Ryan Campbell

A record-breaking pilot and plane crash survivor who transforms how teams think about joy, resilience, and mental health.

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“Ryan Campbell is one of the best speakers I’ve ever heard. His overall voice (delivery, tone, timbre, subject, relatability, pacing - EVERYTHING) was presented in the most authentic way possible. Other speakers should watch Ryan in action to understand what a true connection to their material looks like. While I know Ryan delivers this presentation many times, it never once felt canned or over-produced. What a special session. I am grateful that Ryan spoke to my members.”

AHTD

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Why book Ryan Campbell for your next event

Ryan delivers a deeply human keynote that blends adventure, vulnerability, and practical tools to elevate mental health, energy, and team culture.
From world-record pilot to paraplegic diagnosis, Ryan’s story connects powerfully with leaders and teams facing pressure, burnout, and change.
Audiences leave with a clear framework they can apply immediately to improve performance, engagement, and psychological resilience.

Non-binding request for Ryan Campbell

Adventurer, resilience speaker, and mental health catalyst who helps teams thrive under pressure

Ryan Campbell is one of the world’s most compelling keynote speakers on mental health, resilience, and performance. His story takes audiences from the cockpit of a record-breaking solo flight around the world to the life-altering aftermath of a devastating plane crash that left him with a paraplegic diagnosis. Told he would never walk again, Ryan defied the odds and returned not only to walking, but to flying. Yet behind the achievements, his mental health quietly deteriorated. Today, Ryan shares a powerful and refreshingly accessible framework centered on joy, helping organizations rethink burnout, culture, and what it truly means to show up at their best.

Ryan Campbell – A Speaker Who Moves People to Action

Ryan Campbell’s keynotes are unforgettable experiences. Blending raw honesty, humor, and extraordinary life events, he takes audiences on a journey that challenges how they think about success, resilience, and mental health. From an early age, Ryan set his sights on the sky. As a teenager, he became the youngest solo pilot to fly around the world, earning recognition as one of Australia’s 50 great explorers. It was a feat defined by discipline, courage, and determination. But it was what came next that would truly reshape his life.

From Plane Crash to Paraplegic Diagnosis

Ryan’s world changed in an instant after a tragic plane crash. The injuries were severe, and he was diagnosed as a paraplegic, told he would never walk again. For many, this would have been the end of the story. For Ryan, it became the beginning of a new and far more complex chapter. Through years of relentless effort, setbacks, and resilience, he defied medical expectations and regained the ability to walk and fly again. On the surface, he had beaten the odds. Internally, however, he was facing a battle that millions quietly experience every day.

When Success Isn’t Enough

Despite ticking every box that society associates with achievement, Ryan’s mental health was at its lowest. Burnout, anxiety, and depression took hold, revealing a truth many high performers recognize but rarely address. External success does not guarantee internal wellbeing. Ryan’s turning point did not come from another expedition or physical recovery. Instead, it arrived in an unexpected and deeply personal way, parked right in his driveway. This realization became the foundation of the message he now shares with audiences around the world.

The Pink Cadillac Framework

At the heart of Ryan’s keynote is the story of his Elvis-inspired 1960 pink Cadillac. More than a car, it became a symbol of joy, presence, and perspective. Through this story, Ryan introduces a simple yet powerful framework that helps individuals and teams prioritize joy as a strategic advantage. His approach is practical, accessible, and immediately applicable in real-world environments where pressure, pace, and expectations are high. Rather than pushing harder, Ryan shows how stepping back can unlock better performance, stronger culture, and healthier minds.

Mental Health, Culture, and Sustainable Performance

Ryan speaks directly to the challenges organizations face today. Burnout, disengagement, and declining mental health are no longer fringe issues; they are core business risks. Ryan equips leaders and teams with tools to create environments where people feel energized, supported, and capable of sustaining high performance over time. His message resonates across industries because it is grounded in lived experience, not theory. Audiences don’t just listen to Ryan’s story; they see themselves in it.

Book Ryan Campbell for Your Event

When you book Ryan Campbell, you bring more than a motivational speaker to your stage. You bring a catalyst for change. His keynotes leave audiences engaged, emotionally connected, and ready to act. Through laughter, reflection, and powerful storytelling, Ryan invites one simple but transformative question that continues to echo long after the applause fades: What’s your Pink Cadillac?

Customer Reviews

AHTD

“Thank you and it was AMAZING!!! Just as you had recommended. My team loved him, and it really resonated, and the message was so unique, and very refreshing. “

Centroid

“From the minute I talked to Ryan and heard his story, I knew that he was perfect for the OH SHRM conference and he did not disappoint. Ryan was engaged with our attendees through the entire week, attending sessions and networking. His closing keynote was amazing and taught us all how to build our mindset toolbox. What do we as individuals need to be resilient and Turbulence Tough? He made us laugh, he made us cry, and he was real! I can't recommend him enough!”

SHRM OHIO

“We hired Ryan to motivate our team to close out the year strong - Ryan's story is a powerful one. What we got was so much more. In this day and age of back-to-back Zoom meetings and less time spent together as colleagues, Ryan's 'Pink Cadillac' message was something our team took to heart. We learned more about each other, and most importantly, what was most important in our lives. Thank you Ryan!”

Sprout Social

“Ryan Campbell presented the keynote address at our healthcare leadership conference and gave a heartfelt and powerful message. His life's journey and the lessons learned resonated with our 20 clinical physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and CRNA leaders who have endured and persevered through two years of pandemic hell. He presented strategies to remain 'Turbulence Tough' and for each person to find their own 'pink Cadillac' when facing overwhelming challenges. Incredible!”

TeamHealth

“Ryan captivates an audience both young and old. I highly recommend him for your corporate event.”

Martin Ongley National President at Ausfly

“Ryan has a natural ability to communicate with an audience with great humility and humor. Ryan is a natural choice when looking for a speaker.”

Mark Rowe General Manager, SAAA Australia

“It was a pleasure to have Ryan as a guest speaker at our product launch event. His storytelling was captivating.”

Leon Mervis Managing Director, Bremont Australia

“I’ve been a speaker for over 30 years and I’ve seen them all. Ryan Campbell is something very special, indeed. Ryan grabbed my attention and never let go as his story captivated me as it does his audiences. Ryan’s presentation can elevate an entire event.”

Joe Calloway Hall of Fame Speaker and 8-time Author

“Ryan was a keynote speaker for the 2021 Ohio HR conference. He weaved humor and practical lessons into his talk, and inspired us by recounting his adventures leading to a world record, then near-death tragedy, and his fight back from the brink. Ryan delivered a memorable experience. I felt like I was in the plane with him as he led us around the globe. Independent of our conference, Ryan’s story is bigger than life and well worth hearing.”

Randy Samsel SHRM

“Ryan Campbell has a compelling story that will grab your audience's attention. But, his story is so much more than that. Ryan shares what he has learned in his times of highest achievement and in the lowest of lows when he was not sure he would walk again. In leadership today, leaders must be resilient and be able to lead effectively through crises. Ryan shares his ”mindset toolkit“ that will equip you and your leaders to be ”turbulence tough“ and lead your teams to higher effectiveness and greater achievements. Your audience will be inspired and each person will leave with a different view of how to apply the ”mindset toolkit“ in their own lives. You will be so glad you hired him to inspire your team!”

Julie Doyle Ohio SHRM State Director

“He’s the real deal. Thank you, Ryan, for speaking to my business, sharing your story and your lessons of perseverance and gratitude. You deliver a captivating keynote with stories that touched us at a deep emotional level. Your inspiration and positivity were infectious. I look forward to our continued journey together. In times like these, we need more Ryan Campbells in the world.”

Jerry Curtin CEO, COR Wellness

“Ryan’s story is an example of someone that has determination, resilience and purpose. He knew he was born with purpose and was not going to let adversity stop him from fulfilling that purpose. If anything, he took those challenges head-on which made his journey even more adventurous. Truly inspiring!”

Ronda Cavanagh Wawa

“We hired Ryan to motivate our team to close out the year strong - Ryan's story is a powerful one. What we got was so much more. In this day and age of back to back Zoom meetings and less time spent together as colleagues, Ryan's 'Pink Cadillac' message was something our team took to heart. We learned more about each other, and most importantly, what was most important in our lives. Thank you Ryan!”

Peter Zink Director, Sales Enablement, Sprout Social

“Ryan Campbell is a tremendously talented, passionate and compelling speaker. He has an engaging personality that brings you into his story of accomplishments as a pilot and, while amazing in their own right, pale in comparison to overcoming a life-altering plane crash, the heartbreak of becoming a paraplegic, to once again being able to walk and fly his own plane. He is passionate about encouraging others to chase their dreams, about what it means to rise, fall, and rise again, and how to adapt when circumstances demand it. Ryan lives every day to share his story so that others can live victoriously, regardless of the road you find yourself on.”

Mike Irvin Westfall Gold

Keynotes

Keynote by Ryan Campbell:

What's Your Pink Cadillac?

It’s clear the path to a thriving, high-performing team isn't 'winning at any cost' – that only leaves employees drained and unproductive.

But despite the 'new and improved' landscape of remote work, the allure of unlimited PTO, and a $ 22.01 billion investment in wellness programs in the US1, disengagement, burnout, and disconnection are trending upward.

We’re trying to create balance, but we’re just spinning our wheels...

What now?

THE ANSWER IS SURPRISINGLY SIMPLE: PRIORITIZE JOY.

By investing time in what matters most, we balance the drains on our energy and performance. The “step back” is how we move forward, showing up stronger, more connected, and more productive than ever.

It’s a lesson Ryan Campbell learned from an unexpected source. The youngest person to fly solo around the world, he was living the life of his dreams—until a plane crash left him with a paraplegic diagnosis. What followed was a grueling physical recovery, a hard-earned masterclass in mental health, and a remarkable transformation sparked by an unlikely source—a 1960 Pink Cadillac named Flo.

What began as a survival strategy has become a wake-up call that’s impacted tens of thousands of lives. With humor and heart, Ryan reveals a counterintuitive path to accessible, attainable wellbeing and performance—through the life-changing impact of prioritizing joy.

Through The JoyAuditTM framework, he empowers audiences to take back control of their time and commit to what recharges them—not because it’s “nice to have,” but because joy is the most transformational fuel for performance, resilience, and wellbeing.

The Result? Close-knit cultures, more engaged employees, and teams that can thrive through change.

This keynote is ideal for any audience:

Stuck in go-mode, convinced that time for joy is a luxury or something they have to “earn”
Meeting all the demands and checking all the boxes, but feeling increasingly exhausted, disconnected, and overwhelmed
Navigating an intense season of change and struggling to maintain their mental health and wellbeing

Your audience will leave with a:

Personalized Joy Audit: Leave with a step-by-step process to assess, adjust, and integrate more fulfilling moments into every day, so they can stop surviving and start living a joy-fueled life
Shift from Reactive to Intentional Living: The tools to take control of their time and decisions, making space for what matters as they move from autopilot to purposeful action
Commitment to Building Community & Finding Their Tribe: A deeper appreciation for how shared joys and passions create meaningful connections, fostering a sense of belonging at work and in life
Sustainable Path to Success: A new definition of success that expands beyond productivity to include alignment with purpose, fulfillment, and wellbeing, so they can step back to show up—better and stronger than ever

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Keynote by Ryan Campbell:

Bounce Back Better

In a fast-paced world where the challenges keep coming and the solutions seem out of reach, we too often mistake endurance for resilience—plodding ahead relentlessly, while slowly losing touch with our purpose, hope, and reason to keep going.

But true resilience doesn’t come from powering through at all costs. It comes from stepping back, reconnecting with what matters, and making space for moments of joy—so we can move forward with renewed capacity, clarity, and heart.

RYAN SHARES A ONE-OF-A-KIND PERSPECTIVE THAT CHANGES HOW WE MOVE THROUGH ADVERSITY.

With humor and heart, he reveals a counterintuitive path to sustainable resilience—through the life-changing impact of prioritizing joy

The result? Using a powerful framework for intentional living, he empowers audiences to take back control of their time and commit to what recharges them, taking a step back for joy so they can keep moving forward in the face of adversity.

This keynote is ideal for any audience:

Trying to show up as their best self, but struggling to overcome the setbacks and challenges that just keep coming
Navigating an intense season of change and struggling to maintain their mental health and wellbeing
White-knuckling their way through every day and wondering when they’ll ever get to take a break

Your audience will leave with a:

Personalized Joy Audit: Leave with a step-by-step process to assess, adjust, and integrate more fulfilling moments into every day, so they can refuel their capacity to thrive through change
Resilient Mindset: A deeper understanding of adversity, how it affects them, and the critical role resilience plays in navigating life’s challenges, enabling them to confidently adjust and adapt to change
Shift from Reactive to Intentional Living: The tools to take control of their time and decisions, making space for what matters as they move from autopilot to purposeful action

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Keynote by Ryan Campbell:

From Burnout to Joy

In the midst of unceasing demands, uncertainty, and challenges, we often find ourselves losing the battle above our shoulders—too drained to do our best work, too busy to enjoy life, and too overwhelmed to figure out why.

BUT THE KEY TO AVOIDING BURNOUT ISN’T DOING LESS. IT’S DOING MORE OF WHAT ACTUALLY MATTERS.

What began as a survival strategy has become a wake-up call that’s impacted tens of thousands of lives.

The result? Sharing 5 simple steps, Ryan empowers audiences to invest time in the moments of joy that recharge them, not as an occasional luxury, but as the most effective antidote to burnout.

This keynote is ideal for any audience:

Meeting all the demands and checking all the boxes, but feeling increasingly exhausted, disconnected, and overwhelmed
Doing their best to rise above the challenges they face, but losing ground (and heart) to the nonstop pace
Feeling increasingly disengaged and checked out, and needing a way to re-engage with work and life

Your audience will leave with a:

Personalized Joy Audit: Leave with a step-by-step process to assess, adjust, and integrate more fulfilling moments into every day, so they can stop surviving and start living a joy-fueled life
Shift from Reactive to Intentional Living: The tools to take control of their time and decisions, making space for what matters so they can recharge, refocus, and renew their energy
Joy-Fueled Mindset: A fresh perspective on adversity and its effect on them, and an empowered belief in their ability to balance it out by prioritizing joy
Deeper Appreciation for Connection & Support: A culture-changing awareness of how community can combat the isolation of burnout—through small moments of joy that bring people together at work and in life

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