Carina Bruwer: Motivational Speaker
Keynote speaker and ultramarathon swimmer Carina Bruwer is an English Channel crosser, entrepreneur and musician who inspires courage, resilience and purpose driven leadership.
- Highlights:
- Crossed the English Channel and multiple international straits and bays
- International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame nominee
- Ranked Top 50 Most Daring Open Water Swimmers globally
- Founder of Swim For Hope, raising over R1 million for charity
- Formats:
Keynote Speaker, Ultramarathon Swimmer and Entrepreneur
- Audiences:
Corporate leadership teams, women in leadership events, entrepreneurship forums, resilience focused conferences and organizations seeking courage driven performance.
- Outcomes:
- Practical strategies for negotiating fear and building resilience
- Inspiration to pursue bold goals despite uncertainty
- Frameworks for purpose driven leadership and impact
- Travels from: Cape Town, SA
- **Fee range: $500 - $5,000
Keynote Topics
"AGAINST THE CURRENT"
A powerful, inspirational and entertaining keynote in which Carina Bruwer takes the audience on a journey through the extremes of challenging her own human and professional limits, in pursuit of progress and altruism. From turning a musical vision into reality against all odds, to brushing with death in pursuit of a childhood dream; from building a sustainable business from the Covid ashes, to marathoning through shark infested waters to feed starving musicians; and from breaking world records to standing strong against injustice in the face of the threat of losing her own home, Carina’s real life stories require no embellishment.
Through personal analogies, she shows with great effect how and why our imagination is our strongest asset, how to mediate with fear in order to manifest the ideas which may seem beyond our capacities, and how to continually access the strongest version of yourself to be able to confront life’s adversities.
The audience walks away with new tools to navigate a life and time where so much seems beyond our control, and to (re)discover their purpose and show up in a way that benefits their work, themselves, and those in their orbits.
Amplifying Impact
Harnessing Your Platform for Positive Change
An inspiring keynote that explores the transformative power of using one’s platform for positive change. Through compelling anecdotes and actionable insights, attendees will discover how to leverage their influence to drive meaningful impact in their communities and beyond.
From advocating for social justice to championing sustainability initiatives, this session will empower individuals to step into their roles as agents of change. Whether you’re a leader, influencer, or passionate advocate, learn how to amplify your voice and make a difference in the world.
Talent Short Bio
Carina Bruwer is one of Africa’s most decorated female open water marathon swimmers, an internationally renowned musician, successful entrepreneur and mother of three. Known for going where most do not, in the ocean and in business, she inspires audiences with powerful stories of courage, transformation and purpose.
Her ultramarathon swimming achievements include crossing the 36 km English Channel, the Gibraltar Straits, False Bay, Nelson Mandela Bay, Walker Bay, the Bonifacio Straits, the Messina Straits, the Triple Country swim between France, Monaco and Italy, Robben Island and many more. Many of her swims have been firsts or record breaking feats, completed in challenging and unpredictable conditions.
Carina is a nominee of the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame and was ranked among the World Open Water Swimming Association’s Top 50 Most Daring, Courageous and Audacious open water swimmers globally. In 2014, she founded Swim For Hope to raise funds and awareness for South African charities through her extreme swimming challenges. The initiative has raised over R1 million and generated significant media value.
Read Full Bio
Carina Bruwer is one of Africa’s most decorated female open water marathon swimmers, an internationally renowned musician, a successful entrepreneur and a mother of three. Known for boldly going where most do not – in the ocean, as well as in business and life – Carina inspires and motivates audiences through her incredible stories of courage, transformation and altruism.
“I KNOW YOU CAN NEGOTIATE WITH FEAR TO ALLOW YOU TO SHOW UP IN THIS WORLD, BECAUSE I HAVE TO DO IT EVERY DAY”
Carina’s extensive ultramarathon swimming resume includes crossing the 36km English Channel, the Gibraltar Straits, False Bay, Nelson Mandela Bay, Walker Bay, Bonifacio Straits, Messina Straits, Triple Country (France – Monaco – Italy), Robben Island and dozens more, with most of her swims being firsts and/or record breaking feats.
This International Marathon Swimming’s Hall of Fame nominee who was also ranked as one of the World Open Water Swimming Association’s “Top 50 Most Daring, Courageous and Audacious” open water swimmers in the world, founded Swim For Hope in 2014, in order to raise funds and awareness for South African organisations that she supports, through her swimming challenges. The project has raised over R1 million since its inception, and millions more in media value.
Carina’s music career has been equally trailblazing: striking a delicate balance between precision and rule breaking, she developed a new style of performance which changed the face of instrumental music in SA and beyond, and took her across the world, performing on international stages and with global icons.
Following the same formula of innovation, Carina Bruwer has founded a number of businesses, all of which have become pillars in their respective industries.
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Talent Videos
Carina Bruwer – Swim Against the Current: Lessons from Extreme Endurance and Fear Negotiation
In this 4-minute keynote highlight, Carina Bruwer shares how negotiating with fear, resilience, and purpose-driven action shaped her record-breaking swimming, music, and entrepreneurial journeys.
Read Summary & Key Moments
Summary
Carina Bruwer introduces herself as one of Africa’s most decorated female open-water marathon swimmers, an internationally acclaimed musician, entrepreneur, and mother of three. Known for boldly venturing where few dare to go, she explains that her success across swimming, music, and business has always involved confronting fear, negotiating with it, and showing up regardless.
She recounts her remarkable achievements in endurance swimming: crossing the English Channel, Gibraltar Straits, False Bay, Nelson Mandela Bay, Walker Bay, Bonifacio Straits, Messina Straits, and many others, with numerous firsts and record-breaking feats. Recognized as a nominee to the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame and named among the World Open Water Swimming Association’s “Top 50 Most Daring, Courageous and Audacious” swimmers, she grounds her message in lived experience at the edges of human performance.
Carina also highlights her social impact work, particularly Swim for Hope, which she founded in 2014 to raise funds and awareness for South African organizations. The initiative has generated over R1 million directly and millions more in media value.
Her message is that the same principles that allowed her to persevere in extreme swims—clarity of purpose, negotiating with fear, and consistently pushing boundaries—apply equally in professional and personal life. Through her keynote Swim Against the Current, she inspires audiences to embrace fear as a partner, innovate with courage, and take action toward meaningful goals.
Key Moments
01:15 Ultramarathon swimming achievements and world records
02:00 Recognition: International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame, global accolades
02:35 Founding Swim for Hope and raising funds for South African causes
Videos
Carina Bruwer – Swim Against the Current: Lessons from Extreme Endurance and Fear Negotiation
In this 4-minute keynote highlight, Carina Bruwer shares how negotiating with fear, resilience, and purpose-driven action shaped her record-breaking swimming, music, and entrepreneurial journeys.
Summary
Carina Bruwer introduces herself as one of Africa’s most decorated female open-water marathon swimmers, an internationally acclaimed musician, entrepreneur, and mother of three. Known for boldly venturing where few dare to go, she explains that her success across swimming, music, and business has always involved confronting fear, negotiating with it, and showing up regardless.
She recounts her remarkable achievements in endurance swimming: crossing the English Channel, Gibraltar Straits, False Bay, Nelson Mandela Bay, Walker Bay, Bonifacio Straits, Messina Straits, and many others, with numerous firsts and record-breaking feats. Recognized as a nominee to the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame and named among the World Open Water Swimming Association’s “Top 50 Most Daring, Courageous and Audacious” swimmers, she grounds her message in lived experience at the edges of human performance.
Carina also highlights her social impact work, particularly Swim for Hope, which she founded in 2014 to raise funds and awareness for South African organizations. The initiative has generated over R1 million directly and millions more in media value.
Her message is that the same principles that allowed her to persevere in extreme swims—clarity of purpose, negotiating with fear, and consistently pushing boundaries—apply equally in professional and personal life. Through her keynote Swim Against the Current, she inspires audiences to embrace fear as a partner, innovate with courage, and take action toward meaningful goals.
Key moments
01:15 Ultramarathon swimming achievements and world records
02:00 Recognition: International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame, global accolades
02:35 Founding Swim for Hope and raising funds for South African causes
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Summary of User Reviews
Carina Bruwer's recent performance has garnered outstanding praise from attendees, highlighting her impactful delivery and inspirational message. Reviewers noted her unique blend of humility and humor, which resonated deeply with the audience. Many felt uplifted and equipped with valuable insights that they could apply to their own lives. The overall consensus reflects a strong appreciation for her ability to engage and motivate listeners through her personal experiences as both a musician and a record-breaking open-water swimmer.
Strengths:
- Engaging and impactful performance
- Inspiring and motivational message
- Humorous and humble presentation style
Weaknesses:
- No significant weaknesses mentioned in the reviews.
Overall, attendees overwhelmingly recommend Carina Bruwer for her ability to inspire and connect with her audience.
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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.
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