Speaker | Olympic Medalist | Author | Business Leader
Jeremiah Brown won an Olympic silver medal as a member of the Canadian men’s eight rowing team at the London 2012 Olympic Games. A young father with a big dream, he is one of few Olympians ever to have started learning his sport only four years before winning a medal at the Olympics.
Jeremiah went on to lead the Canadian Olympic Committee’s athlete wellness and transition programs for 3000 Olympic, Paralympic, and national team athletes. Whether supporting elite athletes to reinvent themselves, or helping organizations adapt to change, he is known for his deep insights into the psychology of high performance and human transformation, both from an individual and leadership perspective.
His memoir, The 4 Year Olympian, spent five weeks as the #1 bestselling sports memoir in Canada. His story has been featured on CBC, CTV, Roger’s Sportsnet, the Globe and Mail, the Toronto Star, and USA Today. A top keynote speaker, Jeremiah has helped thousands of people find the courage to reach their goals and overcome the psychological traps and emotional pitfalls that lie hidden along the way.
Jeremiah’s thoughts on working through this challenging time…
“Sometimes we have to fly that plane when we’re still building it, wondering what’s next and where do we go from here. Our structures have been blown apart and the mind craves boundaries. It will be up to each of us to choose the new direction forward. I can help your people get through this time of uncertainty by helping them understand some mental frameworks, some psychological and emotional tips, and tools that I used to go from my parents’ couch to the Olympic podium.”
Through each transformation, Jeremiah has come to learn that resilience is the skill that underpins them all, and he now passionately helps organizations and people understand how to strengthen their resilience when adapting to change in their own careers and personal lives.
What people are saying…
“I was so excited to secure Jeremiah as our closing keynote speaker for our 2020 annual conference. In the wake of COVID-19, we were forced to go virtual, and Jeremiah stepped up big time. With no hesitation, he built a professional studio and adapted his presentation for virtual delivery. This guy will do whatever it takes to get the job done! Despite being virtual, Jeremiah’s relatability and true authenticity made you feel like you were in the room with him. You can feel his humanity and personality in a way that very few professional speakers are able to pull off. I’m always wary of hiring leadership speakers who have a canned speech or tell stories they’ve found elsewhere. With Jeremiah, we hit the jackpot. He has such an amazing story, incredible delivery, and with so many relevant takeaways. He reminded us that no matter our age, career stage, or changes going on in our lives, there is always a new journey open to us if we choose. You’ve got to get this guy for your event!”
-Executive Director, Government Finance Officers Association of BC
“Your presentation was very inspirational, touching, and heartwarming! Thank you for sharing your incredible stories, your vulnerabilities, and your journey overcoming the most arduous challenges. You have brought a whole new meaning for resilience, and I appreciate your sharing the concept of optimistic resignation. Your stories and lessons have touched many and brought us hope and inspiration during this uncertain time. You’re a wonderful storyteller!”
-Human Resources Assistant, Conestoga College Institute of Technology
“Jeremiah Brown’s keynote presentation on What Can You Achieve in the Next 4 Years? Was the top keynote presentation at our conference. Jeremiah’s captivating, story-telling ability had people going through the same roller coaster of emotions he felt on the road to achieve his dream in 4 years. He provides you with a different perspective on what resilience truly means and shows you it’s important to surround yourself with the right people. He was incredibly captivating, motivating, and inspiring. As a man who truly defied statistical odds to success, he makes you appreciate and believe that you can too.”
-Program and Administrative Officer, Association of Municipal Administrators Nova Scotia
“Wildly applicable to our business. Jeremiah ratcheted us up 10 notches! He was phenomenal – highly recommend him!”
-Managing Director, Twitter Canada
“He had us from the first sentence. Articulate, engaging, humorous, inspiring and heartfelt delivery. I highly recommend him.”
-Marketing Operations Manager, RBC
“Outstanding! Jeremiah’s story is translatable to any business environment. 100% recommend him!”
-Regional Director, Investors Group Wealth Management
“Fantastic speaker for our leadership forum – transformation, perseverance, resilience, and what it takes to be part of a leadership team. I highly recommend Jeremiah!”
-President and CEO, Fortis Alberta
“On behalf of Morneau Shepell, thank you for your outstanding presentation to our clients at our Employers Connect 2016 event. Your presentation was noted by attendees as among the best parts of our day. Your clarity, warmth, and humor were extremely engaging. In addition, your story and the way you made it relevant to the audience, made it relevant and meaningful. I personally enjoyed collaborating with you, and look forward to opportunities to do so again.”
-Vice President, Research, Analytics and Innovation, Morneau Shepell
“Your speech was motivating and powerful!”
-EVP, Head of Consumer Distribution, TD Bank
“Jeremiah is a very powerful presenter. I have seen lots of keynote addresses, and this is the best of the best. He is incredibly gifted at drawing you in and feeling what he felt as he went through that four-year journey. It’s really a powerful talk. If you want to learn about resilience, and you want a keynote about resilience, grit, determination, focus, and perseverance, Jeremiah would be an outstanding presenter. He draws the audience in. His stories and the way he tells them is so powerful. He’s just a phenomenal keynote. I’d recommend him to anyone who wants that kind of message delivered to their audience.”
-Director, Strategic Planning & New Initiatives, Smith School of Business, Queen’s University
“Jeremiah’s talk was awesome! He was the best speaker we’ve had! His four-year journey, and the drive that it takes to succeed, is so relevant to sales. When being turned down so often is the norm, it’s so motivating to hear what you can accomplish with a plan, the commitment to try hard enough, for long enough, and to adapt until you succeed. So relevant to our industry. I highly recommend Jeremiah!”
-Sales Representative, Royal LePage
“Jeremiah had me on the edge of my seat! What a wonderful, engaging delivery! I’ve seen a lot of good speakers, but I found Jeremiah just had this indescribable ability to draw me in. His close is brilliant. Recommending him is a no-brainer!”
-Executive Financial Consultant, Investors Group
“Jeremiah Brown’s inspirational story about the importance of perseverance and overcoming failure was exceptional! He kept the audience captivated and it truly felt like we lived his journey and celebrated his successes with him. I know that he inspired our students to persevere through the challenges they may face in life and that hard work can pay off. He is absolutely one of the best keynotes speakers that I have ever heard – a compelling message, brilliantly told. Thanks, Jeremiah!”
-Academic Advisor, McMaster University
“Inspired – it is how I felt when Jeremiah finished his address at the 2017 MARS Apprentice Opening Event. With almost 200 business students, industry leaders, and guests attending we were hoping his story would capture the imagination of all and give them a sense of how attitude, work ethic, discipline and a relentless focus on goals earned Jeremiah the world record and 2012 Olympic silver medal in men’s rowing. Jeremiah did just that. He shared a very personal journey that became meaningful to all of us. He spoke with passion, insight, candour and made the winning moments come alive. His authenticity and his wit resonated with all. He will influence many audiences for many years to come and I encourage you to engage with him.”
-Marketing Professor, McMaster University