AI Keynote Speaker | Chad Foster | Cloudera Global Tour Highlights | Blind Ambition
What Makes Chad Different?
Every organization is struggling with the current velocity of disruption, but what most leaders don’t realize, is that the current rate of change is the slowest it will be for the rest of our lives. Now, more than ever, organizations need to IGNITE people’s RESILIENCE, accountability, and INNOVATION—leading to resilient organizations that create more customer value by adapting and spotting the opportunities created by disruption.
Most people believe resilience is an idea, but it’s really a set of learned behaviors. Chad has spent the last TEN-plus years unpacking the anatomy of resilience — what allowed him to thrive after going blind at 21-years-old. He built software Oracle said was impossible; directed financial strategies that generated billions in revenue, industry-leading margins, and countless jobs; was the first blind executive to graduate Harvard’s leadership program; and became a black diamond downhill skier and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Practitioner — all with his eyes closed. Many thought leaders on resilience and change offer platitudes that create zero sustained impact on people’s behavior. Due to Chad’s firsthand experience with personal transformation while building massive enterprise value, Chad inspires action, ignites accountability, and unlocks potential by breaking down the anatomy of resilience at a practical level — providing tried and tested tools that empower people to emerge from setbacks stronger, sleeker, and resolute to succeed.
From Fortune 500 events to global leadership summits, Chad has shared the stage with thought leaders like Adam Grant and Simon Sinek—delivering keynotes that do more than inspire—they ignite real, measurable momentum.
Connecting inspiration to implementation™, Chad enables your team to embody the mindsets and beliefs for success, while adopting the narratives and stories that will change the meaning of the challenges they experience. They’ll have the tools to remain comfortable in the face of discomfort, equipping your organization to turn disadvantages into advantages, and your obstacles into opportunities.
Book the keynote speaker who proves "impossible" is just someone else's limit.
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The Pace of Change is the Slowest It'll Ever Be Again
You read that right.
This moment - right now - is the slowest rate of change you’ll ever experience for the rest of your life. The future is only getting faster, more complex, more disruptive. And that’s true after the recent rounds of COVID chaos, trade war whiplash, and market meltdowns. On top of that, emerging technology like AI is coming for your comfort zone.
I’m Chad E. Foster - a technology keynote speaker, leadership keynote speaker, and business keynote speaker who had to deal with disruption on a level most can’t imagine. I went from blind and broke at 21 to billion-dollar deals, black diamond slopes, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu training. Today I teach the anatomy of resilience, breaking down the blueprint for Blind Ambition™ inside the boardrooms and on the frontlines with tech giants like Google, Red Hat, and Salesforce. I’ve helped their teams navigate disruption, drive value, and build cultures that aren’t just resilient - they’re relentless. This isn’t feel-good fluff. It’s real talk for tech leaders who need to flip the script, inspire action, and ignite accountability and outcomes.
AI is the partner that frees your people to focus on value, not tasks.
Your move: Get your teams trained, get your data right, and get ahead - because the AI wave isn’t coming. It’s already here. Get your surf board ready to ride that wave or get ready to get crushed by the surf.
3. YOUR TEAM IS BURNING OUT - AND QUITTING.
You want results. They want relief.
77% of employees have experienced burnout at their current job.
Burnout kills productivity - and your ability to keep talent.
Retention isn’t just perks. It’s purpose, empowerment, and the ability to see a future here.
What to do: Build a culture that respects energy. Give people clarity, not chaos. Focus them on a few things - and make those things matter.
4. STOP SELLING TECH - START SELLING OUTCOMES.
Your customers don’t care about your product. They care about their results. Selling cloud platforms isn’t just about features - it’s about business value. And in an economy like this, your customers want results, not roadmaps.
81% of buyers want business value conversations - not product pitches.
Your engineers? They were great in the data center. But now it’s hybrid, multi-cloud, and the rules have changed. Data centers? Done. Multi-cloud? Non-negotiable.
ACT: Kill distractions. Nail what matters. Repeat.
Silos are strangling your growth. If your customers don’t feel the simplicity, they’ll find someone who delivers it.
Internal complexity = external frustration.
Break it down. Cross-functional teams. Unified goals. One customer view.
THE BIGGEST THREAT?
THINKING YOU HAVE TIME.
You don’t.
The pace of change is relentless - and the window to act is closing. Fast. Disruption doesn’t care about your comfort zone. Get ready, or get replaced.
If you want to lead in tech today, you need more than strategy. You need a resilient mindset, a focused team, and a bias for action. Because this is as slow as it’s ever going to get. And if you’re not moving forward, you’re already behind.
Disruption creates opportunity that favors the bold.
AI rewards the prepared.
Data fuels the winners.
You want to lead? It’s time to move faster, think sharper, and act bolder.
Technology Keynote Testimonials
"I walked out with a whole new outlook on life just listening to Foster sharing his life experience. A true visionary!!"
- IBM/Red Hat
"Highly recommend Chad if you are looking to build a team that thrives in change!"
- Salesforce
READY TO TURN PRESSURE INTO POWER?
Let’s build teams that don’t just handle disruption - they own it and make it look good. If you’re interested in a technology keynote speaker who can bring the fire, inspire the actions, and ignite the outcomes your business needs, then let’s get started today.
Keynote Programs
Explore our programs to see which one can help your organization create a
culture that unleashes leadership potential to maximize individual and
company performance.
"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."
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.
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.
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.
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™
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.