1. Home
  2. Our Speakers
  3. Elizabeth Smart

Elizabeth Smart

  • NYT Bestselling Author, My Story
  • Abduction Survivor & Motivational Speaker
  • Founder of the Elizabeth Smart Foundation

Add to my speaker list

The abduction of Elizabeth Smart was one of the most followed child abduction cases of our time. In the years after her rescue, Smart transformed from victim to advocate, traveling the country and working to educate, inspire and foster change. She has created a foundation to help prevent crimes against children and is a sought-after public speaker. But Elizabeth's message goes beyond "abduction" as she has become an incredible role model. Her message is about hope and stopping the brutal victimization of women and children around the world. The Founder of the Elizabeth Smart Foundation, she has also helped promote The National AMBER Alert, The Adam Walsh Child Protection & Safety Act and other safety legislation to help prevent abductions. Elizabeth’s inspiring remarks and spirit continue to motivate parents, law enforcement and leaders worldwide.

 


Elizabeth Smart headshot
Elizabeth Smart photo 3
Elizabeth Smart photo 2
Past Hosts Include:
  • Southern Arkansas University Tech
  • The New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children
  • North Central Michigan College
  • Junior League of Williamsport,
  • New School in the Heights
  • Penn State University
  • Siloam Springs Hospital
  • Houston Chapter of Hadassah
  • Minot State University
Rave Reviews About Elizabeth Smart
“
Elizabeth was a wonderful, captivating speaker. We had the largest crowd we've ever had.

”
More rave reviews

"Elizabeth Smart was everything we had hoped for. She was gracious, easy to talk with, work with, and gave a powerful and inspiring talk. We could not have chosen a better person to inaugurate our new Presidential Speaker Series."

-Minot State University

"Elizabeth Smart recently spoke at our Women of Courage event, and she was received warmly enthusiastically. Her story is inspirational and filled with faith and hope. "

-Houston Chapter of Hadassah

"Elizabeth was amazing and had the audience mesmerized within the first minute of her presentation. Many women commented that they needed tissues before the event was over, but loved her and thought she was a wonderful, sweet and courageous young woman. There wasn’t a negative comment that we received and everyone wanted to know how we got someone so amazing at our event. "

-Siloam Springs Hospital

"Ms. Smart’s voice was an outstanding way to end the event. Her humor combined with her ability to reach the audience on an emotional level ensured that her message of hope reached all. Our participants, which included many survivors of child sexual abuse, truly appreciate her willingness to be a spokesperson for all who have been victims and may not be ready to speak out. "

-Penn State University

"Every single person that attended the luncheon said Elizabeth was AMAZING! Spellbound, captivating, precious, poised, adorable are just a few adjectives that were passed along to me to describe Elizabeth. The New School will be hard pressed to ever find another speaker to match the words she spoke, and the love she shared with our supporters. "

-New School in the Heights

"It was an absolutely amazing event!!! Thank you Elizabeth Smart. "

-Junior League of Williamsport,

"Elizabeth Smart was outstanding! One of our best speakers and delightful to work with. "

-North Central Michigan College

"She was amazing. The gushing from the attendees never ended, there was a standing ovation, and we were all moved to tears. We were incredibly lucky to have her there today to help reinforce the message of our agency. "

-The New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children
Collapse rave reviews

News Interview - Elizabeth Smart on 20 years since kidnapping: "I felt destroyed" | CBS Mornings [10:11] - Get Sharable Link
Talks & Conversations with Elizabeth Smart
Expand all >

Overcoming Adversity: The Elizabeth Smart Story

The abduction of Elizabeth Smart was one of the most followed child abduction cases of our time. At the tender age of 14, just before celebrating her middle school graduation, Elizabeth went to sleep in her family home just as she had always done. Awakened hours later to a knife held roughly against ...

The abduction of Elizabeth Smart was one of the most followed child abduction cases of our time. At the tender age of 14, just before celebrating her middle school graduation, Elizabeth went to sleep in her family home just as she had always done. Awakened hours later to a knife held roughly against her throat, she was taken from her home and family and held captive for nine long months. In this captivating message, Elizabeth shares her incredible story of perseverance in the face of unimaginable adversity. Her speech not only tells her personal story, but also discusses topics such as overcoming extreme adversity, the importance and process of recovery, and not allowing your past to dictate your life's future. Elizabeth knows that there is nothing more important than having hope in a difficult situation. Having lived through an extreme circumstance as a young teenager, Elizabeth gives great insight and hope to all.

(-)
Speaker News

What meeting planners are saying about Elizabeth Smart

ELIZABETH SMART embodies the best of the future of the next generation of world leaders.  The author of the best-seller My Story and the Founder of the Elizabeth Smart Foundation, she is a survivor of a horrific kidnapping who was able to prevail during her ordeal by finding the courage deep within herself to thrive and survive. Following her rescue she was able to triumph by focusing on living the happy life that her captors had tried to steal from her. She's dedicated her life to helping women and children who have been kidnapped or involved in human trafficking. She is incredibly inspirational. Her TEDx talk was amazing. She has a new book, Where There's Hope: Healing, Moving Forward, and Never Giving Up.

She did an event for the Common Wealth Foundation which also featured Mandy Patinkin and Bob Schieffer and Elizabeth was the speaker they all raved about (including Mandy and Bob). Here are more rave reviews for Elizabeth: 

  • "Elizabeth was a wonderful, captivating speaker. We had the largest crowd we've ever had."  (Southern Arkansas University Tech)
  • "Elizabeth Smart was outstanding! One of our best speakers and delightful to work with."  (North Central Michigan College)
  • "It was an absolutely amazing event!!! Thank you Elizabeth Smart."  (Junior League of Williamsport)

(-)
Books by Elizabeth Smart
Where There's Hope: Healing, Moving Forward, and Never Giving Up

Where There's Hope: Healing, Moving Forward, and Never Giving Up

My Story

My Story

(-)
Biography

 

The abduction of Elizabeth Smart was one of the most followed child abduction cases of our time. Elizabeth was abducted on June 5, 2002, and her captors controlled her by threatening to kill her and her family if she tried to escape. Fortunately, the police safely returned Elizabeth back to her family on March 12, 2003, after being held a prisoner for 9 grueling months.

Through this traumatic experience, Elizabeth has become an advocate for change related to child abduction, recovery programs, and National legislation. Elizabeth triumphantly testified before her captor and the world about the very private nightmare she suffered during her abduction, which led to conviction.

The Founder of the “Elizabeth Smart Foundation”, Elizabeth has also helped promote The National AMBER Alert, The Adam Walsh Child Protection & Safety Act and other safety legislation to help prevent abductions.

Elizabeth has chronicled her experiences in the New York Times best-selling book, My Story. In addition, she and other abduction survivors worked with the Department of Justice to create a survivors guide, entitled, “You're Not Alone: The Journey From Abduction to Empowerment.” This guide is meant to encourage children who have gone through similar experiences not to give up but to know that there is hope for a rewarding life.

Elizabeth has recently released a new powerful and inspiring book about what it takes to overcome trauma, find the strength to move on, and reclaim one’s life. "Where There’s Hope" is the result of Elizabeth’s mission: It is both an up-close-and-personal glimpse into her healing process and a heartfelt how-to guide for readers to make peace with the past and embrace the future.

Elizabeth’s abduction and recovery continue to motivate parents, law enforcement and leaders worldwide to focus on children’s safety. She emphasizes vigilance by "everyday" people and the belief that hope always exists to find every missing child.

Smart attended Brigham Young University, studying music as a harp performance major. She married her husband Matthew in 2012, and they now have two beautiful children. Elizabeth’s example is a daily demonstration that there really is life after tragedy.

More ideas that might interest you:
Authors of Inspiration
Authors of Non-Fiction
Celebrities & Marquee Speakers
Inspirational Speakers & Survivors
Personal Growth & Inspiration
Surviving & Thriving: Adversity & Illness
TED Speakers
True Stories of Inspiration
Women Speakers