International Motivational Speaker | Disabled Content Creator ♿️
Author | Social Media Influencer
The life of visionary and activist Spencer West has been marked by both obstacles and triumphs. After losing both legs from the pelvis down at the age of five, he entered a world that might have easily defeated him. Instead, he tackled challenge after challenge, learning to navigate in a world set against those with disabilities. His many accomplishments and lessons learned along the way, led him to discover the techniques business leaders, professionals, educators, and young people can use to redefine possible in their own lives and careers.
Spencer is a global keynote speaker, content creator, and activist. He is known for summiting Mount Kilimanjaro on his hands and wheelchair, opening for Demi Lovato on a World Tour, starring in the documentary Redefine Possible: The Story of Spencer West, which debuted at the Toronto International Film Festival, author of the best-selling book Standing Tall: My Journey, his character role as Spencer, the window washer, in the Murdoch Mysteries and as a social media influencer with over 4 million TikTok followers.
He has appeared countless times in the media including, ABC News, Buzz Feed, 60 Minutes, CTV, BBC News, TMZ, CNN, Forbes, and The Globe & Mail, CBS This Morning, Bloomberg and was a featured guest on Season 2 of Karamo The Podcast, hosted by Karamo Brown.
He has spoken alongside luminaries and performers such as former U.S. Vice-President Al Gore, Mia Farrow, Martin Luther King III, Jennifer Hudson, and Natalie Portman to name a few.
Spencer’s inspiring words have reached millions of listeners around the world, both virtually and in-person, including Virgin Atlantic, KPMG, Staples, Financial Institutions, Insurance, Microsoft, Universal McCann, Ministry of Education, Colleges & Universities, YPO/WPO, SickKids Foundation, Boys & Girls Clubs, Healthcare Sector, Financial Institutions, and more.
Whether headlining corporate conferences, addressing university/college students, educators, members of non-profits/associations or mesmerizing audiences in 20,000-seat stadiums, Spencer’s charisma and dynamism captivate all. Spencer’s words and actions have encouraged millions to stand up, face challenges and embrace change, while instilling hope and empowering leaders to motivate others to create positive change. Everyone leaves with pertinent lessons they can apply to redefine their possible.
TOPICS
Leveraging Talent with Disabilities
Join Spencer West in this interactive, fireside chat where he will discuss not only why you should leverage talent with disabilities, but also how.
The life of visionary and activist Spencer West has been marked by both obstacles and triumph. After losing both legs from the pelvis down at the age of five, he entered a world that might have easily defeated him. Instead, he tackled challenge after challenge, learning to navigate in a world set against those with disabilities.
From climbing the workforce ladder to climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, Spencer shares his insights on how bringing in talent with disabilities can have a very positive impact on your employees and customers.
Redefine Possible: Lessons for Tackling Mountains in Your Personal & Professional Worlds
Spencer West invites audiences to experience the transformation that can occur when we “redefine possible.” With his trademark humour and humility, Spencer spins a spellbinding story of the challenges he faced after losing his legs from the pelvis down at age five and the journey of discovery that ultimately enabled him to summit Mount Kilimanjaro using his hands and wheelchair.
Spencer applies the insights gleaned from a lifetime of overcoming obstacles to help leaders and employees identify their own roadblocks and push past them. His inspiring message and tangible life lessons motivate audiences to believe they can tackle any goal, whether personal or professional.
Spencer is the author of the best-selling book Standing Tall: My Journey and star of the documentary Redefine Possible: The Story of Spencer West, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2012.
No Can’t, No Won’t, Only How: Overcoming Obstacles to Make a Difference
Keynote speaker Spencer West lost his legs from the pelvis down when he was just five years old and faced overwhelming physical and emotional challenges. Rather than give up or turn inward, Spencer learned that by connecting with others and working to make the world a better place he could transform his life.
Alternating between walking on his hands and using his wheelchair, Spencer has accomplished a list of feats, including building schools in poverty-stricken villages in Kenya and India, and walking 186 miles from Edmonton to Calgary in Alberta, Canada. One of Spencer’s biggest achievements was climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro to raise money for a global clean water initiative while raising awareness of the devastating drought in Africa.
