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John Amaechi - Testimonials:
The process of engaging John Amaechi to speak at our Day event was smooth and professional from start to finish. His prep package allowed us to provide detailed context on the event and its goals. John’s presentation was dynamic, engaging, provoked discussion and was obviously tailored to the topics and goals we had set for the event.
Mr. Amaechi was able to raise and address sensitive topics like race, class and sexual orientation in a way that encouraged respectful conversation in an audience from multiple backgrounds. The question period last well beyond the 20 minutes we had allotted and John was gracious enough to stay for almost another hour talking with folks who ranged from HR professionals seeking information on research he had mentioned to audience members eager to discuss ideas he had raised in his presentation.
Our chapter decided to invite John to speak based on his glowing reviews from a previous event at a sister company and he exceeded our high expectations making our event the most successful for our ERG chapter for the year.
Todd Koser
Johnson and Johnson
When John came to present at our Gay Pride Lunch and Learn event this past June (’07), we as a corporation had high expectations. He exceeded them in leaps and bounds. We had a packed auditorium with standing room only; and people were riveted to his every word. I know they would have stayed for the entire day if we had let them. When John speaks, his words touch your soul, reach into your heart and nestle into the fabric of your being. Since he has been here to speak with us, I think of him often and reflect on what he shared with us. John shares his personal experiences, which are poignant and actually translate into examples of ways in which we can personally take action to make a difference every day of our lives. John’s message touches not only on diversity, but also on leadership.
Sandy Hirsch
McNeil Nutritionals
For the last several months, I have had the privilege of getting to know John Amaechi and watch as he has become a thoughtful and powerful speaker at a variety of events for the Human Rights Campaign and beyond.
In broadcast television interviews, in print media, on stage at gala dinners and even with smaller more intimate crowds, John has consistently demonstrated himself to be engaging, gracious, insightful and powerful as a public speaker and spokesperson.
His thoughtful remarks on a range of issues from the ins and outs of the professional sporting world, to his long term commitment to youth advocacy, and his emerging role as a leading voice within the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community, all demonstrate the broad range of topics and genres that John can nimbly move between as a speaker.
John Amaechi retired from the professional sporting world just a few years ago, but it is already clear that his new role as a public figure and speaker has only just begun, and will continue to unfold and grow for years to come.
Joe Solmonese
President, Human Rights Campaign
John Amaechi spoke at our national sales meeting and even though sales people are notorious for being quite cynical and hard to impress, John had an amazing impact on us all! He is a very interesting and thought provoking person and left us all feeling very motivated. His honesty and integrity was a breath of fresh air!
Mary Thorpe
Toshiba UK
I interviewed John Amaechi for The Nation magazine and found him to be the most engaging, politically incisive person to come out of the world of sports in years. I sat down with an ex-basketball player, and by the time the interview was over I felt like I had been sitting with a statesman. Someone who in the years ahead has the capacity to lead women and men toward a more just future. He is an ex-athlete who I believe has the capacity to make a far more indelible mark on the history now that his playing days are complete.
Dave Zirin
Author and Journalist
John Amaechi is one of the strongest voices the gay-rights movement has ever had. His background in the macho world of sports, coupled with his analytical mind, education and personal philanthropic mission make him a uniquely powerful individual who can reach people of all ages, genders, races, sexual orientations and economic profile.
Cyd Ziegler
Author and Co-Founder,
Outsports.com
When you glimpse John Amaechi, one may imagine a man who has it all. Rather, John truly earned his success – by overcoming many self-doubts, setbacks and obstacles made by others. He is inspirational not by claiming to be a hero or a role model, but by being brazenly truthful. His values are universal: love of family, contributions of his time and attention to young people, as well as his gifts as a teacher and writer.
Bob Witeck
CEO,
Witeck Combs Communications
It was unforgettable, it was inspirational, he was in tune with the room and what he said was pitched at exactly the right level for his audience everyone was hanging on his words. It felt like he was speaking to each of one of us personally.
Principal
North Westminster School
John’s keynote presentation at the NGLCC’s annual International and Business Leadership Conference was insightful and moving. His story is an inspirational one, which captivated the entire audience and instilled a valuable call to action to be the best we can be. John possesses the rare gift of truly motivating people with his well-chosen words and effervescent personality
Justin Nelson
President &Co-Founder
National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce
His speech was incredibly moving and touched so many people in the room - the delegates responded tremendously warmly to all that he said. It just couldn't have been better.
Kate Green
Director,
National Council for One Parent Families
John Amaechi did a fantastic job as conference chair! He succeeded in providing exactly the right tone for the day with his ability to combine warmth and humour with insightful and thoughtful comment about serious issues. John is a significant and powerful speaker and chairperson, and I won't want to book anymore conferences without first checking his availability to work with me!
Sue Woolmore
Public Policy Advisor,
NSPCC
Basketball star and philanthropist John Amaechi is a rare thing - a Briton that has succeeded in turning his dream into a record breaking career in basketball. So successful in fact that he has a place in the NBA Hall of Fame alongside Michael Jordan. But it is not only for this reason he is rare. John’s humility, insight and wisdom make him quite an extraordinary speaker.
We first met John at an event in Cannes last year and felt we had found one of the best management speakers and inspirational leaders around today. His openness on the issues of diversity, motivation, and integrity left us feeling very privileged indeed to have heard him. We know he will have the same impact on you.
Gazing Performance International
‘He really spoke from the heart and I was not only moved by his presentation but also motivated to take positive steps of my own.’
John Amaechi's speeches at our Convention and Parliamentary Launch have been both powerful and moving, well-informed and possessing great clarity. His ability to inspire his audience is rare and we have always been extremely impressed with gravity his presence brings to an event. Positive Futures "Let's tackle Truancy thru Sport" was delighted to have John Amaechi launch the Programme on their behalf recently. John has long been an Ambassador and advocate for using sport as a tool for social inclusion and in particular for his terrific work in involving young people at risk on his many Basketball schemes. His presence on the day and his speech to the children in particular who were representing the invited school's, left us all in no doubt of John's charismatic approach and empathy toward young people and his total commitment to engaging with marginalised youth and communities whatever their circumstances. John truly is a great sports man, a true gentle man and a genuine nice person. John succeeded in providing exactly the right tone for the day with his ability to combine warmth and humour with insightful and thoughtful comment about serious issues. John is a significant and powerful speaker and chairperson, and I won’t want to book anymore conferences without first checking his availability to work with me! I can honestly say that John Amaechi wowed the National Association of Academic Advisors with his presentation during the National Convention. His candour was refreshing and he entertained and educated the group with his very insightful observations. John Amaechi is literally stunning. He will make you think about who you are, what you do and believe! Don’t expect to be entertained, expect to get real. More thought-provoking than any speaker we have worked with to date! I found John to be one of the most inspirational speakers I have ever heard. He really spoke from the heart and I was not only moved by his presentation but also motivated to take positive steps of my own. John is a truly inspirational speaker, but he also has a very special quality that provokes much deeper reflection. He created questions in my mind that have remained there and challenged me almost every day since. I recently had the rewarding experience of attending a presentation delivered by John Amaechi. Not only is John able to connect with the audience in an extremely human and down-to-earth way, but he delivers a message which has the enviable quality of being as clearly connected to everyday living as it is obviously linked to life at the very top of elite sport. As a training company who specialise in developing high performing individuals and organisations it was excellent to hear the basic principles of ‘high performance’ reinforced by someone who so clearly is one! I can honestly say that John Amaechi wowed the National Association of Academic Advisors for Athletics with his presentation during the National Convention. His candour was refreshing and he entertained and educated the group with his very insightful observations. |
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