Reviews

Reviews
Our goal is 1001 reviews, we're on our way. In over 500 talks to thousands of students across the country, Take Back College has been requested as a 'must have again' company by 100% of the students we've served.

According to exit surveys, the top four words students describe Ryan Penneau as are RELATABLE, ENERGETIC, THOUGHT PROVOKING and ENGAGING.

"I have no hesitancy whatsoever in recommending Ryan Penneau for your next student leadership retreat, event or workshop. As a Student Life Director, I am really pleased with the passion and the commitment that Ryan Penneau brings to the table when he conducts this leadership trainings. He is very professional and also happens to be a dynamic, energizing, and dedicated facilitator who truly understands student development."
- Brent Glass, Inver Hills Community College
Director of Student Life

"RYAN BRINGS IT ALL! Your knowledge, communication skills, sense of timing and tactfulness, vision and inspiration demonstrate the best I have ever observed in my 40 plus years of attending leadership presentations, seminars and conferences. Having been a seminar facilitator and trainer for the past four decades, I see how you bring the energy, values, ideas and content in a motivational and instructional delivery style. And you make it easy for the audience to engage in deep learning by anchoring emotion with content in an enduring way. Thank you!"
-Dr. Larry Lindsay - Indiana Wesleyan
Chief of Staff. Former VP for Zig Ziglar's See You At The Top

"All of the students, the faculty, ALL OF US LOVED YOUR PRESENTATION! You received 'Excellent' marks from 100% of the attendees of the conference! You are a must have to come back! You are coming back! Thank you for making our conference everything that it could be. You set the tone and made it happen! Thank you!"
- Joie Lee - Kirby Leadership Institute
Assistant Director of Leadership Development

"Ryan brings an unmatched energy! He shares his passion for leadership and personal development by literally reaching the entire audience! I enjoyed how he provided customized learning outcomes to our students and challenges them to grow by meeting them where they were developmentally. Our students responded to his approach and truly benefited from the very intentional and well formulated message Ryan shared."
-Sara Ann Suwalski - UWO
Director of Student Leadership

"What makes students tick, think, work is what Ryan brings. It takes a special kind of person and talent to deliver this kind of message, and without a doubt, Ryan is the guy. I look forward to working with you in the future; and even more excited about creating more results among our people!"
-Joe Artim - University of Minnesota-Duluth
Director of Financial Markets Program

"Ryan makes an experience memorable! His infectious energy, enthusiasm and passionate intensity helped me to increase my level of commitment to the program, and achieve personal breakthroughs that remain with me to this day (3 years later). What was most impressive was Ryan's personal integrity and candor. One of the best I've seen and I've seen them all!"
-Dan Strutzel - Nightingale and Conant, The world leader in success and development.
VP of Sales

"Ryan brings creativity, energy and a WOW-factor that few presenters can match! He connects very well with students on our campus, and continues to be accessible as a supportive person via social media and email after he is on campus (which you just don't see much of). His commitment to students and learning is above and beyond. I have had the opportunity to work with Ryan Penneau in a variety of settings over the past year, and I highly recommend Ryan (and will continue to bring him to our campus for future leadership workshops and presentations). High Five Ryan!"
-Jason Neuhaus, Inver Hills Community College
Associate Director of Student Life

"Ryan has been an asset to the development of the students whom he's engaged with on our campus. His commitment and service to our campus has been unyielding. He is exceptionally easy to work with and highly professional. He is always looking to create moments of added value when he's on campus: whether it is Q and A sessions, workshops, classroom visits, or anything. What he brings to our campus and students is irreplaceable!"
-Tracey Bolen, UMD
Director of Student Affairs

"What impressed me the most is his deep commitment to making every moment really matter! He isn't just spending time with his audience, he is making a deep, personal connection with them. Not many speakers are willing to stay around for hours after their presentation is over; but Ryan continuously demonstrates an audience-first approach. People really relate to his high energy level and his friendly but intense style of presentation. Mostly, I am most impressed with how deeply he shows his care for students and attention to their needs."
-John Landrum, UWGB
Student Life Coordinator

"Great to work with! Ryan engaged not only our student leaders, but our whole Greek Community. The event was a nice balance of presentation and activity which created a good learning opportunity. His creativity and energy inspires students to challenge themselves and perform at high levels.”
-John Bulcock, Minnesota State University
Assistant Dir. Greek Life

"An introspective experience that was better than anything. Ryan quickly addressed issues and we took on the solutions. He was highly engaging and thought provoking. From this I will be able to better lead my organization through looking at the challenges with a new set of eyes."
-Stephanie B., Bay Path College

"Wise beyond his years! I wish I could have met him when I was the age of the students that he's most passionate about serving. I expect great things in your world, Ryan and in the lives of those you serve." -Debbie Tucker

"Ryan! Thank you! I can still sense the exhilaration, energy, passion, motivation and ABOVE AND BEYOND commitment you made to our event." - Dr. Cheryl Chatman

"What unbelievable execution. His patience was great in how he slowly built us up to fully interact and participate. Thank you, Ryan, for letting my realize on my own that there are some things I have to prove to myself in order for others to believe in me. Great job! Great energy! And thank you for helping us bridge what you taught to the real world!" -Alyssa Zellner

"The enthusiasm you brought was amazing! I appreciate all of the personal stories and experience you brought to the table! It helped me to deeply connect with what you were saying." -Jessica Olive

"Ryan is an amazing leader whose enthusiasm transformed me to realize what the possibilities are and who I deserve to be!" -Jessica Rolfsmeyer

"Ryan has amazing maturity for his age (he's 24 at the time of me writing this); it can't be easy to be young and leading an executive team that could have a tendency to be close‐minded; but we were all into it! He displays passion and energy for those that he is serving! Great stuff and I highly recommend him!" -Heidi Lundgren

"Your honesty and sincerity are gifts. Thank you for showing me a way to open up and grow!"
-GreggBMartholomew

"Ryan, there is so much I could say and not enough time or lines on a piece of paper. Expect a long long email!" -Rob Dalton

"Unrivaled enthusiasm which gets everyone really really into it. Everyone was participating which seemed really...different at first...but when it all came together; I totally see what I need to do in my life moving forward." -A. House.

"I've never seen your technique in a presentation before! It's amazing." -Rick Simpson

"Ryan responded to the audience well. He understood and respected the needs of the group and was able to serve us beyond expectations." -Jess Helm

"Because of your example, know that there are things being accomplished and stuff is getting done on our campus. Thank you!" -Jess Hop

"Your dedication to students is inspirational, and helped me really engage in all that you said. You have such a transparent dedication, that I can't help but want to do better because I feel like I owe it to myself." - Kelly Pfiefer

"I could completely relate to his insight, ideas and experience. Tied with enthusiasm and the passion, I'm all in!" - Kim Hinshaw

"Ryan is so charged with life and it really exudes through the things he does. He took charge of his opportunity and really pushed us to go beyond thinking of ourselves as just students."
- Laura Wierenga

"Ryan is a powerful speaker with a wealth of knowledge, easy to connect with, inspiring and encouraging! Awesome!" - K. Westmen

"I have no clue how you can pour that much into a presentation. No idea! It truly demonstrates just how much you are dedicated to students! Thank you." -Emily Dimet

"I will do everything within my power to ensure you're back next year." -Ryan Koch

"I liked everything you did. I learned from it all; but the thing I have to mention is that your heart is certainly, definitely in it; and that's what makes it great." -M. Walker

"Ryan, you truly have a gift and I am so glad I had the opportunity to meet and connect with you and your presentation! The world needs more people like you. And the way you bring emotions out of people is unbelievable! Thank you for doing what you do!" - Karli Scheving

"Truly incredible that you could bring such energy consistently! Your stories and way of connecting with an audience is unrivaled; I owe you. I don't know how, what or why; but this was unbelievable! The content was unbelievable related to my personal goals and I needed to know that I had it in me to be a phenomenal leader. You brought it all!" - Brian Christner

"Great persistence! I mean to keep your energy level so consistent throughout the presentation was great! You delivered a level of passion and commitment to us that truly demonstrated a will to journey with us, by speaking WITH US, not AT US; which has moved me to really move forward in my life." - Anonymous

"Your desire to teach and mentor a group of people is completely transparent and demonstrated through your passion and energy! Amazing! I really appreciate how you poured your heart into us. Your connection with an audience is mind‐blowing." - Max Tomas‐Olson

"The energy Ryan brought was incredible and rubbed off on everyone else. People were able to open up because they saw everyone else take the chance to participate and interact in the safe environment Ryan created. Great inspiration to everyone! Thank you." - Nik Broschofsky

"We were moving and active the entire time. Everyone was on the edge of their seats and the information will tremendously help me succeed in college." - Katie Solo

"Great ideas on how to focus towards my goals and real practical strategies to accomplish them! I highly recommend Ryan. His energy and passion got everyone participating." - Lyle Guerare

"A+++++++, I liked EVERYTHING about Ryan's presentation. It was upbeat and incredibly inspiring. The points he brought to the table were extremely beneficial and he hit on so many areas of college struggle and success in a short period of time. His message to 'Take Back' where you're going and your college experience is EXACTLY what college students need to hear." - Kati Douitronicler

Les Brown and Ryan Penneau

In the zone