Ben Nemtin Speaker Biography
#1 New York Times Bestselling Author; Ranked 2nd Best Motivational Speaker by Global Gurus; Cofounder of MTVs The Buried Life
Ben Nemtin is a dynamic force in the world of self-development and personal growth. A #1 New York Times bestselling author, he co-wrote What Do You Want to Do Before You Die? and The Bucket List Journal. As a globally recognized inspirational speaker, Ben is consistently ranked among the most influential voices in the space. In fact, Global Gurus placed him second on their list of the world’s top motivational speakers. He also gained international fame as co-creator and star of The Buried Life, MTV’s top-rated series on iTunes and Amazon. Whether on stage, on-screen, or on the road, Ben’s story resonates with audiences seeking more meaning and motivation in their lives. Although his journey began with personal challenges, Ben transformed those struggles into a powerful global movement. Today, he speaks to Fortune 500 companies, universities, and conferences, offering not only hope but a clear roadmap to living a life without regret.
The Buried Life Movement
Ben’s message of hope, accountability, and personal possibility first gained traction through The Buried Life project. What began as a road trip with three close friends quickly turned into an international phenomenon. Their goal? To complete a list of 100 life dreams—and help others do the same. This mission, radical yet simple, resonated deeply across cultures and generations. Before long, media outlets like CNN, NBC News, FOX, and The Today Show were highlighting their journey. As the momentum grew, the team found themselves on The Oprah Winfrey Show, where Oprah herself called their story “truly inspiring.” President Obama later referred to Ben and his friends as “an inspiration for a new generation,” further cementing Ben’s reputation as a leading inspirational speaker. Because they weren’t just chasing adrenaline—they were proving that goals, even outlandish ones, are achievable with vision, grit, and community. Through this movement, Ben turned a personal quest into a cultural call to action. His journey inspired millions to dust off their dreams and, more importantly, to start chasing them.
The Bucket List
Ben’s transformational story didn’t begin with success—it started with struggle. During college, he experienced an intense period of depression that led him to withdraw from university. Life, once promising and full of direction, suddenly felt stagnant. Searching for meaning, Ben and three childhood friends created what they believed was the world’s greatest bucket list. They weren’t aiming small. From delivering a baby to playing basketball with the President, their goals ranged from the deeply human to the wildly ambitious. Armed with a beat-up RV and unwavering enthusiasm, they crisscrossed North America. But what truly set their journey apart was their commitment to giving back. For every personal dream they checked off, they helped a stranger realize one of their own. This balance between self-discovery and altruism became the heartbeat of their mission. By doing what most would never dare attempt, Ben became more than just a motivational figure. He became a storyteller of the possible. As an inspirational speaker, he now brings these stories to life, motivating audiences to take action on their own goals—before it’s too late.
The Journey
Over the years, Ben’s list has led him to experiences many only dream about. He’s played basketball with President Obama on the White House court and shared a beer with Prince Harry. Yet, his most powerful moments often came when helping others. He once reunited a father and son who hadn’t seen each other in 17 years. Another time, he surprised a young girl with a much-needed bionic arm, a moment of life-changing joy she’d never forget. Through these stories, Ben doesn’t just entertain—he challenges people to reconsider the limits they place on themselves. His message, rooted in the belief that “nothing is impossible,” continues to inspire across generations. To date, he has accomplished 96 of the 100 items on his original list. And in keeping with his pattern of making the improbable reality, he’s preparing to cross off #100: Go to Space, next year. In every keynote he delivers, Ben embodies the essence of an inspirational speaker. His talks aren’t just motivational—they’re transformative. Audiences walk away with tangible tools, renewed purpose, and the unmistakable urge to start living more intentionally. He shows that achieving your dreams isn’t about luck—it’s about courage, planning, and the willingness to act.
Why Ben Nemtin Inspires Millions
Ben’s unique appeal lies in his authenticity. He doesn’t just preach purpose; he’s lived it. He has taken the unspoken questions we all carry—What do I want to do before I die?—and turned them into a movement that has changed lives. Along the way, he’s become one of the most sought-after inspirational speakers of our time, sharing his journey from depression to impact with honesty and humor. His talks leave audiences with more than inspiration; they provide a clear framework for action. Whether addressing students, corporate leaders, or global audiences, Ben reminds everyone that their dreams are valid, their time is finite, and their legacy is still unwritten. In a world where people often postpone joy and purpose, Ben Nemtin is a timely voice of reason, reminding us all that the only real failure is not trying. For anyone ready to stop waiting and start living, Ben is more than a speaker—he’s a guide. And his message is both simple and revolutionary: It’s never too late to start your list.
Ben Nemtin Speaking Topics
Make the Impossible Possible
Ben has driven countless people to achieve their dreams, as both a helping hand and as an inspiration. His message of radical possibility combined with his ‘5 Steps to Make the Impossible Possible’ leaves audiences not only inspired but also equipped with tools to tackle the seemingly insurmountable. What if “impossible” was just a mindset waiting to be shattered? Ben’s extraordinary journey—from debilitating depression to achieving 100 seemingly impossible dreams—reveals a powerful truth: impossible is merely a starting point. Ben weaves the captivating story of how The Buried Life evolved from a simple list of 100 impossible dreams into a global movement, seamlessly connecting these lessons to the fabric of our daily life. His remarkable achievements—from creating a hit MTV show to playing basketball with President Obama, from becoming a #1 New York Times bestselling author to sharing beers with Prince Harry—weren’t a matter of luck. They were the direct result of a repeatable system, a proven blueprint for remarkable success that anyone can master. This isn’t just another inspirational talk—it’s a practical guide to achieving the extraordinary. Ben shares the exact, field-tested framework that empowered his team to defy impossible odds, demonstrating how these principles can transform your biggest challenges into your greatest triumphs. He reveals how small, consistent actions compound like interest over time, generating unstoppable momentum that turns seemingly impossible goals into inevitable successes. Ben establishes an undeniable truth: personal growth fuels professional growth, which drives organizational success. Through his journey of completing seemingly impossible dreams, he demonstrates that purpose is the fuel that ignites the impossible and giving back is the catalyst that multiplies your impact exponentially. Program Takeaways: • Master the Impossible: Learn Ben’s proven ‘5 Steps to Impossible’ framework and turn ambition into reality. • Fuel Your Momentum: Discover how purpose-driven action creates unstoppable momentum. • Build a Resilient Team: Forge a high-performing team by connecting individual fulfilment with organizational success, creating a culture where everyone thrives. • Accelerate Your Growth Through Giving: Experience the transformative power of helping others and discover how it fuels your own personal and professional growth. • Unlock Radical Possibility: Embrace a growth mindset and break free from the limitations of “impossible”. • Amplify Your Impact: Unite your team around a shared purpose and create a ripple effect of positive change that extends far beyond your immediate goals.
Powered by Purpose
Transformational leaders want their teams to succeed in life, not just at work. This is the new leadership. In today’s relentless environment, where uncertainty reigns supreme and burnout threatens even the strongest teams, why do some organizations continue to thrive while others struggle? Ben reveals the game-changing truth: purpose isn’t just a buzzword – it’s the secret weapon that fuelled his own extraordinary journey, lifting him from the depths of depression to ignite a global movement and achieve the seemingly impossible. Through compelling scientific evidence and unforgettable stories, Ben demonstrates how embracing your professional and personal purpose unleashes untapped potential, creates true work-life harmony, and empowers you to become the best version of yourself. In this revolutionary keynote, discover why purpose-driven individuals and teams are 7x more likely to overcome challenges, focusing on the “why” that ignites passion and resilience. Ben masterfully blends cutting-edge science with captivating storytelling to reveal how purpose transforms organizational culture from the inside out. Leaders will gain actionable strategies to build trust, authentically demonstrate care for their teams’ well-being, and foster innovation, retention, and breakthrough performance. This isn’t merely theoretical—it’s a strategic blueprint for translating purpose into tangible outcomes and cultivating a workplace that inspires genuine passion. Program Takeaways: • Unleash Your Potential: Discover how aligning your personal and professional purpose fuels sustainable growth and empowers you to become your best self. • Create Purpose-Driven Retention: Learn how to champion whole-person growth and cultivate a culture of trust, fuelling engagement and retention. • Build Resilience in Uncertainty: Master practical strategies for maintaining well-being and navigating challenges with purpose and unwavering resilience. • Fuel Success Through Service: Discover the power of purpose-driven leadership to create a culture of service, where helping others becomes a catalyst for individual and collective success. • Magnify Your Impact: Reconnect to the profound ripple effect of your work and discover how purpose amplifies your impact, even when results are unseen. • Forge Deeper Connections: Cultivate authentic connections with your team and leadership, fostering a culture that attracts the best talent
From Burnout to Balance
What if the secret to peak performance wasn’t working harder, but working with deeper purpose? Before becoming a #1 New York Times bestselling author, playing basketball at the White House, and being interviewed by Oprah, Ben Nemtin faced a formidable opponent: crippling depression. Through his powerful journey, he reveals how purpose transforms burnout into sustainable success and shares a counterintuitive truth that challenges conventional wisdom: prioritizing your well-being isn’t selfish—it’s the essential foundation of exceptional performance in every aspect of life. This groundbreaking keynote revolutionizes how organizations approach well-being and performance. Nemtin demonstrates how genuine work-life harmony creates a powerful positive feedback loop that fuels innovation, dramatically boosts retention, and drives breakthrough results. Through honest personal stories and cutting-edge scientific insights, he shows how personal fulfillment becomes the catalyst for professional excellence. Using a powerful blend of vulnerability and practical wisdom, Nemtin provides a proven system for turning life’s challenges into opportunities for renewal. He shares the exact tools that helped him build resilience and how sustainable excellence isn’t about pushing harder—it’s about aligning your actions with what truly matters… This isn’t another wellness talk—it’s an invitation to rediscover what makes you feel truly alive. Program Takeaways: • Master Your Well-being: Acquire Nemtin’s ‘Mental Health Toolkit’ and discover 10 powerful practices to transform stress into strength and cultivate lasting resilience. • Fuel Your Performance: Unlock sustainable energy and peak performance by creating true work-life harmony, where your personal and professional lives thrive in synergy. • Navigate Life’s Challenges: Develop resilience to effectively manage stress, navigate life’s ups and downs, and emerge stronger from adversity. • Build a Resilient Team: Empower your team with science-backed strategies to cultivate resilience, foster well-being, and create a culture of support. • Lead with Vulnerability: Destigmatize mental health and discover how vulnerability can become a source of strength and authentic leadership. • Unleash Your Full Potential: Infuse your life with passion and energy by prioritizing personal growth and discovering how it ignites professional advancement.
Thriving in Uncertainty
In an era where change and disruption are the only constant, leaders face perhaps their most critical challenge: how do you build truly unshakeable teams that don’t merely survive disruption—but actively harness it as a catalyst for growth and competitive advantage? Ben Nemtin’s extraordinary journey from achieving 100 “impossible” goals to helping strangers worldwide achieve their wildest dreams provides a compelling answer: purpose-driven individuals and teams don’t just endure change—they transform uncertainty into their decisive advantage, proving that you’re always just one step away from turning disruption into opportunity. Through masterful storytelling and evidence-based insights, Nemtin demonstrates why those anchored in purpose consistently outperform their peers during periods of disruption, showing leaders exactly how to build this cultural resilience into their teams. This isn’t another change management talk—it’s a blueprint for organizational transformation. Nemtin provides leaders with actionable frameworks to not only adapt to change but actively leverage it for unprecedented growth. He reveals the counterintuitive truth that connecting with your deepest values and boldest dreams creates the stability needed to navigate uncertainty with confidence and creativity. This powerful message inspires audiences to embrace cultures of service, gratitude and endless potential— where change becomes the catalyst for your team’s greatest breakthroughs. Program Takeaways: • Embrace the Unknown: Step boldly into uncertainty, push past discomfort, and discover the extraordinary opportunities that lie hidden within disruption. • Embrace a Growth Mindset: See challenges as opportunities to experiment, innovate, and unlock your organization’s true potential. • Turn Purpose into Performance: Master a proven framework for turning purpose into performance, fueling growth and success even during disruption. • Build Your Resilience Toolkit: Acquire practical tools and strategies to increase well-being, navigate uncertainty, and emerge stronger from adversity. • Unleash Your Potential: Align your personal and professional purpose to build unstoppable momentum.
Ben Nemtin Books
What Do You Want to Do Before You Die?: Moving, Unexpected, and Inspiring Answers to Life’s Most Important Question
Purchase BookBen Nemtin Videos
Ben Nemtin Speaker Testimonials
Ben unlocks the power of purpose! He aligned our personal goals with our organizational purpose and lifted our team's energy. He left our team with a roadmap to thrive personally and professionally. Since Ben’s session, we’ve been sharing our life goals regularly and supporting each other in achieving them. Without Ben’s motivation, there would be less transparency in our organization about where we want to go as individuals.
- Ames McArdle, Head of Industry, Global Media & Entertainment / Retail | Google
Ben has a gift! Our team was so inspired and talked about the impact for days. We know that the ripple effect is real when we dream of what is possible and serve others along the way to create a more beautiful life.
- Katherine Twells, Senior VP | The Coca-Cola Company
Ben’s keynote & Bucket List Journal inspired, reenergized and motivated the team in an outstanding way. His personal story combined with actionable resources was the perfect combination.
- Lina Brouneu, Director of Films Acquisitions | Netflix
Ben's session was an absolute hit! Hands down my favorite session. The way he worked in so much of our messaging and benefits was truly amazing and so impactful.
- Kacy Ashley, Senior Communications Manager |
