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Ben Nemtin

  • #1 New York Times Bestselling Author
  • Co-Founder of The Buried Life
  • Global Gurus World's Best Motivational Speaker

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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 cofounder 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 around the world, 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 as well as 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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Past Hosts Include:
  • Jack Henry & Associates, Inc.
  • Lululemon Athletica
  • Lincoln Financial Group
  • Vizient
  • FedEx Services
  • Levi Strauss & Co
  • Stanford University
  • cityCURRENT
  • Headspace
  • Ohio Hospital Association
Rave Reviews About Ben Nemtin
“
In my 38 year career I have never hired the same speaker twice, until Ben. I have now had Ben speak at critical internal/external events three times. When we did our survey of the events, his was the only segment that received a 100% approval rating. People were sincerely moved. I have actually heard from several attendees that are now working on things that have felt were buried and they want to do before the Lord calls them home. I personally was inspired enough to pursue my improbable dream of songwriting in Nashville, which last October came true. I cannot thank Ben enough for his life changing message.

”
More rave reviews

"Ben nailed it. His powerful message rippled through our audience, and everyone left energized and motivated to make the impossible possible."

-Paciolan

"Ben’s storytelling and ability to connect with our audience was apparent from the minute he greeted our participants. Listening to his story made everyone in the room feel empowered and motivated to make a difference and be courageous in their own lives. Ben helped us realize that we as individuals and leaders have the ability to make a real impact and empower others to make that same impact not only professionally but in our everyday lives. The message was perfectly aligned with our theme and I had so many attendees say it was the best event to date. I would highly recommend Ben to anyone wanting to add that “WOW” factor to their event."

-FedEx Services

"Ben’s work is as personal as it is universal. Beyond living a joyful, bold life, the underlying message he has imparted onto our people is to curate a life of mental wellness, and that self-care and care for others are indivisible. His is a message of heart and humanity."

-Lululemon Athletica

"Ben Nemtin is relevant, engaging and inspiring with his delivery and beliefs. His message to our employees was a true gift both professionally and personally as he ignited a passion and emotion within our organization that yielded amazing results. He truly has made a meaningful impact in the lives of our associates."

-Lincoln Financial Group

"Perfect alignment with our corporate values, authentic and inspiring."

-Levi Strauss & Co

"Ben's transformational keynote energized our team to move towards more productive, satisfying lives by committing to something greater than ourselves. Ben inspired a culture of service where we support each other, both inside and outside the office. This was a catalyst moment for our newly promoted senior managers."

-Deloitte

"Having heard Ben speak at a National Conference and most recently at a student staff training on campus, I am both inspired and moved by the Buried Life story and the message he delivers. Ben’s storytelling truly connects and resonates with his audience and his message of possibilities and resilience moves people to action"

-UCLA

"I laughed and I cried. I think it was important for Harvard students especially to experience this because for most of the students here there is pressure to embrace the material things in life and sacrifice any in your way to make it to the top. This is a message that we could all embrace and learn from!"

-Harvard Law School

"Ben has a way of capturing the audience like no other speaker I’ve met. He is both inspiring and genuine on stage – two qualities that combined together make magic. Working with him has been an absolute pleasure."

-Junior Achievement Sweden

"Ben did a beautiful job of truly connecting with the entire audience. At different times, people were laughing, wiping tears, taking notes, or spontaneously applauding. He genuinely inspired everyone in the room, and I got magnificent comments from the attendees."

-Ohio Hospital Association

"Having Ben as a guest speaker at Headspace was nothing short of sublime. Not only is his own story an incredible inspiration, he also stands for creating the culture where others can inhabit a life they love."

-Headspace

"Ben Nemtin is a masterful storyteller and speaker, who has a remarkable way of connecting with audiences and using his life and “bucket list” adventures to help and inspire others! We were honored to have Ben keynote three different events in Memphis, TN, including a reception with hundreds of college students and business professional mentors, a fundraising dinner for the Boy Scouts, and our cityCURRENT Signature Breakfast with more than 400 prominent community leaders. At each event, Ben received a standing ovation! It was absolutely amazing to see THREE standing ovations with three completely different audiences! Even better, Ben is a genuine, good guy. He was a pleasure to work with and extremely professional when it came to his preparation and tweaking his presentations to fit the audiences. You’ll find that watching Ben is like watching a movie where he combines personal stories with media to make you laugh, cry, learn, and then want to act to take control of your life and make a difference in the lives of others. If you’re looking for a speaker to truly inspire your audience, I definitely stand behind Ben Nemtin! We’re still receiving rave reviews from his presentations."

-cityCURRENT

"I see literally hundreds of speakers a year and Ben's was such an easy-going but incredibly compelling story and style. Ben will go down as one of my favorites of all times!"

-Jack Henry & Associates, Inc.

"I have run many conferences over the years and one challenge is the “last speaker”. It is extremely hard to finish with a “lift” at the end. Ben was by far the best I have ever seen. Well done!"

-Vizient

"I must say that Ben personally brought me to my knees with emotion when he spoke about the journey of life and going for what we all feel is truly important."

-Stanford University
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Promo - Ben Nemtin Keynote Speaker [3:02] - Get Sharable Link
Talks & Conversations with Ben Nemtin
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Make the Impossible Possible

What if “impossible” was just a mindset? Ben’s extraordinary journey—from debilitating depression to achieving 100 seemingly impossible dreams—reveals a powerful truth: impossible is merely a starting point. Ben weaves the remarkable story of how The Buried Life grew from 100 impossible dreams into ...

What if “impossible” was just a mindset? Ben’s extraordinary journey—from debilitating depression to achieving 100 seemingly impossible dreams—reveals a powerful truth: impossible is merely a starting point.

Ben weaves the remarkable story of how The Buried Life grew from 100 impossible dreams into a global movement and connects his lessons to the fabric of our daily lives. His remarkable achievements—from creating a hit MTV show to playing basketball with President Obama, from becoming a #1 New York Times bestselling author to sharing beers with Prince Harry—weren’t a matter of luck. They were the result of a repeatable system, a blueprint for success that anyone can master.

This isn’t just inspiration—it’s a practical guide to achieving the extraordinary. Ben shares the exact framework that empowered his team to defy impossible odds, demonstrating how these principles can transform your biggest challenges into your greatest triumphs. He reveals how small, consistent actions compound like interest, generating unstoppable momentum that turns seemingly impossible goals into inevitable successes.

Ben establishes an undeniable truth: personal growth fuels professional growth, which drives organizational success. Through his journey of completing seemingly insurmountable dreams, he demonstrates that purpose is the fuel that ignites the impossible and giving back is the catalyst that multiplies your impact exponentially.

PROGRAM TAKEAWAYS

  • Master the Impossible: Learn Ben’s proven ‘5 Steps to Impossible’ framework and turn ambition into reality.
  • Fuel Your Momentum: Discover how purpose-driven action creates unstoppable momentum.
  • Build a Resilient Team: Forge a high-performing team by connecting individual fulfilment with organizational success, creating a culture where everyone thrives.
  • Accelerate Your Growth Through Giving: Experience the transformative power of helping others and discover how it fuels your own personal and professional growth.
  • Unlock Radical Possibility: Embrace a growth mindset and break free from the limitations of “impossible”.
  • Amplify Your Impact: Unite your team around a shared purpose and create a ripple effect of positive change that extends far beyond your immediate goals.

Powered by Purpose

In today’s relentless environment, where uncertainty reigns supreme, why do some teams thrive while others struggle? Ben reveals the game-changing truth: purpose isn’t just a buzzword – it’s the secret weapon that fueled his own extraordinary journey, lifting him from the depths of depression to ign ...

In today’s relentless environment, where uncertainty reigns supreme, why do some teams thrive while others struggle? Ben reveals the game-changing truth: purpose isn’t just a buzzword – it’s the secret weapon that fueled his own extraordinary journey, lifting him from the depths of depression to ignite a global movement and achieve the seemingly impossible.

Through compelling evidence and unforgettable stories, Ben demonstrates how embracing your professional and personal purpose unleashes untapped potential, creates true work-life harmony, and empowers you to become the best version of yourself.

In this revolutionary keynote, discover why purpose-driven individuals and teams are 7x more likely to overcome challenges, focusing on the “why” that ignites passion and resilience. Ben masterfully blends cutting-edge science with captivating storytelling to reveal how purpose transforms organizational culture from the inside out.

Leaders gain actionable strategies to build trust, authentically demonstrate care for their teams’ well-being, and foster innovation, retention, and breakthrough performance. This isn't merely theoretical—it’s a strategic blueprint for translating purpose into tangible outcomes and cultivating a workplace that inspires genuine passion.

PROGRAM TAKEAWAYS

  • Unleash Your Potential: Discover how aligning your personal and professional purpose fuels sustainable growth and empowers you to become your best self.
  • Create Purpose-Driven Retention: Learn how to champion whole-person growth and cultivate a culture of trust, fueling engagement and retention.
  • Build Resilience in Uncertainty: Master practical strategies for maintaining well-being and navigating challenges with purpose and unwavering resilience.
  • Fuel Success Through Service: Discover the power of purpose-driven leadership to create a culture of service, where helping others becomes a catalyst for individual and collective success.
  • Magnify Your Impact: Reconnect to the profound ripple effect of your work and discover how purpose amplifies your impact, even when results are unseen.
  • Forge Deeper Connections: Cultivate authentic connections with your team and leadership, fostering a culture that attracts the best talent

From Burnout to Balance

What if the secret to peak performance wasn't working harder, but working with purpose? Before becoming a #1 New York Times bestselling author, playing basketball at the White House, and being interviewed by Oprah, Ben faced a formidable opponent: crippling depression. Through his powerful journey, ...

What if the secret to peak performance wasn't working harder, but working with purpose? Before becoming a #1 New York Times bestselling author, playing basketball at the White House, and being interviewed by Oprah, Ben faced a formidable opponent: crippling depression. Through his powerful journey, he reveals how purpose transforms burnout into sustainable success and shares a counterintuitive truth: prioritizing your well-being isn't selfish—it's the foundation of exceptional performance in every aspect of life.

This groundbreaking keynote revolutionizes how organizations approach well-being and performance. Ben demonstrates how genuine work-life harmony creates a positive feedback loop that fuels innovation, boosts retention, and drives breakthrough results. Through honest personal stories and key scientific insights, he shows how personal fulfillment becomes the catalyst for professional excellence.

Using a powerful blend of vulnerability and practical wisdom, Ben provides a proven system for turning life's challenges into opportunities for renewal. He shares the exact tools that helped him build resilience and how sustainable excellence isn’t about pushing harder—it's about aligning your actions with what truly matters... This isn’t another wellness talk—it's an invitation to rediscover what makes you feel alive.

PROGRAM TAKEAWAYS

  • Master Your Well-being: Acquire Ben’s ‘Mental Health Toolkit’ and discover 10 powerful practices to transform stress into strength and cultivate lasting resilience.
  • Fuel Your Performance: Unlock sustainable energy and peak performance by creating true work-life harmony, where your personal and professional lives thrive in synergy.
  • Navigate Life’s Challenges: Develop resilience to effectively manage stress, navigate life’s ups and downs, and emerge stronger from adversity.
  • Build a Resilient Team: Empower your team with science-backed strategies to cultivate resilience, foster well-being, and create a culture of support.
  • Lead with Vulnerability: Destigmatize mental health and discover how vulnerability can become a source of strength and authentic leadership.
  • Unleash Your Full Potential: Infuse your life with passion and energy by prioritizing personal growth and discovering how it ignites professional advancement.

Thriving in Uncertainty

In an era where change is the only constant, leaders face a critical challenge: how do you build unshakeable teams that don’t just survive disruption—but harness it for breakthrough growth? Ben Nemtin’s extraordinary journey from achieving 100 “impossible” goals to helping others achieve their wilde ...

In an era where change is the only constant, leaders face a critical challenge: how do you build unshakeable teams that don’t just survive disruption—but harness it for breakthrough growth? Ben Nemtin’s extraordinary journey from achieving 100 “impossible” goals to helping others achieve their wildest dreams provides a compelling answer: purpose-driven individuals don’t just endure change—they turn it into their advantage.

Through masterful storytelling and evidence-based insights, Ben reveals how top-performing organizations are turning today’s unprecedented challenges into tomorrow’s competitive edge. He demonstrates why those anchored in purpose consistently outperform their peers during periods of disruption, showing leaders exactly how to build this cultural resilience into their teams.

This isn’t another change management talk—it’s a blueprint for organizational transformation. Ben provides leaders with actionable frameworks to not only adapt to change but actively leverage it for unprecedented growth. He reveals the counterintuitive truth that connecting with your deepest values and boldest dreams creates the stability needed to navigate uncertainty with confidence and creativity.

This powerful message inspires audiences to embrace cultures of service, gratitude and endless potential— where change becomes the catalyst for your team's greatest breakthroughs.

PROGRAM TAKEAWAYS

  • Embrace the Unknown: Step boldly into uncertainty, push past discomfort, and discover the extraordinary opportunities that lie hidden within disruption.
  • Embrace a Growth Mindset: See challenges as opportunities to experiment, innovate, and unlock your organization’s true potential.
  • Turn Purpose into Performance: Master a proven framework for turning purpose into performance, fueling growth and success even in the midst of disruption.
  • Build Your Resilience Toolkit: Acquire practical tools and strategies to increase well-being, navigate uncertainty, and emerge stronger from adversity.
  • Unleash Your Potential: Align your personal and professional purpose to build unstoppable momentum.

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Books by Ben Nemtin
What Do You Want to Do Before You Die?

What Do You Want to Do Before You Die?

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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 cofounder 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 around the world, 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 as well as 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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