---
title: "PLTW Summit 2016: Keynote Speaker Daymond John | PLTW"
description: Project Lead The Way provides transformative learning experiences for PreK-12 students and teachers across the United States.
---

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# [PLTW Summit 2016: Keynote Speaker Daymond John | PLTW](https://www.pltw.org/blog/a-look-back-at-pltw-summit-2016-keynote-speaker-daymond-john)

 Written by [PLTW](https://www.pltw.org/blog/author/pltw) | March 30, 2016

[**Daymond John**](http://daymondjohn.com/), co-star on ABC’s Emmy Award-winning reality business show [**“Shark Tank,”**](http://abc.go.com/shows/shark-tank) brought PLTW Summit 2016 to a close with an inspiring keynote that earned a standing ovation from guests. In his speech, John shared stories from his moving personal journey, addressed topics including workforce preparation and entrepreneurship, and shed light on the experiences that shaped who he is today.

During his talk, John emphasized the tremendous worth of failure. He noted that throughout his career, he’s failed far more than he has triumphed; however, those tests were learning opportunities that prepared him with the knowledge and skills he needed to succeed.

John also described how both mentorship from educators as well as hands-on, relevant learning made an impact on his life. In a post-keynote interview with [**PLTW President and CEO Vince Bertram**](https://www.pltw.org/about-us/team/dr-vince-bertram), John shared that his school counselor was “the one who realized that I had that entrepreneurial spirit.”

“He advised me to go into a co-op program where I would work one week and I would go to school the next,” John said. “And when I started to work and I started to see this world of business, I’d then come back to school and apply that mentality to schoolwork, and then apply my schoolwork mentality to (business). And it really helped me grow.”

*More takeaways from John’s keynote from PLTW Summit guests:*

> "We become what we think about most of the time" [@TheSharkDaymond](https://twitter.com/TheSharkDaymond)   
> So what are you thinking about? Lots after [#PLTWSummit](https://twitter.com/hashtag/PLTWSummit?src=hash) [#inspired](https://twitter.com/hashtag/inspired?src=hash) [@PLTWorg](https://twitter.com/PLTWorg)   
> — Maria Mitrani (@mitranimaria) [March 23, 2016](https://twitter.com/mitranimaria/status/712689956188266496)

> "Success is not money... it is being a contributor to your community". [@TheSharkDaymond](https://twitter.com/TheSharkDaymond) (Daymond John). GLO 2 [#PLTWSummit](https://twitter.com/hashtag/PLTWSummit?src=hash) [#lifelonglearners](https://twitter.com/hashtag/lifelonglearners?src=hash)   
> — Ewa Beach Elementary (@EBESBees) [March 23, 2016](https://twitter.com/EBESBees/status/712686365289357312)

> "I'm here to brag...about my failures! I've failed many more times than I've succeeded." [@TheSharkDaymond](https://twitter.com/TheSharkDaymond) [#PLTWSummit](https://twitter.com/hashtag/PLTWSummit?src=hash) [#entrepreneur](https://twitter.com/hashtag/entrepreneur?src=hash)   
> — Brandon Lewis (@BrandonWLewis) [March 23, 2016](https://twitter.com/BrandonWLewis/status/712684548082020352)

> I agree with [@TheSharkDaymond](https://twitter.com/TheSharkDaymond) Mentoring is a key to success! Thanks for sharing your journey to success [#PLTWSummit](https://twitter.com/hashtag/PLTWSummit?src=hash) [pic.twitter.com/0z59hAZN17](https://t.co/0z59hAZN17)   
> — Alicia *A.C.* Lane (@ACLANElovesSTEM) [March 23, 2016](https://twitter.com/ACLANElovesSTEM/status/712687292926861312)

> Best closing speech!! [#PLTWSummit](https://twitter.com/hashtag/PLTWSummit?src=hash) [@TheSharkDaymond](https://twitter.com/TheSharkDaymond) [#inspired](https://twitter.com/hashtag/inspired?src=hash) [pic.twitter.com/ficOOMUOym](https://t.co/ficOOMUOym)   
> — ⓇⓄⓈⒺ ⓁⓄⓋⒺ (@rlovescience) [March 23, 2016](https://twitter.com/rlovescience/status/712699883443077120)

[View full post](https://www.pltw.org/blog/a-look-back-at-pltw-summit-2016-keynote-speaker-daymond-john)

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