Motivation & Inspiration
Overcoming Adversity
Overcoming Adversity:
Former Member of UK Parliament & Shadow Health Minister
Luciana Berger was first elected as the Labour Member of Parliament for Liverpool Wavertree in 2010 aged 28, after roles with Accenture, the NHS Confederation and the Labour Friends of Israel.
Mother of Olympic Gold Medalist Noah Lyles & Certified Life Coach
30.6 million! That is the amount of people who watched the Paris 2024 Olympics on television. Keisha Caine Bishop was arguably the “Mom of the Olympic Games.”
Bestselling Author of Molly’s Game
Molly Bloom is an inspirational keynote speaker, entrepreneur, and bestselling author of Molly’s Game. She is best known for her memoir, Molly’s Game, which was adapted into an award-winning film of the same name by Aaron Sorkin.
Plays “Nessarose” in Universal’s Wicked Duology, PRWeek’s Communicator of the Year & Inspirational Changemaker
Marissa Bode is a groundbreaking actor and disability advocate who made her feature-film debut as principal character Nessarose in Universal’s Wicked duology, directed by Jon M. Chu.
Adventurers
Drawing on their 139-day, 9,750 mile non-stop and unsupported row from Peru to Australia, brothers Ewan, Jamie and Lachlan Maclean share what kept them moving when conditions turned, morale dipped, and there was no easy way out: the mindset that overcomes adversity, the habits that strengthen a team, and the power of combining your passion with purpose.
Chief Science Officer, Athletes Mental Health Organization; Co-Author of The Price She Pays
Tiffany Brown, Ph.D., LMFT, is an award-winning senior faculty member at the University of Oregon Couples and Family Therapy graduate program and a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who works with student-athletes.
Top Inspirational Speaker, Bestselling Author, Wheelchair Athlete & Successful Entrepreneur
Scott brings the concepts of Vision, Mindset and Grit to life using his life-changing story. Three powerful words, when put into action, will help you Stand Up to Any Challenge.
Trauma Survivor & Internationally Recognized Trauma Informed Care Expert
Tonier works tirelessly to raise the awareness about trauma informed care around the world. Tonier is an advocate and educator, speaking all over the world on trauma, addiction, incarceration, homelessness, substance abuse and mental health.
Founder of Kanchi & The Ability Awards
A visually impaired social entrepreneur working to enhance the relationship between disability and society, Caroline Casey has received several awards for her work worldwide.
Hall of Fame WNBA Player & Motivational/Inspirational Speaker
Indiana’s “do-everything” forward completed 16 seasons in the WNBA, stepping away from her future-hall-of-fame-career in 2016. Her 14-year run of community service by her Catch The Stars Foundation is testament to her work off the court.
Serial Entrepreneur, Leadership Coach & National Bestselling Author
Jane Marie Chen is a serial entrepreneur, keynote speaker, leadership coach, and national bestselling author of Like a Wave We Break (Penguin Random House).
12-Year WNBA Veteran, First Openly Transgender & Non-Binary Player in WNBA History
Layshia is a recently retired 12-year WNBA veteran point guard. In her 2 terms as WNBPA Vice president she helped negotiate a groundbreaking CBA Agreement that will serve as a bedrock for women’s professional sports leagues moving forward.
Former Broadcaster & Professional Baseball Player
Roberto Clemente, Jr. is a universally respected philanthropist, humanitarian, entrepreneur, producer, former broadcaster, and professional baseball player.
Navy SEAL, 7x Paralympic Medalist & Harvard Graduate
A true patriot, early on Dan Cnossen knew he wanted to serve his country. He knows something about leadership and overcoming obstacles. Dan delivers powerful presentations on leadership, motivation and mental strength.
Mental Health CEO, Entrepreneur & Brain Changer
Johnny Crowder is the 33-year-old founder and CEO of Cope Notes, a science and text-based mental health platform that provides daily support to healthcare systems, employers, government agencies and individuals in nearly 100 countries around the world.
Decorated Clandestine Officer
Intelligence poacher-turned-gamekeeper, Shawnee Delaney is a decorated Intelligence Officer, licensed Private Investigator, and an Insider Threat Expert and Founder of Vaillance Group.
Influential Leader & Ambassador for the Deaf and Disabled Communities
An influential leader and ambassador for the Deaf and Disabled communities which make up the largest minority in America, Nyle DiMarco inspires audiences to challenge assumptions, lead with purpose, and pursue their goals—no matter the obstacles.
Author, Recovering Addict & Son of Michael Douglas
Born into Hollywood royalty as the son of Michael and grandson of Kirk, Cameron is the author of the #1 Amazon bestseller Long Way Home, an unflinching account of his dangerous descent into years of drug abuse and his eventual rise to recovery.
CEO and Member of Board of Directors for Sign Talent Solutions, Former NFL Player & Author
Success isn’t about talent alone — it’s about being able to LOCK IN on vision, values, and disciplined execution that drives long-term success. Damon Dunn has built a career proving that high performance is a mindset, not a moment.
Public Intellectual & Best-Selling Author
Featured on NPR and MSNBC, Professor Dyson melds scholarly insight with contemporary culture and examines civil rights and race relations. This thought-provoking talks foster social change.
One of Wall Street’s First Black Women Traders
From humble Southern beginnings to breaking barriers on Wall Street, Martina Marshall Edwards is the epitome of not allowing your circumstances to determine your outcome.
Comedian, Writer & Host
Ophira Eisenberg is a standup comic, storyteller and host of NPR’s national comedy-trivia show Ask Me Another where she interviews and plays silly games with celebrities.
4X Bestselling Author; Founder and CEO, Every Monday Matters
For the past 15 years, Matthew Emerzian has been on a mission to create a world where everyone embraces how much and why they matter.
Transgender Public Scholar & Intellectual Activist
Dr. Roberto Che Espinoza is passionate about the politics of radical difference and the ways that our collective differences might shed light on how we become a better body together. He is also a teacher at heart and loves being with people and teaching the community.
Cancer Survivor, Artist & Podcast Host
Steven Farrell, brother in law of Hollywood film star Colin Farrell is an Irish artist and speaker. On September 11th, 2017 Steven’s life changed forever when he was diagnosis with stage 3 metastatic melanoma.
National Award Winning Author, Professor & Activist
Sanderia Faye (Smith) is an Assistant Professor of Practice at Southern Methodist University (SMU). She is also a professional speaker, activist and sommelier, where she pairs wine with books.
Deaf LGBTQ+ Writer, Producer & Actor
Deaf since birth, Josh Feldman is a writer, producer, and actor living and working in Los Angeles, California who is passionate about telling stories that feature intersectional, diverse, LGBTQ+ characters.
Best-Selling Author & Screenwriter
Antwone Fisher is the screenwriter and real-life subject of the Hollywood hit Antwone Fisher, directed by Denzel Washington. The film tells the story of his childhood at the hands of the foster care system.
9-Year NFL Pro Bowl Veteran, CEO & Co-Founder of Hustle Clean
Justin Forsett empowers teams and leaders to overcome adversity, drive growth, and achieve success through resilience and perseverance.
Actor, Comedian & Writer
One of Hollywood’s fastest rising young talents, Jermaine Fowler can most recently be seen in RETREAT for FX. He can previously be seen in Tim Story’s feature, THE BLACKENING, which premiered at TIFF in 2022.
Survivor of the Parkland Florida Shooting
On February 14, 2018 a gunman wielding an AR-15 entered Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School and fired on students, faculty, and staff. Samantha Fuentes was amongst the injured, and while fortunate to be alive, her body and life changed forever.
Entrepreneur, Author & Philanthropist
Chris Gardner is an entrepreneur whose autobiography, the Pursuit of Happyness, became a best seller and the inspiration for the movie of the same name. His talks aim to help others achieve their full potential.