ASAE23 Keynote: Five Keys for Cultivating “Blind Ambition”
In his keynote at the 2023 ASAE Annual Meeting & Expo on Monday, motivational speaker and author Chad E. Foster shared the steps association execs can take to change their perspective and grow their resilience.
Open Your Eyes podcast
Although Chad E. Foster lost his eyesight in his early 20’s, that didn’t stop him from becoming an executive for Red Hat, the world’s largest open source software company and securing over $45 Billion in contracts throughout his career.
Forged in Fire
HBS Executive Fellow Bill George and Chad Foster (PLDA 21, 2016), an author and motivational speaker, on the transformational power of crucibles.
The Sales Chalk Talk Show
Blind Ambition - Chad E. Foster
The Adam Carolla Show
Chad Foster + Greg Fitzsimmons
Chad Foster Is The Only One Who Improved His Vision By Losing His Eyesight
Can you imagine what it’d be like to watch the sunset, or a football game, or even take a picture, knowing that it would be the last time that you could see what was in front of you?
This Sustainable Life
Joshua Spodek's adventures in stewardship
TURNING OBSTACLES INTO OPPORTUNITIES
Imagine in your youth discovering you had a condition that would result in the complete loss of your vision by the age of 20. For business leader and tech innovator Chad Foster, that was a devastating reality —one he initially thought he might not ever overcome.
5 Steps That Each Of Us Can Take To Proactively Help Heal Our Country
Chad E. Foster of Red Hat
How to Visualize Greatness
Motivational Mondays: Conversations with Leaders
Chad E. Foster
I am happier now that I am blind! Chad Foster is going to blow your mind! Chad is the author of Blind Ambition, how to go from Victim to Visionary.
Beliefcast
I am happier now that I am blind! Chad Foster is going to blow your mind! Chad is the author of Blind Ambition, how to go from Victim to Visionary.
Second Chapters; How I Reinvented Myself In The Second Chapter Of My Life
Chad E Foster of Red Hat
How To Transform Your Negative Mindset
Join my conversation with Chad E Foster as we discuss using adversity to take back control over your life. We also talk about how you can choose happiness, confidence, and victory by changing your internal mind narrative.
The Gifts of Going Blind with Chad Foster
Failed it! Fam, on today’s episode we have inspirational speaker, Chad Foster with us! He truly took lemons and made lemonade with the visual impairment he acquired in college.
Sense of Soul
Blind Ambition
Blind Ambition Author and Motivational Speaker Chad Foster
Can you imagine going blind as a teenager?
Make sure your choose the right story with Chad Foster
Chad E. Foster is a motivational keynote speaker, sales/finance leader, and inspirational change agent who works at Red Hat/IBM. He was the first blind executive to graduate from Harvard Business School’s Program for Leadership Development.
TGFM - Chad Foster
Brother Greg speaks with Chad Foster to discusses his book - Blind Ambition: How to go from Victim to Visionary
OFFICE HOURS
Why it is Important to Have a Try Me Perspective with Chad Foster, Author, Motivational Speaker, and Business Executive.
Chad Foster & Bill George (HBS): Authentically Leading with Blind Ambition
Watch this video to learn more about Chad at Harvard.
Transitioning From Blind to Visionary
Chad Foster is a motivational keynote speaker, sales/finance leader, and inspirational change agent who works at Red Hat/IBM.
Adam Ali x Chad E. Foster – How to keep your intuition Sharp!
Meet Chad Foster, motivational keynote speaker, sales/finance leader, and inspirational change agent who works at Red Hat/IBM. Chad went blind while in College and has been seeing clearer than ever.
In life and in skiing, Chad Foster finds motivational message
Skiing — and life — are all about “managing the unexpected,” according to Chad Foster. Especially when you can’t see where you’re going.
New Book from Blind Tech Industry Executive Helps Turn Your Biggest Obstacle into Your Biggest Advantage
For anyone seeking to live life to its fullest potential, Blind Ambition: How to Go From Victim to Visionary is an eye-opening account of Chad E. Foster's, life as a tech industry star executive who overcame fear and hopelessness to turn his disadvantage of blindness into a powerful competitive strength.
Blind Ambition with Chad Foster
In this bonus episode, I talk with Chad Foster, about the limitless mindset he adopted after losing his sight at age 20, kindness and flirting with the edge of control.
Disability Talks: Don't Dis My Ability
Thriving With Change Through Life's Blind Spots
Cultivating The Resilience For Victim-to-Visionary Transformation With Chad E. Foster
On this Inspirational People episode ofShare Life, I'm interviewing Chad E. Foster, a motivational keynote speaker, sales and finance leader, inspirational change agent at Red Hat, a subsidiary of IBM, and a husband and father of two.
Passionate World Talk Radio
HOW TO GO FROM VICTIM TO VISIONARY
Local News Hour - January 25, 2021 | KPCW
Tech Executive, Motivational Speaker and Author Chad Foster talks about his day on the slopes of Deer Valley with the National Ability Center
Rise Together
The Life-Changing Benefits of Blind Ambition - with Chad E. Foster
An Apple A Day
Interview w/Chad Foster
How to Motivate Yourself and Your Team Through Adversities
TAG Product Management Society welcomed guest speaker Chad E. Foster who is a well known high impact speaker and motivator to talk about how to keep yourself and your team motivated during adversities. A speaker series event with a moderator led Q&A session.
7 Things You Can Learn from a Blind Guy Who Became a Billion Dollar Deal Maker
Despite going blind while attending college in his early twenties, he started at Accenture, and has built a career in the technology industry where he has directed financial strategies and decisions resulting in more than $45 billion in contracts.
Knoxville native writes Blind Ambition: How To Go From Victim to Visionary
This true story of resilience comes as the pandemic creates a need for greater resilience in everyone.
To Win, Decide Which Fear You Can Live With
Chad Foster’s life took a detour when he went blind in his late teens. Now he’s an executive at Red Hat, the world’s largest open source software company, an author, and a motivational keynote speaker. I had the opportunity to interview Chad recently. Here are some of the highlights of that interview.
The Difference Between Success and Failure
Growing up, my dad would tell me, “Son, the world really doesn’t care if you are blind or not.” Those were hard words to hear as a teenager but they ring truer today than they did back then. At the time, I was coping with deteriorating eyesight due to an inherited retinal condition.
How open source can accelerate 5G, edge deployment for NSPs: A Q&A with Chad Foster, Red Hat
Edge Industry Review recently conducted a phone interview with Chad Foster, formerly vice president of Corporate and Product and Technologies finance, who is currently responsible for Cross-Industry Sales Development for IBM/Red Hat, to hear more about Red Hat’s role in 5G and edge computing.
Local author loses his sight but not his life’s vision
UT alumni, Chad Foster, is using his experience to help others fight adversity
Resilience Lessons From Individuals Who Have Overcome Big Obstacles
Chad Foster was at college planning on a career in medicine when he became blind as a result of a genetic disorder. “It was a pretty dark moment for me, knowing that I would never be able to see my wife and kids,”
Choose Your Best You
Only you hold the power to become the best you. We all face a searing dilemma. Do we live the life we’ve always known, or live the life of our choosing?
What a Sight
Our ability to adapt to changes in circumstances determines to a large extent whether we survive and thrive, or wilt under new conditions. If resilience is so crucial, what exactly is it and how can we cultivate it?
Working from Home in the Age of COVID-19
As we all come to grips with the unprecedented challenges that the COVID-19 pandemic present us, it’s clearer than ever that we need flexible work arrangements that allow us to adapt to fluid situations.
Happy because he's blind
Marietta business executive Chad E. Foster says he’s successful and happy — not despite being blind but because of it.
The Blind Leading The Sighted
When Chad Foster's world faded to black in his teens, he persevered. Now he teaches resilience and the value of leaning into discomfort.
Chad E. Foster: “How To Finally Learn To Love Yourself”
Self-love comes from learning how to accept, embrace, and love ourselves — even with our imperfections. None of us are perfect. We all have flaws.
Unstoppable: How Chad Foster overcame blindness to become a VP at Red Hat
When children would tease me about my eyesight limitations in school, grit gave me the ability to fight back — physically and emotionally. It gave me the desire to prove others wrong. Grit fueled my unrelenting workouts, which allowed me to productively channel my frustration — using my anger to improve myself.
Red Hat VP Chad E. Foster: “How you can choose to tell yourself a better story to be happy”
I went blind in my late teens. I was initially extremely distraught as anyone would be. However, after seeing first-hand the value of perspective in our lives, I chose to tell myself a better story. At first I was telling myself a story of “poor me” and “I have extremely bad luck."
Business Alum Overcomes Blinding Disease: Receives Accomplished Alumni Award
While Chad E. Foster was at UT, a rare genetic eye disease stole his sight, but not his ambition. He received his business degree in 2000. Now, with the help of computer screen-reading software that Foster programmed himself, he is breaking glass ceilings in the field of information technology.
Seeing With His Heart
"Dear God, my daddy’s eyes are broken. Please send doctors to fix my daddy’s eyes." In the stillness of the night, faint stars from a child’s nightlight reflect on the bedroom ceiling and on the faces of plush animals and dolls neatly lined on wall shelves.
Get a Free Chapter from Chad's 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.
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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