Chris Molina
Chris Molina
Chris Molina is the recipient of the 2020 NAMCA College Speaker of the Year Award (National Association for Masterminds & Co-curricular Advancement), an Amazon Best-Selling Author of his book I’m in a Leadership Role, Now What? The Student Edition, a Podcaster on the Professional by Choice Podcast and the How’d You Meet Podcast, a Personal Development Coach, a United States Marine Corps Veteran (serving 7 years on Active Duty), a Purdue University Alum, and a Leadership Literacy Expert.
More than anything, Chris is a Father (#GirlDad), a Husband, a Son, a Brother, and an East Chicago, Indiana native.
Chris Molina is the recipient of the 2020 NAMCA College Speaker of the Year Award (National Association for Masterminds & Co-curricular Advancement), an Amazon Best-Selling Author of his book I’m in a Leadership Role, Now What? The Student Edition, a Podcaster on the Professional by Choice Podcast and the How’d You Meet Podcast, a Personal Development Coach, a United States Marine Corps Veteran (serving 7 years on Active Duty), a Purdue University Alum, and a Leadership Literacy Expert.
More than anything, Chris is a Father (#GirlDad), a Husband, a Son, a Brother, and an East Chicago, Indiana native.
PROGRAMS
Code Switching: Bringing Your True Self to Every Conversation
Keynote | Workshop | Virtual
“Why you talking white?”
Chris Molina has heard this question, or some variation, many times in his life. Of Puerto Rican and Trinidadian descent, Chris grew up in predominantly African American and Latinx communities, comfortably interacting in each. What he found as an adult, in the Marines and in college, was that he knew how to effortlessly “speak” in majority-White organizations. He was fluent in each, without even realizing it.
He could code switch seamlessly.
This signature program is designed to equip students of color and white classmates, staff, and faculty with the tools to understand Code Switching, it’s inherent benefits and harms. More than anything, Chris wants attendees to know they can talk openly, and genuinely, in all social situations without putting the comfort of others before their own.
He wants you to live authentically.
Ideal Audiences
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Programming
- Identity Development
- TRIO
- Community Colleges
Audience members will…
Understand the origins and realities of Code Switching in America
Consider how we can hurt or uplift others w/ the words we use
Evaluate whether code switching is “okay” and its benefits and harms
Challenge campus and organizational leaders to transform community culture to be more accepting of other dialects.
Audience members will…
- Explore the limiting beliefs related to feeling underprepared to lead effectively
- Consider how these beliefs can be replaced with effective strategies, tactics, and mindsets
- Develop a plan for immediate deployment to ensure initial, sustained, and long-term leadership success
Ideal Audiences
- Fraternity & Sorority Life
- Leadership Development
- Professional Development
- Community Colleges
Now What? A Crash Course for New and Emerging Student Leaders
Keynote | Workshop | Virtual
What happens when you spend all your time, energy, and attention achieving the goal of becoming a student leader only to realize…
You don’t truly know how to be a student leader.
Chris has been there. He knows that feeling.
But Chris also came to campus with some skills already in place. After spending 7 years in active-duty service for the United States Marine Corps and having earned the rank of Sergeant along with an Honorable Discharge, he knew how to lead. He just didn’t know how to be a student leader.
This signature program answers one of the most-pressing questions facing a newly elected or emerging student leader:
Now what?
Based on his Amazon Bestselling book I’m In a Leadership Role, Now What?, Chris will help equip student leaders with the strategies, tactics, and mindset essential for success. These skills will be effective for leadership success on-campus, after graduation, and in all areas of life.
Check, Check: Creating An Environment of Care for Student Veterans and Military-Connected Families
Keynote | Workshop | Virtual
In military culture, a Radio Check is an important process. When a service member wants to be certain they can transmit information and be heard, they will put out a call. It goes something like this:
“(Call-sign), Radio Check, over…”
If heard, another service member will respond:
“(Call-sign), Radio Check, Loud & Clear, over…”
Communication on the battlefield is essential. The Radio Check is a simple process on the surface, but one that is necessary for the well-being of all involved. It’s both a statement and a question; an assurance one is heard and understood.
All too often when student veterans and those in their families return to civilian life, they lose a sense of familiarity and protocol. There is no “radio check” in their daily lives to ensure they are being heard and understood. In fact, quite the opposite is often true. We know veterans and their families often hurt in silence.
It’s time for a Radio Check.
In this signature program from Chris Molina, former Sergeant in the United State Marine Corps, introduces a way in which those who work with student veterans and military families can demonstrate a commitment of care. Through practical strategies and examples of common communication breakdowns, Chris will model how, when, and most-importantly why you should be checking on those who served.
Audience members will…
Be introduced to the concept of a Radio Check and its applications to student veterans and military-connected families.
Consider ways in which those who work with student veterans and military-connected families can develop a form of Radio Check in their daily interactions.
Practice, through examples and applicable strategies, ways in which we can develop a better culture of care for student veterans and military-connected families using a check-in process.
Ideal Audiences
- Student Veteran Support
- Professional Development
- TRIO
