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Orlando Bowen

Game Changer and Motivational Speaker

Speaker Reel
One Voice - One Team
Orlando
Speaker Reel
One Voice - One Team

When it comes to building teams, creating momentum, and employing winning strategies, Orlando Bowen is the real deal. A former professional football player and now high-performance coach, for the past fifteen years Bowen has used storytelling, fitness activities, and cognitive exercises to teach resilience, leadership, and teamwork to over 300,000 people. Empowering others to overcome adversity, to find their passion, and to use their gifts is Bowen’s lifelong goal. This mission has placed him on hundreds of stages and boardrooms throughout North America, while also garnering him many distinguished awards.

Ten years ago, Bowen thought he was about to die. Pinned to the ground and enduring a savage beating, the then-CFL linebacker had been jumped by two plainclothes police officers, an injustice which was the first of many laid against him at the hands of the police force. “In that moment, knowing my life was about to end, I’m thinking, ‘I didn’t give everything I had to make a difference. There’s more I could’ve done,’” he said. Later completely exonerated of any wrong-doing, Bowen—incredibly—has publicly forgiven his perpetrators and has dedicated his life to inspiring others to pursue excellence in all they do.

Bowen is the founder and executive Director of One Voice One Team Youth Leadership, which empowers youth to utilize leadership skills and talents to better themselves and their community. He has received local and national awards for his incredible work, including an African Canadian Achievement Award, the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal and a national Harry Jerome Award for community service.

Speaking topics

Presentations listed below include in-person and virtual keynotes, as well as workshops, fireside chats, and other presentation formats.

  • Pursuing Excellence (Peak Performance)

    With alignment to vision, energy to achieve and focus, come ‘peak performance’. Peak Performance brings extraordinary results. Orlando helps executives recognize their role as catalysts and their ability to be transformative leaders that help secure ‘wins’ from any position within their company.

  • Resilience

    Orlando shares how to use the unexpected challenges that life can bring as fuel for new beginnings. When the game is on the line, it’s not about the acknowledgement of the fact that we will all face challenges. It’s all about taking the energy from those challenges and channeling them in a way that positively affects ones environment.

  • Forgiveness

    Having harmony among colleagues is paramount to creating a synergistic environment where people produce outstanding results. Orlando equips executives with tools that allow them to let go of the things that inhibit performance and to focus on the activities that produce positive results and are connected to the bigger picture goals.

  • Team Building

    As a professional athlete, Orlando’s experiences on the field taught him the importance of harnessing momentum and working passionately together as a team to pursue shared objectives. He shares how to establish the foundation for high performing teams that can withstand turbulent times, embrace change and celebrate team contributions.

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Client reviews

  • Medline Canada

    Orlando was a superstar! He is such a professional! Everything was perfect! I wouldn’t have changed anything. The feedback was very positive, and everyone was touched by his message, and it gave a lot of insights on how we treat people, how we can overcome situations and what forgiveness provides.

  • Durham Region Health Department

    Although it’s been two weeks since Orlando spoke at our event, I wanted to let you know that people are still raving about him!  I know that I’m preaching to the choir, but Orlando was every bit the professional, authentic, and gracious human that you had promised (and then some).  Personable from the word “go”, he shared his outlook and story with a truth and grace that will be a tough act to follow in years to come, and I know that he moved many (if not all) in the audience. I’ve had numerous people tell me that they “needed to hear that” or that his story was a great check-in for where they were in their lives, and his message is one that will be carried henceforth by many.

  • Teacher, Beaconsfield High School

    Orlando speaks from the heart.  Having had the opportunity to hear his keynote address 4 times, it is not a rehearsed speech that is regurgitated without passion.  Orlando speaks with sincerity, he speaks with enthusiasm, and most importantly, he speaks from experience. I would without a shadow of a doubt encourage you to bring Orlando into your school. I cannot say enough good things about the work that Orlando is doing. I have had the luxury of hearing numerous speakers in schools and I can tell you Orlando will not disappoint.  While some can be funny but fail at delivering a message, others can be too serious and fail to connect with students.  Orlando is able to bring humor and excitement into his presentation, while at the same time delivering a deep and powerful message.

  • Civilian Human Resource Service Center (Atlantic), National Defence

    Orlando was absolutely fabulous!  Staff are still talking about his keynote address!  He hit the mark and then some, he geared his talk to meet with our goals and objectives!  Someone asked how I found him and I told the entire audience through speakers spotlight.

    Thank you for all your patience and for helping us find the PERFECT speaker for our event!

  • Michael “Pinball” Clemons, CFL Legend

    Orlando Bowen is a professional athlete with a great physical presence and one who knows what it means to beat the odds…what makes Orlando a champion, is that he cares about people. Orlando Bowen is the best kind of champion; he is a champion for people.

  • Investors Group Financial Services

    Orlando’s recent presentation at a regional meeting left all of the audience energized and alive with positive power.  His story had passion and purpose, and totally engaged all attendees in an active setting while he brought home his message of ‘One Voice, One Team’.  It was a rare gift to hear Orlando present and I highly recommend him to anyone trying to build a positive team mentality.

  • City of Brampton

    Orlando’s energy and passion make him an ideal choice for audiences. I would personally recommend Orlando to anyone who is considering bringing a celebrity guest speaker to their boardroom or classroom, he is the perfect choice.

  • City of Kitchener

    The Main Event went so well — and Orlando absolutely crushed it. We have a wide variety of staff members and roles at the city, and he really connected with the whole group. People stayed afterward for a chance to thank Orlando in person and chat with him (which Orlando of course made time for and was so kind and humble), and I’ve received excellent feedback all week.

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