What Event Leaders & Audience Members Say
From conference organizers to executive leaders, attendees describe the conversation as engaging, relevant, memorable, and unlike a conventional keynote.
“I took a huge risk when finalizing the agenda for Medvale’s annual summit. We had never invited a non-Medvale member to participate at one of our conferences, as we want to showcase our own talent.
I first asked Dan to lead a breakout discussion concurrently with others who would be leading discussions on topics of interest.
Upon further reflection, I decided to elevate Dan to giving our conference’s only standalone presentation and to be in front of our entire gathering. I asked Amber to be on the stage with him.
The risk paid off handsomely. It was the most buzzed-about offering of our entire conference. It contributed to our conference’s 93% Net Promoter Score.
Amber is the only one who could so masterfully bring out actionable insights from their journey together. I’ve recommended this duo to keynote conferences and learnings, putting my reputation further at risk.”
Jim Trounson
Founder & CEO, Medvale
“What stuck with me was a much deeper question: Would I be able to face such a life-changing event with the same level of creativity, curiosity, and even humor? At the same time, it made me look at my own life and wonder where I might be accepting limitations that don’t really exist.
Hearing how Dan adapted his wheelchair using a child’s bicycle so he could continue enjoying the activities he loved was a powerful reminder that innovation isn’t reserved for businesses or technology. It’s an everyday mindset.
The format of the presentation was just as powerful as its content. What unfolded felt remarkably authentic, and those intimate moments expanded into lessons that resonated with everyone in the audience.
I can think of so many audiences who would benefit from hearing this presentation: high-performing teams, organizations looking for fresh inspiration beyond their own industry, and leaders who need a reminder of what real resilience and self-leadership look like.”
Maria Paz Paniego
Communications Director,
Medvale
“In an industry like healthcare that is facing unprecedented challenges with workforce, funding, integration of technology, and erosion of trust, Dan and Amber's message is pragmatic optimism embodied. It is facing the reality of the situation unflinchingly, while simultaneously believing completely that your own actions can lead you through.
At a time when so many are facing uncertainty and challenges, it is a message that transcends industries or cultures. It is a story of human perseverance.
Stories are powerful ways of shaking mental models, and their story is one of the best.”
Jim Souza, MD
Chief Physician Executive, St. Luke's Health System
"As Amber asks Dan simple question after simple question, and he responds, you feel the power of two people of almost mythic strength, character, and humility as they cautiously, humbly, and honestly unfold the story of their elite gifts and discipline, the tests beyond tests beyond tests, and the beautiful unstated power of their evolving respect and love.
Wow. What an hour."
Ken Segel,
Co-Founder, Former CEO, Value Capture
What stayed with me most from Dan and Amber’s presentation was Dan’s decision to keep participating fully in his own life, even when it looked nothing like what he had planned. Their stories showed that resilience is not pretending something is easy or refusing to feel disappointed. It is deciding what you will do next.
The conversational format made the presentation feel personal rather than rehearsed. Dan and Amber did not present their story as a polished narrative in which every hardship led neatly to triumph. Their honest exchange made it easy to connect their experiences, and the different ways they reflected on them, to inflection points in my own life. I never felt like I was being given a lesson.
Their message would resonate with teams and organizations navigating uncertainty, change, or setbacks, especially leaders thinking about how they show up for other people.
I left thinking differently about how little control we have over what happens next and how much control we have over how we respond today.
Jessie Smith
Founder & CEO
Linnia
“What struck me most was that you both somehow managed to tell your story without making it a ‘love story.’ It was about the choices you’ve made separately and together, the way you challenge one another, and the life you’ve intentionally built. That made it feel universal. Everyone in the room could see themselves somewhere in your story.
One idea I’ve been carrying with me ever since is the difference between choosing challenge and simply being challenged. It reminded me that growth doesn’t always come from working harder. Sometimes it comes from intentionally seeking the discomfort that stretches us before life chooses it for us.
Your conversation left me inspired, playful, and believing that I’m capable of more than I often give myself credit for.
I’d recommend this to just about anyone: youth groups, entrepreneurs, executive teams, people navigating physical challenges, or really anyone standing at the edge of something difficult. The message transcends any one audience because it’s ultimately about how we choose to live.”
Tim Radersdorf, RN, DNP
Chief Clinical Officer, SteadyWell