Tony Hawk is a compelling speaker to consider when an event needs a widely recognized skateboarding figure and a conversation about perseverance, authenticity or entrepreneurship. Brandon DesJarlais is worth considering when the brief centers on fear, calculated risk and taking action under uncertainty. Their shared connection to skateboarding makes the comparison useful, but the event's intended outcome should determine the shortlist.
The difference is easier to understand through the question you want people discussing afterward: how do we build something that stays true to us, or how do we make a decision when confidence has not arrived yet?
What each speaker brings to the comparison
Hawk's representative, CAA, lists speaking programs about his skating career and transition into business. His background includes the first 900 at the X Games, the Tony Hawk's Pro Skater franchise, an HBO documentary and The Skatepark Project. Those recognizable reference points give organizers several ways to introduce a conversation about sustained effort and an unconventional career. Source: CAA Speakers
DesJarlais's longboarding background includes downhill racing and stunt doubling for Vin Diesel in xXx: Return of Xander Cage. His Finding Fearless keynote organizes lessons from those experiences around Clarity, Calculation, Composure and Courage. He also founded Beyond the Board, a nonprofit focused on confidence and connection through longboarding. Read Brandon's background.
| Planning consideration | Tony Hawk | Brandon DesJarlais |
|---|---|---|
| Main connection to this brief | Skateboarding, persistence and building an authentic career | Fear, risk and decisions made before certainty arrives |
| Useful event emphasis | Entrepreneurship, reinvention, creative persistence | Courageous action, pressure and uncertainty |
| Sporting context | Vert skating and the pursuit of difficult tricks | Longboarding, downhill racing and stunt work |
| Question to explore | What helps people stay committed while their work evolves? | What helps people act thoughtfully when fear is present? |
| What to confirm | The proposed topic, format and relevance to your audience | The proposed applications of the 4C framework to your audience |
The last two rows are suggested planning lenses, not descriptions of a guaranteed session.
Where the overlap is meaningful
Skateboarding offers a familiar way to discuss learning through repeated attempts. An audience does not need to know the names of tricks to recognize the experience of trying, falling short, adjusting and trying again. That can make the subject accessible across job functions.
The nonprofit connection also creates room for a broader discussion about what success makes possible for others. Hawk's public speaking topics include giving back and authenticity. That is relevant when an organization wants to connect growth with its responsibilities to a community. Source: Washington Speakers Bureau
Still, shared subject matter does not make the sessions interchangeable. A planner should decide how much of the agenda is about an individual's remarkable career and how much is about helping attendees examine a decision of their own. Both approaches can have value. The right balance depends on the purpose of the meeting.
A realistic event-planning scenario
Imagine a regional franchise meeting where longtime operators are being asked to adopt a new service model. The room includes enthusiastic early adopters and people who believe the old approach still works. The organizing team proposes a theme of “Keep Moving.”
Before choosing a speaker, unpack that phrase. If the problem is preserving identity while the business grows, Hawk's published themes around authenticity and entrepreneurship give the briefing conversation a relevant starting point. If the problem is hesitation about a specific next step, DesJarlais's framework offers a way to organize questions about what matters, what could go wrong and what action is justified.
The organizer could ask each representative to respond to the same three questions:
- Which part of the proposed session would connect directly to experienced operators who are skeptical of change?
- How would the session distinguish useful persistence from repeating an approach that needs to change?
- What discussion could managers lead afterward to make the message relevant to their locations?
Use the answers to evaluate fit. A strong proposal should connect the story to the actual tension in the room, with enough detail that your planning team can picture the conversation.
Make the event design support the choice
Consider where the session sits in the agenda. A closing conversation might invite perspective and reflection. An opening keynote before a strategy workshop may need clearer connections to the decisions participants will work on next. Avoid asking one session to serve every purpose.
Provide the speaker's team with a concise audience brief: who is attending, what has recently changed, which language employees use for the challenge and what leadership can realistically support afterward. Include disagreements within the group; those are often more useful than a polished mission statement.
Review a relevant full-length speaking sample when available. Short reels can establish energy, but a longer sample helps assess pacing, explanation and how a story develops. Confirm the agreed format and production needs directly. For Brandon, the speaker kit provides a starting point for that discussion.
Frequently asked questions
Is Tony Hawk a keynote speaker as well as a skateboarder?
Yes. CAA lists speaking topics and booking information for him, including a conversation about his career and a program about his transition into business. The specific engagement should be confirmed with his representatives.
Does booking either speaker include a skateboarding demonstration?
A speaking appearance should not be assumed to include a physical demonstration. Define the agreed program, audience participation and venue requirements during booking. A sports background alone does not establish what happens on stage.
Which is the better choice for a leadership event?
That depends on the leadership challenge. Use authenticity and persistence as one possible lens, and fear and decision-making as another. Then compare the actual proposed sessions, rather than deciding from their sports biographies alone.
For another perspective on athletic experience and decision-making, read the Alex Honnold and Brandon DesJarlais comparison. A useful shortlist begins with a clear audience need and becomes more specific through the briefing conversation.