Derek Clark

Viral Video Sensation as the "Cool Dad," Motivational Speaker & Foster Care Expert

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Biography

Derek Clark’s life is one of resilience and redemption. As a child, he suffered unthinkable child abuse, abandonment and emotional distress before being turned over to the psychiatric hospital at age five. His thirteen years in the San Francisco bay area foster care system reflected an early life of humiliation, aggression, emotional distress, overwhelming anxiety and being wrongfully labeled. Read More >

Psychiatric reports stated that at the age of five years old, Clark had severe behavioral problems. Neurological reports stated that at six years old, he had the IQ of a two year old and diagnosed him with erratic psychosis. Having also been misdiagnosed as mentally handicapped and having numerous emotional and language difficulties, Clark never gave up.

With amazing help from his foster parents, a great social worker and mentors, he has defied the artificial limitations imposed upon him. Clark knows firsthand how to cope with adversity and overcoming hardship. His past has never held him back from accomplishing what he set his heart and mind to. From owning a very successful corporation to having a family, his maxim is to make no excuses.

Clark is an inspiring speaker and trainer has been featured on Headline News, The Steve Harvey TV Show, The Ricki Lake Show and other shows around the world. He has recently become a viral video sensation with his “Rapping Dad” videos which have had millions of views and have been featured on Best of Instagram and Vine. He is the author of six books including Never Limit Your Life, Disable The Label and the I Will Never Give Up book series.

As a speaker, author and singer/songwriter, Derek Clark has spoken and performed his music from Australia to Canada including a President of the United States. His true-life trials and personal triumphs have inspired organizations with his message of hope and unwavering perseverance. He has turned his situation from a victim to a victor, equipping him with the wisdom and the will to never give up. Read Less ^

Speaker Videos

Power of Determination

How I Survived Brutal Child Abuse: An Inspirational Story

Do This and It Will Change Your Life

Tell Your Story, Be Your Best Self

On the Steve Harvey Show

Ultimate Rapping Dad Video

See Fewer Videos

Speech Topics

How to Never Limit Your Life: From Personal to Professional Success

Never Limit Your Life. This is the motto and mantra of Derek Clark. Derek, a former foster child and at-risk youth who went from victim to victor is a successful entrepreneur and international motivational speaker. Professional success always begins with personal outlook. With the right attitude, adversity is the spur to enrich the future of any enterprise. Hope and productivity are not only contagious, but the keys to higher productivity. In Derek’s Never Limit Your Life presentation and keynote reveals the secrets behind his professional and personal success. He will share how he found the confidence and courage to overcome adversity, have no fear, and realize limits only exist in the mind. By cultivating drive, focus, and the courage to take action, employees will find their professional and personal lives opening up to new promise and fresh opportunities. Tap into your unlimited potential! Never Limit Your Life!

How to be a Fun, Fair & Firm Dad: Rapping Dad- Viral Video Sensation

Rapping dad phenomenon Derek Clark has been the talk of YouTube as he keeps the world updated periodically with adorable videos of him rapping with his children. He shares his incredible testimony and life story filled with movie twists and turns, redemption, and forgiveness. He loves to share his rappin rhymes with audiences.

From Victim to Victor: An Inspirational Foster Care Success Story of Surviving Brutal Child Abuse, Overcoming Mental, Emotional & Behavioral Issues & Finding His Place in this World

Labels take on a life of their own as the words we speak and write have great power to build up, define or defeat a child. These labels have the ability to follow children for the rest of their lives and can shape their attitude, self-esteem, relationships and professional life. Derek Clark will give you insight into his personal childhood journey of being wrongfully labeled in the foster care system for thirteen years, and the key reasons on how he did not turn out addicted, incarcerated, or dead. Derek will challenge many of the accepted practices of the child welfare system and provide alternative ways to understand why kids behave in the ways that they do. This understanding will generate hope and restore dignity to the young people as well as restore humanness and compassion in the hearts of professionals.

Disable the Child's Label: How to Connect With Children that Have Gone Through Trauma & Help Them Reach Their Potential

Derek knows first-hand the power of attitude in coping with adversity, rejection and overcoming hardship. His story is one of resilience and redemption. At five years of age, Derek’s mother and stepfather (his biological father was in prison) abandoned him at an emergency psychiatric facility. Derek would spend the next thirteen years of his life contending with rejection, humiliation, aggression, emotional distress and overwhelming anxiety. Yet through it all, Derek never gave up, and went from victim to victor by defying the artificial limitations imposed on him. Derek discovered that he had great amounts of inner wealth and made a choice to tap into it and not let his trauma driven past punish his limitless future. Derek captures the heart of the audience on an emotional level, where transformation really happens. He believes that if he can touch the human spirit, it will create a lasting positive impact on both the personal and professional lives of his audience. Everybody can relate to some part of Derek’s story, whether it is his personal struggle, professional accomplishments, or his beliefs on how we best achieve happiness and financial success.