Top 10 Inspiring Speakers
True stories of incredible feats, resilience and mindset characterize the keynote speakers within this group. Inspirational Speakers can not only inspire your teams to reach their best, but teach them the importance of teamwork, resilience and mental agility.
Vernice “FlyGirl” Armour | America’s First Black Female Combat Pilot, Former Marine & Cop, Author and Consultant to Business
Combat tests you. Being a beat cop tests you. Life tests you. Three brothers and being the only girl…tests you. Vernice “FlyGirl” Armour has been tested her whole life. A gutsy trailblazer, her resume is an impressive collection of “firsts” including America’s first Black woman combat pilot. She served two tours of duty in Iraq as a Marine. She was also a diversity liaison officer to the Pentagon for Headquarters Marine Corps. After her military service, FlyGirl revved up her career in the private sector as an entrepreneur, consultant to business, and author of Zero to Breakthrough, The 7-Step, Battle-Tested Method for Accomplishing Goals that Matter. As a speaker, FlyGirl unleashes hard-hitting advice and amazing anecdotes from her adventures on the battlefield and in business. She helps individuals and organizations Get Gutsy and build a sustainable inner force and conviction, that results in accomplishing significant goals
Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/vernice-armour/
Jeff Evans | Adventurer, Expedition Leader, Motivational & Leadership Speaker, Author and Physician Assistant
For over 25 years, adventurer Jeff Evans’ global experiences as a world-class mountaineer, guide and emergency medic have helped him master the skills of servant leadership, teamwork, communication and trust – which are the cornerstone themes in his keynote and breakout sessions. Jeff’s amazing adventures and challenges have given him the tools to become one of the most dynamic and motivational speakers on the circuit today, delivering his message to tens of thousands of audience members and changing the way we approach our roles within our work and family environments.
Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/jeff-evans/
Corinne Hancock | Speaker on Leading Teams in Chaotic Environments
Corinne Hancock is a globally recognized expert in building world-class leaders, effective teams, and cultural proficiency in chaotic environments. With over a decade of international aid and development experience working around the world developing bold leaders, building highly effective teams, delivering medical trainings and delivering medical care. Corinne translates her expertise from working in chaotic environments into REAL RESULTS through EFFECTIVE and INTERACTIVE keynote presentations, corporate trainings and executive coaching, helping organizations and individuals THRIVE IN CHAOS.
Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/corinne-hancock/
Kyle Maynard | Mountaineer, Award-winning Extreme Athlete & Best-selling Author
Oprah Winfrey called Kyle Maynard “one of the most inspiring young men you will ever hear about.” Arnold Schwarzenegger described him as “the real deal,” “a champion human,” and “one of the most inspiring people” he’s ever met. Even the great Wayne Gretzky has spoken of Kyle’s “greatness.” Despite being born with a rare condition known as congenital amputation, that has left him with arms that end at the elbows and legs that end near his knees, he learned early on, and with the support of his family, to live life independently and without prosthetics. Kyle thrives on physical challenges and following a few rough, middle school football seasons, he went on to become a champion wrestler, CrossFit Certified Instructor and gym owner, competitive MMA/Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu fighter, world record-setting weightlifter, and skilled mountaineer.
Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/kyle-maynard/
Robyn Benincasa | Firefighter, CNN Hero and Motivational Adventure Racer
Robyn Benincasa – NYT best-selling author of How Winning Works: 8 Essential Leadership Lessons from the Toughest Teams on Earth and World Champion Adventure Racer – accepts full blame for inspiring people to do insane things like climb Mount Kilimanjaro, run their first triathlon, start their own adventure racing teams, or start their own businesses. This is, after all, who she is and what she does: Robyn Benincasa inspires people to do amazing things. Her unforgettable presentations have taught countless high-performance leaders all over the world about Building World Class Teams
and the followership
skills necessary for dynamic role shifting and true teamwork.
Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/robyn-benincasa/
Scott Burrows | Inspirational Speaker on How to Conquer Adversity, Overcome Challenges & Navigate Change
Scott Burrows is a powerful, engaging and thought-provoking motivational keynote speaker who can set the tone for your entire conference and challenge your audience while adding takeaway value with high energy, humour and substance – or a closing speaker who can inspire and move your conference attendees into action. Scott is also the author of Vision Mindset Grit! In the Foreword, Scott’s father defined those three empowering words: Vision – refers to your goals and aspirations, the endpoint you are seeking. Mindset – is the continual mental preparation and adjustment needed to meet oncoming challenges. Grit – is the day-to-day determination to persevere when you are too tired, too sore or too beleaguered to continue on.
Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/scott-burrows/
Col. Nicole Malachowski USAF (Ret.) | First Woman Thunderbird Pilot, Combat Veteran, Fighter Squadron Commander, White House Fellow & Adviser, and Indomitable Spirit
Col. Nicole Malachowski (USAF, Ret.) defies stereotypes. Yes, she was a jet fighter pilot, but if you think you know her based on that, you’d be wrong. A leader, a combat veteran, the first woman pilot on the Thunderbirds Air Demonstration Squadron, a White House Fellow, and an inductee into both the National Women’s Hall of Fame and the Women in Aviation International Pioneer Hall of Fame, Nicole’s distinguished 21-year Air Force career exceeded her wildest dreams. But the dream came to an end when a devastating tick-borne illness left her struggling greatly to speak or walk for almost nine months. An indomitable spirit, Nicole fought back against overwhelming odds and prevailed. Drawing on stories from her career and personal life, Nicole inspires audiences to rethink the challenges they face every day. She urges them to go beyond resilience and become resurgent.
Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/col-nicole-malachowski/
Driven by a passion to see others achieve, Sebastian Terry’s one-of-a-kind story has organically become a powerful catalyst for personal growth and organizational transformation.
Leveraging the power of goal setting & striving as a vehicle to maximize mental wellness, individual productivity and team engagement, Sebastian’s action-based keynote integrates individual evolution with professional development. Shocked by the death of a close friend in his mid-twenties, Sebastian experienced a moment in his life where he asked himself a simple question; ‘Am I happy?’. The answer was NO, and so, he created a list of 100things that he hoped would transform his life.
Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/sebastian-terry/
Robert Swan | Renowned Polar Explorer & Transformational Leader in Sustainability
With his presence and integrity, accomplishments and reflections, Robert Swan has an extraordinary ability to inspire and motivate audiences worldwide. Having experienced leadership and team cooperation in some of the world’s most hostile environments, Robert applies the leadership lessons he has learned to inspire bold management practices and effective communication styles. Robert’s talks are thrilling, uplifting and stimulating – all while fostering courage, vision and teamwork. His core themes are inspiration, leadership and future thinking for business, society and the environment.
30 years ago, French ocean explorer Jacques Cousteau gave Robert Swan a 50-year mission to save Antarctica from the realities of climate change. The 2041 Foundation was founded and through perseverance and dedication, Robert has helped inspire the next generation of leaders to take responsibility for their life paths.
As the founder of the 2041 Foundation, Robert has dedicated his life to the preservation of Antarctica and the planet through promoting renewable energy and sustainability to combat the effects of climate change.
Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/robert-swan/
Allison Massari | Inspirational Speaker on Overcoming Adversity & Resilience
Allison Massari has been named one of the Top Ten Best Motivational Speakers in North America by Meetings and Conventions Magazine and has forged her path to success with creativity, tenacity, and deep gratitude.
Having survived two devastating and near fatal car accidents, one where she burned alive and suffered severe burns on over 50% of her body, Allison views her experiences as a tremendous gift that allowed her to find strength and a fiery passion to reach pinnacle achievements both in business and personally.
Allison has dedicated her career to catapulting individuals and organizations toward total success, mastery, and fulfillment. As an international keynote speaker, executive coach, and interdisciplinary artist, Allison provides an exceptional blend of business acuity, clarity, creative perspective, and real understanding. Her highly effective methods have enabled her to form bonds as a trusted confidante to CEOs, executives and entrepreneurs.
Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/allison-massari/
Doc Hendley | Founder & President of Wine To Water, Top 10 CNN Hero, Author, Philanthropist
Doc Hendley is proof that anyone, even a tattooed keg tapper, can cure what ails the world. He is an expert on the immense power of relationships to transcend perceived barriers. Doc will take you on an inspirational journey, where he shares his experience by focusing on innovation, motivation and teamwork – and the brilliant change that can be effected.
In 2003, Doc Hendley dreamed up the concept of Wine to Water while bartending and playing music in nightclubs around Raleigh, North Carolina. In January, 2004 he held his first fundraiser and by August was living in Darfur, Sudan installing water systems for victims of the government supported genocide.
Hendley’s work aims to help the 1.1 billion people worldwide who lack access to clean water, a figure estimated by the World Health Organization. Nearly two-thirds of that group lives in Asia. In sub-Saharan Africa, 42% of the population lives without yard taps, household connections or other improvements to sanitize water. Unclean water is the number one killer of children in the world. Water borne illnesses kill far more children then HIV/AIDS and Malaria combined. Every 15 seconds a child dies from unclean water.
Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/doc-hendley/
JJ Birden | Former NFL Pro Turned Motivational Keynote Speaker
To appreciate the Hero’s Journey that is JJ Birden’s life, you must first know a few important facts:
- Less than 6% of high school seniors go on to play college football
- Of the 150,000 draft-eligible college football players, only 253 (less than 1%) are selected in the NFL draft
- The average NFL career is less than 2 years
- The average NFL player is 6’2, 245 lbs.
The odds of making it to the NFL are staggering. The odds of staying in the NFL are even more amazing. JJ played 9 seasons in the NFL.
Now a motivational speaker and performance coach, JJ shares lessons from his life that help audiences of all ages, backgrounds, and professions realize the most important thing about success—it is never given, but always earned. JJ’s inspiring keynote presentations outline the principles and strategies that helped an undersized wide receiver overcome spectacular odds; the same principles and strategies that can help anyone perform at the highest levels in all walks of life.
Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/jj-birden/
Dr. Natalie Stavas shares her inspiring story as she takes you back to April 15, 2013 – when approaching the finish line of her fifth Boston marathon – just blocks away heard explosions, and she ran towards them. Arriving at the scene she went to work administering CPR, applying tourniquets, and triaging the wounded.
What led her to make that fateful decision to run into a terrorist attack? An expert on chaos, Natalie Stavas attacks every obstacle with the same attitude: “You run towards that which you fear, that which challenges you, that which is oppositional.” Running toward chaos actually makes chaos more manageable.
Dr. Stavas’ work goes beyond borders – traveling to Haiti throughout the year, she provides medical care to children and helps strengthen the fragile medical infrastructure. A documentary featuring this work as a medical pioneer premiered at the 2014 South by Southwest film festival.
Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/natalie-stavas/
Liz Bohannon | Author & Inspirational Speaker on Entrepreneurship
Liz Bohannon is the Founder and CEO of socially conscious fashion brand Sseko Designs, which she founded in 2008 as a way to provide educational and economic opportunities for women in East Africa. Liz shares the lessons learned from her 10-year journey growing Sseko from three women under a mango tree, into a successful international fashion brand that provides employment, educational and entrepreneurial opportunities to thousands of women across the globe.
Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/liz-bohannon/
Chad Hymas | World-Class Wheelchair Athlete & Speaker on Overcoming Adversity
Chad Hymas inspires, motivates, and moves audiences – creating an experience that touches hearts for a lifetime. The Wall Street Journal calls Chad Hymas “one of the 10 most inspirational people in the world!”
In 2001, at the age of 27 – Chad’s life changed in an instant when a 2,000-pound bale of hay shattered his neck leaving him a quadriplegic. But Chad’s dreams were not paralyzed that day – he became an example of what is possible.
Chad is a best-selling author, President of his own communications company, Chad Hymas Communications, Inc. – and a recognized world-class wheelchair athlete. In 2003, Chad set a world record by wheeling his chair from Salt Lake City to Las Vegas (513 miles).
Chad’s speaking career in the areas of leadership, team building, customer service, and mastering change – has brought him multiple honours.
Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/chad-hymas/
Ben Nemtin | #1 New York Times Best-selling Author & Member of MTV’s Hit Show, The Buried Life
Ben Nemtin is the #1 New York Times best-selling author of What Do You Want to Do Before You Die? – and a star of MTV’s highest rated show ever on iTunes and Amazon called The Buried Life. As co-founder of `The Buried Life` movement, Ben’s message of radical possibility has been featured on The Today Show, The Oprah Winfrey Show, CNN, FOX, and NBC News.
In his first year of university, Ben was unexpectedly hit with a depression that forced him to drop out. In an attempt to feel more alive, he created the world’s greatest bucket list with his three best friends. They borrowed a rickety old RV and crisscrossed North America – achieving the unthinkable. And most importantly, every time they accomplished a dream – they helped a complete stranger cross something off their bucket list. From playing basketball with President Obama to having a beer with Prince Harry, from reuniting a father and son after seventeen years to surprising a young girl with a much-needed bionic arm – Ben’s bucket list quest has inspired millions to thrive personally and professionally.
Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/ben-nemtin/
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