You can learn to be resilient, says author-speaker
In this episode, Matt Holsen with Sanford Health News talks with author-speaker Chad Foster on the topics of leadership, resilience, and overcoming adversity.
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What Others Say About Blind Ambition™
Podcasts, features, and media coverage from 2014 to present.
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Resilience Reimagined: Navigating Change and Transformation, with Chad E. Foster
In this podcast episode, Dr. Jonathan H. Westover talks with Chad E. Foster about resilience reimagined and navigating change and transformation. Chad E. Foster is a trailblazer defying limitations with resilience and innovation. Despite going blind at 21, he’s a rainmaker, billion-dollar generator, and tech innovator. Graduating as the first blind executive from Harvard Business School’s leadership program, Chad created CRM software for the visually impaired, doing what tech titans said couldn’t be done. Thriving in a Fortune 500 company, he directed financial strategies that produced billions in revenue and best-in-class margins.
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#120 Turning Setbacks into Superpowers with Chad E. Foster
Today we sit down with Chad Foster, the first blind executive to graduate from Harvard Business School’s leadership program, a renowned speaker, and a strategist behind billions in revenue. But his story starts with something most of us take for granted. Sight.
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Embracing Discomfort and the Importance of Stretching Your Comfort Zone With Chad E. Foster
Chad E. Foster is an award-winning business leader, international KeyNote speaker, and author of Blind Ambition, a book that teaches readers how to go from victim to visionary. He was the first blind person to graduate from the Harvard Business School Leadership Program and climbed the corporate ladder as a successful finance and sales executive.
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Chad E. Foster Named #29 on Global Gurus Top 30 Motivational Speakers for 2025
Global Gurus has recognized Chad E. Foster as one of the world's Top 30 Motivational Speakers for 2025, ranking him #29 among elite international speakers. This prestigious recognition highlights Chad's impact as a keynote speaker, author, and inspirational change agent who helps organizations develop resilience and overcome limitations.
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Chad E. Foster's 'Blind Ambition' Listed Among SUCCESS® Magazine's Weekly Bestsellers
'Blind Ambition' recognized in multiple categories on SUCCESS® Magazine's weekly bestseller lists for the week ending October 11, 2024. The book ranked #4 in Business, #3 in Leadership, and #10 in Non-Fiction categories.
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How Chad E. Foster’s Blind Ambition Led to Unstoppable Success
What if your biggest challenge became your greatest strength? In this episode of the LeaderPass Podcast, we sit down with Chad E. Foster—a motivational keynote speaker, author, and corporate leader who defied the odds after losing his eyesight at 21.
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Chad E. Foster: Transformative Keynotes To Inspire Resilience
Chad E. Foster's keynote speech is one of the most inspiring in the industry. He has overcome his blindness to have a successful professional career and a great impact on many others.
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Purpose #96: Chad E. Foster - The Journey From Victim To Visionary
In this episode, Chad E. Foster shares his journey from losing his vision at 21 to becoming a successful tech innovator and Harvard Business School graduate. He discusses developing CRM software for the visually impaired, driving major revenue at a Fortune 500 company, and his work as a keynote speaker for companies like Google and Microsoft. Chad's story, detailed in his book Blind Ambition, shows how limitations need not define one's potential.
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Episode 275: Resilient Leadership with Chad Foster, International Keynote Speaker and Author of Blind AmbitionTM
Rarely do you meet people who you just know your life is richer because of that meeting - well, Chad Foster is one of those individuals. Author of Blind AmbitionTM, Chad is a globally recognized speaker and advocate for resilience, sharing his compelling journey from blindness at 21 to becoming a Fortune 500 corporate leader and motivational figure.
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Turning Blindness Into Brilliance: How to Reframe Adversity with Chad E. Foster
At just 21, Chad E. Foster faced the life-altering challenge of losing his sight - he’s not just succeeded in spite of blindness… he’s succeeded because of it. Chad’s a Harvard-educated inspiration to us all, and while you could measure his financial success in billions, the countless life perspectives he’s changed by sharing his story are absolutely priceless. We discover how Chad has turned obstacles into opportunities, as he shares practical tools we can all use to navigate our own setbacks on this week’s staggering episode of Extrology.
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Chad Foster: Turning Blindness into a Superpower – A Journey of Resilience and Leadership
In this powerful episode, we sit down with Chad Foster, the first blind executive to graduate from Harvard Business School. Chad shares his incredible journey of losing his eyesight at a young age and how he built resilience to overcome life's challenges. He reveals the five key pillars of resilience that helped him succeed.
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Overcoming Adversity and Finding Purpose
In this powerful episode of the Driving Change Podcast, host Jeff Bloomfield sits down with Chad Foster, a trailblazing motivational speaker and the first blind person to graduate from Harvard Business School’s Leadership Program.
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Podcast 1159: Blind Ambition: How to Go from Victim to Visionary with Chad E. Foster
In this compelling episode of Inside Personal Growth, we sit down with Chad E. Foster, a remarkable individual whose story transcends the boundaries of physical limitations and delves into the heart of human potential.
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Chad Foster delivers masterclass on resilience and innovation at EVOLVE24 Dubai conference
In an inspiring keynote address at Cloudera’s EVOLVE24 data and AI conference in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Chad E. Foster captivated an engaged audience of data and AI industry professionals and innovators about overcoming adversity and fostering a culture of resilience in the workplace.
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Blind Ambition: Shifting Perspectives | Chad E. Foster
In this episode, Chad E. Foster shares how he turned his blindness into a catalyst for success and resilience. He shares his compelling journey from losing his sight due to a genetic eye condition to becoming a trailblazer in the business world. He discusses how his experiences have shaped his perspective, the anatomy of resilience he has developed, and the importance of turning obstacles into opportunities. Through heartfelt stories and practical insights, Chad inspires listeners to embrace challenges and cultivate an overcomer mindset.
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Embracing Discomfort with Chad E. Foster
Host Warren Wandling takes you behind the scenes to get to know a variety of leaders and the keys to their success. Discover strategies, tips and resources from leaders and entrepreneurs who have overcome obstacles to build resilience and achieve success. In this episode, Warren introduces you to Chad E. Foster.
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Chad E. Foster: How To Be Resilient, And Anti-fragile With Blind Ambition Now
In this captivating episode of WholeCEO Podcast with Lisa G, we dive deep into the remarkable journey of Chad E. Foster, a trailblazer in resilience and anti-fragility. Chad's story of overcoming blindness at a young age is one we've heard before, but today, we go beyond the headlines to explore the untold daily challenges he has faced and how he's transformed adversity into triumph.
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Trusted Data Today Fuels Tomorrow’s AI at Cloudera’s EVOLVE24 Event Series
Chad Foster, award-winning business leader and author of "Blind Ambition," will deliver a keynote address at Cloudera's global EVOLVE24 conference series, focusing on data management, analytics, and AI innovations across multiple cities in 2024.
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How to Go from Victim to Visionary with Chad E. Foster
In this inspiring episode of The Happiness Practices, Phil Gerbyshak interviews Chad E. Foster, a motivational speaker and author of Blind Ambition. Chad shares his powerful journey of going blind at 21 and how it reshaped his perspective on happiness, success, and resilience. They discuss the importance of gratitude, overcoming challenges, and practical steps to cultivate resilience in everyday life.
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The Resilience Unravelled Podcast: Chad E Foster - Blind Ambition. From Victim to Visionary
In this episode of Resilience Unravelled Chad E Foster talks about his personal experience of losing his vision due to an inherited eye condition called retinitis pigmentosa. He describes how he initially struggled with the loss, exhibiting a victim mentality, but later found solace and a new perspective after meeting and living with people who faced multiple disabilities. He emphasises the transformative impact of this experience, which shifted his attitude towards one of gratitude and appreciation.
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Turning Darkness into Light: A Blind Man's Journey to Purpose with Chad Foster
In this episode of the "From Adversity to Abundance" podcast, Chad Foster shares his inspiring journey of becoming a successful blind executive, author, and athlete, demonstrating how he turned his visual impairment into a strength and embraced challenges to achieve personal and professional abundance.
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AORN Expo’s Opening Ceremony Hits the Mark
The 2024 AORN Global Surgical Conference & Expo in Nashville kicked off with an opening ceremony Saturday that focused on the 75th anniversary of the storied perioperative nursing association and the theme of this year’s event, “Make Your Mark.” It ended with keynote speaker Chad E. Foster’s inspiring keynote presentation. The energy never faltered in between.
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Ep93 Chad E. Foster - Building Resiliency and What to Do With It
What if your biggest setback was actually your biggest advantage? In this episode of Strategy + Action, host Jason Croft sits down with Chad E. Foster, a man who refused to be defined by his circumstances.
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Global Gurus Top 30 of 2024: World's Top 30 Motivational Speakers for 2024
Chad Foster has been ranked #24 of World's Top Motivational Speakers of 2024 by the GlobalGurus research organisation.
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Purpose Before Profit: Chad Foster Of Blind Ambition On The Benefits Of Running A Purpose-Driven Business
A REAL PURPOSE: Whatever it is, it must have a deeper meaning than money. What is it and why does it deeply resonate with you? If you don’t have this, it’s unlikely to have lasting power.
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5 Tactics to Shift Your Mindset from Victim to Visionary
“The way we attach ourselves to circumstances is far more significant than the circumstances alone. When we stop being the victim of circumstance, we can start seeing the opportunities that lie in our challenges,” says Chad E. Foster.
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Finding Your Blind Ambition with Motivational Speaker Chad E. Foster
Chad E. Foster’s journey from “victim to visionary” will change the way you see life. After losing his eyesight in his 20s, Foster was the first blind executive to graduate from Harvard Business School’s Program for Leadership Development.
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Growth Lessons from a Graduate of the School of Hard Knocks
After Chad Foster went blind in college, he learned far more about himself and how to bring positive change to the world. He recently told association executives and event planners how they can achieve those things themselves.
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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.
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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.
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Blind Ambition, with Chad E. Foster – Episode 430 of The Action Catalyst Podcast
Author, professional speaker, and executive coach Chad E. Foster talks about living most of his life outside of his comfort zone after totally losing his sight in college and becoming comfortable with discomfort.
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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.
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The Stories we tell ourselves with Chad Foster
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How To Go From Victim To Visionary with Chad Foster
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Telling His Story of Resilience
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The Sales Chalk Talk Show
Blind Ambition - Chad E. Foster
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The Adam Carolla Show
Chad Foster + Greg Fitzsimmons
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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?
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This Sustainable Life
Joshua Spodek's adventures in stewardship
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How to Visualize Greatness
Motivational Mondays: Conversations with Leaders
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5 Steps That Each Of Us Can Take To Proactively Help Heal Our Country
Chad E. Foster of Red Hat
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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.
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Second Chapters; How I Reinvented Myself In The Second Chapter Of My Life
Chad E Foster of Red Hat
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Use Adversity To Take Back Control Over Your Life
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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.
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Sense of Soul
Blind Ambition
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Blind Ambition Author and Motivational Speaker Chad Foster
Can you imagine going blind as a teenager?
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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.
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TGFM - Chad Foster
Brother Greg speaks with Chad Foster to discusses his book - Blind Ambition: How to go from Victim to Visionary
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OFFICE HOURS
Why it is Important to Have a Try Me Perspective with Chad Foster, Author, Motivational Speaker, and Business Executive.
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Chad Foster & Bill George (HBS): Authentically Leading with Blind Ambition
Watch this video to learn more about Chad at Harvard.
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Thriving Through Adversity with Chad E Foster, Author of Blind Ambition
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Disability Talks: Don't Dis My Ability
Thriving With Change Through Life's Blind Spots
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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.
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Passionate World Talk Radio
HOW TO GO FROM VICTIM TO VISIONARY
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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.
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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
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Rise Together
The Life-Changing Benefits of Blind Ambition - with Chad E. Foster
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An Apple A Day
Interview w/Chad Foster
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Local author loses his sight but not his life’s vision
UT alumni, Chad Foster, is using his experience to help others fight adversity
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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,”
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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?
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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?
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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."
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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.
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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.
Blind Ambition™
The Book Behind the Framework
The methodology behind 200+ keynotes and 40% YoY revenue growth started here. Blind Ambition is the story of how Chad E. Foster lost his eyesight at 21 and built a framework that Fortune 500 companies now use to drive performance under pressure. Part origin story, part business methodology, part field guide for anyone who refuses to let circumstances dictate outcomes.
Inquire about speaking
To inquire about speaking, call 855-GET-CHAD and press Option 1 to connect with Brandy Gibson at Executive Speakers Bureau.
