Amanda Lindhout

This keynote is based on Amanda Lindhout’s personal story of resilience as a young journalist held hostage in Somalia for 460 days. It is a dramatic, emotional, and ultimately uplifting narrative that inspires audiences to understand that developing an extraordinary mindset is crucial for overcoming obstacles.  
 
Amanda goes beyond her experience as a hostage to explore the challenges she overcame in the aftermath, including her diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder. She shares how she transformed her mindset to focus on positivity and growth, illustrating transformative principles that enable individuals to unlock their full potential. Audiences will learn how to cultivate a growth-oriented perspective, reframe setbacks as opportunities, and leverage their unique strengths. By the end, participants will understand how to develop an extraordinary mindset that empowers them to thrive, both personally and professionally. 

Adversity is a powerful force that can refine our character and deepen our understanding of the world. This keynote delves into the transformative power of challenges and how they can be framed into invaluable assets like wisdom. By understanding the inherent value of difficulties, individuals can learn to integrate their experiences and derive meaningful lessons applicable to all aspects of life. 
 
This keynote is particularly popular among CEOs, corporate professionals, mortgage brokers, and finance professionals. Amanda reflects on the 460 days she spent as a hostage, enduring unimaginable hardships and being kept in the dark. This harrowing experience provides a frame that puts into perspective the challenges faced in business and everyday life. Amanda shares her profound journey from embracing a victim mindset to ultimately overcoming the challenges of a post-traumatic stress disorder diagnosis, viewing and embracing inherent growth opportunities, and ultimately discovering the profound wisdom she now shares with others. 
 
Wisdom is not automatically gained from challenges; it requires a deliberate process of self-awareness, reflection, and understanding. This enables individuals to identify and articulate the lessons learned and apply them in real-world scenarios. The session highlights the importance of cultivating a resilient mindset, endurance, and flexibility to effectively see challenges as assets. 
 
Amanda discusses the inherent responsibility that comes with sharing the wisdom gained from challenges and how this can enhance teamwork and leadership within organizations. By embracing the lessons of adversity, audience members will learn how to create a culture of resilience in their businesses that not only benefits their personal development but also strengthens their teams and organizations.

This keynote, crafted with healthcare and medical professionals in mind, explores how the narratives we create about our life experiences influence our health and well-being. Even when navigating physical and mental health challenges, we can shift our mindset to focus on what is emerging from the ashes. 
 
Amanda draws from her own transformative journey, from being held hostage and surviving a life-and-death situation for 460 days to her diagnosis of severe post-traumatic stress disorder, to illustrate how our internal narratives can shape how we heal after crisis. Navigating the challenges of PTSD for many years and learning from some of the world’s leading healthcare professionals, Amanda shares the insights that have helped put her PTSD into remission. She emphasizes the importance of making a daily choice to orient toward health, even when circumstances seem dire. 
 
Throughout the session, attendees will explore the significance of perspective. Amanda underscores that the journey toward well-being involves much more than just managing symptoms. Audiences will be equipped with valuable tools to empower them toward healthier lives. 

Amanda explores the multifaceted nature of resilience and how it can be cultivated and strengthened through conscious practice and self-reflection. The term “resilience” is often thrown around in various contexts, but what does it truly mean? This keynote offers a unique opportunity for attendees to learn from someone whose firsthand experiences have made her a true expert on the topic. Having endured 460 days as a hostage in one of the world’s most dangerous countries and living with a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder for nearly a decade, Amanda is one of the world’s leading voices on resilience. 
 
She provides strategies for developing a resilient mindset, including mindfulness practices, emotional regulation techniques, and the importance of community support. Attendees will learn how to harness resilience to carry them through life’s most challenging moments. 
 
This keynote is rooted in Amanda’s own experiences while also stepping back to ensure relatability for all attendees. It offers insights that are accessible to anyone looking to strengthen their resilience, regardless of their individual challenges.