For our June Executive Speaker Series, special guest Sam Goodwin will provide a keynote on resiliency and embracing uncertainty. His incredible story forged from the experience of his miraculous release from a Syrian prison is one you won't want to miss!
This is a free event, but registration is required due to limited seating.
Free child care, provided by the teens from Ascension, has also been made available for this event. If you are interested in bringing your kiddos, please email our President at alex.burkart@ycpstlouis.org.
Schedule
- 6:30 PM - Doors Open + Networking Happy Hour
- 7:20 PM - President's Remarks and Prayer
- 7:30 PM - Executive Speaker Address
- 8:15 PM - Q + A Session
- 8:45 PM - Closing + Prayer
Details:
- Free childcare provided (please let us know how many children so we can plan accordingly)
- Free drinks, desserts, and light appetizers provided
- Dress is business casual
Sam Goodwin Bio:
In 2019, Sam was taken hostage in Syria, leading US Government and intelligence officials to doubt whether he would ever be seen again alive. His incredible journey of survival illustrates the extraordinary power of the human spirit. As an inspirational speaker, his keynotes have inspired audiences and added value to hundreds of organizations around the world.
Sam earned a four-year ice hockey scholarship to Niagara University (New York) in 2008. He attributes the mental toughness, critical thinking, and resilience garnered through a life of competitive athletics as crucial to his survival as a hostage. Goodwin moved to Singapore in 2012 to help launch a tech startup business and regional NGO. His focus included stakeholder management, media relations, and non-profit partnerships. He has led humanitarian efforts across Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
From 2010-2019, Sam traveled to all 193 United Nations' sovereign countries and wrote about it on his blog. He particularly enjoys promoting the beauty and positivity of lesser-known and negatively perceived places. Sam has visited all 50 US States and is a member of several extreme travel groups.
Goodwin holds Bachelor's degrees in Communication Studies and French from Niagara University and a Master's degree in International Affairs from Washington University in St. Louis. He is currently a Doctor of International Affairs candidate at the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies in Washington, DC. Sam is a devout Catholic and the oldest of five children.
