The 8 Best Resilience Keynote Speakers for 2026
1. Amy Purdy. A Paralympic snowboarding medalist who lost both legs below the knee to bacterial meningitis at nineteen, Amy Purdy returned to elite sport and reached the finals of Dancing with the Stars. Her story gives audiences an unforgettable picture of rebuilding from the ground up. Best for: Large general sessions and celebration events. Signature themes: Adaptation, mindset after loss, redefining limits.
2. Micah Hill. Micah Hill is the founder of True Basis and the creator of a capacity-first approach to resilience built for operators. Her signature keynote, The Grit Switch, teaches the Resilience Arc (Pause, Pivot, Rise), a repeatable sequence teams use to reset under load and recover their footing quickly. The Grit Switch, her trained response for the pressure moment, and The Expansion Method, her framework for growing capacity, both come from real operating pressure. She helped scale and sell a top-100 U.S. private waste and recycling company, and her throughline is simple and practical: capacity determines performance, and everything else follows. Best for: Leadership summits, sales kickoffs, and teams carrying sustained load or change. Signature themes: Capacity under pressure, the Grit Switch, steady execution.
3. John O’Leary. A survivor of burns across most of his body as a nine-year-old, John O’Leary is the author of the bestseller On Fire and host of the Live Inspired podcast. He speaks to living fully and leading with gratitude. Best for: General sessions, culture and morale moments. Signature themes: Gratitude, purpose, living fully.
4. Cassandra Worthy. Founder of Change Enthusiasm Global and author of Change Enthusiasm, Cassandra Worthy helps audiences use emotion as fuel during periods of change. Best for: Change initiatives and transformation events. Signature themes: Emotional intelligence, change, growth.
5. Simon T. Bailey.A former Disney leader turned author and speaker, Simon T. Bailey helps people find their spark and use it to navigate change. Best for: Leadership development and service cultures. Signature themes: Spark, change, breakthrough.
6. Valorie Burton. Founder of the Coaching and Positive Psychology Institute and the author of many books on resilience, Valorie Burton brings the research base of positive psychology to the stage. Best for: Women’s leadership events and professional development. Signature themes: Positive psychology, purpose, resilience.
7. Chris Norton. After a spinal cord injury with a very low predicted chance of walking again, Chris Norton built a story of perseverance told in the film 7 Yards. Best for: General sessions and team morale events. Signature themes: Perseverance, hope, determination.
8. Paul de Gelder. A former Australian Navy clearance diver who lost two limbs in a shark attack, Paul de Gelder is a television presenter and author who speaks on adaptation and mindset. Best for: High-energy general sessions. Signature themes: Adaptation, mindset, courage.
