Lead Before You're Ready

Wil's story of creating change. Keynote, 30 to 60 minutes.

The story of building an organisation that reached thousands of young people before the Year 12 results came back blank, and what that says about talent, age and who we back before they have the credentials.

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Wil Massara presenting Lead Before You're Ready

The talk

Lead Before You're Ready is a keynote by Wil Massara, 30 to 60 minutes. The story of building an organisation that reached thousands of young people before the Year 12 results came back blank, and what that says about talent, age and who we back before they have the credentials.

I got no ATAR. An empty envelope. At the same time, I was already running an organisation reaching thousands of young people across Australia.

This keynote is about what I learned building something significant before most people work out what they want to do. It is not a highlight reel. It is the Collie coal-town upbringing, the first business at 11, the football clubroom in Leederville with sheets thrown over the beer fridges, and the stretch of years where the only qualification I had was that I had started.

Audiences take away a different way to think about talent and age, and a challenge: who in your organisation, school or community are you waiting to back until they have proven themselves, when the proof only comes from being backed?

Your age does not determine your ability to achieve extraordinary things.

What the room leaves with

Your audience leaves with permission to start before they feel ready, and a practical frame for backing the people around them earlier.

Why "not ready" is a feeling, not a fact, and how to act anyway
The three decisions that turned 65 students in a clubroom into 1,500+ schools
How to spot and back talent before it has a track record
A reframe of failure that works for a 16-year-old and a CEO

Best for

Opening keynote, Staff conferences and all-hands, Industry summits, Youth advocacy events.

In the room

A full auditorium at a YLAA conference, "Hello, my name is Wil" on the screens

Wil speaking at the 2025 WA Young Achiever Awards

Organisers say

Wil delivered an energised and engaging presentation at Positive Schools. He joined us as a keynote speaker at both our online event and in person in Western Australia. His awareness and careful consideration of students' perspectives offers insight and value to the increasingly complex conversation about wellbeing in schools.

Positive Schools, Conference organiser, Positive Schools Australia

Watching Wil on stage is inspiring. He presents with confidence that resonates with people of all ages and leaves his audience feeling empowered to realise their potential and go beyond.

Future Schools Alliance, Event organiser, Future Schools

Pair it with

Gen Z at WorkWhat the generation entering your workforce actually values, why they leave at month 14, and what to change about culture, feedback and leadership to keep them. From a speaker who is Gen Z.Change Happens TogetherThe decisions that stick are the ones made with the people they affect, not for them. A practical approach to intergenerational collaboration drawn from consulting work with government departments, councils and education systems.A Framework to Create ChangeThe same creating-change framework YLAA has run with tens of thousands of young people: identify the issue, understand the causes, explore opportunities, plan, assign roles, pitch.

Check availability

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