Interesting Keynote Speakers with Awesome Stories to Tell

Are you planning a big conference and need a keynote speaker to make the experience moving and special for the attendants? Or are you a professor looking to motivate and inspire your students? What about a group looking to learn more about activism?

Then you’ve come to the right place. Getting an interesting and motivational speaker for your event will solidify it in the mind of the people who attend and can truly change the lives of everyone involved.

Without further ado, here are a few awesome speakers to consider for your next event.

Siona Benjamin, Artist Speaker

Siona Benjamin is one of the most interesting and diverse artists of our time. Born abroad and living in India & Israel growing up as a proud jewish woman, her multicultural art takes inspiration from the many cultures that she grew up as a part of. 

Her interesting perspective on culture, tradition, home, and identity inspires her art and became the subject of a documentary film called Blue Like Me. 

Her work as an artist speaker include keynotes, workshops, lectures, presentations, artist residences, and more. If you want an interactive experience combined with a thought-provoking and discourse discussion, Siona Benjamin is the pick for you. 

Nick Vujicic, Motivational Speaker

Nick Vujicic is a motivational speaker who speaks on his life, his disability, and how you can live a happy & fulfilled life even in the face of devastating circumstances. 

Nick was born without any limbs: no arms and no legs. This was without any warning or expectation from the doctors and nurses, even though his mother had had three sonograms that all missed these complications.

While Nick’s speeches can skew towards the religious, the majority of his speaking revolves around perseverance, determination, and overcoming life’s hardest challenges. 

Diana Nyad, Athletic Speaker

“The toughest athlete in the world is a 62 year-old woman.” – D.L. Stewart, Dayton Daily News

This couldn’t be more true! Diana Nyad is a professional swimmer who hold a number of world records, including the first woman to swim from Cuba to Florida unassisted without the protection of a shark cage. Yes, she really did that! And she did that at the age of 64. 

Diana had also written four books, has a company aimed at providing advice to women over 40, and travels the country giving speeches on her life, motivation, sports, and gender.

Diana’s speaking services are perfect for large and small groups alike looking for motivation, topics on gender equality, and to hear about her stories of incredible athletic feats in person.

Check out her website here.

Schuyler Bailar, LGBT+ Speaker and Activist

Lastly, we have Schuyler Bailar, an LGBT+ speaker and activist. Like Diana, Schuyler is also a swimmer.

Schuyler is the first open transgender man to compete in a Division I sport by swimming on the men’s swim team at Harvard. He was initially recruited for the women’s team in high school, but upon learning of his transition, the Harvard swim coaches gave him their full support. They allowed him to choose which team he felt most comfortable on, and the rest is history.

In his speaking engagements, Schuyler speaks about his journey & his transition, his eating disorder, LGBT+ rights & activism, and his experience on the men’s swim team for a D1 school.

His main goal is to shed light on transgender rights and issues in the United States by spreading awareness and education through his story. You can learn more about Schuyler on his website.