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, & in a yacht he designed & built himself. And an even more arduous & eventful trip of overcoming racial prejudice during the Apartheid era in South Africa, poverty, & a childhood physical disability, just to make it to the start line! While sharing his riveting life story - and philosophy, Neal's personal messages & unique delivery opens the mind to "turn barriers into opportunities” & speaks to almost every organization. He understands how to interact with different cultures from Premiers, dignitaries, military leadership, wealth management executives, leaders and people struggling to chart their course. He is well traveled and has lived in many parts of the world. Neal has homes in the USA, Dominican Republic & South Africa. An award-winning author, professional adventurer and global investor, Neal Petersen shares real life examples of how he overcame insurmountable barriers by always turning “perceived” disadvantages 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 has “wowed” international audiences with his life story and how he relates it to their challenges, which usually ends with rave reviews and 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 below of a clearly communicated vision and direction, followed by detailed planning, preparation, passion and execution using his personal story to show audiences how to achieve their goals. • 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. As a world, we are facing our "Cape Horn". More than any other time in history, people must have the attitude to be open to finding the many ways to develop the systems that will bring optimum results. We need to be focused, have a solid strategy, create a dependable team, respect the competition and get to the finish line in the most efficient method. In this process, there will be headwinds of resistance, stormy seas of change, or just the immense challenges of having daunting objectives on a limited budget. Neal will help 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!” Titles There are No Barriers ~ Only Solutions! The Skipper's Briefing (breakout session post keynote to facilitate best practices and apply tools learned in keynote to break existing barriers and a Topics Motivation, Adventure, Goal-setting, Risk, Minority Click topic above to see more speakers on that topic Speaker's Asking Fee Range $15,000 or more Click on fee range to see more speakers. This is the starting keynote fee range - other programs may be higher. State SC Click on state above to see more speakers from that state. Fees The fee range quoted means the speaker's fee starts somewhere within that range. Note that speaker's fees are subject to change and some speakers may have special fee quotes.

TESTIMONIALS: "I just wanted to thank you for the great message you shared with our top producers and senior management team. Your entire presentation was right on point with the goals of the meeting and was extremely well received. Several advisors commented on how much they personally got from your unique story, how effective you were at incorporating relevant elements to this group, and how enjoyable it was to spend time with you... It was a pleasure working with you during the entire process. Thanks for helping us have a successful event. " - FSC Securities Corporation "Everyone loved Neal's presentation and I have received some evaluations forms and they all have marked Neal's presentation as exceptional!" - Royal Alliance "Neal AMAZING, your story and how you integrated it so well into our organization. I actually thought you were trained to do what we do. Your story obviously was very well received by the standing ovation you were given. Wonderful! " - John Hancock Financial "Our biggest challenge at these events is to hold the audience in their seats as we typically lose somewhere around 40-50% of the crowd between speakers. This was the first time in the eight years Neal, I have been coordinating these sessions where the audience was spellbound from beginning to end and stayed in their seats for the entire presentation. Amazing! - Navy Fire & Emergency Services Programs “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! You also go out of your way to spend time with attendees afterwards. "Neal has a powerful story in itself and he relates it to our industry - he ties it all into their challenges as he customized content for each event. "He’s inspiring, thought provoking, the audience loves it when we start with a great story and a powerful message, then present the other topics which are typically dry and difficult and in need of solutions." Once I booked Neal for the year (32 keynotes) I took the burden off myself and didn’t have to think about a speaker." - Government Technology "John called me about this fella, Neal Petersen…he saw him last week at a event in Charlotte and was 100% floored at how good of a story it was and how Neal tied it back to family and business and pursuit of goals. I do not think Neal Petersen has spoken at MDRT yet, but John says it was a standing ovation delivery and that he's worthy of the largest stage we could put him on." Corporate Benefit Advisors, Inc. "On behalf of the Program Development Committee, thanks for your hard work and wonderful presentation. You have a compelling story and a message that resonates with our audience. Debbie Wood, MDRT Chair, Main Platform and Special Sessions It is rare that I am asked by my senior management at IBM to immediately hire a keynote speaker when he is barely off the stage to give another keynote speech the following week - but that is in fact what happened with you Neal. And I want to take this opportunity to thank you not only for the extraordinary presentation you gave in San Diego but for the follow up presentation you gave in Barcelona with virtually no prep time as well. I can tell you that you generated some of the highest ratings and most positive feedback I have seen in many years of running events in this division. You were nothing short of a genius by utilizing our event theme and messaging within the context of your presentation and it was exactly what we needed to reinforce our theme. I particularly admire this given that you spoke to over thirteen thousand attendees - IBM "Thank you for the sharing the most enjoyable and truly inspirational speeches I have heard - and after being in the business world for over 35 years I have heard many.” Mass Mutual "All I have to say is NEAL WAS GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It became an echo from everybody I talked to. I am so glad "we" pulled it all together. Also our Pac, (political action committee) had a fund raising drive going on at the meeting and it met and surpassed its goal of raising funds. I think Neal's talk definitely influenced its success! 2010 NAIFA-PA