NYU Commencement Speech 2026 🎓

As you well know, there are some people in this world, fearful people, who feel powerful when your voice is taken away. Who will try and make your voice small and with it your power. They will speak down to you. They will try to silence you. And there's a lot of that happening in the world right now. It's not new, but it's true. but a real leader knows that real power comes from making the people around you feel powerful. When powerful, your power only magnifies and it becomes strength. And strength becomes resilience and resilience in turn becomes power. And so as you go forth today from Yankee Stadium into the world with all your big crazy ideas and schemes, never forget to lift up the voices around you. They will become a part of your voice. That's how magic works. You get it when you give it. And everything you need to find it is already there in you and the people around you. And the truth is, you'll be finding your voice for the rest of your days. It's going to keep showing up in friendships, the workplace, relationships, family. There'll be cruises and there'll be challenges. And underneath all of it, you are and always have been exactly who you're meant to be. And that is who the world needs now more than ever before to say something that only you can say, to sing a song sing, and to claim a voice of your own that was yours all along. And one thing's for certain, it's going to be one hell of a sound. Congratulations, graduates, on your monumental achievement. Thank you for the extraordinary honor of your esteemed company. I'll be seeing all of you out there forever. Cheers, everybody. Much love.