their perceptions and gain new perspectives, to have a more significant favorable influence on their students’ personal and professional outcomes.

Participants of this presentation will embark on an insightful and inspirational multi-media journey of discovery using words, images, and music. By learning to look just underneath the obvious, we can illuminate and harness the intricacies and nuances of how our perceptions influence our perspectives, and ultimately shift and shape our personal and professional outcomes.

“Seeing Things” is an ability; a skill set to develop and use to your advantage. This presentation is an encouragement and an appeal to open your eyes to how we communicate with each other and to ourselves. The best communicators recognize that a conscious decision is required to “see things” for what they’ve been before, what they are now, and what they could be next.

Learning outcomes:

  • Recognize how “seeing things” from new and unique perspectives can drastically change how we view, interact with, and positively affect the world in which we live, work, and learn.
  • Come to understand how the important yet often overlooked differences between perception and perspective positively affect enhanced outcomes.
  • Learn the six strategies to sharpen your perception that will enable you to “see things” in new ways, and offer positive effects for both your personal and professional perspectives and outcomes.
  • Apply the practice of “seeing things” to gain an advantage socially and emotionally.

Operating virtually? Check out Seeing Things: Virtual Faculty Keynote to enjoy this program remotely.

Key Focus Areas:
Faculty Development Student Engagement Advanced Communications Leadership Professional Development And Academic Success

Tuning Into WIIFM – Faculty Keynote

Tuning Into WIIFM – Faculty Keynote

This faculty keynote session emphasizes critical retention & engagement strategies for faculty to use inside and outside of the classroom. Learn how to flip the communications script with 180° delivery of compelling content with real-world relevance by applying principles of Communichology™ that professional coach Tom Leu teaches from the unique vantage point where communication skills and human psychology collide.

This multi-media and interactive session explores the practical applications of harnessing “selfless-selfishness” strategies to meet your individual and institutional communication goals by understanding and meeting the needs of others first.

Attendees of this session gain an impactful and entertaining understanding of powerful persuasion and influence techniques that foster learning inside and outside of the classroom. Participants learn proven strategies that encourage subject matter engagement to aid in student satisfaction, retention, and recruitment. This session empowers attendees to take a macro-view of their messages’ impact and long-term relevance.

To truly have an impact in education and beyond, we all need to be tuned in to the “WIIFM” frequency that others are continually broadcasting. Incorporating “selfless-selfishness” strategies into our daily interactions by effectively answering the question “What’s In It For Me?” for others FIRST, produces a win/win outcome for all parties involved.

In today’s over-communicated economy and culture, the most effective among us are those who are “smart” emotionally and socially, and who are superior communicators. Sharpening the intuitive skills necessary to manage our personal and professional interactions with others successfully is an all-important art and science. Possessing high-levels of these skills is no longer just nice to have, but necessary to truly influence successful outcomes on-campus, on-the-job, and at home.

Learning outcomes:

  • Learn how to build rapport, connect, and gain trust quickly and genuinely.
  • Consistently see the highest gains in attendance, retention, engagement, and student learning outcomes.
  • How to fine-tune your instructional approach to make your messages even more productive inside and outside of the classroom.
  • Understand the critical communicational differences between: details vs. discovery; lecture vs. learning; pedagogy vs. passion.
  • Harness the power of “selfless-selfishness” to transform all personal and professional relationships positively.

Operating virtually? Check out Tuning Into WIIFM – Virtual Faculty Keynote to enjoy this program remotely.

Key Focus Areas:
Faculty Development Student Engagement Advanced Communications Leadership Professional Development And Academic Success

Seeing Things – Student Keynote

Seeing Things – Student Keynote

Seeing Things is about deliberately examining and exploring different perceptual distinctions and perspectives of the world around us. Featuring a multitude of images shot across the country from his published photography works, professional coach Tom Leu challenges students to adjust their perceptions, and to gain new perspectives to have a more significant, positive influence on their personal and professional outcomes.

Participants of this presentation will be taken on an insightful and inspirational multi-media journey of discovery using words, images, and music. By learning to look just underneath the obvious, we can illuminate and harness the intricacies and nuances of how our perceptions influence our perspectives, and ultimately shift and shape our personal and professional outcomes.

“Seeing Things” is an ability; a skill set to develop and use to your advantage. This presentation is an encouragement and an appeal to open your eyes to how we communicate with each other and to ourselves. The best communicators recognize that a conscious decision is required to “see things” for what they’ve been before, what they are now, and what they could be next.

Learning outcomes:

  • Recognize how “seeing things” from new and unique perspectives can drastically change how we view, interact with, and positively affect the world in which we live and learn.
  • Come to understand how the important, yet often overlooked differences between perception and perspective positively affect enhanced outcomes.
  • Learn the six strategies to sharpen your perception that will enable you to “see things” in new ways, and offer positive effects for both your personal and professional perspectives and outcomes.
  • Apply the practice of “seeing things” to gain an advantage socially and emotionally.

Operating virtually? Check out My Generation – Virtual Student Keynote to enjoy this program remotely.

Key Focus Areas:
Student Engagement Advanced Communications Leadership Professional Development And Academic Success

About Tom Leu, Masters in Psychology, Former Academic Dean
Tom Leu's collegiate keynote talks and in-service training sessions deliver one-of-a-kind experiences with multi-media and proprietary content that inspires, educates, and entertains for faculty, administrators, and students to get an edge in education!

Tom Leu

Tom Leu combines a decade in higher education as an Academic Dean, Director of Education, and instructor with extensive professional experience working with and for Fortune 500 companies as a keynote speaker, corporate trainer, award-winning account manager, as well as a television and radio host, and entrepreneur. Tom is uniquely positioned to speak for college and university faculty and administration audiences by bringing a valuable 360° perspective to the education sector having worked for many years as both an instructor and administrator, as well as in publishing for McGraw-Hill Higher Education. In 2014, Tom founded The Education Edge™ – teaching educators how to be better communicators.

Essential Credentials

  • Masters Degree in Psychology
  • Certified Professional Coach
  • Certified Body Language Trainer
  • Member of the National Speakers Association

Seeing Things:
Seeing things My Generation WIIFM



What are people saying about Tom Leu?

“What a great opportunity to see Tom Leu in action! His dynamic presentation style, uniquely-packaged message, and charisma made his presentation on shifting our perspectives relevant and motivating. It was a pleasure to work with him as the Keynote speaker at our annual educational kick-off event.”

Janeen Mollenhauer - Associate Dean of Nursing, Illinois State University

“Tom Leu is amazing! He makes such a difference in so many people’s lives. Anyone who has the opportunity to get in front of Tom, they should. Tom comes from an academic background; he understands how the body and the brain work together. His job is to inspire you to look at your world in a different way.”

Janine Driver – Best Selling Author and Communications Expert

““When a keynote speaker talking about “Seeing things” and changing perspectives to change perceptions can reach employees who have been with the company for decades and are set in their “always been this way” –way; you know you’ve got one heck of a message and the delivery to make it resonate. That’s Tom. The one hour we had with Tom was gone in a blink and yet his message stuck. It wasn’t so fast we missed the point. His tone and inflection, your active movement, the music, the changing graphics all flowed seamlessly. Tom's message was so perfect for us as we launched our Vision for the next 10 years. We NEED people in our company to stop and listen. To consider changing their perspective, to look at the future changes, milestones, growth, and goals in a different way and with an open mind. Everything Tom said was spot on for us as employees and as people. Hopefully, Tom is still doing this when we do our Summit 2025. I think it would be so cool to have him back, to check on us, did we start seeing things and changing our perceptions to begin changing the world (or at least our company!). Maybe he'll have a new message. Either way, no doubt everyone would be excited to have him back with us! Thank you, thank you, thank you, Tom, so much for the extra participation in our launch and for being our keynote speaker. We won’t forget you or your message.””

Sara Farstad - Wurth Electronics, Supply Chain Director

““It was a pleasure to work with Tom Leu at our Annual Faculty Conference. His keynote session was the perfect way to start the day – providing a boost to morale, thought provoking ideas, and interactive activities to engage the instructors.””

Kathy Mizereck - Executive Director, FL Assn. Schools & Colleges

“As our Keynote Speaker, Tom knocked it out of the park! He was dynamic, professional, engaging, and thought provoking. His talk on challenging your perspectives and changing your perceptions was spot-on. The use of his photography to illustrate how we can see things differently was genius.”

Kevin Polky - Executive Director, Shatter Our Silence

““Tom speaks with passion, experience, humor, sincerity and music. He’s the perfect example of everything that is right in our sector (or any, for that matter) of education. He has the uncanny ability to see the aura and not the frame, and the entire audience can’t help but want to look through his lens.””

Jeri Prochaska, Executive Director, CSPEN

““Tom Leu is a fantastic professional speaker and workshop leader. Wow! Tom’s energetic and engaging style really captivates audiences as he packs a ton of inspiring and useful information we can take home with us. Highly recommended!” ”

April Braswell - Sales & Marketing Mgr. Oracle Corp.