Biography

Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor is a Harvard-trained and published neuroscientist. In 1996 she experienced a severe hemorrhage (AVM) in the left hemisphere of her brain causing her to lose the ability to walk, talk, read, write, or recall any of her life. Her memoir, My Stroke of Insight, documenting her experience with stroke and eight-year recovery, spent 63 weeks on the New York Times nonfiction bestseller list and is still routinely the #1 book in the category Stroke in the Amazon marketplace.

Dr. Jill is a dynamic teacher and public speaker who loves educating all age groups, academic levels, as well as corporations and not-for-profit organizations about the beauty of our human brain. She focuses on how we can activate the power of our neuroplasticity to not only recover from neurological trauma, but how we can purposely choose to live a more flexible, resilient, and satisfying life.

In 2008 Dr. Jill gave the first TED talk that ever went viral on the Internet, which now has well over 27.5 million views. Also in 2008, Dr. Jill was chosen as one of Time magazine’s “100 Most Influential People in the World” and was the premiere guest on Oprah Winfrey’s “Soul Series”webcast. Her new book, Whole Brain Living – the Anatomy of Choice and the Four Characters That Drive Our Life is a #1 release on Amazon in categories ranging from Neuroscience to Nervous System Diseases and Stroke.

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Videos

Jill Bolte Taylor, PhD, What is Whole Brain Living?

Learn The Anatomy of Choice and the Four Characters That Drive Our Life

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A Stroke of Insight: How to Get the Brain to Do What You Want

After her stroke Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor made a decision a million times each day to recover. That decision not only led to her eventual recovery, but a remarkable opportunity to share her experiences with audiences. In a presentation that has been called nothing short of mesmerizing Taylor relives her experiences of having a stroke and gives audiences a brief guided tour of the brain. She describes the biological underpinnings of watching half her brain deteriorate and shares valuable insights on:

Why she initially studied the brain, her research and her own brain disorder

How to get the brain to do what you want it to do

How to capitalize on the brain’s two hemispheres

How the choices we make and the thoughts we think directly influence our level of joy

In addition, Dr. Jill is happy to create an original topic in order to cater her presentation to an organization’s specific needs.

Booksby Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor

Whole Brain Living

My Stroke of Insight

Blog Posts

The One Life Question That Separates Victims From Victors

One powerful question changed how keynote speaker John O'Leary chose to live his life. Discover the victim-or-victor framework that works for any challenge.

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Insights from Ross Bernstein on What Champions Do When Nobody’s Watching

Learn how champions think differently and build winning habits that transform teams from talented to unstoppable with peak performance speaker Ross Bernstein.

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7 Year-End Lessons From Keynote Speaker Every Event Planner Needs Before 2026

Learn 7 powerful year-end lessons from top keynote speakers to transform your event planning strategy and personal growth in 2026.

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The Event Budget Mistake Most Planners Make

Learn with Scott Bloom why smart event planners invest in professional emcees instead of expensive keynotes to create unforgettable multi-day event experiences.

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Analog Strategies That Reduce Digital Anxiety (From a Former White House CIO)

Learn how to calm digital anxiety with proven analog strategies from former White House CIO Theresa Payton that can help you restore your human connections.

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How Elite Teams Prevent Catastrophic Failures Before They Happen (Teamwork Lessons From a Fighter Pilot)

Navy fighter pilot Jack Becker reveals how elite teams catch errors fast, protect blind spots, and perform under pressure using proven teamwork strategies.

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