Wow. To be considered one of Australia’s top women speakers is quite an honour. And to be rubbing shoulders with these inspiring speakers is even more amazing.
I have already had the privilege of sharing the stage with the incredible Julie Cross and Samantha Gash, and am now waiting for the moment when I can share a stage with the inspiring Turia Pitt. Wow, what a woman.
So, do you know the stories of these amazingly resilient speakers? I know the four of us are all sitting under a banner of being motivational and inspirational speakers, but I know that their stories of resilience are far more impactful. When I think of them, I truly believe that they are Australia’s most resilient speakers. Would you agree?
If you haven’t had the privilege of listening to their stories, here is a brief outline.
Turia Pitt
While competing in a 100km ultra marathon in the Australian outback in 2011, Turia encountered an out of control grassfire. Trapped by the flames, she suffered burns to 65% of her body.
She was choppered out of the remote desert barely alive and wasn’t expected to survive. She lost seven of her fingers, spent over six months in hospital, underwent over 200 operations and spent two years in recovery.
Surviving against overwhelming odds, she has rebuilt her life and defied every expectation placed on her. She is living proof that, with the right mindset, we truly can achieve anything.
Samantha Gash
Nothing can stop Samantha Gash armed with the philosophy, “if you want something you’ve never had – you must be willing to do something you’ve never done.”
An accomplished lawyer working for the largest international law firm in the world, Samantha traded in her heels for running shoes and went out to change the world thorough highly collaborative social impact campaigns. With true grit, unrelenting focus and the willingness to create the next best plan in the face of chaos and change, she has created lasting impact.
Samantha was the first woman and the youngest person at the time, to complete the Four Deserts Grand Slam – one of the world’s toughest endurance competitions that spans 1000kms across the hottest, coldest, driest and windiest deserts on earth.
Julie Cross
Julie Cross’ qualifications and expertise stems from an early start in the workforce and through gaining a diploma from the university of “real life”. Julie has taken responsibility for her own personal development while coping with many personal and professional challenges, which she shares during her powerful and moving presentations. Her hilarious view of life is a gift especially when you understand the adversities she has gone through. Never one to let a challenge stop her, Julie is one of those rare resilience speakers who makes you believe that anything is possible.
If you ever get a chance to be in the audience while these fabulous gals share the insights that they have learnt from their personal stories of resilience, don’t miss it. This is not boring textbook stuff. These are real life strategies on how you can overcome your own adversities and keep moving forward even when it all feels impossible. These girls will certainly inspire you. They have certainly inspired me.
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And if you would like to read about other female leadership speakers, innovation and technology speakers, and/or women MC’s, click here.
