John O'Leary Keynote Speaker

The Power of One

John O’Leary was a curious nine-year-old boy. Playing with fire and gasoline, he created a massive explosion in his garage and was burned on 100% of his body. Given less than a 1% chance of survival, O’Leary is proof of the power of the human spirit.

• His unlikely recovery became a journey of pain and loss that could have been insurmountable—yet O’Leary emerged not just as a survivor, but as an example of thriving through adversity.
• This is not a story centered on one man, but a celebration of the heroes who served him and his family, from a Hall of Fame sports announcer to a visionary burn nurse and countless others.
• Each person involved in the 1987 fire reinforces a powerful truth: one individual can make a profound difference in the lives of others.

In this talk, O’Leary uses emotional storytelling and unexpected humor to:

• Remind audiences of the power of daily attitudes, gratitude, and serving others with courage.
• Revitalize engagement by reinforcing that our work matters—to our loved ones, our organizations, and our communities.
• Reawaken audiences to the gift of today and the possibility of tomorrow.

On Fire: Ignite a Radically Inspired Life

We live in a world where “accidental living”—mindlessly moving through routines, wasting countless hours on social media, or complaining about what’s wrong in our jobs, families, and society—has become the norm. John O’Leary reminds us that just because we got out of bed this morning does not mean that we are truly living.

What would our day, impact, and output look like if we lived a radically inspired life every single day? Living radically inspired means learning from past mistakes, rising above challenges, and thriving no matter the circumstances.

No one embodies this message more powerfully than inspirational speaker John O’Leary, who was nearly killed in a devastating fire at the age of nine.

In this talk, O’Leary:

• Shares the critical truth that “inflection points”—moments in time that change everything that follows—occur daily.
• Empowers audiences through compelling examples that life has far less to do with what happens to us, and far more to do with how we respond.
• Uses key questions to explore the difference between a victim and victor mindset, offering tactics that catalyze transformational growth in both life and organizations.

In Awe: Rediscover Your Childlike Wonder

There was a time when we joyfully raised our hands to answer every question, believed anything was possible, and fearlessly jumped into new experiences. We danced through our days in awe of ordinary moments and lived with anticipation for tomorrow.

Many of us experience life very differently today. As engagement in our organizations declines and burnout rises, we find ourselves trapped in cycles of responsibility and repetition—at work and at home. Disconnected. Depleted.

In this keynote, based on his latest book In Awe, John O’Leary invites audiences to reconnect with the wonder, creativity, and presence that once came naturally.

In this talk, O’Leary:

• Invites audiences to return to the joy and creativity of navigating life with a childlike perspective.
• Defines the five senses children innately possess, explains why those senses fade over time, and shares emotional, humorous, and inspiring stories that show how to reclaim them.
• Identifies the most significant interpersonal challenges that prevent us from living fully—and provides practical, inspired solutions to overcome them.

Be The Light

With the current global tensions, political unrest, fragmented communities, and intensifying violence, today’s world can feel dark at times.

No one understands the importance of having light in a dark world more than powerhouse inspirational speaker John O’Leary—who was nearly killed in a devastating fire at age nine. Today, O’Leary inspires more than 50,000 people each year around the world through live and virtual events.

In his faith-focused keynote Be the Light, O’Leary reminds audiences that light pushes back darkness, love destroys evil, God still reigns, and the best is yet to come. Most importantly, we are reminded that we are called to be the light. In this keynote, O’Leary shares the keys that empower us to fulfill this calling.

O’Leary’s poignant storytelling blends emotion, humor, and authenticity. His faith testimony beautifully illustrates the power of prayer and God’s presence during times of greatest challenge.

In this talk, O’Leary helps audiences to:

• Energize their faith.
• Hear an outside perspective on religious concepts.
• Brainstorm ways to re-engage withdrawn community members.