For Ryan Jamaal Swain, life was good. After traveling to New York with just $50 in his pocket, he eventually landed the role of Damon Richard in FX’s award-winning show Pose and became the breakout star of the series. After season two, the pandemic stopped production. And during this break, he received horrendous news. His sister had been murdered. He was heartbroken, filled with grief and lost. And after much thought, Ryan left the series to take time to heal. In this powerful and inspiring talk, drawing on his own personal experience, Ryan shares his journey and the lessons he learned and gives you the tools to tackle the challenges and losses that life throws at you — before they happen. Audience members leave feeling inspired, empowered and equipped to navigate their own journeys of healing and growth.

Marginalized communities have long relied on chosen family: friends who fulfill the roles of support, acceptance—and in some cases, security and protection—that one's biological family either cannot or will not provide. As portrayed in the hit show “Pose” and by Ryan Jamaal Swain's character, Damon, these bonds can be a critical lifeline for those rejected by the family who they were born or adopted into. In this moving talk, Ryan explores how chosen family can be extended to all who seek to create their own emotional and social foundation—celebrating that we all have the power to choose the family we journey through life with. "With your biological family, sometimes there's this pressure to fit into these molds of who they think you are or should be," says Ryan. “Your chosen family allows you to break all of that.” Ryan explores the journey to finding this comfort group on campus (whether it be a fraternity/sorority, BSU, cultural center or other organization) and in the larger world.

In this candid take on intersectionality, Ryan Jamaal Swain shares how he has succeeded in an industry that has often times shunned three of his social identities. Toughened by an abusive childhood in the conservative South, Ryan learned early on how to turn his “otherness/uniqueness” into his own superpower. From setting up boundaries to crafting your own personal and professional/artistic checklists, his candid and empowering advice celebrates the power of our differences and the essential importance of authenticity.

Despite significant progress in recent years, LGBTQIA+ individuals continue to face discrimination and prejudice. From workplace bias to hate crimes, the fight for equality and acceptance remains ongoing. In this keynote, Ryan Jamaal Swain explores what it means to be an ally: a person who actively promotes a culture of inclusion through intentional, positive and conscious efforts that benefit an organization — and society — as a whole. Being an ally is intersectional — white women can be actionable allies to people of color, the able-bodied can be allies to those with different abilities, cis people can be allies to those in the LGBTQIA+ community, or men can be allies to women. In this powerful talk, Ryan outlines what it truly means to be an ally. From calling out inappropriate behavior and using inclusive language to becoming a mentor or sponsor, you’ll learn actionable, personal steps to lifting up others and creating a more diverse, inclusive and productive culture.

In this highly motivational talk, Ryan Jamaal Swain tells a story that sounds straight out of a Hollywood movie: How an ambitious performer from Alabama headed to New York City with only $50 in his pocket, eventually catching the artistic eye of the king of American television and landing a breakout role in Ryan Murphy’s Pose. A case study in purpose, finding your own voice, overcoming adversity, perseverance and faith, Ryan’s “rags to riches” success story inspires all of us to believe in ourselves and follow our own dreams.

Called “aspirational and celebratory,” “invigorating and emotionally affecting,” critics have praised Ryan Murphy’s Pose and its “pirouette between artistic opulence and deliciously soapy drama.” Historic for both its content and for assembling the largest cast of LGBTQIA+ actors in a scripted TV series, the series has taken audiences into the hidden world of 1980s underground ballroom culture. In this fascinating talk, Ryan Jamaal Swain (Damon Richards) takes you even further inside your favorite characters and episodes, providing an intimate look at the Golden Globe-nominated cult drama.