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Category: Overcoming Obstacles
How does one muster the courage to persevere in the face of sheer adversity? Speakers.com overcoming adversity keynote speakers demonstrate the determination, self-confidence and the drive to win in spite of overwhelming obstacles. Our engaging and inspirational speakers share their stories of dedication, motivation and sacrifice and instill a true winning spirit in their audience.
Showing 103 speakers
J.R. Martinez
Featured Speaker
Wounded U.S. Army Veteran, Actor, Best-Selling Author, Motivational Speaker and Dancing with the Stars Winner
Actor, Veteran, Winner of Dancing With the Stars, and Bestselling Author J.R. Martinez is an actor, bestselling author, motivational speaker, advocate, and wounded U.S. Army veteran. He is many things. But perhaps most significantly, he is an inspiration. J.R.’s career …
In-Person Fee Range
$20,001 to $50,000
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Travels From
California, United States
Allison Massari
Featured Speaker
Inspirational Healthcare and Resilience Keynote Speaker
Inspirational Healthcare and Resilience Keynote Speaker Hailed by audiences worldwide as “life-changing”, “riveting”, “extraordinary”, “bold”, and “deeply moving”, Allison Massari’s message of courage, kindness, and resilience resonates with participants long after an event has finished. Listed as one of the …
In-Person Fee Range
$10,001 to $20,000
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Travels From
California, United States
Michael Massimino
Featured Speaker
Astronaut, Columbia Professor, Media Personality, Author and Inspiration for the Movie, Gravity
Astronaut, Columbia Professor, Media Personality, Author, and Inspiration for the Movie Gravity Mike Massimino, a former NASA astronaut and the first person to tweet from space, is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Columbia University and the Senior Advisor for …
In-Person Fee Range
$20,001 to $50,000
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Travels From
New York, United States
Judge Victoria Pratt
Featured Speaker
Judge, Lawyer, Professor, and Renowned Criminal Justice Reform Advocate
Judge, Lawyer, Professor, and Renowned Criminal Justice Reform Advocate Driven. Innovative. Inspiring. These are a few of the words used to describe Judge Victoria Pratt who has gained national and international acclaim for her commitment to reforming the criminal justice …
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Travels From
New Jersey, United States
Alice Walker
Featured Speaker
Pulitzer Prize-Winning Author of The Color Purple and Activist
Pulitzer Prize-Winning Author of The Color Purple and Activist Alice Walker is an internationally celebrated writer, poet and activist whose books include seven novels, four collections of short stories, four children’s books, and volumes of essays and poetry. She won …
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Travels From
California, United States
Jim Abbott
Famed One-Handed Major League Pitcher and Gold Medal Olympian
Famed One-Handed Major League Pitcher and Gold Medal Olympian Famed Major League Baseball player Jim Abbott overcame the birth defect of having only one hand to become an amazing professional pitcher and ball player. Through stories, anecdotes, jokes, some self …
In-Person Fee Range
$10,001 to $20,000
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Travels From
California, United States
Cathrine Ann
Award-Winning Entrepreneur, Inspirational Speaker & Author
Award-Winning Entrepreneur, Inspirational Speaker & Author Born and raised in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Cathrine has achieved a level of success few would have expected: She divides her time between two businesses; she heads Consumer Connection Inc. and as such, has …
In-Person Fee Range
$10,001 to $20,000
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Travels From
Unknown, Canada
Patty Arvielo
Inspirational Latino Entrepreneur and President & Founder of New American Funding
Inspirational Hispanic Entrepreneur and President of a Top Mortgage Lender Patty Arvielo started her career in the financial industry at 16 years old with a hard work ethic, boundless curiosity, and a thirst to succeed. Thirty-nine years later, she is …
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Travels From
California, United States
Dr. Lonise P. Bias
Social Services Advocate, Community Activist and Inspirational Speaker
Social Services Advocate, Community Activist and Inspirational Speaker Dr. Lonise Bias has moved from grief to empowerment, passing on over thirty years of wisdom inspiring, encouraging and empowering her audiences. She has become a internationally known motivational speaker, trainer, certified …
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In-Person Fee Range
$5,000 to $10,000
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Travels From
Maryland, United States
Ryan Blair
Self-Made Multimillionaire and Serial Entrepreneur-Breaking All the Business Rules
Self-Made Multimillionaire and Serial Entrepreneur Ryan Blair is a serial entrepreneur, establishing his first company, 24-7 Tech when he was only twenty-one years old. Since then, he has created and actively invested in multiple start-ups and has become a self-made …
In-Person Fee Range
$20,001 to $50,000
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Travels From
California, United States
Rocky Bleier
Vietnam Vet and Four-Time NFL Super Bowl Champion
Vietnam Vet and Four-Time NFL Super Bowl Champion Rocky Bleier’s story – a gripping tale of courage on both the football fields of America and the battle fields of Vietnam – has held audiences in rapt attention for years. Yet, …
In-Person Fee Range
$5,000 to $10,000
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Travels From
Pennsylvania, United States
Dana Bowman
Retired Army Special Forces Sergeant First Class, Double Amputee and Sought-After Inspirational Speaker
Retired Army Special Forces Sergeant First Class, Double Amputee and Sought-After Inspirational Speaker Dana Bowman has astounded the nation and the world with his drive, determination, and will to succeed. He is a retired Sergeant First Class with the U.S. …
In-Person Fee Range
$5,000 to $10,000
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Travels From
Texas, United States
David Breashears
Accomplished Mountaineer, Adventurer, Emmy Award Winning Filmmaker, Director, Cinematographer and Best-selling Author
Accomplished Filmaker, Mountaineer, Adventurer, Best-Selling Author and Professional Speaker David Breashears is an American mountaineer and is best known for documenting his adventures on film. In 1985, he became the first American to reach the summit of Mount Everest twice. …
In-Person Fee Range
$20,001 to $50,000
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Travels From
Massachusetts, United States
Rhonda Britten
Life Coach on NBC's "Starting Over" and Founder of the Fearless Living Institute
Life Coach on NBC’s “Starting Over” and Founder of the Fearless Living Institute Whether that’s a fear of rejection or loss; fear of failure or success; fear of abandonment or pain, Rhonda has created a method for anyone anywhere to …
In-Person Fee Range
$5,000 to $10,000
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Travels From
Colorado, United States
Erin Brockovich
Environmental Activist, Best-Selling Author, TV Producer & Iconic Consumer Advocate
Environmental Activist, Best-Selling Author, TV Producer & Iconic Consumer Advocate Say the name Erin Brockovich and you think, strong, tough and stubborn. Erin is all that and definitely more. She is a modern-day “David” who loves a good brawl with …
In-Person Fee Range
$20,001 to $50,000
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Travels From
New York, United States
Les Brown
Diversity Expert, Best-Selling Author, and Motivational Speaker
Diversity Expert, Best-Selling Author, and Motivational Speaker As one of the world’s most renowned motivational speakers, Les Brown is a dynamic personality and highly-sought-after resource in business and professional circles for Fortune 500 CEOs, small business owners, non-profit and community …
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Travels From
Illinois, United States
Reggie Brown
Motivational Speaker, Comedian, and Emcee Known for His Obama Impressions
Reggie Brown as President Barack Obama “Comedian in Chief” While he always felt a greater calling, no one could have ever predicted that Reggie Brown would one day become the President of the United States…Well…Sort of…. Reggie Brown is the …
In-Person Fee Range
$10,001 to $20,000
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Travels From
Illinois, United States
Bobbi Brown
Makeup Artist, Author, Entrepreneur & Founder of Bobbi Brown Cosmetics and Beauty Evolution
Makeup Artist, Author, Entrepreneur & Founder of Bobbi Brown Cosmetics and Beauty Evolution Bobbi Brown is a beauty industry titan, world renowned makeup artist, best-selling author, sought-after speaker, and serial entrepreneur. As a professional makeup artist, Bobbi created 10 simple …
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Travels From
New York, United States
Captain Larry Brudnicki
U.S. Coast Guard Captain and Inspiration for the Motion Picture The Perfect Storm
U.S. Coast Guard Captain and Inspiration for the Motion Picture The Perfect Storm Captain Larry Brudnicki led two dramatic rescue missions during the worst weather in 100 years, dubbed “The Perfect Storm.” This harrowing story of real people battling for …
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In-Person Fee Range
$10,001 to $20,000
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Travels From
New Hampshire, United States
Scott Burrows
Top-Rated Inspirational and Motivational Speaker, Change Management Expert, and Bestselling Author
Top-Rated Inspirational and Motivational Speaker, Change Management Expert, and Bestselling Author Scott’s story is a hero’s journey. By the age of 19, he played college football at Florida State University for legendary coach Bobby Bowden and was a top-ranked kick-boxing …
In-Person Fee Range
$10,001 to $20,000
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Travels From
Florida, United States
Jimmy Cabrera
Speaker, Educator and Author on Motivation, Change, Diversity, and Leadership
Speaker, Educator and Author on Motivation, Change, Diversity, and Leadership Jimmy Cabrera is a dynamic and energetic speaker, riveting his audience’s attention through the very last sentence. Every presentation he gives is Jimmy’s unique blend of motivation and education. His …
In-Person Fee Range
$10,001 to $20,000
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Travels From
Texas, United States
Danny Cahill
Winner of NBC's Season Eight's The Biggest Loser and The Biggest Loser Ever
Winner of NBC’s Season Eight’s The Biggest Loser and The Biggest Loser Ever Danny Cahill always struggled with his weight. As a sophomore in high school he devised a plan, stuck with it, and worked hard to lose 75 pounds …
In-Person Fee Range
$10,001 to $20,000
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Travels From
Oklahoma, United States
Dan Clark
Best-Selling Author & Expert on Leadership and Business Development
Best-Selling Author & Expert on Leadership and Business Development As a modern day Napoleon Hill, DAN CLARK has interviewed, studied and worked with the most powerful and successful business leaders, political and military leaders, and world champion athletes of our …
In-Person Fee Range
$10,001 to $20,000
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Travels From
Utah, United States
Nadia Comaneci
Legendary Olympic Gymnast
Legendary Olympic Gymnast At the 1976 Olympics in Montreal, Canada, a 14-year-old Romanian dynamo captured the hearts and minds of the world with her daring and perfection. We came to know her simply as “Nadia.” First Olympics By the time …
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Travels From
Oklahoma, United States
Olga Custodio
America’s First Latina Fighter Pilot & STEM Advocate
America’s First Latina Fighter Pilot & STEM Advocate The first Latina to complete U.S. Air Force Undergraduate Pilot Training and graduate in the top 5% of her class (of 48) with a fighter qualification to fly the T-38 as an …
In-Person Fee Range
$10,001 to $20,000
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Travels From
Texas, United States
Tim Daggett
Olympic Gold Medal Gymnast, Motivational Speaker, and NBC Olympic Gymnastics Commentator
Olympic Gold Medal Gymnast, Motivational Speaker, and NBC Olympic Gymnastics Commentator Tim Daggett is one of the most “in demand” professional speakers in the country. Beyond his Perfect 10 and Olympic Gold, Tim’s story of inner strength, motivation and learning …
In-Person Fee Range
$5,000 to $10,000
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Travels From
Massachusetts, United States
Jim Davidson
Resilience Expert, Author, Adventure Speaker, and Expedition Leader
Resilience Expert, Author, Adventure Speaker, and Expedition Leader Jim Davidson is a resilience expert and professional speaker who provides presentations about personal resilience, resilient teamwork and resilient leadership. He speaks to top-quality organizations like Marriott, National Geographic, US Army, Nokia, …
In-Person Fee Range
$10,001 to $20,000
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Travels From
Colorado, United States
Rorke Denver
U.S. Navy SEAL, Author and Star of 2012 Feature Film Act of Valor
U.S. Navy SEAL, Author and Star of 2012 Feature Film Act of Valor Lieutenant Commander Rorke T. Denver has run every phase of training for the U.S. Navy SEALs and led special-forces missions in the Middle East, Africa, Latin America …
In-Person Fee Range
$20,001 to $50,000
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Travels From
Colorado, United States
Jon Dorenbos
Motivational & Inspirational Keynote Speaker, Magician, America's Got Talent Finalist, and Former NFL Player
Motivational & Inspirational Keynote Speaker, Magician, America’s Got Talent Finalist, and Former NFL Player Jon Dorenbos played 14 seasons in the NFL, notably making the Pro Bowl twice as a member of the Philadelphia Eagles. In 2016, Jon competed on …
In-Person Fee Range
$50,000 or greater
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Travels From
California, United States
Gabby Douglas
American Gymnast & Olympic Gold Medalist
American Gymnast & Olympic Gold Medalist Gabby Douglas is a decorated American gymnast and sports icon. She has won three gold medals at the Olympics as well as two gold and one silver at the World Championships. Olympic Firsts She …
In-Person Fee Range
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Travels From
California, United States