Chad Foster: Blind Ambition

Chad Foster is a resilient leadership keynote speaker and blind black diamond skier who turns adversity into billion-dollar business results and inclusive cultures.

Quick Facts:

Highlights:
  • First blind executive to complete Harvard Business School’s leadership program.
  • Billion-dollar revenue generator and job creator.
  • Innovator who helped make CRM software accessible to the visually impaired. 
  • Blind black diamond skier and sought-after resilience speaker.

Formats: Keynote 45–60 min, Half-day Workshop, Resilience Masterclass, Fireside Chat, Virtual

Audiences: Executives, people leaders, sales and go-to-market teams, operations, ERGs and DEI leaders, technology organizations

Outcomes:
  1. A practical mindset shift from victim to visionary with tools for navigating change.
  2. Methods to turn constraints into catalysts and grow beyond comfort zones. 
  3. A clear case for diversity as an engine for innovation and performance.
Reviews: (4 reviews)
5/5
  • Travels from: Atlanta, Georgia
  • **Fee range: $20,001 - $35,000

Talent Services

Keynote Topics:

How to Go from Victim to Visionary
In this signature keynote, Chad will entertain, inspire, and move your audience, while teaching them how to shift their mindset from victim to visionaryTM. Going blind at 21-years-old and facing a life with seemingly limited opportunities, Chad had to reinvent himself before even having a shot at success. Turning obstacles into opportunities, he became a Harvard-educated rainmaker, created countless jobs, and now he teaches teams how to cultivate resilient mindsets, adapt and thrive in change, and set ambitious goals with the right mindset to achieve them.

This program gives your people the tools and inspiration to overcome difficult circumstances and create a promising positive future. More than just a motivational talk, this session connects inspiration to implementation.

Growth Through Adversity
Life without obstacles removes opportunity for growth. For any of us to grow, we need to step outside our comfort zones. In this powerful keynote, Chad teaches how the obstacles that lie in front of us can propel us towards our goals.

Every organization finds itself face-to-face with problems that can seem insurmountable. Beyond Chad’s personal path of overcoming overwhelming odds, his business track record for moving through challenges and improving results gives a unique perspective on how comfort zones hold us back.

Chad will talk about how he’s not successful in spite of being blind. He is successful because he’s blind. He embraced his problem and turned it into a solution. In this session Chad will teach your teams how to realize exponential growth through adversity.

The Engine for Innovation
Chad was born part of the mainstream majority, but after going blind in college, he was treated differently as a disabled minority. After living over 20 years in both social groups, his unique vantage points of both worlds allow him to equip your teams to think differently about Diversity and Inclusion (DnI) in the workplace.

Chad goes beyond just valuing each person. He will show how DnI drives business innovation. We know that diversity of thought creates change, and when harnessed correctly, change drives innovation. How can we create a culture that invites diversity of thought to have a welcomed seat at the table so each individual feels valued to contribute? This session shows how you can unlock the value of DnI in your workplace to power the innovation your business needs to thrive.

Resilience Workshop
In this workshop Chad will lead you through the steps you can take to improve resilience. He teaches the practical tools you can apply to any situation in order to move your mindset from victim to visionary.

During this session you will map out your resilience journey. After setting out your own personal vision of greatness, you will see your life more clearly than you ever have before. It can set you free to discover the amazing advantages that your disadvantages offer. You can then seek your own gifts that are disguised in terrible wrapping paper and see how the unique perspectives you’ve gained from those disadvantages contribute to your vision of greatness.

Nothing in life is permanent. Everybody and everything changes. The only certainty is change. The key is figuring out how you will adapt.

Talent Short Bio

Chad Foster is a resilient leadership expert, motivational speaker, and author who teaches audiences how to go from victim to visionary. After losing his eyesight in college, he built a career as a Harvard-educated executive dealmaker, pioneering accessible CRM in tech and generating over a billion dollars in revenue.

His keynotes connect inspiration to implementation, giving leaders practical tools to thrive through disruption, expand comfort zones, and unlock innovation through diversity and inclusion. Chad’s lived experience and business record make him a powerful voice for transforming obstacles into opportunities and building teams that perform under pressure.

Chad Foster is a billion-dollar revenue generator, a visionary innovator in the tech world, and a job creator who redefines what it means to succeed. What sets him apart even more? He’s blind. Far from being a limitation, his loss of eyesight as a young adult transformed him into a powerful advocate for resilience and opportunity.

When Chad takes the stage, he inspires audiences by sharing his journey of turning adversity into strength. Through his groundbreaking achievements, including becoming the first blind executive to graduate from Harvard Business School’s leadership program and revolutionizing CRM software for the visually impaired, he proves that obstacles are merely opportunities in disguise.

Chad Foster’s story is one of determination, innovation, and unparalleled leadership. Losing his sight as a young adult was not the end of his dreams, it was the catalyst for his evolution. Refusing to succumb to limitations, Chad leveraged his tenacity and intellect to excel in a world often unaccommodating to those with disabilities. His resilience and forward-thinking approach allowed him to break barriers and inspire countless others.

Chad Foster’s academic credentials further amplify his authority. As the first blind executive to graduate from Harvard Business School’s leadership program, he demonstrated his ability to excel at the highest levels. His combination of academic excellence and real-world expertise positions him as a thought leader who speaks with authenticity and authority.

Audiences across the globe are captivated by Chad’s ability to connect on a deeply human level. His insights on overcoming challenges, fostering a growth mindset, and creating opportunities resonate with professionals, students, and organizations seeking inspiration. Whether he’s addressing Fortune 500 companies or nonprofit groups, Chad’s story transcends industries and demographics, delivering a message that inspires action and instills hope.

Chad Foster’s extraordinary journey from losing his eyesight to becoming a billion-dollar revenue generator, tech innovator, and Harvard Business School alum embodies the triumph of the human spirit. His ability to turn setbacks into stepping stones inspires audiences to redefine their own possibilities. With a message rooted in resilience, adaptability, and innovation, Chad leaves a profound and lasting impact wherever he speaks.

Hashtags:
#ChadFoster #TechInnovator #MotivationalSpeaker #Resilience #BlindLeadership

View All Speakers and follow us on Twitter

Talent Videos

Blind Ambition: Chad Foster on Resilience, Change, and Turning Obstacles into Opportunities

A fast, high impact reel where Chad Foster shows how mindset, story, and comfort with discomfort ignite resilience, performance, and innovation in times of rapid change.

The reel opens on the problem: relentless change is driving anxiety, burnout, and talent loss, which hurts productivity and customer value. Chad’s answer is a mindset upgrade that helps people visualize their own greatness. Core cues from the clip include tell yourself the right stories, get comfortable with discomfort, and remember that courage is action despite fear.

After a brief stage intro, Chad explains that he lost his eyesight at 21 yet emerged happier and more successful by using specific tools that anyone can learn. He outlines the goal of moving from victim to visionary by looking inward, clarifying purpose, and choosing better narratives. Testimonials from major brands underscore impact and emotional resonance.

The reel closes with a call to define your vision of greatness, believe it, demand it, and pursue it with confidence and blind ambition.

Key Moments

00:00 The problem: pace of change, burnout, and lost productivity
00:12 Mindset cues: tell yourself the right stories, seek growth through discomfort
00:28 Onstage intro and theme: anatomy of resilience, tools that work in real life
00:44 Personal pivot: went blind at 21, emerged stronger with a repeatable toolkit
01:02 Victim to visionary: look inside, reframe, act with courage despite fear
01:20 Social proof montage: audience reactions and client testimonials
01:36 Closing call to action: define and pursue your vision with blind ambition

had Foster shares a true Stevie Wonder story, then shows how positive belief and “blind ambition” turn disadvantages into competitive advantage.

Chad recalls meeting Stevie Wonder at an accessibility convention in Los Angeles. Instead of asking for an autograph, he offers help optimizing Stevie’s computer setup, which leads to an invite to the studio and a surreal stop at Roscoe’s in Hollywood. The story underscores a key theme: you miss every shot you do not take. Confidence and willingness attract support.

He pivots to performance psychology. The most important driver is positive belief, even slightly unrealistic confidence. No one is world class without weaknesses. What separates top performers is their relationship to those weaknesses. Chad shares his own arc: after going blind, he never imagined attending Harvard Business School, yet he did and delivered the graduating speech. The lesson is to set goals higher than you think you can achieve because most of us are capable of far more than we credit ourselves for.

Ambition must be paired with the right self-talk and the habit of turning disadvantages into advantages. Success requires refusing to be denied, demanding greatness from yourself and those around you, and rejecting others’ limiting expectations. He closes with a call to define your vision of greatness, believe it, and demand it, then ties the message to sales execution: rev up product knowledge, customer success, and commissions with blind ambition.

Key Moments

00:00 LA accessibility convention, meets Stevie Wonder, offers tech help
00:35 Studio invite, Roscoe’s chicken and waffles, calling his wife
01:05 “Seeing eye people” joke and the confidence to take big shots
01:28 Willingness attracts support, why positive belief matters most
01:55 No one is world class without weaknesses, change your relationship to them
02:20 Personal arc: going blind, then Harvard Business School graduating speaker
03:00 Set goals higher than you think possible, take advantage of disadvantages
03:35 Refuse to be denied, reject others’ expectations and fear
04:05 Call to action: identify, believe, and demand your vision of greatness
04:35 Sales tie-in: rev up product knowledge, customer success, and commission

Chad Foster shows how mindset and self-taught coding turned accessibility roadblocks into enterprise solutions, defining what innovative leadership looks like.

Chad opens by acknowledging how hard change can be. After going blind, computers opened a new world, but not every app worked with his screen reader. Using that constraint as motivation, he taught himself to code and engineered bridges so the accessibility software could integrate with other applications. He stresses that adaptation is less about ability and more about willingness and determination. The integrations he built for himself and others are still used by thousands of blind users.

He raises a standard of leadership with a real case. A colleague at Accenture called about a customer whose blind employee was blocked by an incompatibility between a software system and the screen reader. Chad wrote a solution that allowed both programs to communicate. While a major vendor, Oracle, said it could not be done, he had already delivered it. He closes by defining innovative leadership as doing what you know you can achieve and leading people around you to do the same.

Key Moments

00:00 Change is hard; blindness leads to accessibility tech but apps do not always work
00:18 Teaches himself to code; engineers integrations between screen reader and applications
00:38 Growth mindset message; ability vs willingness and determination
00:55 Builds solutions used by thousands of blind users
01:07 Sets the bar: are you a leader or a follower
01:14 Accenture call about a blocked blind employee
01:28 Writes a bridge so the software and screen reader work together
01:47 Notes Oracle said it could not be done, but he had done it
02:10 Defines innovative leadership and invites the audience to adopt it

Interest to Book? Send us your enquiry

Speaker Contact Form

Enquiry Form

Talent FAQ's

Yes. Programs are customized to your goals and audience level.

Both, with immediately usable tools.

Travels from Atlanta. Typical ranges are listed on the Speakers Inc profile.

Talent Resources

In order to view the below you must be logged in.

  • Powerpoint Slide – For meeting and event planners
  • Gallery Images
  • High Resolution Images
  • PDF Files
  • Books and Magazine Links
  • Music List
  • Podcast Shows
  • Courses
  • + more

You may be interested in...

  • (35)
Tye Caldwell

Dr. Tye Caldwell stands at the forefront of innovation in the beauty industry, wielding a potent combination of entrepreneurial acumen, technological prowess, and a profound commitment to empowering beauty and barbering professionals worldwide. As the Co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer of ShearShare, Dr. Caldwell has etched his name as a visionary leader, dedicated to revolutionizing […]

  • Travels from: Buffalo, NY
  • Entrepreneurship
  • (18)
Julie Foudy

Julie Foudy, former captain of the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team and two-time FIFA Women’s World Cup champion, is not only a sports legend but also a highly sought-after keynote speaker. With an illustrious career spanning nearly two decades, she has inspired millions through her achievements on the field and her leadership off it. As […]

  • Travels from: San Diego, CA
  • Sporting Speakers
  • (22)
Shari Levitin-1

Shari Levitin is a globally recognized sales strategist, tech influencer, and bestselling author who bridges the gap between AI innovation and authentic human connection. With over 160 million views on her transformative, often viral videos, Shari has become a powerful voice for the future of sales, where empathy meets efficiency. Her dynamic approach captivates modern […]

  • Travels from: Salt Lake City, UT
  • Sales Speakers
  • (44)

For Urs Koenig, challenging people to help them achieve top performance and bringing transformation is at the heart of everything he does. His journey has been non-traditional at every step. After his highly successful skiing career, he coached the Swiss University Ski Team and won numerous championships worldwide. Always eager to challenge himself as well […]

  • Travels from: Seattle, WA
  • Motivational Speakers
  • (34)
Mike Staver

Mike Staver, CEO of The Staver Group, has earned a reputation as a bold, no-nonsense leadership coach who inspires change and growth in leaders across various industries. Often referred to as a “rebel with a cause,” Mike challenges leaders to confront their realities and face their fears head-on. He helps them take decisive action, enabling […]

  • Travels from: Fountain Hills, AZ
  • Leadership Speakers
  • (9)
Marc Randolph

Marc Randolph is a veteran Silicon Valley entrepreneur, advisor, and investor. As co-founder and first CEO of Netflix, he laid much of the groundwork for a service that’s grown to over 200 million subscribers, and fundamentally altered how the world experiences media. He also served on the Netflix board of directors until retiring from the company […]

  • Travels from: Santa Cruz, CA
  • Innovation Speakers
  • (23)
Sara Dean

Sara Dean is not your average speaker. With over a decade of experience in leadership development, executive coaching, and organizational psychology, Sara brings a wealth of knowledge and insights to her presentations. As the founder of a successful coaching consultancy, Sara has worked with Fortune 500 companies, startups, and nonprofits alike, helping leaders at all […]

  • Travels from: Seattle, WA
  • Leadership Speakers
  • (24)
Kathy Caprino

Kathy Caprino, M.A., stands at the forefront of empowering women in their careers and leadership journeys. As an internationally-recognized women’s career and executive coach, writer, leadership trainer, and sought-after speaker, Kathy embodies a unique blend of corporate expertise, coaching prowess, and therapeutic insight. With a career spanning 18 years as a corporate executive and 15 […]

  • Travels from: Stamford, CT
  • Leadership Speakers
Disclaimer
The profiles and images embedded on these pages are from various conference entertainers and other talent.

These remain the property of its owner and are not affiliated with or endorsed by Speakers Inc.

Fee ranges where listed on this website are intended to serve as a guideline only.

All talent fees exclude VAT, travel and accommodation where required.

Subscribe to our Newsletter and get connected:

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Newsletter

Subscribe to our newsletter and stay updated.

We use Brevo as our marketing platform. By submitting this form you agree that the personal data you provided will be transferred to Brevo for processing in accordance with Brevo's Privacy Policy.

Our Mission:

We are your partner creating memorable and engaging experiences that go beyond the event itself.

© All rights reserved 2025.  Designed using Voxel

Speakers Inc Logo 2024
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.