Talks at Businesses
Michael Santos delivers inspiring, actionable talks at companies nationwide, sharing the powerful strategies that guided him through 26 years in prison and into entrepreneurial success. His presentations help teams cultivate resilience, sharpen decision-making, and enhance efficiency—crucial skills for thriving in competitive environments and challenging economic climates. Audiences leave motivated and equipped with practical insights to overcome obstacles and unlock their highest potential.
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Driving Resilience & Performance with focus on Results
Empowering Teams to Thrive Under Pressure
Drawing on his profound experience of overcoming 26 years in prison, Michael Santos delivers transformative insights that equip your team with the tools to cultivate resilience, hone focus, and achieve peak performance—even in the face of uncertainty and fierce competition.
His presentations seamlessly blend authentic storytelling with actionable strategies, empowering audiences to implement concrete steps that lead to measurable results. Michael's unique journey and hard-won wisdom provide a powerful framework for navigating challenges, fostering mental fortitude, and unlocking potential within individuals and organizations alike.
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Pioneer Industries
Over my 26 years of service, many inspiring leaders guided me, challenging me to think in new and transformative ways. That shift in mindset changed my life. Since my release, I’ve embraced every opportunity to pay that kindness forward. Whenever organizations invite me to share my journey, I eagerly volunteer.
After completing my term, I had the honor of delivering a keynote presentation for Pioneer Industries, an organization I deeply admire in the Seattle area. This nonprofit is dedicated to helping individuals in prison prepare for a successful future. Through their various factories, they provide opportunities for incarcerated individuals to develop skills and prepare for life after release.
When Pioneer Industries invited me to speak, I was thrilled to accept. I shared my personal story of navigating life through prison and beyond, encouraging the audience to support Pioneer’s vital mission. Their work changes lives, and I was proud to contribute to a cause so close to my heart.
Silicon Valley
During the early years of my prison sentence, I made it a priority to connect with influential penologists whose work could guide my adjustment. In the “Founder” section of our website, I share how these leaders shaped my journey. One pivotal connection was with Joan Petersilia, whose research at Harvard caught my attention. I reached out to her, and we began a meaningful correspondence. Over the years, I kept her informed about my progress as I navigated through my sentence.
Joan’s career evolved as she moved from the Rand Corporation to UC Irvine, and later to Stanford Law School. Toward the end of my sentence, she extended an incredible opportunity—an invitation to work with her at Stanford and contribute a chapter to a book she co-authored with Kevin Reitz, a professor at the University of Minnesota Law School.
These connections opened doors I couldn’t have imagined. After my release, I had the honor of presenting at Stanford University and Stanford Law School multiple times. Through these experiences, I met many influential leaders in Silicon Valley, which eventually led to an invitation to speak at a prestigious Silicon Valley conference. These relationships were transformative, shaping both my work and the opportunities that followed.
California Wellness
The California Wellness Foundation stands as one of the largest philanthropic organizations in California, playing a pivotal role in supporting impactful initiatives. During my time in prison, I connected with Justin Paperny, who became both a friend and a partner in many ventures we launched together. When I shared my vision of creating a nonprofit dedicated to improving outcomes for individuals in jails and prisons, Justin immediately pledged his support. He began introducing my work to friends who visited him, many of whom had significant influence.
One such friend, Brad Fullmer, a former Major League Baseball player, offered his support during a visit to the prison. In a remarkable gesture, he provided a $40,000 check to help bring our vision to life.
Another key connection was Julio Marcial, who held a prominent position at the California Wellness Foundation. After outlining my vision for the nonprofit, Julio was inspired to help. Together, we developed a plan to turn that vision into reality. Leveraging his influence, Julio successfully persuaded the California Wellness Foundation to sponsor our efforts.
This partnership resulted in multiple grants, totaling over $500,000, which we used to develop long-term resources aimed at transforming the system. Thanks to the support of individuals like Justin, Brad, and Julio, and the generosity of the California Wellness Foundation, we were able to lay the foundation for meaningful, systemic change. After I finished my prison term, Julio asked me to give a keynote speech at the foundation’s annual conference in San Diego. Â
SoftWhite Underbelly
Mark Laita is a renowned photojournalist who created the impactful platform Soft White Underbelly. With a dedicated audience of over 10 million followers across YouTube and other channels, Mark provides a compelling space for individuals to share their stories of struggle and resilience. I was honored when he invited me to participate.
When I visited Mark’s studio in Santa Monica, I was accompanied by my friend Matt Bowyer. Matt is well-known for extensive media coverage portraying him as one of America's largest bookmakers. His notoriety intensified following a widely publicized scandal involving baseball star Shohei Ohtani, his former interpreter Ippei Mizuhara, and prominent Las Vegas casino executives. Mark initially intended to profile Matt, and through that connection, I had the chance to share my own story.
In the studio, Mark initially suggested I discuss experiences related to large-scale drug trafficking. However, I explained that my narrative was different. My journey was more about the process of recalibrating and rebuilding after profound adversity. Prison provided the backdrop, but the essence of my story was deeply human, highlighting strategies taught by influential mentors. Mark usually conducts interviews by asking questions, but he suggested I might tell my story uninterrupted. So, I sat down and spoke unscripted for an hour.
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Today, Michael dedicates his life to helping others overcome challenges. He shares insights through his Accountability Log, Daily Blog, and stories of the influences who shaped his journey.
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50+
Prisons we've visited to make in-person presentations. We don't only teach and inspire, we lead train-the-trainer seminars to promote peer-to-peer learning and improve the culture of confinement.
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1,000+
People in custody taking initiative to build profiles on the Prison Professors Talent platform. They're memorializing steps to prepare for success as law-abiding, contributing citizens.
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1,100+
Jails and prisons that offer our lessons, courses, and books to teach and inspire people. In our self-directed courses, people learn how to accelerate pathways to success upon release.
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900K+
People in custody with daily access to Prison Professors lessons, courses, and books through our collaboration with the Edovo Foundation and direct partnership with government agencies.
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Principles we teach
The origins of our self-directed courses began with readings of Socrates, Frederick Douglass, Nelson Mandela, and modern leaders who teach us how to live as if we're the CEO of our life. To overcome any crisis, or build solutions, follow the principles of our Straight-AÂ Guide.
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Who we serve
We offer resources that people who are going through a crisis or challenge can use to recalibrate. It's never too early or too late to begin building pathways to a better outcome. Each individual can build a body of work that opens opportunities for the next phase, empowering them to live meaningful, contributing lives.
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Incarcerated Learners
Get access to our lessons, books, or self-directed courses. Regardless of what staff do, you grow.
Correctional Facilities
Improve the culture of your facility, inspiring people to learn. Be the change you want to see.
Lawyers & Law Firms
Offering resources to help people develop assets for self-advocacy, building mitigation stories.
Family, Friends, & Community
Download daily lessons to inspire people in custody. Help them build self-confidence and prepare.
The feedback I received from inmates who participated last week was very positive. My plan is to have this program up and running before June.
Michael Santos tells a remarkable in his writing on merit-based sentencing reductions. He had the charisma and character to hold a law symposium audience spellbound for every minute of his presentation.
Presentation at UC Berkley
In this talk at UC Berkeley, I shared my story of serving 26 years in federal prison and the powerful lessons I learned from influential leaders like Socrates and Nelson Mandela. I encouraged students to think critically about personal accountability, resilience, and justice reform, inviting them to join a movement advocating for systemic changes that empower people to earn freedom through their own merit, actions, and growth.
Management Training Corporation
Management Training Corporation is a respected government contractor specializing in various sectors, including the operation of private correctional facilities. The founder and CEO invited me to tour three Texas facilities under MTC’s management and subsequently speak at their corporate headquarters in Utah, addressing several hundred employees. When delivering presentations to private companies, I emphasize our shared human experiences. While my personal challenges involved decades in prison, the core lessons I learned are universal. These insights—drawn from studying influential leaders—focus on overcoming adversity, maintaining resilience, and consistently delivering results. I encourage teams to adopt strategies that enhance personal accountability and performance, aligning closely with corporate goals of continuous improvement and excellence.
Texas Prisons, Part 1
I’ve visited more than 50 prisons across the United States, from high-security federal penitentiaries to minimum-security camps, always focused on helping individuals see the clear connection between their daily decisions inside and their prospects for success upon release. During these visits, I share practical strategies and lessons that empowered me through 26 years in prison—lessons rooted in accountability, education, and personal development. Through direct interaction, I strive to inspire hope, reinforcing the message that every day in prison presents an opportunity to recalibrate and rebuild a life of meaning and contribution. These in-person experiences complement our extensive library of self-directed courses, books, and videos, reinforcing the essential message that preparation and personal responsibility lead to better outcomes.
Texas Prisons, Part 2
At the invitation of Management Training Corporation, I toured three different prisons in Texas, where I had the opportunity to speak with hundreds of people serving sentences and engage directly with the correctional staff responsible for their care and rehabilitation. In each facility, I emphasized the importance of proactive planning and deliberate action, demonstrating how strategies like documenting progress through Prison Professors Talent can significantly enhance an individual’s opportunities for success upon release. By sharing personal stories and practical advice drawn from my own journey and from the mentors who inspired me, these visits provided tangible examples of how prisons can foster cultures of accountability, resilience, and achievement, improving outcomes for incarcerated people, staff, and the broader community.
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