Artis Stevens

Artis Stevens Speaker Biography

As President and Chief Executive Officer of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America (BBBSA), the largest and most experienced youth mentoring organization in the United States, Artis Stevens is a global thought leader on youth empowerment and mentorship, driving life-changing impact in the youth development sector. The first Black President and CEO in BBBSA’s 120-year history, his leadership comes at one of the most critical times for our nation’s youth.

Under his visionary leadership, BBBSA has evolved into an even more powerful force for change, recognizing mentorship as a transformative solution to empower young people to change society. Since joining BBBSA in 2021, Stevens has more than doubled its annual revenue, positioning the organization among the top 10 most trusted non-profits in the country while dramatically expanding its reach considerably to serve more underserved communities. Another noteworthy highlight of Stevens’ leadership at BBBSA was securing the largest-ever single donation in the organization’s history – $122.6 million from MacKenzie Scott. As a result, BBBSA is well-positioned to lead the most ambitious agenda since its founding, expanding access and opportunity to mentorship for over 10 million young people whose lives can change – one mentor at a time.

For nearly three decades, Stevens has held key leadership roles dedicated to youth empowerment. His expertise in innovative marketing and fundraising strategies has led to impactful partnerships with over 100 global brands, generating significant revenue and media support and has led to BBBSA being named to Fast Company’s Brands That Matter in 2023 and recognition by Forbes in 2024 as a Top 100 Charity.

Over the course of his career, Stevens has earned several distinguished accolades. In 2018, his passion for building purpose-driven brands, boards, and teams led him to receive the American Marketing Association’s National Non-profit Marketer of the Year Award, the highest honor bestowed to nonprofit marketing professionals. Worth Magazine named Stevens in their 2023 Worthy 100 and in 2024, he was named to the ForbesBLK Top 50 List. In 2025, he received national recognition, being named to TIME’s 100 Most Influential Leaders in Philanthropy.

Stevens’ renowned reputation for leading non-profit organizations through change has made him a sought after thought leader whose experience allows him to speak passionately about a range of topics including, but not limited to youth empowerment, mentorship, finding your purpose, and driving organizational success. His experience driving initiatives that have transformed organizational culture, increased volunteer recruitment, and spearheading the innovative approaches to national partnerships has led to features on Good Morning America, the TODAY Show, CNBC, and NPR.

Stevens earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia, where he became a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated. He also holds a master’s in public administration from Valdosta State University. Today, he lives in Atlanta with his wife, Dr. Erica Stevens, and their two daughters.