We sat down with the Eight-time ASP Women's World Champion Surfer and general living legend Layne Beachley about her experiences in the speaking industry and her take on mindset and resilience.
Q: What is the unique perspective you, and Aussies in general, bring to the US events industry?
Layne: We are generally laid back, love to have fun, and we don’t take ourselves very seriously which lends us to being very open, honest and cheeky.
Q: What are the biggest challenges you foresee in Mindset & Resilience in the next 5 years?
Layne: Adapting to change, overcoming fear and remaining certain in the face of uncertainty. The world is also experiencing a severe empathy deficit.
Q: What inspires you about the future of Mindset & Resilience?
Layne: These tools are relatable to everyone in every aspect of life. Individual awakening and transformation inspire a collective awakening, it all starts with each and every one of us. Also, developing an empowering mindset and building resilience can be learned over time, up-skilling us to become more present and productive.
Q: What made you want to become a Speaker and share your story?
Layne: Recognising my story has the ability to inspire and awaken people to live a life they truly love. My life certainly hasn’t always been filled with rainbows and unicorns so openly sharing my triumphs and tragedies has changed people’s lives and given them the strength to reframe and overcome their individual challenges.
Q: What is your most memorable event experience as a Speaker?
Layne: My presentations often help people unlock deep or suppressed emotions and their personal breakthroughs inspire me to keep doing what I do. Standing ovations and positive feedback are great forms of validation, however it’s the one on one transformations that truly inspire me. I love to challenge and be challenged. My audiences are predominantly corporate but they occasionally bring their children in to listen- an 8-year-old girl came up to me after I spoke to thank me for sharing my story, and when I asked her what her key takeaway was she said, “That girls can do anything!"
Q: And a quick bonus question, how do you eat your vegemite?
Layne: As a kid I ate Vegemite on white hot buttered toast for breakfast, lunch and dinner. After 2 bouts of Chronic Fatigue in my mid 20’s, I became allergic to yeast which makes me very un-Australian because I’m allergic to Vegemite and beer! Fortunately, there are a few yeast free alternatives that come relatively close to the original spread which I layer with Avocado, hummus, alfalfa sprouts and a squeeze of lemon or lime. So Gourmet!
