Amanda Lindhout

For 460 days in the heart of Somalia, Amanda Lindhout was held hostage when a famine reporting trip turned into a struggle for survival. Nothing she had learned in her past would prepare her for the next year and half, and only the extraordinary mindset she developed would get her through and back home. Today, Amanda has decoded exactly what got her back to North America and shares the steps we can take today to navigate change, uncertainty, and the unexpected in every aspect of business and our personal lives.

In this actionable, inspiring, and unforgettable message, Amanda pairs her staggering experience with years of deep research with top experts as she teaches the framework we can all utilize to build an extraordinary mindset that can help us get to where we want to go, and beyond.

Audiences enter Amanda’s sessions unsure, worried, and anxious about the future and challenges that lie ahead. When they leave, they are equipped with a set of tools they never thought they’d learn so that they can overcome challenges they never thought they’d experience with a level of hope and optimism they never thought possible.

Audiences will learn:

• Three key questions to ask when separating what we can control from the things we can’t
• Pitfalls to avoid when overcome with uncertainty and change
• Foundational steps to take when looking to build confidence in ourselves and those around us
• The 4 Pillars of Resilience and how to use them
• Why optimism and hope aren’t enough to get us to ‘next’, and what to do instead

What the best leaders and organizations in the world understand is that adversity is a powerful force that can refine our character, wisdom is not automatically gained from challenges, and individuals that can identify and articulate lessons learned and then apply them in real-world scenarios gain the leading edge. And in this session, Amanda Lindhout shares exactly how to cultivate a resilient mindset to effectively see challenges as assets and navigate the uncertainty we’re faced with every day of the week.

Amanda’s Adversity Unlock reflects on the 460 days she spent as a hostage, enduring unimaginable hardships and being kept in the dark, to overcoming the challenges of a PTSD diagnosis. She has trained herself to look for inherent growth opportunities despite unimaginable struggle and has built the framework we can all apply to navigate change, adversity, and uncertainty around us.

Sharing wisdom gained from the challenges she has over enhances teamwork and leadership within the complex teams and systems we work in. By embracing the lessons of the Adversity Unlock, leaders can better create a culture of resilience that not only benefits their personal development but also strengthens their teams and organizations.

Kidnapped and held hostage for 460 days in Somalia, Amanda Lindhout endured unimaginable suffering before finally regaining her freedom. What would have broken most people beyond recovery has become a new foundation for the person she is today. And because of this experience, Amanda presents a masterclass in healing and resilience that can help all of us navigate challenges we never expected.

Upon her return to North America, a diagnosis of complex PTSD reshaped Amanda’s world. Triggers were everywhere, and her symptoms so severe that she often couldn’t leave her home. For years, trauma continued to hold her captive. At her lowest point, a simple set of words sparked a dramatic shift, offering her a way out of the darkness. Step by step, she embarked on an extraordinary journey to untangle the PTSD that had controlled her life. Through deep study, therapy, and personal exploration, she discovered transformative healing beyond conventional care—diving into nervous system regulation, stress hormone balancing, and somatic trauma recovery, ultimately putting her PTSD into remission.

Today, Amanda is recognized as an expert in trauma recovery and healing. A New York Times bestselling author and sought-after speaker, she shares powerful insights that bridge science, lived experience, alternative therapies, and practical healing strategies. Her story is not just about surviving trauma—it’s about understanding it, moving beyond it, and finding the tools to truly thrive.

What makes Amanda’s story so incredible isn’t just her ability to inspire and educate an audience; she artfully delivers her story in a way that those in front of her can repeat the actions she took to overcome adversity and struggles that they’re faced with, too. From healthcare professionals to mental health organizations and Fortune 500 companies to non-profits, Amanda’s message has transformed audiences in nearly 30 countries around the world.

With the world around us changing faster than ever before, we’re required to show up in ways that demand a level of resilience that enables us to do more with less time, multitask while still performing at our best, and learning new skills by using technology that didn’t exist even a year ago. Until now, we’ve lacked the toolkit to navigate life’s toughest challenges with clear actions that transform adversity into true resilience.

This keynote offers a unique opportunity for attendees to learn from someone whose firsthand experiences have made her a true expert on the topic. Having endured 460 days as a hostage in one of the world’s most dangerous countries and living with a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder for nearly a decade, Amanda is one of the world’s leading voices on resilience. She has built a process that we can all embody to navigate the world around us, and to be at our best and stay there.

By providing strategies for developing a resilient mindset, Amanda teaches specific mindfulness practices, emotional regulation techniques, and the importance of community support. She offers insights that are accessible to anyone looking to strengthen their resilience, regardless of their individual challenges.