Biography

Ben Nemtin is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of What Do You Want to Do Before You Die? and a star of MTV’s highest-rated show ever on iTunes and Amazon called The Buried Life. As the co-founder of The Buried Life movement, Ben’s message of radical possibility has been featured on The Today Show, The Oprah Winfrey Show, CNN, FOX, and NBC News. President Obama called Ben and The Buried Life “inspiration for a new generation,” and Oprah declared their mission “truly inspiring.”

An acclaimed keynote speaker, Ben has headlined business conferences and Fortune 100 leadership teams worldwide, garnering standing ovations from AIG, Anthem, Amazon, FedEx, Harvard, Microsoft, Verizon, and more. Ben is recognized as one of the World’s Best Motivational Speakers and the World’s Top Organizational Culture Thought Leaders by Global Gurus (2019, 2020).

In his first year of university, Ben was unexpectedly hit with a depression that forced him to drop out. In an attempt to feel more alive, he created the world’s greatest bucket list with his three best friends. They borrowed a rickety old RV and crisscrossed North America, achieving the unthinkable. And most importantly, every time they accomplished a dream, they helped a complete stranger cross something off their bucket list. From playing basketball with President Obama to having a beer with Prince Harry, from reuniting a father and son after seventeen years to surprising a young girl with a much-needed bionic arm— Ben’s bucket list quest has inspired millions to thrive personally and professionally.

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5 STEPS TO MAKE THE IMPOSSIBLE POSSIBLE

Ben’s message of radical possibility combined with his ‘5 Steps to Make the Impossible Possible’ leaves audiences not only inspired but also equipped with tools to tackle the seemingly insurmountable. His system of achieving impossible goals demystifies daunting tasks by turning ‘dreams’ into ‘projects’ and creates inspiration through action and accountability.

Ben reminds us that it’s never too late to start your list and leave your lasting impact on the world.

As a result of this program, attendees will:
- Learn how to accomplish seemingly impossible goals (5 Steps to Make the Impossible Possible).
- Identify the #1 thing that holds you back from accomplishing your goals.
- Learn Ben’s method to unbury your dreams and keep them unburied.
- Develop a plan of action to drive you forward towards your goals.

LEADING WITH PURPOSE

Driving teams to thrive today requires new strategies for connecting and getting results. Retention and engagement are major issues as old leadership models don’t deliver like they once did. Effective leaders must go deeper and show empathy and understanding to help teams reach their true potential. When team members truly feel that their leadership and organization cares about their personal and their professional development, that’s where the magic happens.

One of the best ways to help your team gain purpose is to connect with them around their personal and professional goals. As the lines between personal and professional lives blur, it’s time for leaders to develop the whole person. To learn more, read this Forbes article featuring Ben and Deepak Chopra about Emotional EQ and Leadership.

As a result of this program, attendees will learn:
- A simple framework for connecting with your team around their personal and professional goals
- Build a culture of belonging where team members know it’s ok to ask for help
- Create a renewed feeling of purpose and trust within your team
- Be a servant leader and maximize potential
- Reignite commitment to the organization as people feel the organization is equally committed to them

RETHINKING MENTAL HEALTH

Ben is a mental health advocate who believes that all humans have ups and they have downs. He believes the stigma around mental illness can be broken through open, honest conversations. However, the onus is not on the 1 in 5 who struggle with mental health to break the stigma, the responsibility falls on all of us.

By showing how his vulnerabilities have become his strengths, Ben gives others the courage to talk about their internal battles. He shares the tools that help him cope with the stresses of life and emphasizes that it is ok to reach out for help.

As a result of this program, attendees will:
- Increase resilience, lower stress and feel equipped to manage the ups and downs of life.
- Build their own ‘Mental Health Toolkit’ of easy-to-implement practices that increase well-being during times of anxiety and burnout.
- Recognize that it’s ok to not be ok.
- Walk away with resources to boost their mental health.

RESILIENCE IN THE FACE OF UNCERTAINTY

The world is changing faster than we ever imagined, leaders and teams have to dig deep within themselves to break through and find opportunity in uncertain times. Before becoming a #1 NYT best selling author, playing basketball at the White House, having beers with Prince Harry, or living out his other dreams, Ben suffered from crippling depression.

After committing to a series of positive life changes, Ben had a shift in perspective that changed his outlook on life and opened himself up to endless possibility. From there he committed to following his buried dreams and helping others through acts of service. The rest is history and Ben’s life changing message has opened up audiences around the world to cultures of service, gratitude and endless potential.

As a result of this program, attendees will:
- Recognize that all aspects of your life impact your work performance.
- 8 practices that increase wellbeing during times of stress, anxiety and burnout (Resilience Toolkit).
- Proof that small acts of service can create a large scale impact in your organization and community.
- Transform your perspective to optimize performance.

Testimonials

If you want a lesson in boldness, and to cross things off of your bucket list, there is no better teacher than Ben Nemtin.
– The Tim Ferriss (5x #1 NY Times Bestseller, Host of The Tim Ferriss Podcast, Angel Investor, Speaker)
Ben took the time to understand our company and culture and adapted his presentation for us. He even arrived the day before and attended several of our other conference events and utilized his observations to further customize his remarks for Camden. The feedback from our employees was phenomenal. Many said Ben was the best speaker they had ever seen. Ben is relatable, humorous, inspiring and motivational. He brought energy and a positive message that invoked thought and emotion. We highly recommend Ben.
– Kith Oden (President, Camden Property Trust - 2018 Fortune's 100 Best Companies to Work For)
I like the way you help folks, keep doing what you’re doing.
– Barack Obama, 44th President of the United States
Ben's session was an absolute hit! Hands down my favorite session. The way he worked in so much of our messaging and benefits was truly amazing and so impactful.
– Pinterest
Ben’s virtual keynote was extremely engaging and hit the perfect tone. He combined humor and storytelling to deliver an inspirational message that truly resonated with our staff! In a virtual setting, it can be hard to maintain people’s attention, but the reviews from our staff were unanimous – Ben’s virtual keynote was excellent!
– Greg Higgins, SVP & General Counsel, Wings Financial Credit Union
We hired Ben as our keynote speaker for our virtual national sales conference and received rave reviews. His message was inspirational and highly engaging, but it also included practical steps our team members could take right away to make their "impossibles" possible. He did a tremendous job for us!
– Matt Riebel, SVP, Protective Insurance Company
I’ve received dozens of texts and emails from our partners and managers who expressed that Ben's stories, messages and advice resonated at a time when they are feeling the fatigue of a difficult 2020.
– Anthony Waelter, National Managing Partner, Deloitte
The virtual response was overwhelmingly positive, people LOVED Ben!
– Gene Rapisardi, Market President, Cigna
Ben's virtual keynote opened doors to new client relationships, engagement was through the roof!
– Page Long, Director of Strategic Accounts, Equitable
I think what you’re doing is truly so inspiring.
– Oprah Winfrey Talk Show Host, Actress, Producer, and Philanthropist

Booksby Ben Nemtin

What Do You Want To Do Before You Die?

The Bucket List Journal

Blog Posts

Finding Your Purpose with Small Acts of Kindness

Discover how small acts of kindness can help you find purpose and create a lasting impact in your life and others.

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Take Ownership and Transform Your Life Today

Take ownership of your life with Merril Hoge's inspiring insights on resilience, mindfulness, and breaking unhealthy cycles.

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Reflecting on 2024: Key Insights and Trends for Event Professionals

What were the biggest takeaways from events in 2024, and how can they shape the way you plan conferences in 2025? 📝

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Innovative Insights to Keep Your Event Attendees Engaged

Discover innovative insights and strategies to enhance attendee experience and engagement at your next event.

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Powerful Ways to Unleash Your Creativity with Kyle Scheele

Unleash your creativity with keynote speaker Kyle Scheele expert insights on innovation, leadership, and turning limitations into inspiration.

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Your Event, Their Mission: Elevate Human Rights to Center Stage

Human rights are not just ideals—they're the foundation for building inclusive, empowered, and sustainable communities.

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Blog Posts

 

Finding Your Purpose with Small Acts of Kindness

What does it truly mean to find your purpose? Many people believe purpose is tied...

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Take Ownership and Transform Your Life Today

What’s holding you back from living the life you’ve always wanted? If you’ve ever felt...

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Reflecting on 2024: Key Insights and Trends for Event Professionals

As we stand on the threshold of a new year, it's the perfect time to...

Read More

Innovative Insights to Keep Your Event Attendees Engaged

Engaging attendees at an event is no easy feat, especially in today’s fast-paced world where...

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Powerful Ways to Unleash Your Creativity with Kyle Scheele

Creativity is often misunderstood. Some see it as a gift reserved for artists or visionaries,...

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Your Event, Their Mission: Elevate Human Rights to Center Stage

"Human rights are not a privilege conferred by government. They are every human being's entitlement...

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