What makes Gregory Burns a credible DEI speaker?

Gregory Burns contracted polio at age one in Jerusalem, was paralysed, and was told he would never walk. He went on to compete in three Paralympic Games, win five world records, and two gold medals. He has spent thirty years advising corporations including FedEx, Cigna, Hilton, and InterContinental on disability inclusion — approaching DEI from lived experience rather than theory or research.

What is Gregory Burns' DEI keynote about?

Gregory's DEI keynote, "The DEI Story That Can't Be Questioned," presents the business case for hiring people with disabilities — not as an act of charity, but as competitive advantage. PWDs are among the most loyal, motivated, and resilient employees in any organization. The talk is built on thirty years of corporate advisory work and a life that embodies the inclusion argument.

Which companies has Gregory Burns advised on DEI?

Gregory Burns has advised FedEx, Ogilvy, Cigna, Hilton, and InterContinental Hotels on disability inclusion and DEI programs across Asia, the Americas, and Europe.

← Keynotes & Events

The world’s largest
untapped talent pool
is hiding in plain sight.

1B+

People with Disabilities

The World’s Largest Underutilized Talent Pool

Gregory takes this into boardrooms to change something specific: how leadership teams think about the one billion people with disabilities who are, right now, being overlooked as a talent pool, a customer base, and a source of competitive advantage. He has had these conversations with Hilton, FedEx, Cigna, Ogilvy, InterContinental, Marriott, and Goldman Sachs. The companies that get this right pull ahead.

There are a thousand DEI consultants. There is one Gregory Burns.

"Hiring people with disabilities is not charity. It fills a business need — and PWDs are among the most loyal, motivated, and resilient employees in any organization." — Gregory Burns

Signature DEI Keynote

The DEI Story That Can't Be Questioned

Corporations are spending billions on DEI. Most inclusion speakers approach it theoretically — from the outside looking in. This talk delivers the lived argument: not a presentation about disability, but a conversation about potential, competitive advantage, and what organizations leave on the table when they treat inclusion as a compliance exercise rather than a talent strategy.

The Business Case

Companies that lead on disability inclusion outperform their peers. Not because it feels good — because people who have spent their lives overcoming structural barriers bring resilience, creativity, and loyalty that cannot be manufactured. Gregory makes this argument with data, with story, and with the authority of someone who built an international career in art and athletics while navigating the world on leg braces and forearm crutches.

Best For

Corporate DEI forums, HR leadership summits, ERG keynotes and panels, and leadership off-sites focused on building inclusive culture. Audiences from 50 to 5,000. In person or virtual.

Format

45–75 minute keynote or fireside chat. Can be paired with a Team Art Experience for a combined half-day program that explores inclusion through the lens of creativity and collaboration. All talks are tailored to the event theme and audience.

Fees

Inquire about rates.

Past Clients · DEI Keynote

Greg brings a candid, empathetic, and open style to this necessary conversation — he has amazed our staff with his ability to make this topic accessible and personal, sharing experiences that open up new understanding.

Kent Wertime

COO, Ogilvy Worldwide & CEO, Ogilvy Asia Pacific

The session run by Greg on Building Back Together in Putrajaya is extraordinarily impactful and is one of the most touching moments voted by our conference participants. The content is extremely relevant, the presentation is impeccable and the passion possessed by Greg is contagious. It inspires everyone of us.