Finance Keynote Speaker
Disruption Isn't Coming: It's Already Here
If you’re still playing defense, you’re already behind.
I’m Chad E. Foster - a finance keynote speaker who knows a thing or two about navigating and succeeding despite disruption. I went totally blind at 21 from an inherited eye disease, but bounced back to bag billions of dollars in deals, build software Silicon Valley said was impossible, become the first blind executive to graduate Harvard’s leadership program, and today, for fun I fight Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu competitors and ski black diamond slopes - all with my eyes closed. How did I do it? I’ve unpacked the recipe for resilience in my Blind Ambition Framework™, which I’ve delivered to leaders at powerhouses like Fidelity, S&P, TransUnion, ADP, First Citizens Bank, First American, and Voya Financial. The problems they’re facing? The same ones you are - but they’re hitting them head-on.
- Fraud’s getting smarter.
- Burnout’s intensifying.
- Talent retention is tougher than ever.
- And AI’s rewriting the rules faster than most can react.
AORN March 2024 Keynote Testimonial
I’m Chad E. Foster - a leadership keynote speaker and sales keynote speaker and I help financial services leaders set fire to excuses, focus their energy, and dominate disruption. Let’s break down what’s killing momentum - and what it takes to flip the script.
1. FRAUD’S GETTING FASTER - YOU NEED TO BE FIRST.
Fraudsters aren’t slowing down - and neither can you.
Global financial fraud losses reached $485.6 billion in 2023.
👉 Nasdaq Global Financial Crime Report
CHOOSE YOUR RESPONSE:
- Use AI for real-time fraud detection.
- Build systems that learn, adapt, and protect.
- Get proactive - because reactive won’t cut it anymore.
2. TALENT’S WALKING - STOP THE BLEEDING.
Burnout. Overload. Better offers elsewhere. Sound familiar?
Financially stressed employees are twice as likely to seek new employment.
👉 PwC’s 2023 Employee Financial Wellness Survey
Top performers are leaving early - or never joining at all.
WHAT TO DO:
- Focus them.
- Simplify their world.
- TELL YOURSELF THE RIGHT STORIES: Connect their work to meaning - helping people protect what matters most.
3. DO LESS. WIN MORE.
You’re expected to do more - with fewer resources, tighter timelines, and more pressure.
- But complexity kills outcomes.
- Groupthink kills innovation.
VISUALIZE YOUR GREATNESS:
- Invite diverse voices.
- Prioritize ruthlessly.
- Deliver fewer, faster, bigger wins.
4. AI WINS. HESITATION LOSES.
Still hesitant? AI won’t wait.
93% of financial institutions anticipate AI will enhance profitability, potentially adding $170 billion to global banking profits by 2028.
👉 Financial News London
GET COMFORTABLE WITH DISCOMFORT:
- Automate the noise.
- Focus your team on value-added selling, strategic moves, and human connection.
5. REMOTE WORK? LEAD ANYWAY.
Hybrid and remote teams aren’t going away - but your culture and outcomes can’t suffer.
Leaders are navigating new structures, shifting roles, and tighter timelines.
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF DISADVANTAGES AND LEAD DIFFERENTLY:
- Manage time with discipline.
- Act decisively inside complexity.
- Keep your team focused on what they can control - and let the rest go.
6. MORTGAGE & BUSINESS LENDERS: HUNT SMARTER.
For Mortgage Lenders:
- High interest rates.
- Low inventory.
- Shifting regulations.
CHOOSE YOUR RESPONSE AND MOVE SMARTER:
- Double down on relationships.
- Innovate your loan offerings.
- Stay visible - even when deals are tight.
For Business Lenders:
- Liquidity crunch = opportunity.
- Target decision-makers with precision.
- Sell value, not just products.
7. STOP COMPETING. START STANDING OUT.
Your competitors can copy your tech. They can’t copy your approach.
- Holistic views of the consumer.
- Empathy under pressure.
- Meaningful relationships in a data-driven world.
8. DATA = POWER. USE IT OR LOSE IT.
No data? No insights. No progress.
Companies leveraging customer analytics are 23 times more likely to outperform competitors in customer acquisition.
👉 McKinsey
VISUALIZE YOUR GREATNESS AND LEVERAGE IT:
- Integrate it.
- Analyze it.
- Act on it.
THE REAL THREAT?
THINKING YOU CAN WAIT.
Market disruptions won’t wait. Regulations aren’t any easier.
And your customers? They’re looking for someone who can lead them now.
- Disruption favors the bold.
- AI accelerates the ready.
- The future belongs to the focused.
Finance Keynote Testimonials
"We were fortunate to have Chad present at our sales rally this year and the feedback was outstanding. His message and alignment with our theme was spot-on. He held our teams attention from start to finish. His pre-call work really paid big dividends."
- First Citizens Bank
READY TO LEAD THE NEXT ERA OF FINANCIAL SERVICES?
As a leadership keynote speaker, I’m here to help you build teams that don’t just survive change - they forge a future that’s fueled by Blind Ambition™.
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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.
- Reinvention isn’t optional. It’s survival.
- Mindset first. Process and tech support the people.
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.”
- Your “disadvantage” is just a blind spot away from being your edge.
- Change the lens. Change the game.
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.
- Resilient culture = resilient business.
- Empower every individual to think, act, and lead through uncertainty.
4. MINDSET DRIVES EVERYTHING
Mindset isn’t fluff. It’s the engine of every action, every result.
- Your company is just a reflection of your people’s thinking.
- Shift the way they see change—and take note while your whole organization transforms.
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? I’ve got the stories, the strategy, and the spark to empower your team to light up the scoreboard. Let’s go!