<p>A trailblazing champion of inclusive innovation, Haben Girma shows organizations that accessibility isn’t just a legal or ethical responsibility—it’s a strategic advantage for expanding customer reach and outperforming competitors.</p><p>A powerful voice for inclusion and equity, Haben Girma’s keynotes challenge assumptions and inspire action, inspiring organizations to reframe disability as a catalyst for innovation. Through captivating stories infused with humor and heart, she helps audiences see that barriers are not roadblocks—they’re opportunities to lead, build, and innovate more effectively.</p><p>Haben draws from her own journey navigating a sighted-hearing world as a Deafblind woman to illustrate how adversity can sharpen creativity and unlock untapped potential. She empowers teams to embrace a mindset shift: that accessibility isn’t just a legal or ethical responsibility—it’s a strategic advantage. Her sessions explore how inclusive design fuels innovation, how companies can better serve the $13 trillion global disability market, and how leaders can create more equitable workplaces where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. Audiences walk away with clear, actionable insights on accessible hiring, inclusive product development, and building cultures where diverse talents and perspectives are truly valued.</p><p>Haben is the author of the bestseller,<em> Haben: The Deafblind Woman Who Conquered Harvard Law</em>, which was featured in <em>The New York Times, Oprah Magazine,</em> and on the TODAY Show. Her story takes readers on adventures around the world, including her parents’ homes in Eritrea and Ethiopia, building a school under the scorching Saharan sun, training with a guide dog in New Jersey, climbing an iceberg in Alaska, fighting for blind readers at a courthouse in Vermont, and talking with President Obama at The White House. </p><p><br></p>
Human Rights Lawyer, Disability Advocate, and the first Deafblind Graduate of Harvard Law School
<ul><li><strong>Transforming Challenges into Opportunities</strong></li><li>As a Deafblind child in a sighted-hearing world, Haben faced the choice of accepting barriers or advocating for justice. Her self-advocacy soon grew to advocating for others, leading her to sharpen her skills at Harvard Law and beyond. She champions the belief that challenges are opportunities to develop new, better solutions. Through powerful stories infused with humor, Haben’s presentations help audiences increase creative problem-solving.</li><li><strong>Gaining the Innovation Advantage</strong></li><li>What do iPhones, jacuzzis, and audiobooks have in common? The brilliance of disabled people sparked the creation of countless products, and the above are just three of them. As a Deafblind woman living in a mostly inaccessible world, Haben has developed stellar innovative skills that allows her to dance past barriers. Many disabled people similarly have strong problem-solving skills that launch cutting edge inventions. Reports by Accenture have shown that companies leading in accessible hiring, marketing, and design outperform their competitors. The global accessibility market, disabled people and their communities purchasing accessible products and services, is worth over $13 trillion annually. Organizations that prioritize accessibility benefit by tapping into a larger market, improving the experience for both disabled and nondisabled people, boosting brand loyalty, and increasing innovation. Haben’s keynotes share entertaining stories from her personal journey, sprinkled with delightful humor, and wisdom that helps build stronger, more innovative communities.</li><li><strong>Accessibility: A Conversation with Haben Girma</strong></li><li>New questions about accessibility emerge as society and technology evolve. How do engineers harness the power of AI without excluding disabled people? How do marketing teams craft compelling videos that reach disabled customers? How do HR teams remove barriers so talented employees with disabilities can help the organization drive innovation? During this fireside chat style presentation, Haben will address questions tailored to your organization. She will combine personal anecdotes, extensive knowledge from the field, and her warm wit to deliver an unforgettable presentation.</li></ul><p><br></p>