Billy Mills
Keynote Speaker: Second Native American to Win an Olympic Gold Medal & Co-Founder of Running Strong for American Indian Youth
-
Travels From:
-
Speaking Fee:
-
Categories:
Billy Mills Biography
Billy Mills is the sole American to have ever secured the Olympic gold medal in the 10,000-meter run. He is a member of the Lakota Sioux and was raised in the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota, one of the poorest communities in the United States. Orphaned at the age of twelve, Mills had to confront prejudice and cultural discrimination for most of his early life. His journey away from the reservation began when he received an athletic scholarship to the University of Kansas, where he distinguished himself as a three-time NCAA All-America cross-country runner.
Upon university graduation, Mills accepted a commission as an officer in the US Marine Corps. There, his discipline and athletic prowess were further honed. His training regimen, starting at 30 miles per week and eventually reaching 100 miles, alongside an excellent track and field program, helped him qualify for the 10,000-meter run and the marathon at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. Mills' victory in the 10,000-meter run, his first race in brand new shoes, set a new Olympic record and is often hailed as one of the greatest upsets in Olympic history. This feat also marked him as the first non-European and only person from the Americas to win the event.
In 1983, Robby Benson portrayed Mills in the movie Running Brave, which traced his life from childhood through his Olympic triumph. His inspiring story also found expression in his written works. Mills authored "Wokini: A Lakota Journey to Happiness and Self-Understanding" in 1990, followed by "Lessons of a Lakota" in 2005. These books blended traditional Native American beliefs with modern therapeutic principles, urging readers to embark on personal journeys for life satisfaction.
Beyond his athletic and literary accomplishments, Mills has dedicated himself to philanthropic efforts. He co-founded the nonprofit Running Strong for American Indian Youth and continues to serve as a national spokesperson for the organization. This role sees him traveling the country, empowering Native youth, and encouraging them to follow their dreams. He has also contributed significantly to diabetes prevention and management education initiatives for adults and youth. His efforts have not gone unnoticed; President Barack Obama awarded Mills the 2012 Presidential Citizens Medal for his work with the Running Strong for American Indian Youth organization, and he received the President's Council Lifetime Achievement Award in 2015 for his contributions to physical activity, fitness, sports, and nutrition.
Mills' legacy has been widely celebrated. He has been inducted into numerous halls of fame, including the United States National Track and Field Hall of Fame in 1976, the United States Olympic Hall of Fame, and the National Distance Running Hall of Fame. In recognition of his contributions to sport and society, a plaque commemorating his accomplishments was placed in Sacramento's Walk of Stars in 2017, and a middle school in Lawrence, Kansas, was named after him the following year. He was also inducted into the National Native American Hall of Fame in 2018.
Today, Mills continues to inspire countless individuals as a public speaker and motivator. Through his words and personal achievements, he has guided thousands of corporations and associations across America to reach within the depths of their capabilities and perform to the best of their potential. His advocacy for Native American rights and youth empowerment adds a significant layer to his motivational speaking themes. He has made numerous appearances on TV shows and documentaries, discussing his athletic career and his work in advocacy.
Contact a speaker booking agent to check availability on Billy Mills and other top speakers and celebrities.
Billy Mills Speaking Topics
Sharing his personal schema for success, Billy Mills explains how he has been able to unleash the passion and energy within himself to achieve phenomenal success in sport and life. Recalling his legendary 10,000 meter run—the greatest upset in Olympic history—he outlines his value-based concept on how dreams come true, a system which continues to inspire thousands of individuals across America today.
Our world is changing: entire governments have been dismantled, new governments created, existing governments redesigned, universities re-engineered, and businesses reconstructed. Billy Mills shares what remains constant in our ever-changing world and explains how this consistency is our key to global unity.
He takes his audience on a compassionate and powerful journey through time, weaving stories of his young life as an orphaned Native American child living in poverty and coming face to face with racism, and explains that it was the daily choices he made in life, not just the talent he possessed, that led to his quest for Olympic glory.
In this powerful presentation, Mills explains that it is the journey, not the destination, that shapes us as individuals and unites us as a people.
Billy Mills Videos
How do I book Billy Mills to speak at my event?
Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Billy Mills for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Billy Mills, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Billy Mills or any other speaker of your choice.
How much does it cost to book Billy Mills for a speaking engagement?
Speaking fees for Billy Mills, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Billy Mills are Below $10,000 for live events and Below $10,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Billy Mills, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
What topics does Billy Mills speak about?
Billy Mills is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Inspirational, Olympic Sports, Authors, Native American Heritage, Sports Motivation, Faith & Religion, Diversity, College, Motivational, Athlete, Sports, Political, Culture, Social Activism and Indigenous Heritage.
Where does Billy Mills travel from?
Billy Mills generally travels from Sacramento, CA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.
Who is the agent for Billy Mills?
AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Billy Mills for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Billy Mills for your next private or corporate function.
What is a full-service speaker booking agency?
AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Billy Mills or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?
If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.
Billy Mills is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics including Inspirational, Olympic Sports and Authors. The estimated speaking fee range to book Billy Mills for live events is Below $10,000, and for virtual events Below $10,000. Billy Mills generally travels from Sacramento, CA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Gyasi Ross, Winona LaDuke and Tantoo Cardinal. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Billy Mills for an upcoming event.
SPEAKING TOPICS
Billy Mills Speaking Topics
-
Footprints
-
The Pursuit of Excellence
Sharing his personal schema for success, Billy Mills explains how he has been able to unleash the passion and energy within himself to achieve phenomenal success in sport and life. Recalling his legendary 10,000 meter run—the greatest upset in Olympic history—he outlines his value-based concept on how dreams come true, a system which continues to inspire thousands of individuals across America today.
-
Global Unity
Our world is changing: entire governments have been dismantled, new governments created, existing governments redesigned, universities re-engineered, and businesses reconstructed. Billy Mills shares what remains constant in our ever-changing world and explains how this consistency is our key to global unity.
He takes his audience on a compassionate and powerful journey through time, weaving stories of his young life as an orphaned Native American child living in poverty and coming face to face with racism, and explains that it was the daily choices he made in life, not just the talent he possessed, that led to his quest for Olympic glory.
In this powerful presentation, Mills explains that it is the journey, not the destination, that shapes us as individuals and unites us as a people.
VIDEO
Billy Mills Videos
BOOKS
REVIEWS
Billy Mills Reviews
-
Billy Mills is one of America's Treasures. He was outstanding and a great addition to our Native American Heritage Night!
I Rise Foundation - Nov 10 2022 -
Everything was great. From the beginning, representatives were always in touch. Even letting us know if they were waiting for information from the talent, they would always touch base letting us know they were working on.
American Chemical Society - Dec 01 2020 -
We had a wonderful exchange of information via email, talked several times, and things went extremely smoothly! Great experience!!
National Center for Families Learning - Oct 16 2017
BOOK BILLY MILLS
We are happy to assist you with your interest in booking a speaker or celebrity for your event, your organization, and the type of talent you would like to secure, and an agent will be in touch shortly.
Fill out the form below to or call us at 1-800-698-2536 if need immediate assistance.
We respond to most inquiries within 4 hours. Under special circumstances, it may take up to 24 hours.
We are happy to help! Call us to speak with a booking agent about your event or specific speaker request.
Gauge Interest and check availability for appearances, speaking engagements, or corporate events.
Provide you with speaking fee to book Billy Mills or other celebrity appearance fees
Give you personal recommendations for the best keynote speakers or celebrities
Assist you with any questions you have throughout the talent booking process
This website is a resource for event professionals and strives to provide the most comprehensive catalog of thought leaders and industry experts to consider for speaking engagements. A listing or profile on this website does not imply an agency affiliation or endorsement by the talent.
All American Entertainment (AAE) exclusively represents the interests of talent buyers, and does not claim to be the agency or management for any speaker or artist on this site. AAE is a talent booking agency for paid events only. We do not handle requests for donation of time or media requests for interviews, and cannot provide celebrity contact information.
