KEYNOTE SPEAKER PAUL DE GELDER
Fear is the fuel. Courage is the choice.
Paul de Gelder helps teams and leaders build resilience, embrace change, and lead with courage—transforming adversity into extraordinary performance.
Army Paratrooper · Navy Diver · Shark Attack Survivor
Paul de Gelder was an elite Army paratrooper and Navy bomb-disposal diver when a 9-foot bull shark nearly ended his life during a routine exercise—tearing off his right leg and hand. What followed wasn’t just survival; it was reinvention. Through grit, discipline, and relentless determination, Paul rebuilt his body, his mindset, and his mission.
Global Speaker · Author · Resilience Expert
Paul lives by the mantra “Improvise. Adapt. Overcome.” His journey from combat and catastrophe to global stages inspires audiences from the United Nations to Fortune 500 boardrooms. With raw honesty and humor, he teaches resilience, leadership, adaptability, and the psychology of fear—delivering one of the most unforgettable keynotes in the world.
Shark Week Host · Fearless Adventurer · Environmental Advocate
As a host of Discovery Channel’s Shark Week and a passionate advocate for ocean conservation, Paul pairs purpose with presence. His autobiography Uncaged chronicles his transformation—from soldier to shark-attack survivor to global adventurer—and leaves audiences with one undeniable truth: your biggest obstacle might be your greatest advantage.
PRESENTATIONS
"Never Say Die: Turning Pain into Power"
Paul de Gelder delivers a raw, unforgettable keynote about resilience, courage, and transformation. After surviving a life-threatening shark attack, Paul rebuilt his body and life through discipline, mindset, and relentless determination. This keynote shows audiences how to use adversity as fuel for growth and step into challenges with purpose and confidence.
Ideal For: Leadership meetings, performance culture events, sales kickoffs, resilience-focused organizations.
Key Learning Objectives:
- Embrace change as a path to growth.
- Turn adversity into clarity and momentum.
- Strengthen discipline, routine, and mental fortitude.
- Build teamwork and trust in high-pressure moments.
- Develop a resilient, forward-focused mindset.
"Courage Under Pressure: Leadership in High-Stakes Environments"
Drawing from his career as an Army paratrooper, clearance diver, and global resilience expert, Paul teaches high-pressure leadership with tools grounded in real-world danger. He equips leaders with strategies for rapid decision-making, navigating uncertainty, and fostering trust when the stakes are high.
Ideal For: Executive leadership, crisis-ready teams, first responders, defense, aviation, oil & gas, construction, and mission-critical industries.
Key Learning Objectives:
- Master crisis decision-making with clarity.
- Navigate change and uncertainty with confidence.
- Strengthen teamwork and mutual trust.
- Lead with courage, composure, and emotional intelligence.
- Embrace adaptability in fast-moving environments.
"Beyond the Surface: Discovering Purpose in Life and Work"
Paul helps audiences uncover purpose, break limiting beliefs, and align their values with their career path. Through stories from the military, Shark Week, and global expeditions, he shows how stepping into discomfort unlocks new levels of meaning and momentum.
Ideal For: Employee experience events, culture conferences, professional development programs, hybrid teams, and purpose-driven organizations.
Key Learning Objectives:
- Overcome self-doubt and limiting beliefs.
- Align personal values with professional goals.
- Pursue growth with curiosity and courage.
- Strengthen work-life alignment and clarity.
- Build a career that feels meaningful and sustainable.
"Uncaged: Thriving Through Fear and Change"
This keynote reframes fear as a tool—not an obstacle. Paul reveals strategies for managing risk, embracing calculated challenge, and staying courageous when circumstances shift. Through his journey from soldier to shark-attack survivor to global adventurer, he teaches audiences how to adapt, evolve, and unlock their highest potential.
Ideal For: Change management events, transformation initiatives, innovation summits, and teams navigating disruption.
Key Learning Objectives:
- Understand fear and move through it with focus.
- Embrace calculated risks that accelerate growth.
- Build resilience and mental toughness under pressure.
- Adapt quickly in volatile environments.
- Push beyond comfort zones to achieve extraordinary results.
Great Speaker for
Budgets of $20,000+
- Delivering high-impact keynotes on resilience, courage, and overcoming the unthinkable
- Inspiring leaders and teams to embrace change and grow through adversity
- Sharing real-world lessons in mindset, mental strength, and personal transformation
- Equipping audiences to lead with purpose, face fear, and thrive under pressure
