EXECUTIVE KEYNOTE ON LEADERSHIP, RESILIENCE, CULTURE, and staying human—when everything is changing
COURAGE UNDER PRESSURE
Leading Humans Through Change in an Uncertain World
Trusted By
WHY THIS MATTERS NOW (2026)
We are living through a moment where organizations are asking more of people than ever before:
• Constant transformation with no recovery time
• AI acceleration without emotional grounding
• Burnout, moral fatigue, and quiet disengagement
• Polarization inside teams—and silence where trust used to be
• Leaders expected to “be resilient” without being shown how
Most change initiatives fail not because the strategy is wrong—
But because people disconnect.
They disconnect from meaning.
From one another.
From the courage required to stay engaged when things feel uncertain or hard.
In 2026, courage is no longer a soft skill.
It is a leadership capability.
Courage is what allows teams to:
• Speak honestly instead of disengaging
• Stay connected across differences
• Navigate fear without freezing or fragmenting
• Lead change without losing their humanity
This keynote helps organizations build practical courage—the kind that sustains trust, resilience, and performance during change.
What Audiences Walk Away With
A leadership framework for courage in uncertainty
Practical methods for connecting teams during change
Communication tools for high-stakes environments
A human-centered approach to resilience
“Courage isn’t about being fearless. It’s about staying connected—when everything in you wants to pull away.” Nassim Abdi, Ph.D.
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“Courage isn’t about being fearless. It’s about staying connected—when everything in you wants to pull away.” Nassim Abdi, Ph.D. 〰️
MY STORY (AND WHY I CAN HOLD THIS CONVERSATION)
I grew up during war. I lost my fiancé to chemical attacks in Iran.
I began my career as a journalist, reporting under censorship and fear, where I learned how power, silence, and narrative shape human lives.
After immigrating to the United States, I earned my PhD and became a university professor, teaching women’s studies and transnational feminism. I believed education alone could create change.
Then one moment shifted everything.
While teaching about the impact of war, I shared my personal story—and watched my students disengage. Until I showed a short documentary and invited the filmmaker into the conversation.
Laptops closed. Tears appeared. Questions poured out.
That was when I realized:
Stories reach where information cannot.
I left academia and founded StoryBolt, building a global storytelling platform with 4,000 filmmakers across 112 countries and partnering with multinational organizations to spark dialogue and cultural change.
Across industries and continents, I saw the same truth:
People don’t resist change.
They resist disconnection.
Today, I help leaders build the courage to stay connected when change feels hardest.
