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Gabby Reece      

Beach Volleyball Champion, First Female Spokeswoman for Nike, Creator of HIGHX, New York Times Best Selling Author, Model and Actress.

Gabby Reece is a trailblazer in sports, business, and wellness, embodying strength, resilience, and innovation.

A standout volleyball player, Reece earned an athletic scholarship to Florida State University, where she set school records that still stand today. She transitioned to professional beach volleyball, leading her teams to victory in the inaugural Beach Volleyball World Championships in 1997 and serving as team captain for Team Nike in the Women’s Beach Volleyball League. She was named the league’s Offensive Player of the Year in 1994-95, led in blocks, and dominated in kills for four consecutive seasons. In 1994, Reece became Nike’s first female athlete to design a shoe, launching the Air Trainer, followed by the Air GR series, which became the first women’s shoe to outsell the Air Jordan.

Beyond sports, Reece is a serial entrepreneur with business ventures that reflect her passion for health and wellness. She hosts "The Gabby Reece Show," a podcast exploring mindset, performance, and fitness, and co-founded Laird Superfood, a plant-based nutrition brand, with her husband, Laird Hamilton. She is also the creator of XPT, a performance training system focused on breathwork, movement, and recovery, and launched Gabby Apparel and HIGHX, a fitness and lifestyle brand.

Reece is a prominent media personality, frequently appearing on Good Morning America, The Today Show, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and Chelsea Lately. She has also acted in feature films, playing a pro beach volleyball player in "Cloud Nine" (2004) and appearing in "North Shore" (2004) and "Gattaca" (1997). As a sought-after speaker, she was invited to TEDMED in 2012 to discuss innovations in health and medicine. She is also an ambassador for the American Heart Association Teaching Gardens, where she educates children on the importance of nutrition and exercise.

A best-selling author, Reece wrote "My Foot Is Too Big for the Glass Slipper," which became a New York Times bestseller. The book, which challenges conventional feminist narratives, garnered widespread media attention, leading to appearances on The Today Show, Rock Center with Brian Williams, Live from the Couch, Dr. Oz, Katie Couric, E! Chelsea Lately, The Jeff Probst Show, and The Better Show. She was also a co-host of "The View" and has appeared on "Access Hollywood." Her health and fitness expertise has been featured in Shape, Men’s Fitness, and Elle.

Reece married legendary big-wave surfer Laird Hamilton in 1997. The couple has three children and splits their time between Kauai, Hawaii, and Malibu, California. Through her diverse career, Reece continues to inspire individuals to embrace strength, balance, and purpose in all aspects of life.

Speech Topics


Define Yourself

When we live in a time when success is defined by money and notoriety how are we supposed to be our natural selves?

  • how to get your external life to reflect your true internal self.
  • do what feels right to your authentic self.

Build Your Value System

  • reverse engineer / set goals – define
  • don’t compare
  • redefine your relationship with failure / learning vs failure
  • prioritize health

Challenge for Growth

  • apply your value system to relationships, family, business
  • get the right support system / recognize the importance of a strong team
  • challenge yourself for growth – friction can lead to progress

Healthy Lifestyle & Fitness

Setting & Achieving Goals

What it Takes to Become a Champion

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Redefining Aging as a Baby Boomer

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