Mick Ebeling

Founder and CEO of Not Impossible Labs, One of Fortune’s World’s 50 Greatest Leaders, Only 2x Recipient of TIME Best Inventions of the Year, Muhammad Ali Humanitarian of the Year, Innovator, Storyteller, Philanthropist, Impatient Optimist

Topics: Storytelling, Inspirational & Motivational, Innovation, Adventurers, Attitude, Best Selling Author, Change, Communication, Education, Leadership, Resilience, Philanthropy, STEM, Teamwork, Technology, TED Speakers, Thought Leadership, Personal Development, Professional Development, Business, Societal Issues

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Biography

As a career producer and filmmaker and now founder and CEO of Not Impossible, Ebeling harvests the power of technology and story to change the world. Ebeling founded Not Impossible, a multiple award-winning social innovation lab and production company, on the premise that nothing is impossible. His mantra of “commit, then figure it out” allows him to convene a disparate team of hackers, doers, makers and thinkers to create devices that better the world by bringing accessibility for all. This unconventional approach brought to life highly acclaimed initiatives — the EyeWriter, Project Daniel, Don’s Voice and most recently Music: Not Impossible — that brought the ability to draw back to a paraplegic street artist, 3D-printed arms to Sudanese amputees, a ‘voice’ to an ALS patient who hadn’t spoken in 15 years, and wearables that let deaf and hearing people alike feel music in a “surround body” experience.

Working with a wide array of Fortune 500 companies, Ebeling not only pushes the bar on innovation, he also shares the emotionally resonating story of doing so. These narratives of overcoming seemingly impossible odds to “Help One. Help Many” have inspired people across the world to do the same.

Ebeling’s book, Not Impossible: The Art and Joy of Doing What Couldn’t Be Done, recounts the life experiences that led to the founding of Not Impossible. Published in a multitude of languages, the book was hailed as “a unique and inspiring tale of brave abandon” by Nicholas Negroponte.

Named one of Wired’s ‘Agents of Change’, a two-time SXSW innovation of the year award winner, a two-time Tribeca Disruptor innovation winner, a fellow with The Nantucket Project, and recipient of every major creative and advertising award, Ebeling is on a mission to provide “Technology for the Sake of Humanity.” By tapping into a community of passionate and talented engineers, makers, idea generators and storytellers, Ebeling is making the inconceivable, the unbelievable and the impossible, Not Impossible.

MICK HAS BEEN WIDELY RECOGNIZED FOR HIS CREATIVE AND HUMANITARIAN WORK:

Fortune World’s 50 Greatest Leaders
Muhammad Ali Humanitarian of the Year
Top 50 World’s Most Creative People
WIRED Agent of Change
8x Cannes Lions Awards
2x Telly Awards
2x SXSW Innovation Award Winner
3x Tribeca Disruptor Awards Recipient
2x Fast Company World Changing Ideas
2x Time Best Inventions of the Year

Videos

Speech TopicsExpand each topic to learn more

The Fallacy of “Impossible”

Since the launch of the Eyewriter and Not Impossible Foundation, Mick has passionately studied the concept of “Impossible.” All the modern conveniences we see around us were once considered “impossible” by people who didn’t know any better. Synthetic fabrics, cell phones and digital watches (not to mention cars and computers) were all figments of the imagination until inspiration met execution and the impossible became a reality. In this talk, Mick dives deeper into “Impossible,” the underlying psychological effects it has on an organization, and how to overcome “Impossible” so true innovation can take place.

Audiences Will Learn:

- The psychological effects of the concept of "impossible" on organizations.
- Methodologies and practices that companies can employ to instill a culture where every employee feels aligned with a broader mission, contributing to society as well as to the company's goals.

Creating a Culture of Impact and Purpose

Imagine what companies could accomplish and be if their entire workforce was activated by a sense of purpose. This isn’t just about employee satisfaction, recruiting or retention; this is about tapping into the Movement of Purpose so that both companies AND society win. In this talk, Mick will delve into the creation of a Culture of Purpose and Impact and the direct effects this has on profitability, productivity, innovation and engagement.

Audiences Will Learn:

- The importance of fostering a sense of purpose among employees and how it transcends traditional markers of job satisfaction.
- How to identify and work with individuals who possess collaboration-worthy traits.

Radical Collaboration

Take a Hollywood producer, a NY professor, a fine artist and a hacker with a criminal record…Put them together and what do you get? A device that helped a paralyzed man create drawings using only the movement of his eyes. Collaboration comes in many form, some of them unexpected. In this talk, Mick discusses the tools necessary to become a stellar collaborator, and to recognize the traits of collaboration-worthy individuals for your next big idea.

Audiences Will Learn:

- The value of diverse perspectives and skills in driving creativity and innovation.
- How to overcome common obstacles in collaborative projects, such as differences in opinion, communication barriers, and coordination challenges.

Testimonials

This is the template for a new science of consciousness. Mick Ebeling sees impossible just as a word for something not yet done. Read his book. Think like him. Then do the impossible.

– Deepak Chopra