Meg Jay Keynote Speaker

  • Clinical psychologist
  • Narrative nonfiction writer
  • TED talk — “Why 30 Is Not the New 20” — has been viewed more than 10 million times.

Meg Jay's Biography

Meg Jay is a clinical psychologist and a narrative nonfiction writer. In her books, Dr. Meg Jay weaves the latest research with what she hears everyday: the behind-closed-doors stories of real people. Her books reveal the complex realities that lie behind stereotypes and misconceptions about development, changing how we think about topics such as whether our twenties matter and how resilience works and feels.

In Supernormal: The Untold Story of Adversity and Resilience, Dr. Meg Jay explores the secret, inner world of those who are resilient. Contrary to the notion that resilient youth bounce back from hard times, Dr. Jay shows that what they actually do is something much more complicated and courageous. They are nothing if not protagonists in their own lives, often waging fierce and unrelenting battles that continue well into adulthood. Dr. Jay argues that these men and women deserve a better metaphor than the bounce of a ball. They deserve a metastory that does justice to the full experience of being resilient. That’s what Supernormal is all about. It is the amazing, untold story of resilience—the heroic, powerful, often perilous lifelong journey.

In The Defining Decade: Why Your Twenties Matter and How to Make the Most of Them Now, Dr. Jay elevates what it means to be a twentysomething. She argues that, rather than a developmental downtime, the twenties are a developmental sweetspot: a time when the things we do—and the things we don’t do—will have an enormous impact across years and even generations to come. The Defining Decade has sold more than 250,000 copies in all formats and has been published in more than a dozen countries around the world. Her related TED talk — “Why 30 Is Not the New 20” — has been viewed more than 10 million times.

Dr. Jay earned a doctorate in Clinical Psychology, and in Gender Studies, from the University of California, Berkeley. She earned a B.A. with High Distinction in Psychology from the University of Virginia. Her work has appeared in numerous media outlets including the New York Times, the Los Angeles TimesUSA TodayPsychology Today, and on the BBC, NPR and TED.

Meg Jay is an Associate Professor of Education at the University of Virginia, and maintains a private practice in Charlottesville. She is a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional as well as a Certified Child and Adolescent Trauma Professional.

Read More

Videos of Meg Jay

Why 30 is not the new 20
Why 30 is not the new 20

Check Meg Jay's speaking fees and availability

    Sending your message…

    Please wait, this can take a moment

    Message sent…

    Close

    Please provide your details and we’ll get in touch as soon as possible.

    We can only respond to requests for professional speaking engagements. We are unable to respond to requests for autographs, shoutouts and personalized messages.

    View our related Speakers

    Dani Gordon Speaker
    Exclusive
    Dani Gordon
    World leading neuro wellness expert
    Geoffrey L. Cohen Speaker
    Exclusive
    Geoffrey L. Cohen
    Professor of Psychology, Author of "Belonging: The Science of Creating Connection and Bridging Divides"
    Clint Laurent Speaker
    Exclusive
    Clint Laurent
    CEO Global Demographics Ltd & Global Demographics Healthcare Ltd
    Gavin Williamson Speaker
    Exclusive
    Gavin Williamson
    UK Secretary of State for Education (2019-21) and UK Secretary of State for Defence (2017-19)
    David Livermore Speaker
    Exclusive
    David Livermore
    Thought leader in cultural intelligence (CQ) and global leadership
    Ben Rawlence Speaker
    Exclusive
    Ben Rawlence
    Award winning author, sustainability activist and educator.
    Janeane Bernstein EdD Speaker
    Exclusive
    Janeane Bernstein EdD
    Mental Health Advocate, Journalist & Author
    Mauro Guillén Speaker
    Exclusive
    Mauro Guillén
    One of the World's Foremost Experts on Global Trends
    Jillian Kowalchuk smiling
    Jillian Kowalchuk Speaker
    Exclusive
    Jillian Kowalchuk
    Award-winning Tech Entrepreneur, Keynote Speaker, Author
    Suzanne Williams Speaker
    Exclusive
    Suzanne Williams
    International Hostage Negotiator