“Suleika Jaouad is a captivating and moving speaker—she has a gift for balancing gravity with levity. Her story of unlikely survival offers powerful lessons on resilience and reinvention that leave audiences inspired to overcome obstacles and to make meaningful changes to their personal and professional lives.”
Book Suleika for your next event
Suleika’s story is one of immense triumph, resilience and creativity amidst a leukemia diagnosis that nearly took her life. She was named one of the most popular TED Talk speakers of 2019, and travels the world speaking at conferences, leading retreats and teaching writing workshops. She has been a keynote speaker, host, and moderator at universities, hospitals, corporations, fundraisers and literary events.
CONTACT
Suleika Jaouad is available for select speaking engagements. To inquire, contact Jayme Boucher, Executive Agent Director, Penguin Random House Speakers Bureau at jboucher@prh.com. You can also learn more about her speaking here.
What people are saying
“Suleika is one of the most genuine and moving speakers I’ve heard. Drawing upon her New York Times column, and her own story of survivorship and resilience, Suleika takes us on an authentic journey that offers inspiration and unique insight into how to remake your life and your career after a setback.”
“Writer Suleika Jaouad is changing the conversation about what it means to thrive in the wake of illness and life’s unexpected interruptions.”
“We were searching for a keynote speaker to kick off a think-tank gathering of leaders in the scientific and healthcare communities and Suleika came highly recommended by a leading executive. We gave her a try and were simply blown away. Suleika is a riveting story teller with a truly captivating presence and unique ability to tackle difficult topics with vulnerability and humor, making her the highlight of the conference—not an easy feat with such an esteemed group of guests. We’ve since invited her back for a host of important corporate events, including our annual Investor Day and an all-company retreat. Leaders at all levels of the organization have come away with a deepened sense of professional purpose, and motivation to tackle the company’s mission and the complex challenges that come along with it.”
“Inspirational” doesn’t really cut it when you’re talking about Suleika Jaouad.”
Previous Speaking Engagements
TED; United Nations; UNICEF; Princeton University; Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health; UCF Medical School; Emerson College; New York University; Georgetown University; Duke University; The Thacher School; Alexandria Summit; National Women's Survivorship Convention; Stand Up To Cancer; Tufts Medical Center; Association of American Medical Colleges; American Massage Therapy Association; American Journal of Managed Care; The American Cancer Society; The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society; Stupid Cancer; The Angel Ball; Critical Mass; PhRMA; Flatiron Health.
Expertise In:
Innovation
Media and Journalism
Personal Growth and Achievement
Overcoming Obstacles and Challenges
Motivation, Inspiration
Communication
Creativity
Cancer and Chronic Illness
Health and Wellness
Audience & Industry:
Healthcare
Colleges and Universities (Medical, Journalism, and Creative Writing Programs in particular)
Tech and Innovation
Global Services
Non-Profit
Women’s Events
Senior Management Groups
Keynote topics
Suleika is open to working with coordinators to customize her talks to event audiences. Below are her two most requested talk topics.
1.) Making the Most of a Life, Interrupted
THEME: Reinvention & Resilience
At 22, Suleika Jaouad had it all: a newly minted degree from Princeton, a promising career in her dream city, a new relationship, and a life of possibility ahead. Then, out of nowhere, she was diagnosed with leukemia and given a 35% chance of survival.
From her hospital bed, over the following 3.5 years of intense treatment, she transformed her limitation into an opportunity and wrote an award-winning New York Times column called Life, Interrupted. When the doctors deemed her “cured”, she hit the road on an ambitious 15,000-mile road trip around the US. She interviewed dozens of strangers from all walks of life about how to overcome hardship. Now, she shares their wisdom, and hers, with you.
In this fierce, funny, and moving talk, Jaouad tells her story of how a harrowing illness became a springboard for extraordinary personal and professional transformation. She offers inspiration and advice on how to come back to life after a setback. Audiences will leave with tools to thrive in the wake of life's unexpected interruptions.
2.) The Road to Wellness: What Almost Dying Taught Me About Living
THEME: Health & Wellness
Humans are living longer than ever before. Many people now survive illnesses and injuries that would’ve killed our grandparents and parents. Throughout our lives, we travel between the two kingdoms of the sick and the well, spending much of our lives somewhere between the two. In this provocative talk, Emmy award-winning New York Times journalist Suleika Jaouad challenges us to stop seeing our health as binary — sick and healthy, well and unwell, whole and broken. Jaouad shares a firsthand account of navigating the healthcare system as a young cancer survivor, and the inspiring and entirely unexpected lessons learned in recovery. Her unique perspective will change the way you think about what it means to live and to be well in the 21st century.