With this breath I choose peace. With this breath I choose freedom.
Amanda Lindhout is an unparalleled voice on the topics of resilience, extraordinary mindset, and transformation. As the author of the New York Times bestselling memoir A House in the Sky, Amanda shares a gripping, firsthand narrative that transcends mere survival. A House in the Sky was an instant international bestseller and is one of the top-selling memoirs of all time. After enduring 460 days as a hostage in Somalia followed by years of navigating complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Amanda distills the lessons learned from adversity into insights that resonate across cultures and industries.
Amanda has delivered over 500 keynotes in 28 countries for some of the biggest brands in the world, including Google, Marriott, MasterCard, Shell, PwC- to name just a few. As a keynote speaker, Amanda goes beyond her story of being held in the dark with chains on her ankles, unable to move. She offers a dramatic and ultimately uplifting perspective on overcoming challenges, providing wisdom that can be applied to both life and business. She emphasizes the importance of the chosen narrative—how the way we frame what happens to us is crucial in cultivating a resilient mindset—and how flexibility is central to building and growing resilience. Her expertise is rooted in both her lived experience and a deep understanding of challenge and resilience, cultivated through years of study and her own personal transformation.
Amanda crafts tailored experiences that resonate with diverse audiences, including CEOs, associations, real estate agents and mortgage brokers, and mental health, pharmaceutical, and medical professionals. Her dynamic and customized presentations inspire leaders and organizations, empowering their personal and professional growth.
Her powerful story will continue to inspire in the limited series being developed by Hollywood production company A24.
She has travelled to over 90 countries and lives in Nelson, Canada.
Talking Points
An Extraordinary Mindset
This keynote, popular in lecture series, 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.An Extraordinary Mindset
Amanda goes beyond her experience as a hostage to explore the challenges she faced 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.
Challenge as Assets
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.Challenge as Assets
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 the 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 organisations. 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 organisations.
The Emergence of Health
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. The stories we tell ourselves and others can give life to unwanted and negative experiences. Shifting our mindset to focus on what is emerging from the ashes, even in times of crisis, is crucial yet often overlooked in navigating both physical and mental health challenges.The Emergence of Health
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 shape our health outcomes. After 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 emphasises 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 not just managing symptoms but understanding the underlying narratives that contribute to our physical and mental health issues. This understanding encourages a more comprehensive view of health and wellbeing, leading to effective solutions and outcomes in both personal and professional spheres.
By the end of this keynote, audiences will be equipped with valuable tools and insights to navigate their health journeys, both mental and physical, fostering a greater sense of awareness of the stories they tell and how these narratives can empower them toward healthier lives.
Resilience Redefined:
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 first-hand 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.Resilience Redefined:
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 deeply rooted in Amanda's own experiences while also stepping back to ensure relatability for all attendees. It offers insights and strategies that are accessible to anyone looking to strengthen their resilience, regardless of their individual challenges.
Video
Amanda Lindhout Keynote Speaking Reel 2024
Amanda Lindhout | Speaker Reel | Saxton Speakers
Amanda Lindhout is the author of the New York Times bestselling memoir A House in the Sky. Recipient of Amazon’s “Best Memoir” award, it is currently under development as a limited series for television with A24. Amanda is a global speaker and has delivered keynote lectures on resilience and mental health in 28 countries. The rare expertise and authentic insights she offers are hard-won.Amanda Lindhout - An Extraordinary Mindset
Amanda Lindhout is a sought-after inspirational speaker, trusted by big brands to deliver a life changing, transformational keynote experience.Amanda is incredible. I've never dealt with a speaker who was so accommodating with their time or who gave so much of themselves. Amanda went above and beyond to ensure that we were happy an ... keep reading MYOB
