Chad E. Foster
Chad E. Foster is a business leader, resilience expert, and the first blind graduate of Harvard Business School's executive leadership program.
Background & Expertise
Chad E. Foster’s extraordinary journey from losing his eyesight in his early twenties to becoming a successful business leader provides the foundation for his powerful insights on resilience, adaptability, and transformational leadership. After going blind while attending college, Foster defied expectations by becoming the first to create CRM software for the visually-impaired—which Oracle said was impossible, becoming the first blind executive to graduate from Harvard Business School’s executive leadership program, and building a remarkable career in technology where his sales/financial strategies garnered billions in revenue, industry-leading growth, and best-in-class margins.
Foster’s professional background includes leadership roles at Red Hat, where he led the cross-functional team that captured the largest—nine-figure deal—in the company’s history. He also led the team that redesigned the company’s discount and approval framework, which created 57% operational efficiencies while incentivizing higher levels of customer spending. In addition to his business track record, he became a black diamond downhill snow skier and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner after he lost his eyesight. His unique combination of personal triumph over adversity and substantial business accomplishments gives him uncommon credibility when addressing both inspirational and practical business topics.
Signature Concepts & Methodologies
The Anatomy of Resilience Framework
Foster’s structured approach to building organizational and personal resilience through specific, teachable components.
Blind Ambition™ Methodology
His system for helping teams and leaders identify blind spots and turn obstacles into strategic advantages.
Adaptive Leadership Model
Foster’s approach to developing leadership capabilities that thrive amid disruption and uncertainty.
Innovation Through Constraint
His counterintuitive principle that limitations often spark the greatest creativity and problem-solving breakthroughs.
Inclusive Performance Acceleration
Foster’s strategies for leveraging diversity of thought and experience to drive business results.
Books & Thought Leadership
- Blind Ambition™: How to Go from Victim to Visionary - His acclaimed memoir and business book that outlines the mindset and methods for turning obstacles into opportunities.
- Featured in major media outlets including Forbes, USA Today, and Harvard Lifelong Learning for his insights on resilience and leadership.
- Regular contributor to publications on leadership, diversity, and organizational transformation.
Speaking Style & Audience Experience
Foster delivers keynotes with authentic passion and surprising humor that captivates audiences while challenging their assumptions about limitations. His presentations blend powerful personal storytelling with substantive business insights, creating emotional connections while providing actionable takeaways.
What distinguishes Foster’s speaking approach is his ability to tailor his message to different organizational contexts—from sales motivation to leadership development to innovation strategy. He frequently incorporates interactive elements that help audiences experience his concepts rather than merely hearing about them. His natural charisma and vulnerability create transformative experiences that inspire audience members to engage deeply with challenging topics and shift their mindset, igniting positive action.
Ideal Audiences & Event Types
- Leadership teams navigating significant change or adversity
- Organizations focused on innovation and adaptive strategy
- Sales kickoffs and performance improvement events
- Diversity and inclusion initiatives seeking substantive impact
- Technology and digital transformation conferences
- Healthcare and service industry events focused on empathy and customer experience
Recent Focus Areas
- Building organizational resilience in post-pandemic business environments
- Leveraging AI and emerging technologies while maintaining human-centered leadership
- Developing inclusive leadership approaches that drive measurable performance improvements
- Creating adaptable business strategies for navigating disruptive market conditions
- Fostering innovative thinking in established organizational cultures
