Ryan Campbell

First teenager to fly solo around the world, Australian Geographic Young Adventurer of the Year, Plane Crash Survivor with Paraplegic Diagnosis

Topics: Mental Health, Adventurers, Resilience, Inspirational & Motivational

Request Availability
Add My List

Biography

Book Ryan Campbell through The Keynote Curators.

Ryan Campbell is one of the world’s leading mental health and resilience keynote speakers. His gripping story of adventure and adversity leaves audiences in laughter, tears, and inspired into action. As a teenager, Ryan became the youngest solo pilot to fly around the world and was named one of Australia’s 50 great explorers. But everything changed after a tragic plane crash that left him with a paraplegic diagnosis, told he would never walk again.

Over the next several years, Ryan Campbell’s incredible recovery back to walking and flying again defied the odds. While he ticked the boxes that defined success, his mental health had never been worse. Like many in today’s world, Ryan was struggling with burnout, anxiety, and depression. His missing puzzle piece wasn’t found in a massive global expedition or miraculous recovery. Ryan Campbell’s greatest lesson was parked right in his driveway.

Today, Ryan Campbell speaks to organizations around the world about the life-changing power of prioritizing joy. Through the story of his Elvis-inspired 1960 pink Cadillac, he shares accessible and attainable frameworks that will immediately improve mental health, fuel performance, and transform culture.

Through harnessing the power of joy, Ryan helps audiences shift their thinking so that they can step back in order to show up better. All by asking one simple question…

What’s Your Pink Cadillac?

Contact us for Ryan Campbell’s fees and availability.

Videos

Request Availability

Speech TopicsExpand each topic to learn more

What's Your Pink Cadillac? The Transformational Power of Prioritizing Joy

Dive into the joy-fueled resilience hidden in our hobbies, interests, and simple pleasures. In a fast-paced world where our challenges are relentless and the solutions seem out of reach, Ryan delivers a message of accessible, attainable change. From the highs of a world record-breaking expedition to the most unimaginable low of a plane crash and paraplegic diagnosis, Ryan uses his story to highlight the realities of adversity and the role of resilience. A message built on the importance of mental health and self-care, What’s Your Pink Cadillac? uncovers the most unexpected, transformational tool discovered in the most unexpected place, the purchase of a 1960 Pink Cadillac. Get ready to smile like a kid, step back, and show up better.

As a result of this program, attendees will:

- Develop a new understanding of adversity and the role of resilience
- Discover the hidden power of our hobbies, interests, and simple pleasures
- Unlock the tools to improve mental health, fuel performance, and improve culture
- Identify and share their own personal Pink Cadillacs
- Identify the five steps to driving our Pink Cadillacs

Testimonials

I had the great honor to hear Ryan Campbell speak at the 2021 OHIO SHRM HR Conference in August. What an amazing speaker. I so enjoyed his words of wisdom as he recalled the highest achievement in his life, being the youngest pilot to fly around the world, followed later by a near-life-ending plane crash. If you have the opportunity to hear Ryan either in person or virtually, I suggest you do so. P.S. Wait until you hear the story of his pink Cadillac!!

– Bonnie Thompson - SHRM

Ryan Campbell presented the keynote address at our healthcare leadership conference and gave a heartfelt and powerful message. His life's journey and the lessons learned resonated with our 20 clinical physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and CRNA leaders who have endured and persevered through two years of pandemic hell. He presented strategies to remain 'Turbulence Tough' and for each person to find their own 'pink Cadillac' when facing overwhelming challenges. Incredible!

– Randal Dabbs - TeamHealth

We hired Ryan to motivate our team to close out the year strong - Ryan's story is a powerful one. What we got was so much more. In this day and age of back-to-back Zoom meetings and less time spent together as colleagues, Ryan's 'Pink Cadillac' message was something our team took to heart. We learned more about each other, and most importantly, what was most important in our lives. Thank you Ryan!

– Peter Zink - Sprout Social

From the minute I talked to Ryan and heard his story, I knew that he was perfect for the OH SHRM conference and he did not disappoint. Ryan was engaged with our attendees through the entire week, attending sessions and networking. His closing keynote was amazing and taught us all how to build our mindset toolbox. What do we as individuals need to be resilient and Turbulence Tough? He made us laugh, he made us cry, and he was real! I can't recommend him enough!

– Kim Robertson - SHRM OHIO

The last two plus years shook everyone in our aviation to our core. In the midst of these unprecedented challenges, we achieved results we never dreamed possible. Ryan's turbulence tough, pink Cadillac spirit has played a crucial role in this climb. Thank you Ryan!

– Andrew Coleman - GE Digital

The best event our CFO organization has seen.

– Gilead

We had people wait in line for over an hour to talk to Ryan after his keynote. That tells you everything you need to know about his ability to connect with people.

– Michael Natalizio - Director of Marketing, HNI Risk Services

I have been a meeting planner for almost 25 years now, the audience laughed and even cried. I have already spoken to Ryan as to where we can use him again next year.

– Anon

Ryan was superbly prepared, delivered a compelling presentation that brought our audience to tears several times, stayed afterwards to talk with our guests, and spent several days making our conference as uplifting and successful as anything else we did during those three days in South Carolina.

– General David Wesley - Randolph Macon Academy

Booksby Ryan Campbell

Born To Fly

For Meeting Planners

Photos

Speaker Documents

Clients

Request Availability

Blog Posts

Elevate Your Event With These Skills: Insights from Gabriella Robuccio

Think event planning is all about checklists and timetables? Think again. Emmy‑winning strategist Gabriella Robuccio shares more on The Keynote Curators Podcast.

Celebrating Juneteenth with These Transformative Keynotes

Learn how intentional Juneteenth programming paired with transformative keynote speakers can turn commemoration into sustained equity and inclusion.

AI, GEO, & SEO Marketing for Speakers: The 2025 Authority-Building Playbook

How Professional Speakers and Speaker Bureaus Can Leverage AI to Build Unshakeable Authority and Increase Visibility in the New Search Landscape

Rethinking Events: Bite-Sized Surprises and Live Interaction with Seth Godin

Seth Godin shares his strategies and suggestions for unforgettable events—from riff-based teaching to co-creation through communication and creativity.

Aligning Prosperity with Purpose: Money Lessons from Doug Lynam

Marine. Monk. Manager. Behavioral finance expert Doug Lynam helps you heal your relationship with finances, aligning prosperity with a deeper, personal purpose.

Expert Mental Health Keynote Speakers That Can Elevate Your Attendees’ Experiences

Learn how the right mental health keynote speaker can help transform your events by fostering connection, resilience, and lasting impact that last a lifetime.