Chad E. Foster – Blind Ambition Keynote | Grit, Growth & Leadership for Disruptive Times

EDUCATION KEYNOTE SPEAKER

The Classroom Has Changed Forever - Are You Ready to Teach the Future?

  • Trusted by top brands to fuse Human Performance with Artificial Intelligence

  • Harvard-educated Executive Dealmaker, Billion$ Generator, Job Creator

  • Change-Disruption-Mindset-Transformation

  • Grit-Resilience-Accountability-Growth Through Adversity

Book the keynote speaker who proves "impossible" is just someone else's limit. 👉 👇

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What Makes Chad Different?

Today is officially the slowest pace of change you’ll experience for the rest of your life. To keep up, organizations need to ignite resilience, accountability, and innovation—turning market volatility into customer value.

Resilience is more than a buzzword; it’s a set of learned behaviors. After going blind at 21, Chad built software Oracle said was “impossible;” led strategies that created billions in revenue, thousands of jobs, and industry-leading margins; became the first blind exec to graduate Harvard’s leadership program—even skiing black diamonds and grappling with Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu fighters… all with his eyes closed.

Beyond feel-good fluff, Chad provides a fire-tested framework that breaks down the anatomy of resilience—empowering people to bounce back stronger, sleeker, and resolute to succeed. From Fortune 500 stages to global leadership summits, he has shared the stage with icons like Adam Grant and Daymond John—not just inspiring, but driving measurable momentum. After one keynote, a client reported 40% YoY revenue growth, calling it “unlike anything we’ve seen from a guest speaker.”

Chad connects inspiration to implementation™, equipping teams to shift mindsets, rewrite their stories, and turn obstacles into opportunities. Because comfort kills growth and innovation, Chad shows teams how to embrace discomfort and transform setbacks into springboards for success.

Book the keynote speaker who proves "impossible" is just someone else's limit. 👉 👇

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Chad Foster with his dog

EDUCATION KEYNOTE SPEAKER

The Classroom Has Changed Forever - Are You Ready to Teach the Future?

Education isn’t going “back to normal.” The pandemic didn’t just disrupt - it accelerated the transformation. We went from COVID chaos to trade war whiplash and market meltdowns. The world isn’t slowing down. It’s breaking rules - and you better believe it’s bulldozing comfort zones too.

Learning is now flexible, digital, on-demand. Students expect more. Staff are burning out. Budgets are tighter. Tech is moving faster. The scary part? The velocity of disruption now is the slowest we’ll experience for the rest of our lives. Let that sink in.

98 Keynotes, 65,000 Attendees, 8 Countries. Thank You for the Ride | Blind Ambition Keynote Speaker

As an education keynote speaker and leadership keynote speaker, I’ve worked with institutions like Harvard Business School, Kansas Association of School Boards, and education leaders worldwide. I help teams adapt, innovate, and lead with resilience in times when change isn’t optional - it’s relentless, and it’s coming for all of us. As someone who went blind at 21, but still built a career winning billion-dollar deals, developing software Oracle thought was impossible, skiing black diamond slopes and training for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu competitions, I know a thing or two about transformation. It’s no wonder I get called in to Fortune 500 leaders all over the world to break down my blueprint for.

1. FLEXIBLE LEARNING ISN’T A PERK - IT’S A DEMAND.

Students increasingly favor hybrid and online learning modalities, especially those living off-campus.

👉 EDUCAUSE 2023 Students and Technology Report

2. SHORTER COURSES. FASTER OUTCOMES.

THE DEGREE ISN’T KING ANYMORE.

Nearly half of working-age adults without a college degree believe they need additional education, and many are looking to employers for opportunities.

👉 Strada Education Foundation

3. STAFF BURNOUT IS REAL - AND IT’S BREAKING YOU.

Faculty and staff are experiencing significant burnout, impacting their ability to support students effectively.

👉 Higher Education Today

Chad E Foster book signing interaction with female client at Vegas CCW

4. BUDGET CUTS AREN’T STOPPING - INNOVATION CAN’T EITHER.

State and local support for higher education increased nearly 5 percent in the 2022 fiscal year, yet public colleges still face financial headwinds.

👉 The Chronicle of Higher Education

5. AI IS CHANGING EDUCATION - YOU NEED TO LEAD IT.

The AI in education market is projected to grow significantly, reaching USD 5.82 billion by 2030.

👉 MarketsandMarkets

6. CAREER PATHS MATTER - AND STUDENTS ARE WATCHING.

Only about half of bachelor’s degree graduates secure employment in a college-level job within a year of graduation, highlighting a significant disconnect.

👉 Strada Education Foundation

7. SIMPLIFY TO SURVIVE.

Institutions that streamline offerings and focus on core strengths are better positioned to adapt to changing demands.

👉 World Economic Forum

THE REAL CHALLENGE?

THINKING THE OLD MODEL WILL SURVIVE.

The future of education requires flexibility, adaptability, and personalization to meet diverse learner needs.

👉 World Economic Forum

Education Keynote Testimonials

"Chad was a keynote speaker for one of our HBS events and his keynote had an extraordinary impact on everyone. He engaged and energized the crowd with a laughter-filled presentation that delivered a high-impact message — earning a standing ovation from the hundreds of business leaders in attendance. His thought-provoking stories challenged each of us to think differently about dealing with adversity, navigating change, and nurturing resilient mindsets — all key ingredients for leaders currently guiding their organizations through the Digital transformation."
- Harvard University
"Awesome presentation yesterday at the closing session…totally rejuvenated after hearing you."
- Kansas Association of School Boards
Chad E Foster engaging laughing audience at Vegas CMP conference

READY TO BUILD THE FUTURE OF EDUCATION?

As a change keynote speaker and innovation keynote speaker, I empower organizations all over the world - from Google to Blue Cross Blue Shield - to navigate disruption using my Blind Ambition Framework™. Let’s create institutions that don’t just teach about change - they lead change with Blind Ambition™.

From thought leaders like Adam Grant to powerful storytellers like Soledad O’Brien, my message resonates on the same stages that shape how institutions educate, lead, and evolve in a changing world.

"I was impressed with Chad's ambition in life. His message could not have been more clear. He truly has a gift to open the eyes of those who can see, when he himself can not!"

- Keynote Attendee

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Why Top Brands Trust Chad Foster | Blind Ambition - Keynote Speaker

"He just has this way of speaking to you that makes you want to get up and get going, and do something about your success, your happiness, and your future."

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To inquire about speaking, call 855-GET-CHAD and press Option 1 to connect with Brandy Gibson at Executive Speakers Bureau.

Business Keynote Speaker

Change doesn’t knock. It kicks the door in. Disruption? It’s not coming — it’s here. Explosive inflation, market meltdowns, trade war whiplash — it’s all reshaped how we sell, how we lead, how we live. The question is: how do you win in a world like that?

I’m Chad E. Foster — a business keynote speaker who has led teams through billion-dollar deals, built software Silicon Valley said was impossible, and delivered leadership keynotes for powerhouses like Google and Salesforce — all after going blind at 21. I know what it takes to adapt, thrive, and dominate in uncertainty.

I don’t give your team ideas. I break down the anatomy of resilience using my Blind Ambition Framework™ and give them the playbook to power their performance.

ADAPT OR DIE? NO.

ADAPT AND THRIVE.

Let’s get real — tools and tech won’t save your business. Your people will. But only if you give them the mindset, the culture, and the drive to convert chaos into commission.

1. REINVENT YOURSELF, REINVENT YOUR BUSINESS

The world changed. Did you? Because what worked last year won’t cut it now.

Proof: Companies that prioritize adaptability are better positioned to absorb shocks and transform them into opportunities.

👉 McKinsey

2. TURN ADVERSITY INTO ADVANTAGE

Remember Best Buy? They turned brick-and-mortar “liabilities” into the weapon that outflanked the customer experience of online giants. That’s how you “take advantage of your disadvantages.”

3. CREATE A CULTURE BUILT FOR CHANGE

Your people won’t rise to a challenge they’re not prepared for. Culture eats disruption for breakfast — if it’s built right.

4. MINDSET DRIVES EVERYTHING

Mindset isn’t fluff. It’s the engine of every action, every result.

Fact: Teams with a growth mindset culture are more likely to foster innovation and support risk-taking.

👉 Harvard Business Review

THIS ISN’T ABOUT WEATHERING THE STORM.

IT’S ABOUT BECOMING THE STORM.

I don’t just do inspiration. I connect inspiration to implementation ™ and drive transformation. I help businesses stop playing defense and start rewriting the rules. Disruption is here to stay — so let’s own it.

I’ll show your team how to see what others miss, act when others freeze, and win while others wait.

READY TO REIMAGINE WHAT’S POSSIBLE?

LET’S FORGE A MINDSET THAT FIRES UP YOUR FUTURE.

When your people think bigger, act bolder, and embrace change? That’s when your business becomes unstoppable.

Looking for a business leadership speaker who can ignite your team’s potential?

From futurists like Amy Webb to innovation legends like Mick Ebeling and tech leaders at Microsoft, Chad shares the stage with the minds shaping tomorrow—delivering keynotes that help teams lead through disruption, drive transformation, and build what’s next.

I’ve got the stories, the strategy, and the spark to empower your team to light up the scoreboard. Let’s go!

Get a Free Chapter from Chad's Bestselling Book

Blind Ambition book cover

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.