Mark Young is a serial entrepreneur, educator, and the CEO of Ryze Agency, a Fort Lauderdale-based marketing and advertising firm that helps entrepreneurs elevate their brands. With a career that defies a linear path, Mark is a collector of experiences—constantly seeking, learning, and challenging the status quo. His life philosophy? “Do everything.”
From launching tech startups to reverse-engineering complex business strategies, Mark thrives on solving problems and sharing his knowledge with others. With multiple graduate degrees across disciplines (including a MENSA membership acquired on a dare), his greatest passion lies not in accolades, but in teaching, mentoring, and empowering those around him.
Above all, Mark believes in the power of people. Whether in business, mentorship, or global adventures, he values the connections he makes, always leading with generosity and integrity. As he often says, “People matter. Do the right thing, regardless of the cost. It’ll come back to you. I promise.”
Entrepreneur
At 16, while most teenagers were focused on school and social lives, Mark Young was hiring employees twice his age and running a business of his own. It wasn’t a side hustle or a weekend project—it was the start of a lifelong obsession with building, learning, and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.
Nearly three decades later, Mark has founded dozens of companies, advised countless entrepreneurs, and now serves as CEO and board member for multiple organizations. But for him, success isn’t just about what he’s built—it’s about helping others do the same. Every year, thousands of small businesses fail, not because the ideas weren’t good enough, but because the right guidance came too late. “Entrepreneurs think there’s valor in figuring it out the hard way,” he says, “but the truth is, success isn’t about struggle—it’s about strategy.”
Mark has a rare gift: the ability to step into any business, see exactly what’s holding it back, and map out a path forward—fast. His approach is direct, his insights sharp, and his results undeniable. Because just like an elite athlete wouldn’t train without a coach, no entrepreneur should try to navigate business alone. The only question is: Are you ready to Just Start?
Some of Mark’s current projects
“Entrepreneurship must be the loneliest job on the planet. The world thinks you either ‘have it made’ or you’ve ‘lost your mind.’ No middle ground to be found.”
Educator
Mark Young has always believed that learning should be as engaging as it is educational. As an adjunct professor for nearly 15 years, he knew that in the age of smartphones, knowledge alone isn’t enough—you have to capture attention before you can change minds. “Make your point. Make them laugh. Show them why it matters,” he says. “Only then have you earned the right to be heard.”
Unlike many entrepreneurs who learned purely through trial and error, Mark has walked both paths—earning advanced degrees while also building businesses from the ground up. He’s the first to admit that no classroom truly prepares you for the moment when payroll is due, and the numbers don’t add up. “Textbooks are great,” he says, “but nothing teaches you faster than experience.”
For Mark, teaching isn’t about handing people answers—it’s about helping them see the bigger picture. Whether mentoring entrepreneurs, consulting businesses, or speaking to a packed audience, his goal remains the same: to challenge, inspire, and equip people with the tools to build something great. Because knowledge alone isn’t power—knowing how to use it is.
“The human experience has always been shared through storytelling, often passed down through generations … we watch and listen to stories with an attentive ear to the ways in which we can identify with the protagonist.”
Author
Most people dread public speaking. Even more avoid writing. Mark Young thrives on both. To him, words—spoken or written—aren’t just tools for communication; they’re the most powerful way to inspire action. While he loves the energy of a live audience, nothing compares to the permanence of the written word. A great book doesn’t just inform—it shifts perspectives, sparks ideas, and leaves an impact long after the last page is turned.
Mark’s first book, Date Your Clients, wasn’t planned. It started as a simple letter to a client, explaining a marketing strategy in a way that made sense. But business isn’t just numbers and tactics—it’s human. Before long, he found himself describing websites as first impressions, marketing as dating, and customer retention as long-term relationships. What began as a breakdown of a single strategy quickly turned into a blueprint for how businesses should think about their customers. Because if you can’t explain something in a way that makes people care, you don’t truly understand it yourself.
“I not only get the satisfaction of helping my clients make good business decisions,I get my fix from helping them understand the ‘why’ behind the ‘what,’ which is often a blurred line.”
Philantropist
Mark Young vividly remembers the night his perspective on humanity changed forever. It wasn’t a gradual shift—it was an instant awakening, a deep understanding of the struggles people face. “Seeing and feeling the weight of someone else’s hardship changes you,” he says. “And once you see it, you can’t unsee it.” That realization didn’t just push him to serve—it ignited a passion for inspiring others to step up and make a difference.
For Mark, philanthropy isn’t just about giving—it’s about empowerment. He believes most people want to help but hesitate, held back by uncertainty or fear of the unknown. His mission is to bridge that gap, to challenge and invite people into action. “People would do more if someone simply asked,” he says. “I just happen to be the one who asks.”
Whether leading humanitarian trips, serving on nonprofit boards, or mentoring individuals trapped by self-doubt, Mark’s goal remains the same: to unlock potential. He’s seen firsthand how rewriting the story people tell themselves can be more powerful than any financial contribution. Because the greatest change doesn’t come from charity alone—it comes from people realizing they’re capable of more than they ever believed.
RESTORING LIVES, REBUILDING FUTURES
Mark partners with Arukah Ranch to help individuals overcoming addiction, trauma, and adversity find a path to lasting transformation. Through mentorship, support, and a commitment to healing, he works to empower those seeking a fresh start—breaking cycles of hardship and guiding them toward independence, purpose, and hope.
HEALTH BEGINS WITH KNOWLEDGE
Mark serves on the board of directors for WhatIsC60.org, a nonprofit dedicated to educating people about the potential health benefits of Carbon 60. Passionate about helping others unlock their full potential, he believes that true success starts with optimal well-being. Through his work with WhatIsC60.org, Mark empowers individuals with the knowledge to take control of their health, make informed decisions, and live life at their absolute best.
“Nothing – nothing – is more rewarding than watching a single person have that ‘aha moment’ when he realizes that limits are only ever drawn in pencil. That man, or that woman, can change the world.”
Travel Nut
Mark Young has always loved to travel—but what started as a simple passion quickly turned into a lifelong competition. Nearly 20 years ago, at a family Christmas exchange, he and his stepmother unknowingly gifted each other the same book: 1,000 Places to See Before You Die. After a good laugh, the challenge began—who could check off more destinations first? “Everything in life should be a competition to the death,” he jokes. That friendly dare has since evolved into the most ambitious (and expensive) bucket list imaginable.
For Mark, travel isn’t just about seeing the world—it’s about perspective. Stepping into unfamiliar places, surrounded by people with entirely different lives and cultures, is a humbling experience. “At home, I’m the decision-maker, the expert, the one people turn to,” he says. “But when I travel, I get to just observe, learn, and be a stranger in someone else’s world.”
Whether trekking through Africa on humanitarian trips or strolling through Paris pretending to be a National Geographic photographer, Mark sees travel as fuel for creativity and personal growth. “When you’re stuck in routine, your imagination shrinks,” he explains. “New places open your mind to new possibilities. They remind you that life isn’t meant to be lived on repeat.”
Never one to turn down an adventure, Mark is always ready to book a ticket and go. “Seeing how big the world is makes me want to become more than I ever dreamed,” he says. “And every time I see more of it, my dreams only get bigger.”
Follow my travels“I am one of nearly 8 billion people in the world, and each of them have unique stories and histories and struggles and interests and dreams and families and fears.”
