The NSA Youth Leadership Conference (YLC) is so much more than just a youth program.
July 26-29, 2025 • Scottsdale, AZ
What is the Youth Leadership Conference?
The NSA Youth Leadership Conference helps to develop young attendees into powerful Leaders within their circles of influence. We do this by:
- Building community
- Offering education around key skills and values
- Creating shared experiences and facilitating discussions that make learning fun, practical, and personal
Every summer, running concurrently with NSA's Influence conference, we bring together young people between the ages of 10-17 to attend the NSA Youth Conference, an incredible event that is just for them. Here, they become equipped and encouraged to impact the world in a positive, substantive way by improving themselves while helping others grow and succeed.
The Skills
We believe that powerful Influencers must possess critical skills that enable action. Therefore, we teach these skills, at in age specific ways, and with the support and guidance of leading experts, authors, and speakers.
- Communication – Using speech and writing to effectively persuade and inspire.
- Problem Solving – Using critical thinking to analyze issues, identify problems, and solve them.
- Team Building – Connecting with others of different strengths and backgrounds to work in collaboration.
- Conflict Resolution – Acknowledging disagreement, dissolving anger, and de-escalating confrontations.
- Active Listening – Hearing beyond what is spoken to connect and discern meaning and motivations.
- Leadership – Elevating others, shaping events, and becoming a magnetic force for positive action.
The Details
The Youth Leadership Conference takes place concurrently with the National Speakers Association's Influence conference with programming built upon NSA's Core Values. Young people between the ages of 10-17 attend an incredibly event just for them where they become equipped and encouraged to impact the world in a positive, substantive way by improving themselves while helping others grow and succeed.
A few days ago my sons were doing their morning gratitude and they thanked God that they were going to the NSA youth program next summer. It is so special that our youth look forward to this conference all year long.
- Caroline de Posada-Rodriguez
The Impact
Although the program happens just once a year, for a few precious days, there are elements of continuity and community that continue throughout the year. On their own, the participants stay in touch with friends near and far, using social media. Each year’s Youth Conference ends with a powerful validation of appreciation for one another, as well as the chance to express goals, intentions and commitments:
- What will you do between now and next year?
- What goals will you achieve?
- What new skills will you work on?
- How will this impact others around you?
At the start of the next year’s conference, they can share their progress within their peer groups. How did you do on your goals? Any updates on your projects? What are you working on now? We strive to create an expectation for progress and meaningful growth over the course of time. We take pride in our own and each other’s accomplishments.
The Values
The speakers, activities, and facilitated conversations, as well as the expected conduct for interaction are guided by NSA’s Core Values:
- Abundant Generosity – A culture of giving, serving, and growing abundance.
- Elevating Excellence – Setting high personal standards and recognizing examples of admirable achievement.
- Intentional Language – Understanding the power of our words, we seek to use them with skill, care, and precision.
- Uplifting Humanity – Practicing inclusion, compassion, respect, and empathy.
- Honorable Innovation – Honoring our rich history and legacy, while recognizing our power to shape change.
