In this heart-centered episode of Aspire to Lead, I’m joined by globally recognized speaker, educator, and author Angela Maiers to explore the movement that changed everything—#YouMatter. Angela shares the powerful story behind the origin of this global initiative and how a simple affirmation can shift mindsets, unlock potential, and ignite lasting change in students, educators, and communities.
We unpack how leaders can go beyond surface-level praise to cultivate environments where everyone feels seen, valued, and empowered. Angela also reveals how her workshops help people rediscover their purpose and reignite their passion for contribution, and we dive into her latest project—M is for Mattering, a science-based picture book designed to embed the language of significance in learners from the start.
This episode is less of a conversation and more of a call to remember what we too often forget: that real leadership begins with seeing, hearing, and believing in the people right in front of us. Tune in, take a breath, and get ready to lead like you truly mean it.
About Angela Maiers:
Futurist. Innovator. Educator. Entrepreneur. Change Maker.
Angela Maiers is on a relentless mission to disrupt the status quo and empower individuals everywhere to transform their own world—and the world around them. As the founder of the global movement Choose2Matter, Angela’s singular focus is to help people realize their value and potential contribution to creating change, whether in their personal lives or the world at large. It is fair to say, she leaves no room unchanged.
Angela’s journey began in 2011 when she delivered a TEDTalk on the power of two simple words that went viral—You Matter!—which catalyzed the creation of Choose2Matter in 2014. What followed was a movement that ignited over a million children across 78,000 classrooms in 100 countries, encouraging them to launch 170 social enterprises and pass 117 laws.
As one of the most influential thought leaders in education and transformative thinking, Angela is celebrated for helping businesses, organizations, and industries tackle the global $15 trillion employee engagement crisis. Her work with Fortune 500 companies such as Apple, Microsoft, IBM, and global entities like the U.S. Air Force and West Point have set new standards for creating purpose-driven cultures of motivation and inclusion.
Angela’s visionary approach has earned her numerous accolades, including being named one of Forbes’ Top 5 Edupreneurs to Watch, one of IBM’s Top 20 Global Influencers, and one of the Top 100 Women in Technology by Onalytics. She has also been recognized as one of the Top 20 Education Thought Leaders by TrustEd.
Angela is the author of nine books, including Genius Matters and Classroom Habitudes, and the forthcoming M is for Mattering. Angela is a much sought-after keynote speaker, consultant, and researcher who brings a unique blend of education, neuroscience, and innovation to help individuals and organizations cultivate purposeful leadership, meaningful work, and transformative change.
Angela’s work is grounded in the belief that everyone is built for purpose, deserves dignity, and can create meaningful impact. She has worked with over 50 global companies, educational institutions, nonprofits, and military organizations to implement practical tools for cultivating positive team cultures and igniting the genius within every...