Yossi Ghinsberg

Biography

Not many people realize that survival is a choice as deeply and intimately as Yossi Ghinsberg. In the midst of the uncharted Amazon, after losing his three companions, Yossi was tested to the extreme. Alone for three harrowing weeks of sheer survival against all odds, he ultimately lived to tell this amazing story as well as how the ordeal profoundly affected his understanding of himself and his life’s purpose. The most important thing he learned from this experience was that we all have the power to survive.

Years later, Yossi returned to the Amazon and made it his home. Working with indigenous forest dwellers for three years, they built Cha-la-lan, a model eco-tourism village that inspired the entire Amazon basin and the world. He also founded The Madidi National Park, the biggest biodiversity conserve in the Amazon.

Yossi now travels the planet sharing his universal messages of strength, hope and inspiration. His choice to connect rather than retreat has become his life’s journey. He serves the CEO of an Israeli / Arab Reconciliation Festival, where spiritual leaders of both Islam and Judaism conduct special prayers for peace.

His first book, Heart of the Amazon, now published as Jungle, based on his harrowing adventures in South America, soon became an international bestseller. The Discovery Channel released a documentary film based on the book. Yossi is also the author of Laws of the Jungle.

In times of rapid change, markets go through massive transition and in the process even the giants shake – some collapse. As fear and insecurity rise, times like these can feel like sheer survival for many. As a speaker, Yossi’s permeating authenticity instills in people the power to trust themselves and engage in life fully and passionately regardless of the circumstances.

A riveting storyteller, Yossi leads audiences to a deep state of listening, allowing them to experience and process the content within their own environments and thus immediately integrate it in their personal and professional life. His delivery is a powerful multi-sensory experience, evoking emotions and challenging commonly held concepts. He teaches that survival is a choice…one that comes with results that may not look as we had originally expected or planned.

Yossi believes that nothing promotes growth more than an unexpected experience and unconventional thinking. In these times of great challenge and change, his ‘Power to Survive’ message is timely.

Yossi was born and raised in Israel. He served three years in the Israeli navy on the Red Sea, where he befriended the Bedouins of the Sinai Desert who greatly influenced him with their wholesome philosophy and nomadic lifestyle.

He graduated from Tel Aviv University with Philosophy and Business degrees, followed by a comprehensive study of the Kabala in academic as well as authentic environments. A truth seeker by an inner calling, Yossi Ghinsberg continuously studied religions and philosophy including the ancients, the classics, the Eastern and the Contemporary.

In 1992, Yossi returned to the Amazon to initiate “The Cha-la-lan Project,” demonstrating that the best strategy to preserve pristine rainforest is sustainable development in cooperation with indigenous inhabitants, rather than mere conservation. Yossi promoted recognition of intellectual properties for indigenous people and his contribution to the region won him international acclaim from Conservation International, the World Resources Institute and The Inter-American Development Bank.

In 1995, Yossi was appointed Vice President of The Center for Investigation & Treatment of Addiction (CITA). In this capacity, he promoted a new humanitarian approach to the treatment of opiate addiction, establishing 12 treatment and research centers around the world from Mexico to China. Yossi also established and managed his own clinics in Australia where he launched the “Alma Libre” initiative to educate society about opiate addiction and promote reintegration of rehabilitated patients.

Yossi has great interest in conflict resolution on personal, organizational and global levels. In 2001 during the peak of the Palestinian “intifada,” he was invited to return to Israel to produce a reconciliation festival. Despite the escalation of violence in the region, the festival managed to attract spiritual leaders of Judaism and Islam as well as unprecedented audiences.

Yossi is married and a father to three girls. He shares his time between his home in the heart of an Australian rainforest and the rest of the world.

Videos

Request Availability

Testimonials

You rank number one in my experience, I'm honored to be a reference.

– Chris Varelas, Head of National Investment Bank Citibank

Yossi’s keynote was a breath of fresh air, an injection of much-needed oxygen for the sales force and the management team. We sat mesmerized listening to ideas that were new to us and opened us to see more choices we haven't seen before.

– Bert Wong, CEO, Fuji Xerox (Asia Pacific)

You were amazing; I have never seen a packed room to be so totally absorbed at a convention session in my career.

– Robert Fuller, CTE - IBM

The reaction from the Nearsoft team has been unlike any other Motivational speaker we've had before. A lot people felt a personal connection to you, your story, and your message. Thanks for making it happen.

– Matt M Pérez, COO & Co-Founder, Nearsoft, Inc.

You are among the most impressive motivational speakers we have ever had. It was amazing to all who attended how you could weave a gripping tale of survival in the Amazon, against all odds, into a story that had practical application in all of our lives.

– Jerry C. Meyer, President/COO, Aegis Living

Booksby Yossi Ghinsberg

Jungle

Lost in the Jungle: A Harrowing True Story of Survival in the Amazon

For Meeting Planners

Photos

Speaker Documents

Speaking Topic

Request Availability

Blog Posts

Stop Stressing! Find Your Perfect Stress Management Style

✨ Eliz Greene addresses the complexities of stress management, highlighting the importance of recognizing and...

Why Do People Get Harley-Davidson Tattoos? Building Unwavering Brand Loyalty

🏍️ In a world where brand loyalty can seem fleeting, Ken Schmidt, former Director of...

Achieving 3 Daily Wins: Leadership Lessons with Lt. Col. Waldo Waldman

🎧 Tune in my conversation with Lt. Col. Waldo Waldman to become the person that...

Train Like You Fight: How To Take Pride in Your Preparation

How to handle unexpected challenges during high-stakes situations? Mistakes can be costly, but meticulous preparation...

Honoring Memorial Day and Inspirational Veteran Speakers

🎖️ In this week's newsletter, we honor those who sacrificed and those who continue to...

MPI’s World Education Congress (WEC) in Louisville, KY

🤩 The Keynote Curators was thrilled to participate in Meeting Professionals International World Education Congress...

Related Speakers

Chris Waddell Hall of Fame Athlete, NBC Analyst of Paralympics, Podcast Host, Author, Founder One Revolution, First “Nearly Unassisted” Paraplegic to Summit Kilimanjaro

Robert Ballard

Founder and President of the Ocean Exploration Trust, Explorer-At-Large at the National Geographic Society, Discoverer of the RMS Titanic, and Research Scholar at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

Ben Nemtin Organizational Culture Expert, Cofounder of MTV’s The Buried Life, Bestselling Author

Michael Phelps Most Decorated Olympian of All Time, 21x Gold Medalist, Award-Winning American Swimmer

Samantha Radocchia The Radical Futurist, Anthropologist, Multimedia Storyteller, Entrepreneur, Frontier Tech Pioneer

Reviews & Ratings

     Excellent  
     Based on 56 reviews 
    
 
 
   
 
 
        
   Waldo Waldman 
 May 19, 2024
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I’ve been Speaking professionally for 21 years and work with the largest agencies in the world. I’m a Hall of Fame keynote speaker and a New York Times best selling Author. I have can honestly say in full confidence that Seth Dechtman and his team at Keynote Curator is the best agency I have been honored to work with.
I’ve witnessed Seth’s client focused relationship skills On multiple occasions. His clients love him and he’s detail oriented and has great communication skillls.
But most importantly, I’ve been on the receiving side of his servant, focused leadership style. He treats me like a valued partner and emulates everything a wingman is.
  
 
       
   David Allison 
 May 17, 2024
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Seth and the Keynote Curators team are tenacious and determined to do right by their clients and their speakers. I appreciate our relationship so much, and highly reccomend this group to anyone looking to book a speaker for an event.
  
 
       
   Meir Statman 
 May 10, 2024
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. It is wonderful to join Seth in helping people reflect on their financial and life well-being and enhance them.
  
 
       
   Trevor Wilde 
 April 24, 2024
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. This was an amazing experience. the Keynote Speaker we had was perfect for our event and will definitely be having another for our next one!
  
 
       
   Sandro Forte 
 March 22, 2024
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Brilliantly hosted, with great content. An absolute ‘must add’ to any podcast list!
  
 
       
   Jon VanDeventer 
 November 18, 2023
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I've been working with Seth at The Keynote Curators for over 3 years. I always look forward to our meetings because of both his professional expertise and his enjoyable, engaging personality. We have fun during our virtual meetings while developing innovative strategies and accomplishing goals. It's obvious from working with Seth over a number of years that he is always making event planning and booking services an easy process and providing responsiveness that sets him apart. He's an excellent partner who gets invested in your business and collaborates through every step of a process that can sometimes feel overwhelming.
  
 
       
   Jason Galaska 
 November 7, 2023
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Seth and his team were fantastic to work with in 2023 and we look forward to working with Keynote Curators to find potential speaker matches for our events in the future.  Thank you, Seth, for your professionalism!
  
 
       
   Hailey Wilson 
 October 23, 2023
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. A Treasure Trove for Anyone Involved in Speaker Selection!

As someone deeply involved in the intersection of marketing and technology at AImpact, I find the process of selecting the right keynote speaker to be a critical part of any successful event. Seth Dechtman's "The Keynote Curators" podcast is nothing short of a godsend for anyone facing the challenges and opportunities that come with this task.

Seth brings an almost poetic understanding to the power of words, acknowledging that a speech isn't just a scheduled event but a transformative experience that can change the dynamics of an entire room. His enthusiasm for the craft is contagious, making each episode a joy to listen to.
  
 
       
   Nicole 
 September 14, 2023
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Seth is super knowledgeable about the needs of meeting planners to have a successful event and partners with you to find just that right fit!
  
 
       
   Duncan Sigurdsson 
 August 28, 2023
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! Working with Seth Dechtman and The Keynote Curators is always true partnership.  In the three plus years that we have been involved in various projects, I can tell you that they always deliver.  We have done some really cool stuff together.  Any meeting professional, conference planner or event producer will greatly benefit from partnering with The Keynote Curators.  High praise to Seth and his team.