Dorian Santiago

Dorian Santiago, a Chicago native, is an ordinary man who has taken extraordinary measures to achieve his dreams. His greatest feat to date was walking 2500 miles via Route 66 from Chicago to Los Angeles. Half Puerto Rican and half Polish, he is the rare fusion of rough neighborhoods, an alcoholic mother, middle-child syndrome, and Catholic school who has become an award-winning director, acting coach, and filmmaker, as well as a highly esteemed writer. His lust for life coupled with his unquenchable thirst to connect with people make him one of the most fascinating and unique speakers today. His unmatched energy and unconventional methods have allowed him to create unbreakable bonds with his students, audience, and craft. From directing high school theatre to writing critically acclaimed films (The Catalyst and Where There's Smoke) and books (Get Your ACT Together and Moving at the Speed of Life), Dorian, has an incomparable gift to create diamonds out of dust. Dorian is currently working on two more books, a few screenplays, and several teleplays for major television networks.