Mark Brown -- Biography

Nationally acclaimed youth speaker Mark Brown has dedicated his career to getting inspirational messages out to young people all over North America. With his “tell it like it is” approach, Brown challenges some of the most serious problems in our schools today.

His Emmy-nominated presentation “Words Count,” is part of a national outreach program against bullying, sponsored by QSP, Inc., the educational fundraising arm of Time, Inc. QSP has raised close to $3 billion for schools and youth groups in the United States and Canada since it was founded in 1964. The company supports numerous educational activities that go beyond fundraising – like this speaker program featuring Mark Brown.

A native of Kingston, Jamaica, Brown immigrated to the United States at 18 – with $40 in his pocket and a dream of a better life. He never imagined he’d devote his life to helping others.

During a brief career as a systems analyst at Reader’s Digest, Brown developed a love for public speaking. But it wasn’t until a life-threatening illness in 1993 that he began to focus on a career change.

In 1995, he won Toastmasters International’s World Championship of Public Speaking, emerging first in a field of more than 20,000 entrants. The same year, the Harlem YMCA honored him with a Black Achievers in Industry Award.

A QSP sales representative recognized the positive effect Brown could have on young people’s lives and suggested he speak to a few student groups a year while continuing his job as systems analyst for Reader’s Digest.

In 1998, Brown joined QSP full-time as the Community Relations Manager. He now spreads his positive messages to more than 200 audiences each year. He has also delivered addresses for numerous conferences, including the Maine Attorney General’s Conference on Civil Rights, the California Association of Student Leaders, the National Association of Elementary School Principals, the National Middle School Association, and the Canadian Student Leadership Conference.

Mr. Brown is a member of the National Speakers Association.

He lives with his wife and their three children in Macon, Georgia, USA.