Chad E. Foster
High-Impact Keynote Speaker
As a successful corporate executive, international motivational speaker, and the author of Blind Ambition™, Chad uses his gift of going blind to teach and inspire us to thrive with change, create a more resilient leadership culture, and invite diversity to drive business innovation.
- Harvard-educated Executive Dealmaker, Billion$ Generator, Job Creator
- Pursue Your Success with Blind Ambition
- Change-Disruption-Mindset-Transformation
Are you ready to use adversity to your advantage, and take control of the happiness and success in your life?
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Who is Chad E. Foster?
Can you imagine going blind in your early 20's? When most people were preparing for the adventure of adult life, Chad E. Foster was watching the world he grew up with fade to black. But that didn't stop him from becoming the first blind person to graduate from the Harvard Business School leadership program and climbing the corporate ladder as a successful Finance/Sales executive. He works at Red Hat, one of the most innovative Tech companies and the world’s largest open source software company. With determination, ambition, and drive, he created what Oracle said would be impossible. He gave hundreds of millions of people the ability to earn a living by becoming the first to create customer relationship software for the visually impaired.
With speaking invites from London to Beijing, and the Atlanta Opera crafting a story inspired by his journey, Chad inspires people to overcome their own blind spots.
Inquire about speaking
To inquire about speaking, call 855-GET-CHAD and press Option 1 to connect with Brandy Gibson at Executive Speakers Bureau.
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Watch Chad
The people unwilling to make excuses are those who make it to the top.
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Les Brown in Conversation With Chad E Foster Sizzle
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Featured Program
Blind Ambition™
Chad will provide your audience with a framework for thinking that will enable them to:
- Live happier lives
- Adapt to change with greater success
- Lead teams through change
- Set ambitious goals while crafting the right mindset to achieve them
- Nurture resilience, which is the cornerstone of grit/tenacity and success
- Discover unforeseen opportunities
- Be more productive at work
Happiness is not a feeling, happiness is not an emotion, happiness is a decision that each of us make every single day when we wake up.
Chad E. Foster
Timeline
With speaking invites from London to Beijing, and the Atlanta Opera crafting his journey for the stage, Chad inspires people to overcome their own blind spots.
Lost Eyesight
Lost eyesight and forced to switch college major due to blindness.
First Dog
Received first guide dog.
Dean's List
Relearned how to learn without sight and made the Dean’s List.
Graduated College
Graduated with straight-A's in College of Business Administration.
Promotion
Promoted to lead multibillion dollar commercial outsourcing deals in record time.
Software Developed
Developed software thought impossible by Oracle.
New Position
Hired to work on multibillion dollar sales strategy.
New Position
Hired to spearhead most strategic and complex deals.
Promotion
Promoted from Senior Pricing Analyst to Senior Director while capturing over $45 billion in contracts with industry leading growth and best-in-class margins despite tightening market conditions.
Graduated Harvard
First blind person to graduate from Harvard Business School Executive Education leadership program.
Harvard
Voted as graduating speaker for Harvard Business School Executive Education leadership program.
Career Milestone
Led a team that landed largest (9-figure) deal in company history.
Career Milestone
Led a team that redesigned the company's pricing/discounting framework, improving operational efficiency by ~57% while increasing customer satisfaction.
Career Milestone
Tapped to serve as VP in charge of 200-person organization responsible for closing the integration with IBM - a $34 billion purchase that was the largest of its kind.
Published Book
HarperCollins Leadership published Chad's first book - Blind Ambition.
Published Book
Co-authored a book with Les Brown - Ignite the Hunger in You
Life without obstacles removes opportunity for growth.
Chad E. Foster
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Blind Ambition™
If you don’t feel like you’re reaching the levels of happiness that you see others enjoy, or your goals seem out of reach, you’re not alone. Life is too short for regrets. Learn how to use your mindset to reach your most daring dreams. Chad’s stories and lessons will inspire, empower, and prepare you to face uncertainty with hope and optimism. Want to be mentally tough, strong, resilient and prepared to adapt and thrive in changing circumstances? Self-confident to become your best you? It’s time to break free from the self-destructive thoughts that hold you back.
Ready To Turn Your Biggest Obstacle Into Your Biggest Advantage? The stories we tell ourselves either limit us or propel us towards our goals.