Neal Petersen has completed two amazing journeys in his life: a single-handed yacht race around the world, 27,000 miles, 9 months at sea, alone, and in a yacht he designed and built himself. And an even more arduous and eventful trip of overcoming racial prejudice during the Apartheid era in South Africa, poverty, and a childhood physical disability, just to make it to the start line! While sharing his riveting life story - and philosophy, Neal's personal messages and unique delivery opens the mind to "turn barriers into opportunities."

He knows how to interact with different cultures and people from everywhere - he is well traveled and has lived in many parts of the world. Currently, has homes in the USA, Dominican Republic and South Africa.

An award winning author, solo racing yachtsman and global investor, Neal Petersen shares real life examples of how he overcame tremendous barriers by always turning them into advantages - then into opportunities. In his captivating and empowering "No Barriers - Only Solutions" keynote, Neal demonstrates how success is realized-through innovation, balancing risk against return and being flexible enough to adapt to constant shifting winds. Neal Petersen has challenged thousands to prevail against their own formidable barriers and setbacks and to turn them into treasures. Neal has "wowed" international audiences with his story and how he relates it to their challenges, which typically ends with standing ovations.

In these challenging times of uncertainly, fear and insecurity rise, many feel like solo sailors, adrift, grasping for survival. Neal lays out the importance of a clearly communicated vision and direction, followed by detailed planning, preparation, passion and execution using his personal story.

Take away values: Neal carries a treasure chest on stage to empower others to turn your baggage into treasures. Innovate - how to capitalize on ever changing winds storms. Change - adapt to wind shifts and stormy seas by knowing when to alter course. Leverage economic challenges to your advantage-keep pumping, choose a winning course and navigate to your advantage. Attitude adjustment - refresh your vision - There are No Barriers ~ Only Solutions! Elements of success include determination, perseverance and hard work. With hope and planning, a dream can become a reality - anything is possible. Life is about choice, with choice are consequences ~ chose your course wisely.

Neal will inspire, entertain and captivate while providing the tools to prepare audiences to tackle their barriers, by providing hope, a change in attitude and the vision to navigate these challenging times ahead, not just for today - but, more importantly, the next generation. "Strive not only for success ~ but for significance!" "Neal is one of the most inspiring, dynamic and thought provoking speakers you will ever witness, he is mesmerizing."

Neal has delivered keynotes at multiple events for IBM, AIG, Cisco, Mars, Microsoft, Intel, Mass Mutual, Prudential and MDRT.

No Barriers - Only Solutions Program:

Neal's keynote is unique in his delivery, carrying a treasure chest on stage - Neal challenges his audience to carry treasures - not baggage. He takes his audience on a journey filled with content they can use everyday. Inside the chest are things symbolic to Neal's success in overcoming his insurmountable barriers and challenges the audience to think about their treasure -what they have in experience to aid in planning for a successful future.

Halfway through the presentation Neal shows actual footage of rounding Cape Horn - solo. A very powerful video showing Neal living his life long dream - his "Mt Everest".. Now what's next? How do you go forward once you have achieved your "Mt Everest".

Our goal is to be a part of your conference to assist meeting planners in generating maximum results for their audience. At no additional fee - Neal is willing to do in-house welcome videos, book-signings, lunches, receptions, awards, media appearances, executive breakfasts and any special requests you may have to maximize audience impact - just ask!

Neal was rated the best speaker ever at IBM's Global STGU Conference. After Neal's opening keynote to 8,000 attendees, Neal sold and personalized over 1,000 copies of his award winning autobiography, Journey of a Hope Merchant, with a solid line out the door for six hours! Unscheduled, but willing, Neal was asked to be on a plane three days later to open the sister conference in Europe to another 5,000 attendees. It was history at IBM.

Neal's keynote becomes the talk of every event. Audiences walk away with a renewed attitude that anything is possible - "There are No Barriers - Only Solutions!"

"Neal you have received our highest ratings ever for a keynote speaker and this covers hundreds of events over more than a decade. Before you, we had never had a single standing ovation, yet I can't remember a time that you did not get one!" Jack Mortimer - Government Technology Magazine - CIO Summits (Neal delivered 32 keynotes in 2007-08)

"I owe you a great deal of gratitude - you truly provided the inspiration and motivation for this team that I was looking for externally and the success of this presentation has been heard throughout the IBM Corporation. You were nothing short of a genius." L Benway WW Events

Neal has appeared on CNN, National Public Radio, PBS, The Discovery Channel, airs a documentary about his life story - more information is available upon request.

Partial Client list include:
• Million Dollar Round Table - 2008
• Brandes Investment Partners
• HP
• Bristol Myers Squibb
• American Express
• McKesson
• Cisco
• IBM - multiple keynotes
• Genentech
• Motorola
• Microsoft - multiple keynotes
• over 50 State and local Gov CIO/IT/Financial Summits - this past year
• World Trade Summit - Brazil
• World Critical Care Insurance Conference
• National Governors Conference
• National Institute of Health
• MYSQL
• Porto School of Business Management
• JP Morgan Chase
• numerous insurance, education, financial conferences and many more...

Read About Neal Petersen

Testimonials on Neal Petersen