Nina Sossamon-Pogue: Motivational Speaker
Motivational speaker, resilience expert, and author Nina Sossamon-Pogue helps individuals and organizations build mental strength, navigate change, and overcome adversity with proven, research-based strategies.
Quick Facts:
- Highlights:
- Motivational speaker focused on resilience and mental health
- Former USA Gymnast and Emmy Award-winning news anchor
- Former tech executive at Benefit focus during high-growth phase
- Author of This Is Not the End
- Formats: Keynote speaker, resilience expert, leadership and mental health speaker
- Audiences: Corporate leaders, teams, HR professionals, conferences, and organizations seeking to build resilience, improve mental well-being, and navigate change effectively.
- Outcomes:
- Develop practical strategies to manage stress and adversity
- Build resilience and mental strength in times of change
- Reframe challenges and take control of personal and professional growth
- Travels from: Charleston, SC
- **Fee range: $10,001 - $20,000
Talent Services
Keynote Topics:
Keynote 1: You Got THIS
Taking On Life’s Challenges With Unapologetic Confidence.
A Session that delivers the Mindset, Motivation, and Tools to Navigate Today’s Unique Challenges.
Challenges are inevitable, but how we face them defines our success. In this powerful session, Nina unpacks why obstacles feel overwhelming, how our brains instinctively resist discomfort, and what it takes to turn adversity into an advantage. Blending science, stoicism, and storytelling, she reframes challenges as a catalyst for growth rather than a roadblock.
Audience Takeaways:
- Understand the True Meaning of Resilience: Learn why how you get back up matters and how challenges shape your growth.
- Learn THIS Framework to Handle Adversity of All Sizes: A science-backed, actionable approach to navigating challenges like a pro.
- Discover the “Reverse Resume” Concept: Uncover the untold story of life’s challenges and setbacks; those transformative experiences beneath the surface that shape who you are and fuel your resilience.
- Develop Practical Skills for Stress & Motivation: Gain strategies to manage stress, stay motivated, and maintain perspective, even in uncertain times.
- Foster Collaboration: Walk away with insights to strengthen teamwork, build resilience, and confidently tackle your next challenge.
Keynote 2: You’re Wired for THIS!
Navigating Change Like a Pro
A Session that delivers the Mindset, Motivation, and Tools to Embrace Change with Confidence.
Change is constant, but our instinct to resist it holds us back. In this engaging and insightful session, Nina explores why change feels so difficult, how our brains and bodies react to uncertainty, and what we can do to rewire our response.
Through a mix of neuroscience, stoicism, and personal storytelling, she shifts the narrative, showing audiences how to embrace change as an opportunity instead of fearing it.
Audience Takeaways:
- Why Change Feels Hard – Understand the brain’s natural resistance to change and how to shift your perspective.
- The THIS Framework for Navigating Change – A science-backed, actionable approach to handling change like a pro.
- Resilience Redefined – Learn how to embrace change instead of fearing it, and develop a challenge-ready mindset.
- Practical Strategies for Stress & Uncertainty – Gain tools to manage stress, stay motivated, and remain flexible in the face of change.
- Stronger Together – Discover insights to foster teamwork, collaboration, and confidence during times of transition.
Keynote 3: Resilience for High Achievers
The Secret to Sustained Success
Empowering Top Performers to Keep Leveling Up in a World That Never Slows Down
High achievers thrive on success, but the relentless pressure to perform can lead to burnout. In this eye-opening session, Nina introduces Excellence Exhaustion, a condition where the unending drive to surpass previous achievements, coupled with perpetual demands, leads to diminished productivity and well-being. Success isn’t just about pushing harder, it’s about building resilience, making this session essential for leaders, executives, and driven professionals striving for peak performance without burnout.
Audience Takeaways:
- Recognize “Excellence Exhaustion” – Understand the hidden toll of nonstop achievement and learn how to prevent burnout.
- Unlock the Power of Your Reverse Resume – Reframe setbacks and challenges as essential milestones in your success story.
- Sustain Success Without Breaking Down – Gain Nina’s proven approach to navigating obstacles and staying in control.
- Boost Productivity & Team Culture – Foster an environment where high performance and well-being go hand in hand.
- Thrive Under Pressure – Develop a mindset and toolkit to tackle change with confidence, clarity, and resilience.
Talent Short Bio
Nina Sossamon-Pogue is a sought-after motivational speaker, resilience expert, and bestselling author who helps individuals and organizations navigate adversity, build mental strength, and thrive in times of constant change. Her work focuses on practical, research-based strategies for managing stress, reframing challenges, and emerging stronger from life’s most difficult moments.
Nina’s unique perspective is shaped by a diverse and high-achieving career. She is a former USA Gymnast, an Emmy Award-winning television news anchor, and a hyper-growth tech executive at Benefitfocus. Across each chapter, she experienced both significant success and deeply personal setbacks, including career-ending injury, public job loss, and traumatic life events.
Drawing from these experiences, Nina developed a proven resilience framework designed to help others move through adversity with clarity and confidence. She is the author of This Is Not the End, a practical guide for overcoming life’s toughest chapters, and But I Want Both, which supports high-achieving professionals in balancing career and family life.
Read Full Bio
Nina Sossamon-Pogue is a highly sought-after motivational speaker, renowned for her expertise in resilience, change management, and mental wellness. With a dynamic career spanning elite athletics, broadcast journalism, and executive leadership, Nina empowers audiences $to navigate today’s unprecedented era of constant change, fueled by evolving technologies, vast data influxes, and machine learning.
As a USA Gymnast (1982–1984), Emmy-winning television news anchor (1992–2007), and hyper-growth tech executive (2007–2019, Benefitfocus), Nina has experienced success at the highest levels in sports, media, and corporate America. She is also no stranger to life’s most challenging moments, including an injury that ended her athletic career, a very public layoff, and a tragic car accident that thrust her into the headlines and tested her mental fortitude. Through these trials, she not only rebuilt but reached even greater heights, fueling her passion for helping others do the same.
Nina is the author of two best-selling books:
- This Is Not the End: Strategies to Get You Through the Worst Chapters of Your Life (2019, Morgan James Publishing), which provides a proven approach to overcoming devastating life events and reclaiming control of your future.
- But I Want Both: The Working Mom’s Guide to Creating a Life She Loves (revised and updated edition releasing Fall 2023), offering actionable strategies for high-achieving parents to thrive in both work and family life.
She also hosts the podcast This Seriously Sucks: The Right Podcast When Life Goes Seriously Wrong, where she shares actionable strategies and invites successful individuals to reflect on their journeys through trauma and growth.
Recognizing the need for a clear, science-based framework to navigate life’s toughest challenges, Nina left her corporate career to research and develop tools that strengthen resilience, foster productivity, and improve workplace culture. Her unique blend of storytelling, neuroscience, and stoicism ignites audiences, equipping them with the mindset and strategies to thrive in adversity and embrace change with confidence.
Beyond the stage, Nina serves as CEO of her communications company, contributes to several non-profit boards, and passionately advocates for the Alzheimer’s Association. She was honored as a ‘Woman of Distinction’ by the state of South Carolina. Nina and her husband are proud parents of three adult children. Based in Charleston, SC, she travels the globe, inspiring people to overcome challenges, take control of their narratives, and achieve their greatest potential.
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Videos
Interest to Book? Send us your enquiry
Attendees consistently praise Nina as an engaging, credible speaker who connects with groups immediately and leaves a lasting impression. Reviews highlight her practical, “toolbox” takeaways that participants can apply to their work and life, along with memorable “aha” moments backed by science, history, and facts. Overall sentiment is highly positive, with people still discussing the presentation weeks later. No clear weaknesses or complaints are mentioned in these reviews.
Talent FAQ's
Do speakers charge a flat fee or by the hour?
Speaker fees can vary depending on factors such as expertise, demand, and event specifics. While some speakers may charge a flat fee for their services, others may have hourly rates. It’s best to discuss fee structures directly with the speaker or their representative to understand the pricing model.
What is the typical duration of a keynote speech and what is included?
Keynote speeches typically range from 30 to 90 minutes, with the duration determined by the speaker’s expertise, the event’s agenda, and audience preferences. Keynote speeches often include a combination of inspirational stories, practical insights, and actionable advice tailored to the event’s theme or objectives.
Does the scale of the event and audience size affect a speaker’s fee?
The scale of the event and audience size can indeed impact a speaker’s fee. Larger events with a broader reach or higher attendance may command higher fees due to increased exposure and demand. Conversely, smaller events or niche audiences may offer opportunities for more flexible pricing arrangements.
Travel expenses and other costs
Travel expenses such as transportation, accommodation, and meals are typically negotiated separately from the speaker’s fee. These costs vary depending on the speaker’s location, travel distance, and event duration. It’s important to clarify travel arrangements and expenses during the booking process to avoid misunderstandings.
Deposits and securing a booking
Many speakers require a deposit to secure a booking, with the remaining balance due closer to the event date. Deposits are often non-refundable and serve as a commitment from both parties. It’s advisable to discuss deposit requirements and payment terms with the speaker or their representative when finalizing the booking.
Additional tips and takeaways
- Virtual speaking appearances are a cost-effective alternative to high speaking fees, often 10-50% cheaper than in-person rates.
- There is typically no difference in fee for a 15-minute speech versus a 60-minute speech.
- Some motivational speakers are open to discounting their fee if hired for more than one event by the same organization.
- When browsing speakers, consider their location to keep travel costs down.
- Personal connections to your organization or event location can increase your chances of securing a renowned speaker.
- Be upfront about your needs and expectations to ensure a successful partnership.
- Speaker bureaus like Speakers Inc help guide you through the booking process to negotiate the best deal with favorable terms.
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