Elizabeth Smart: Inspirational Speaker
Survivor, advocate, and inspirational keynote speaker Elizabeth Smart empowers audiences with powerful insights on resilience, recovery, and transforming trauma into purpose-driven change.
Quick Facts:
- Highlights:
- Survivor of one of the most widely followed child abduction cases
- Founder of the Elizabeth Smart Foundation
- International keynote speaker on resilience, recovery, and advocacy
- Influential voice in child protection policy and prevention
- Formats: Inspirational keynote speaker, advocate, author
- Audiences: Organizations, educators, healthcare professionals, leaders, and communities focused on resilience, safety, and trauma-informed growth
- Outcomes:
- Greater understanding of resilience and recovery after trauma
- Insight into advocacy, prevention, and protective action
- Renewed belief in hope, healing, and personal strength
- Travels from: Salt Lake City, UT
- **Fee range: $10,001 - $20,000
Talent Services
Keynote Topics:
OVERCOMING ADVERSITY: THE ELIZABETH SMART STORY
The abduction of Elizabeth Smart was one of the most followed child abduction cases of our time.
At the tender age of 14, just before celebrating her middle school graduation, Elizabeth went to sleep in her family home just as she had always done. Awakened hours later to a knife held roughly against her throat, she was taken from her home and family and held captive for nine long months.
In this captivating message, Elizabeth shares her incredible story of perseverance in the face of unimaginable adversity.
Her speech not only tells her personal story, but also discusses topics such as overcoming extreme adversity, the importance and process of recovery, and not allowing your past to dictate your life’s future.
Elizabeth knows that there is nothing more important than having hope in a difficult situation. Having lived through an extreme circumstance as a young teenager, Elizabeth gives great insight and hope to all.
Talent Short Bio
Elizabeth Smart is a globally recognized keynote speaker, author, and advocate whose story of survival and resilience has inspired millions. At age 14, Elizabeth was abducted from her home in Salt Lake City and held captive for nine months, enduring sustained abuse and constant threats against her life and her family.
Rescued in 2003, Elizabeth chose not to be defined by her trauma. Instead, she transformed her experience into a lifelong mission to protect others, educate communities, and drive meaningful policy change. Her courage was powerfully demonstrated when she testified against her captor, helping secure his conviction and reclaiming her voice on a global stage.
Elizabeth is the founder of the Elizabeth Smart Foundation, which focuses on prevention, recovery, and advocacy related to child abduction and sexual violence. Through her work, she has supported national safety initiatives and legislation, including the AMBER Alert system and child protection laws designed to safeguard vulnerable children.
As a speaker, Elizabeth delivers deeply moving, thoughtfully grounded presentations that balance honesty with hope. Her message resonates across audiences, offering insight into trauma recovery, resilience, and the human capacity to heal and lead with purpose.
Read Full Bio
Elizabeth Smart’s story of survival and resilience captivated the world when, at just 14 years old, she was abducted from her home in Salt Lake City, Utah. For nine grueling months, she endured unimaginable abuse before being miraculously rescued. Today, Elizabeth is not just a survivor; she is a symbol of hope, a powerful advocate for change, and a globally recognized keynote speaker. Her journey serves as a living testament that even in the darkest times, there is a path to healing and transformation.
Through her work as an author, advocate, and speaker, Elizabeth has become an influential figure in the fight against child abduction and abuse. Her voice extends beyond her personal experience as she champions for policy change, inspires audiences worldwide, and works to protect and support those who have suffered trauma. Elizabeth’s ability to take her personal tragedy and turn it into a mission of advocacy and education makes her a trusted and compelling speaker.
The abduction of Elizabeth Smart was one of the most followed child abduction cases of our time. Elizabeth was abducted on June 5, 2002, and her captors controlled her by threatening to kill her and her family if she tried to escape.
Fortunately, the police safely returned Elizabeth back to her family on March 12, 2003, after being held a prisoner for 9 grueling months. Through this traumatic experience, Elizabeth has become an advocate for change related to child abduction, recovery programs, and National legislation.
Elizabeth triumphantly testified before her captor and the world about the very private nightmare she suffered during her abduction, which led to conviction. The Founder of the “Elizabeth Smart Foundation”, Elizabeth has also helped promote The National AMBER Alert, The Adam Walsh Child Protection & Safety Act and other safety legislation to help prevent abductions.
She married her husband Matthew in 2012, and they now have two beautiful children. Elizabeth’s example is a daily demonstration that there really is life after tragedy.
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