Available to book
Dave Sanderson
Transform crisis leadership with Dave Sanderson, speaker and "Miracle on the Hudson" survivor. Dave empowers organizations to develop resilience and decisive leadership, delivering award-winning insights as an Inc.com Top 100 Leadership Speaker who raised $14.8M for the American Red Cross.
Dave Sanderson is an inspiring survivor, author, and nationally sought-after leadership speaker.
In 2009, when US Airways Flight 1549, also known as "The Miracle on the Hudson," made an emergency landing in the Hudson River, Dave knew he was exactly where he needed to be. As the last passenger to evacuate the plane, Dave took on the responsibility of ensuring the wellbeing and safety of others, even at the risk of his own life.
Witnessing the profound impact of his actions, Dave now travels across the globe, sharing his incredible story and delivering motivational leadership messages. His goal is to empower individuals to make a positive difference in their professional and personal lives. Over the past decade, Dave has traveled extensively, spreading his inspiring leadership lessons. Through his talks, he has raised over $14.8 million USD for the American Red Cross.
As a testament to his expertise, he has been recognized as one of Inc.com's Top 100 Leadership Speakers. Most recently, Dave's coverage of the 15th Anniversary of the “Miracle on the Hudson” was honored with a Silver Telly Award, a recognition of the powerful message and inspiration he continues to share.
If you are searching for a captivating story to truly inspire your team or transform your leadership style for the better, look no further than Dave Sanderson. Learn from his experience and let him guide you towards becoming a more effective leader.
Topics, sessions and talks
Dave Sanderson, a survivor of US Airways Flight 1549, shares insights on overcoming trauma and fostering personal growth. He emphasizes that everyone faces traumatic events, whether accidents, job losses, or personal losses. While such experiences can be debilitating, they can also lead to significant growth through a mindset known as Post Traumatic Growth Syndrome. In this session, attendees will learn three effective strategies to transform adversity into opportunities for personal development.
In his highly acclaimed keynote, Dave guides C-Suite, management teams and conferences attendees through his nine personal leadership lessons to help them discover their DISTINCT ADVANTAGE. Using his signature pittche program, that Point in Time That Changes Everything, Leaders and attendees will learn key information and inspiration for: Employing personal leadership to give certainty and confidence to those who may have uncertainty Illustrating the key lessons top executives and founders use to manage their state Increasing their productivity, and demonstrating global leadership
In his compelling presentation, Dave Sanderson shares the invaluable lessons and strategies that shaped his decisions after the US Airways Flight 1549 crash, known as “The Miracle on the Hudson.” Drawing from his experience, Dave highlights key moments that prepared him for this life-altering event. Attendees will gain practical strategies on resiliency, leadership, and state management, empowering them to navigate their own challenges and emerge stronger.
In "100 Days To Triumph," Dave shares his proven strategy for achieving significant goals in a hundred days. Drawing from his own experience surviving the Miracle on the Hudson, he went from not swimming for over forty years to crossing the Hudson River with Navy SEALs. Attendees will learn to simplify, clarify, and progress toward their most important objectives. Dave condenses decades of learning into actionable techniques, applicable to weight loss, fitness, career, relationships, and overall fulfillment. Discover how to view change as growth, and master the art of achieving any goal within a hundred days.
Emerging from the wreckage fo Flight 1549, Dave Sanderson's mission became clear: to inspire others to act with compassion and courage. Through his captivating presentation, Dave shares the harrowing tale, highlighting the resilience and teamwork that enabled their miraculous survival. Drawing on lessons of leadership and state management, he demonstrates how overcoming obstacles is possible with the right mindset and collective effort.
Dave Sanderson offers your team the unique opportunity to learn from a real-life hero. His compelling story and leadership insights will inspire resilience, encourage proactive problem-solving, and foster a culture of teamwork and accountability, transforming your business approach and enhancing overall team performance.
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frequently asked questions
Something we've not covered here?
To book Dave Sanderson, email dave.sanderson@getapeptalk.com or call PepTalk on +44 20 3835 2929 (UK) or +1 737 888 5112 (US), and one of our speaker agents will contact you within hours to confirm Dave's availability and speaking fee. If you can, please include your budget upfront – it helps us fast-track your request. It’s also helpful to know the date, format (virtual or in-person), location, and about your audience.
Dave Sanderson structures his keynotes around his first-hand account of surviving the US Airways Flight 1549 emergency landing, using this central narrative to deliver nine personal leadership lessons through his signature PITTCHE framework (Point in Time That Changes Everything), translating the sequence of decisions made during and after the incident into transferable strategies on resilience, state management, and Post Traumatic Growth.
Dave Sanderson speaks on post-traumatic growth, personal leadership, and resilience and state management in the face of adversity. He is a survivor of US Airways Flight 1549 (“Miracle on the Hudson”) and has raised over $14.8 million for the American Red Cross through his speaking work, while being recognised as one of Inc.com's Top 100 Leadership Speakers.
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Not all of them, and it makes no difference to your booking. PepTalk's network of 15,000+ speakers covers talent the team works with directly alongside speakers represented by agents and agencies worldwide. PepTalk approaches the speaker, negotiates the fee and handles contracting either way.
Three to six months ahead is comfortable for most events, and 12 months is better for large conferences, peak-season dates or one specific in-demand speaker. Shorter timelines are workable, and PepTalk regularly fills last-minute and replacement bookings within days. Availability is the constraint, so get in touch as soon as you have a date.
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