Overcoming Adversity

<p>With humor and empathy, Billie Lee shares her unique story to help individuals and groups combat microaggressions, amplify authenticity, and bring awareness to the LGBTQIA+ community.</p><p>Billie Lee is a transgender woman, actor, standup comedian, writer, producer, and activist. LogoTV named Billie as a 2018 honoree of Logo30 for raising awareness for the trans community. She was the first openly transgender cast member on BravoTV’s<em> Vanderpump Rules</em> and she continues to be an advocate and outspoken voice for the LGBTQIA+ community.

<p>A true American success story, Damon Dunn shares his inspiring program on transformation, resilience, leadership, and how to turn failure into opportunity. </p><p>Born in Fort Worth, Texas to a 16-year-old single mother, Damon Dunn grew up in dire poverty, living in a three-bedroom trailer with ten people. Damon grew up hunting and fishing as means to provide food and wore Salvation Army clothes. Quickly learning the value of hard work, he earned a full football scholarship to Stanford, then went on to play in the NFL.

<p>From struggling with addiction and health to becoming one of the world’s fittest men, Rich Roll shares with audiences his inspiring journey and the tools needed to unlock and unleash our best, most authentic selves. </p><p>A #1 bestselling author, world renowned ultra-endurance athlete, popular podcast host and wellness pioneer, Rich Roll is also a highly sought-after presenter with a powerful yet grounded, highly authentic style, profound command over a room and the unique ability to not only educate and inspire, but to catalyze self-actualization for audiences seeking

<p>A history-making cultural icon, ballet dancer Misty Copeland shares her inspiring life journey—from living in a motel room with her five siblings to becoming the first Black principal dancer at the prestigious American Ballet Theatre in the company’s 75-year history. </p><p>When Misty discovered ballet, she was living in a shabby motel room, struggling with her five siblings for a place to sleep on the floor.

<p>Selected by the Obama Foundation as a 2025–26 USA Leader, Halim Flowers draws on his 22-year journey of wrongful incarceration and powerful transformation to inspire audiences to rise above obstacles and discover their true purpose.</p><p> In 1997, Halim Flowers was arrested at the age of 16 and given two life sentences. His experiences were filmed in the Emmy Award-winning documentary <em>Thug Life in DC</em>. During his incarceration, Halim discovered a love for literature and the arts, and began writing, painting, and freestyle-rapping.

<p>Sharing her extraordinary story, Jessica Buchanan inspires audiences to overcome their own obstacles and access their own strength and resilience—no matter how “impossible” the odds.</p><p>On October 25, 2011, while working in Somalia on a routine field mission for her NGO, Jessica Buchanan was abducted at gunpoint and held for ransom by a group of Somali pirates for 93 days.

<p>An award-winning Latina entrepreneur who went from living in an orphanage to creating a wildly successful salsa company she sold to Campbell’s Soup for $231M, Magie Cook inspires audiences around the world to face their biggest obstacles and reach their greatest potential.</p><p>Magie Cook grew up in Mexico, living in an orphanage with 68 other children. As a child, she taught herself how to play basketball and ultimately immigrated to the US on a basketball scholarship at the University of Charleston.

<p>Maja Kazazic is a survivor of the Bosnian genocide, a successful tech entrepreneur, and the author of <em>Scale Up Blueprint™.</em> After losing her leg in a grenade attack and immigrating to the U.S., she rebuilt her life and went on to help Fortune 100 companies scale during times of challenge and change. Her story—featured by the BBC, ABC, FOX, CBS, and Discovery Channel—is a powerful testament to resilience, purpose, and human potential. Today, she delivers deeply moving, results-driven keynotes that help leaders and teams grow through grit and grace.</p>

<p>The inspiring subject of the Prime film, <em>A Million Miles Away</em>, José Hernández shares stories from his extraordinary journey from migrant farm worker to NASA astronaut, empowering audiences to persevere in challenging environments and to achieve their greatest goals. </p><p>NASA engineer José Hernández wanted to fly in space ever since he heard that the first Hispanic-American had been chosen to travel into space.

<p>Described by Billie Jean King as “a bold and dynamic force for good with the courage to fight for social justice, live authentically, and inspire others to do the same,” Joanna Lohman is committed to building a new generation of leaders who harness adversity as a catalyst for success.</p><p>Joanna Lohman is a former professional soccer player and member of the United States Women’s National Team. During her 16-year professional career, she built a platform for social impact and became the first player in Washington Spirit history to have her jersey retired.