Award-winning speaker Tom Krieglstein returns to Five Towns College for engaging event

By Grace Bonamico

Award-winning speaker and Five Towns College 2025 orientation keynote presenter Tom Krieglstein returned to campus on Sept. 30 to once again inspire students and staff. During this visit, he hosted a seminar titled “5 Ways to Turn Your Passion into a Profession.” The whole college community was encouraged to attend the exclusive event, with the first 100 students to arrive in the Performing Arts Center receiving Fader keychains.

Tom Krieglstein, who is a professional speaker, executive coach and author, founded Swift Kick in 2004 and has since trained over half a million leaders around the U.S. and the world.  

Krieglstein’s five steps were simple yet powerful: don’t wait — start now; be rebound ready; don’t do it alone; be ruthless with your time; and do the work. Each point, he emphasized, was not just theory but grounded in real-world lessons.

The seminar began with an icebreaker game of “Would You Rather,” where Krieglstein asked thought-provoking questions such as whether students would rather try their passion and fail or spend their lives wondering “what if.” The activity immediately drew laughs and conversation, setting a relaxed but engaging tone.

From there, Krieglstein wove together practical advice with personal stories. He recalled his first professional speaking engagement, one that fell flat, but also became the experience that shaped his career path. The key, he said, is not perfection but persistence. “At some point you’re going to get knocked down,” he told the crowd. “The question is, will you get back up?”

Students connected with Krieglstein’s candid approach. “I appreciated how honest it was, even if it was a little, you know, TMI at certain points. I appreciate that level of authenticity,” said Jude Bertino, a Mass Communication major.

The event also featured prizes of Five Towns merchandise, which kept the energy high as students eagerly checked their raffle tickets.

First-year students welcomed the familiar presence. “I remember the orientation one [Krieglstein’s keynote]. It wasn’t too long ago, only the start of the month,” said Dean Flynn, a first-year Film and Television major. “I was excited to see Tom come back, and he did not disappoint. I wrote down all the key points. It’s all variations of stuff I’ve heard before, I’ll admit, but it’s still good advice nonetheless.”

Krieglstein’s closing message, “Do the work,” particularly resonated with students. “My favorite part was probably just the message at the end because that is the most important thing. You’re not going to get anything unless you work for it,” said Brandon McAteer, a Mass Communication major.

Following the event, students attended a dessert reception in the front gallery. Krieglstein joined the gathering and discussed the importance of the college experience:

“If they [students] think college is a waiting line to get into the real world, or if they think college is just a car to class or room to class to class to class to class back to room, then they’re missing the point of college,” he said, adding, “College is about growing into that bigger, better version of yourself, and the only way they’re going to do that is by stepping outside their comfort zone and trying and experimenting and exploring.”