Keynote Speakers

Keynote speakers bring inspiration, information, and motivation to tackle today’s most pressing challenges!         

Opening Keynote: Sometimes the Challenge Chooses You
Mark Pollock
May 3rd, 8:45 am - 9:45 am

Everything Mark Pollock does is about inspiring leaders and their teams to build resilience and collaborate with others so that they achieve more than they thought possible.

Unbroken by blindness in 1998, Mark became an adventure athlete competing in ultra-endurance races across deserts, mountains, and the polar ice caps, making him the first blind person to race to the South Pole. He also won silver and bronze medals for rowing at the Commonwealth Games and set up an international motivational speaking business.

In 2010, a fall from a second story window nearly killed him. Mark broke his back and the damage to his spinal cord left him paralyzed. Now he is on a new expedition, this time exploring the intersection where humans and technology collide, in an effort to cure paralysis in our lifetime.

Chairman of Collaborative Cures and founder of the global running series Run in the Dark, Mark was selected by the World Economic Forum as a Young Global Leader where he served on the Global Futures Council on Human Enhancement and the Advisory Board of Cybathlon. He is on the Board of the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation (USA), and is a Wings for Life Ambassador (Europe).

Author of ‘Making It Happen’, Mark is the subject of the acclaimed documentaries ‘Blind Man Walking’ and ‘Unbreakable – The Mark Pollock Story’.

He has been awarded honorary doctorates by The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and also from Queens University Belfast. Furthermore, he holds a diploma in Global Leadership and Public Policy for the 21st Century from Harvard University, degrees from Trinity College Dublin and UCD Smurfit Graduate Business School.
 

About "Sometimes the Challenge Chooses You"

Sometimes we choose our challenges, sometimes our challenges choose us. What we decide to do about them is what counts. Deciding to be a competitor, a realist, and a collaborator offers us a chance of maintaining a resilient mindset under pressure. 

Mark Pollock's keynote will help us reflect on how we can turn challenges into opportunities and achieve more over time.

Sponsored by: 


Closing Keynote: You FIRST
Maria Milagros
May 5th, 10:15 am - 11:30 am

Maria Milagros (Vazquez) is an award winning keynote speaker, award nominated author, 2x TEDx speaker, storyteller, personal growth & development expert, empowerment life coach, and love activist. Whether sharing her life experiences and knowledge through impactful talks, workshops, leadership training, life coaching or videos, Maria uses stories to bring encouragement, education, and love to empower others to get out of their way and break free from hindering thoughts or beliefs, so that they can live amazing lives and leave their unique and positive mark on the world. She is passionate about living with intention, creating spaces of love, joy and fun, connecting with others, overall health, and empowerment.

A survivor of abuse, depression, and a childhood accident that should've left her immobile, Maria embraces her past to create a present of health, happiness, fun, love, and abundance. She believes that she is able to thrive in life not in spite of, but because of, every aspect of her story. She knows that no matter where you come from, what you've been through, or what you have done, a healthy mindset shift, rooting into love, and taking personal responsibility, can change every area of your life, as it has for her.

With over 15 years of leadership and personal development educating in her pocket, Maria leaves audiences with relevant tools and shifted mindsets that last well after she steps off the stage. Her authentic congruence, infectious energy, and ability to teach from a relatable and positive perspective leaves attendees feeling like they had a fun and deep conversation with a trusted friend.

When not speaking or coaching, Maria can usually be found making memories with her incredible daughter, meditating, dancing in public places, leading group fitness classes, reading, or watching a Marvel movie.

To inquire about her speaking availability, one-on-one coaching, or book "Super Sparkly Everything", or to sign up to get the free weekly email, please visit her website at www.mariamilagros.net.
You can also connect with her on Instagram, YouTube, or Facebook.

As adults, everything in our lives begins and ends with us. We are the starting point for all of our responses, reactions, interactions and relationships. If we're operating from unhealthy practices, it might not be our fault AND it is our responsibility. In this powerful talk Maria shares an incredible story of adversity that will inspire, and the data proven techniques that will empower attendees to create new stories about their capacity to cultivate healthy and happy lives. It happens when we make ourselves a priority. 

Presentation objectives are: 

1. Encourage and inspire attendees with an incredible story of adversity.
2. Educate attendees with data proven techniques that when put into practice can create positive change in every area of our lives.
3. Empower attendees to make self-care a priority with small sustainable action.