Today, I want to take a moment to honor someone who shaped not only a business, but my life. Larry Ketelaars, founder of Inspiring Speakers Bureau, passed away on April 17th, 2026. He was my stepfather, my mentor, my business partner, and one of the most influential people I will ever know. Larry built Inspiring Speakers Bureau from the ground up in the late 1990s. Through sheer persistence, optimism, and (most crucially) his belief in people, he guided this business through some of the toughest periods in modern history. Inspiring Speakers survived and adapted through 9/11, SARS, the 2008 financial crisis, and COVID—times when many in the speaking industry didn’t make it. Larry never lost faith. He never lost purpose. He just kept moving forward. In 2017, Larry entrusted me with the business and passed the torch. But he never stepped away in spirit. Up until his final days, he remained a powerful and invaluable mentor, guiding me, challenging me, and continuing to shape the direction of Inspiring Speakers. Everything I know about this business (and much of what I know about life) came from him. He taught me the ins and outs of the professional speaking world, but more importantly, he taught me about people. About human connection. About branding and marketing with integrity. About building real client relationships. About conducting yourself ethically, even when it’s difficult. Larry was an incredible leader. He led with positivity. With optimism. With a mindset that no matter what was happening externally, there was always a way forward. That attitude became the backbone of this business. Throughout his career, Larry had the privilege of working with some of the greatest voices in the world—Les Brown, Robin Sharma, Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Robert Kiyosaki, Dr. Wayne Dyer, and many more. But what stood out most wasn’t just who he worked with—it was how he showed up. With humility. With consistency. With genuine care. Larry was legally blind. He had only about 5% of his vision. And yet, I’ve always said—he was the most observant man I’ve ever known. Because he paid attention. He listened. He noticed what others missed. He recognized people for who they truly were. Larry saw more than most people, in both a literal and metaphorical way.

Last week, I was interviewed by Emmy-award winning journalist and investigative reporter Mark Allen. Our focus was on the intersection of artificial intelligence and human wisdom, and my work with leaders in this area. You can watch the full interview on my YouTube channel. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cuwiQ5sxKv8&t=77s

My story is being played at a museum in Washington D.C. Let that sink in. I came to America at 17 with nothing. I slept on cardboard in a basement. No money. Eating peanut butter and jelly just to survive. Took 17 years to finish college. Then one day, a manager at The Home Depot asked me how I was doing. I told him the truth: I was sleeping in a basement and didn't know how I'd make it. He didn't just listen. He gave me $600 dollars to buy a mattress. Then he took me on a journey. Showed me what leadership actually meant. Showed me that people matter. That your story matters. The Milken Center for Advancing the American Dream selected my story among 10,000 Americans featured in their exhibit. Same room as Oprah Winfrey. Kevin O'Leary. Magic Johnson. And the late Bernie Marcus Co-Founder of The Home Depot. ( RIP). The company that believed in me when I was sleeping on cardboard. I didn't come from privilege. I came from a basement, sleeping on carboard. I came from nothing. And somehow, my story is now on a museum wall. Today I help leaders find their story, tell it with confidence, and use it to build authority and influence. Because what happened TO you is not the end. It's the beginning of someone else's breakthrough. I've watched leaders get promoted. I've watched them build movements. All because they stopped hiding their story and started owning it. This is why I speak and coach others to tell them this: Your story is your strategy. Not your setback —> your strategy. Don't you ever let anyone tell you your story doesn't matter. It belongs in rooms you never imagined. Who's the person who believed in you when you didn't believe in yourself?

Trust me, eventually the flower blooms.

Drop your answers and let’s see what kind of speaker energy you bring to the stage:- 1. You step on stage and the crowd instantly locks in, your vibe is: A) Main character energy activated B) Trying to act chill while internally buffering C) “Yeah… I cooked with this one.” 2. Mid-speech someone in the front row is nodding HARD, your first thought? A) “Real recognizes real.” B) “They’re catching every gem.” C) “Okay slay, validation unlocked.” 3. Your signature speaker move is: A) Walking the stage like it’s a runway B) Hitting the dramatic pause perfectly C) Random hand gestures that somehow work 4. After your talk, people line up to meet you, your internal reaction: A) “Oop… celebrity behavior.” B) “Act normal. Be cool. Be normal.” C) “This is my Avengers post-credit scene.” 5. Your dream audience reaction is: A) Standing ovation immediately B) Someone says, “That changed my life” C) The whole room spams fire emojis if they could Comment below ? Tagging some of new joiners!! @Borys Zhalilo @Gabriela Ayala @Achille Ettorre @Ann Benton @Scott Harvey