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. You have a magical way of inspiring people. We couldn't have made a better choice for our thirty conferences this year. Thanks again.
Jack Mortimer Government Technology Magazine

Welcome to NealPetersen.com!

Neal Petersen is an entrepreneur, award-winning author, solo around the world racing yachtsman and an international professional speaker. whose keynote presentations are unique and like no other. Neal lives his life by the same wonderful spirit and principles he demonstrates in his extraordinary life story of attitude, perseverance, determination, planning and preparation, commitment and never giving up – always finding a solution.

Born in Cape Town, Neal grew up in the grip of apartheid, classified as “coloured” and subject to arrest if he didn’t follow the system’s segregationist rules. Racism wasn’t his only challenge; he also was born with a defective hip. But Neal would turn these barriers into doorways.

In 1999, he completed the Around Alone, a 27,000-mile round-the-world sailing race. He did so in his 40-foot home-built boat, which SA dubbed “the floating coffin”. Alone in this tiny boat, he sailed through the swirling Southern Ocean, battling building-sized waves that often smothered the boat – and even turned it upside down. He pressed on and eventually beat some of the most experienced and well-funded solo racers in the world. His engaging autobiography, Journey of a Hope Merchant., which won the National Book Award for best book, documents his struggles and victories, before and after the race, as does a PBS documentary, No Barriers, the story of Neal Petersen.

In 2005, Neal was rated the best speaker at IBM opening their conference of 8,000 attendees in San Diego and 15 minutes into his keynote the CEO told the meeting planner to "get Neal to Barcelona to open the European conference that weekend – another 5,000!
Immediately following his presentation Neal signed over 1000 copies of his award winning autobiography “Journey of a Hope Merchant” with a non stop line out the door for 6 hours and still people in line when the building was closed at 5:30! People stood in line for up to 1 1/2 hours for a signed book and to shake Neal's hand! That was history at IBM.

In sharing his high-energy adventure, Neal delivers a powerful and memorable message that "In life there are no barriers ~ only solutions!"