Michael speaks to students who feel stuck, overlooked, or unsure of who they are. He makes the hard conversations honest and the ordinary choices feel heroic, because ordinary choices are where a life actually turns. He leaves every room with the same charge. Your story isn’t finished, and you are the one who writes what comes next.
Remembered by Students.
I have worked with speakers and presenters each year during Red Ribbon Week and throughout the year and I have to honestly say that he trumps them all. I would recommend him to anyone who asked!
Kelli Templeton, Youth Services Coordinator, KY
You need to come back to Abbott again next year! I think the whole school could agree you were the best assembly yet!
Katie C., Student, IL
If you need an energetic, interactive keynote speaker that is easy to work with, responsive to requests, and able to forge a connection with teen audiences, then Michael Cuestas is the PERFECT guy! You definitely get your money’s worth (and more!).
Mark Mains, KY 4-H Extension Specialist
Michael belongs to a new generation of youth speakers. Relatable, relevant, and hard to forget. Students walk out of his sessions laughing, thinking, and every so often, singing.
He was raised in poverty and never met his father. He spent time in a homeless shelter, a domestic violence center, and a season living in a tent. None of it became his identity, and that is exactly what he brings into a room. He shows students how to rise above their circumstances and refuse “average” when greatness is on the table.
Honest storytelling, real humor, and a message with heart behind it are why students and educators both ask him back. He holds a B.S. in Business Administration and has built a career with State Farm, Target, Mayo Clinic, and Amazon.
Michael lives in Arizona with his wife and their three daughters, who he will tell you are the actual VIPs.
Take the Conversation Deeper
Michael’s keynote inspires the whole school but the workshops take it further. These small-group sessions give students the space to dive deeper, ask questions, and apply what they’ve learned. Each workshop is practical, interactive, and built to equip students with real-life tools they can use immediately.
This isn’t just a talk. It’s his story. Michael knows what it’s like to feel lost, angry, or overlooked—and what it takes to come back and help students to truly see their greatness.
Michael Cuestas is part of a new generation of youth speakers – relatable, relevant, and unforgettable. His presentations leave students laughing, reflecting, and sometimes even singing. With a story that’s both raw and redemptive, Michael connects with teens in a way few speakers can.
Raised in poverty and never knowing his father, Michael spent time in a homeless shelter, a domestic violence center, and even lived in a tent. But he didn’t let that define him. Instead, he shares how students can rise above their circumstances and reject “average” in pursuit of greatness.
Michael’s authentic storytelling, humor, and heart-centered message make him a favorite among students and educators alike. He holds a B.S. in Business Administration and has worked for top companies including State Farm, Target, Mayo Clinic, and Amazon.
Today, Michael lives in Arizona with his wife and their three daughters who, according to him, are the real VIPs in his life.
