Climbing Trailblazer; Founder of Climbing for Change

Denver, CO, USA
Live Event: $10,000 - $20,000 Virtual Event: $5,000 - $10,000 More Fee Info

Kai Lightner Biography

With a career spanning 18 years, Kai Lightner is widely regarded as a climbing phenom and cultural trailblazer within his sport. Winning his first national title at the age of 10, Lightner has amassed 12 national titles, 6 Pan-American Titles, and 5 Youth World medals, including winning the Youth World Championships in 2014. His impressive resume extends to outdoor climbing as well. By 15, he accomplished the grade 5.14d (9a) and has since done the first ascent of a 5.15a (9a+). Lightner is also one of few athletes in the world to ever climb three 5.14d (9a) or higher routes in one week. These accomplishments have garnered him worldwide attention, including features on NBC News, ABC World News, The Disney Channel, "TODAY," a Got Milk commercial, and GQ Magazine, in addition to global endorsement deals.

Throughout Lightner’s career, he has stood out as one of few Black climbers in the industry. He has openly spoken about the negative experiences he faced as a youth climber pursuing a sport where marginalized communities are significantly underrepresented. In August 2020, Lightner founded the nonprofit organization Climbing for Change (C4C) to address cost, access, and stigma barriers contributing to this participation gap. Through his nonprofit organization, he has developed climbing programs and helped hundreds of individuals across the United States enjoy rock climbing and outdoor recreation activities. His accomplishments and community work have earned him many awards and recognitions, including the American Alpine Club Robert Hicks Bates Award; this award honors young climbers who show "outstanding promise for future accomplishment." He was also awarded the US Olympic and Paralympics (USOPC) Team Hope Award for his “outstanding commitment to service within their communities.” In 2016, Lightner was recognized by NBC News as one of 28 minority “game changers, all under the age of 28, that are breaking barriers and making a difference”.

Lightner has been a keynote speaker for corporate and motivational events for years, including Jensen Hughes (international risk-based engineering and consulting firm), the International Climber’s Festival, the 2023 Winter Outdoor Retailer Show, and the North Star Foundation. He has also served as a guest lecturer at the University of Wisconsin, Babson College, Ohio State University, and Brown University.

Lightner received his bachelor’s degree in business management from Babson College in Boston, Massachusetts.

BOOK Kai Lightner

Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 10/03/2025.

Kai Lightner Speaking Topics

  • With the voice of a changemaker and the experience of an elite athlete, Kai challenges audiences to rethink what leadership, equity, and progress look like.

    Whether speaking about performance, identity, or community, Kai Lightner’s message is clear: small steps matter, fear can be fuel, and showing up changes everything.

Kai Lightner Videos

Kai Lightner - Black Diamond Equipment

Kai Lightner - Black Diamond Equipment

Welcome to the BD Team Kai LIghtner

  • How do I book Kai Lightner to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Kai Lightner for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Kai Lightner, 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 Kai Lightner or any other speaker of your choice.
  • What are the speaker fees for Kai Lightner

    Speaking fees for Kai Lightner, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Kai Lightner are $10,000 - $20,000 for live events and under $10,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Kai Lightner, click the Check Availability 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 Kai Lightner speak about?

    Kai Lightner is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Adventure, Athlete, Black Heritage, Climbing, Diversity & Inclusion, Extreme Sports, Non-Profit, Sports, Sports Motivation
  • Where does Kai Lightner travel from?

    Kai Lightner generally travels from Denver, CO, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.
  • Who is Kai Lightner’s agent?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like Kai Lightner 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 Availability 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 Kai Lightner for your next private or corporate function.
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    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 Kai Lightner 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.
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Kai Lightner is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as With the voice of a changemaker and the experience of an elite athlete, Kai challenges audiences to rethink what leadership, equity, and progress look like. . The estimated speaking fee range to book Kai Lightner for your event is $10,000 - $20,000. Kai Lightner generally travels from Denver, CO, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Harold Varner III, Renee Montgomery, Chris Sharma, Emily Harrington and Adrian Ballinger. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Kai Lightner for an upcoming live or virtual event.

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