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Gregory Burns  

Three-Time Paralympian & Contemporary Artist

Gregory Burns delivers powerful motivational keynotes and intimate fireside chats which inspire and challenge teams and individuals to go beyond their selfimposed limitations. For three decades, through story telling and sharing life experiences, Burns presses audiences to rethink the way they conduct business and live their lives so that they can better achieve goals and maximize potential.

Burns also conducts innovative collaborative masterclasses, which galvanize groups to reengage with their company culture and values by creating amazing artwork that participants craft together during these synergistic workshops.

Burns won gold medals and set multiple world records while swimming in three Paralympic Games. Retiring from the pool he completed numerous IronMan competitions and built a profitable professional business as an international artist. Holding a Master of Fine Art and educated in Europe, America, and Asia, Burns combines a global perspective with an authentic personal touch. He addresses the unique issues facing his diverse audiences by customizing his programs to address their challenges.

Burns has published three books, delivered two TedX Talks and has been featured on CNN, CNBC, BBC, ESPN, CCTV and CNA as well as in The AWSJ, Time Magazine and The China Daily.

Speech Topics


Going Beyond Limitations

Sharing frank and personal experiences as a Paralympian and entrepreneur, Gregory stresses the winner’s mindset that challenges the status quo while being deaf to doubts which might dissuade us from pursuing what we know is right. He insists that what defines and distinguishes people is how they leverage and make the most of their limitations and maximize what they do have. Gregory acknowledges both mental and physical well-being are critical and shares his strategies to achieve them. In life, as in business, naming and taming issues while asking for support can be key.

Fueling Passions- Recharging Life

Learn the secrets of Gregory’s success as a Paralympic Gold Medalist and internationally acclaimed contemporary painter. See first-hand how sports and arts are effective grounding tools, that helped him build inner strength and actualize his best self. Discover the creative process behind bespoke artworks created specifically for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Exploring a holistic view of ones activities both personally and professionally, Gregory shares how he manages the trials of keeping his body, mind and spirit in top shape. He challenges us to identify our core rituals, which generate energy in our lives and help each of us deal with the tests we face daily.

Beyond Limitations

Motivational Keynote

Faced with external or internal limitations, we all battle to achieve goals that seem out of reach. Regardless of our level of personal achievement, each new challenge requires a new decision and level of commitment. While testing his limits, Gregory’s story speaks to the winner in all of us. This dynamic presentation, utilizing dramatic slides and video footage, challenges audiences to question their excuses in order to achieve their business and personal objectives.

Key Speaking Points:

  • Maximising what is in our hands
  • Stretching ourselves and our limits
  • Persevering outside comfort zones
  • Maintaining balance and well being

The Creative Leader

Art teaches us about creativity, intuition, exploration and how to deal with uncertainty. After analysing five principles which great artists and leaders share in order to be more creative, Gregory leads participants through a handson art-making workshop, which stimulates the more creative right side of our brain. By taking audiences out of their comfort zones and undertaking exercises that encourage them to think individually and collectively outside of the box, this MasterClass empowers participants to work creatively and more intuitively to find solutions in foreign situations.

Key MasterClass Objectives:

  • Experiment outside comfort zones
  • Re-engage with creativity
  • Work creatively alone and with teams
  • Leadership

Visualizing Company Culture through Art

Through this innovative team building MasterClass Gregory helps participants reinforce company culture and values by creating amazing artwork that staff craft in a collaborative effort that is a testament to the team and their objectives. The process of visualizing, humanizing and personalizing company culture creates a strong connection and ownership for participants. Encouraging teamwork and free expression, Gregory’s methodology stimulates participants to reengage with their creativity and colleagues while promoting staff retention and producing a lasting piece of art.

Key MasterClass Themes:

  • Team-building
  • Creative problem solving
  • Visually articulate company values
  • Creating a Visual Legacy piece

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