From “We Shall Overcome” to “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” to “Shake It Off,” our cultural lexicon is rife with rhetoric on facing tough times. We represent a team of Speakers on Overcoming Adversity that add substance to the songbook, having charged head-on into some of the most insurmountable and unimaginable obstacles ever encountered, and not only survived, but thrived.
The ability of our inspirational speakers to reframe and adjust perspective becomes even more salient when a culture of fear and complacency is prevalent in the workplace, and employees become limited more by attitude than perceived lack of opportunity.
Our Overcoming Adversity Speakers won’t just lift you up and over, but carry you further, going beyond motivation with the ability to ignite and inspire that inner fire in your audience as well as sustain and maintain the drive to succeed throughout your organization, long after the keynote concludes.
Gold medalist, Billy Mills wowed the world when he overtook the world’s highest performing runners in the home stretch of the 1964 Olympic 10,000-meter-dash. Mills, who had been given a 1,000 to 1 shot at… Full Profile
Named one of the “Coolest Girls in Sports” by Sports Illustrated, Aimee Mullins has redefined what’s possible for an entire generation of differently-abled people. The record-breaking athlete, model, and actress was born without shin bones… Full Profile
J. R. Martinez has been inspiring, motivating and empowering his audiences with his amazing story of recovery since sustaining severe burns on 34% of his body when serving in Iraq as an infantryman. His career… Full Profile
With 107 career wins, Misty May-Treanor is the #1 ranked player in the history of competitive beach volleyball. Known for her rigorous ethics, values, and hard work, the three-time Olympic gold medalist is one of… Full Profile
Two-time ESPN Espy winner, Kyle Maynard did not let a birth defect deter him from becoming a gifted athlete. The Mixed Martial Arts competitor, who was born without arms or legs, has inspired millions worldwide… Full Profile
Performance expert, Catherine McCarthy helps senior leaders bring out the best in their teams by breaking the paradigm of heavier workloads and longer hours. Over the course of 20 years, she’s designed courses and coached… Full Profile
Child abuse prevention advocate and inspirational speaker, Dave Pelzer is best known for his best-selling book, A Child Called “It”. The memoir which offered a raw account of Pelzer’s abusive childhood was on the NewYork… Full Profile
In a truly astonishing feat of athletic ability, and as a demonstration of the remarkable resilience of the human body, snowboarder Chris Klug won a bronze medal at the 2002 Olympic games as the first… Full Profile
Known for her engaging style of journalism, Hoda Kotb has never turned away from an uncomfortable topic or conversation. The beloved reporter co-hosts the fourth hour of the Today Show on NBC and has shared… Full Profile
Growing up and living in a South Central L.A. neighborhood divided between two warring gangs, single mother Lisa Nichols gave herself permission to take control of her life and get her family out of poverty.… Full Profile
Since 1995, Deborah Norville has been the anchor of Inside Edition, the longest running syndicated news magazine program, which covers hard news as well as crime and human interest stories. As a keynote speaker, Norville… Full Profile
Rated the “ #1 Motivational & Inspirational Speaker and Singer in America” by Get Motivated Seminars, Dr. Willie Jolley became speaking sensation after being fired from a nightclub where the professional singer was replaced by… Full Profile
Martina Navratilova is, in the words of Billie Jean King, “the greatest singles, doubles and mixed doubles player who’s ever lived”, taking women’s tennis to a new level with her fitness, speed, determination and agility.… Full Profile
Named “the Greatest Female Athlete of the 20th Century” by Sports Illustrated, Jackie Joyner-Kersee overcame severe asthma, poverty, and racial barriers to become a six-time Olympic medalist. She is the world record holder in the… Full Profile
After numerous setbacks, speed skater Dan Jansen finally captured a medal at his fourth and final Olympic games. Finishing eighth in the 500 meter, the event he was favored in, he later defied the odds… Full Profile
Recognized by Sports Illustrated as one of the “Top 100 Women Athletes of the Century”, Lyn St. James is only one of three women in the 90-year history of NASCAR to compete in the Indianapolis… Full Profile
Steve Rizzo is a personal development expert, comedian, motivational speaker and author known for his popular PBS special. As a comedian, he was chosen as a Showtime Comedy Allstar, sharing the stage with the likes… Full Profile
Olympic Athlete, Cancer Survivor On his way to the 2008 Olympics, Eric has ridden a rollercoaster that included being diagnosed with testicular cancer, swimming the fastest 50m breaststroke split in the history of the 200… Full Profile
For many, Dr. Bernard Siegel—or Bernie, as he prefers to be called—needs no introduction. He has touched many lives all over the Planet. In 1978, he reached a national and then international audience when he… Full Profile
The first ever female F-14 Tomcat Fighter Pilot in the U.S. Navy, Carey Lohrenz brings her experience of fast-moving, dynamic environments, where poor decision-making can lead to catastrophe, to the world of business strategy. Carey… Full Profile
Widely regarded as the best diver in the history of the sport, Greg Louganis is a four-time Olympic champion, a relentless voice for LGBT rights, and a powerful advocate for HIV awareness. In 1994, he… Full Profile
After a late spring tornado flattened a third of Joplin, Missouri, killing 161 people, and damaging or destroying 12 out of its 16 schools, Superintendent C.J. Huff led his team of educators to start the… Full Profile
When Rene Godefroy found himself unhappy with his life, he decided to do something about it. His perseverance and resourcefulness led him from an impoverished Haitian village to the U.S. corporate stage where he is… Full Profile
Charity Tillemann-Dick grew up in Denver, CO with her 10 brothers and sisters. She received a bachelor’s degree with high honors from Regis University and went on to study music at the Peabody Conservatory at… Full Profile
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