Available to book

Speaker & cancer survivor advocate

Conn Bertish

Resilience

Growth Mindset

Workplace Culture

Build resilience and creative agility with Conn Bertish, adventurer and brain cancer survivor turned global keynote speaker. Conn has worked with organisations across 20 countries, including Google, Nestle, and Coca-Cola, to future-proof teams through purpose, mental resilience, and adaptability.

Check Conn’s availability

Trusted by Google, Nestlé, Coca-Cola

Conn Bertish

Cape Town, South Africa

Starting from

Contact PepTalk for fees

H3 link

Book Conn now

Send an email

loading@getapeptalk.com

Give us a call

+44 203 835 2929

Get Conn's availability

Instant quote

•

No upfront fee

•

Vetted speaker

Book Conn

Cape Town, South Africa

Starting from

Contact PepTalk for fees

Send an email

loading@getapeptalk.com

Give us a call

+44 203 835 2929

Enquire Conn Now

Instant quote

•

No upfront fee

•

Vetted speaker

Conn Bertish's biography

Athlete

Adventurer

Cancer Survivor

Inspirational

Motivational

Mindset

Mental Health Awareness

Personal Development

Self Improvement

Personal Wellbeing

Workshop Facilitators

Advertising

At a glance

Award-winning creative strategist turned resilience expert
Brain cancer survivor and former big wave surfer
Launched Cancer Dojo app, backed by oncologists and scientists

Conn Bertish is a South African adventurer, resilience trainer, and brain cancer survivor who uses lived experience and behavioural science to help people and organisations adapt under pressure. A former Chief Creative Officer and Red Bull big wave surfer, Conn survived a brain cancer diagnosis in his 30s. He gamified his own recovery, earning the support of leading oncologists and science professors, and launched the award-winning Cancer Dojo resilience app, now used by patients worldwide. He later became the first person with hemiplegia to paddle unsupported across the Atlantic Ocean. During the 93-day expedition, he endured severe storms, isolation, equipment failures, and physical limitations that tested both preparation and mental endurance. Drawing on survival psychology and neuroscience research, Conn shows audiences how to reframe adversity, build cognitive agility and develop resilience that holds up in real-world conditions. He has delivered keynotes and workshops to more than two million people across twenty countries, with clients including Google, Nestlé, Coca-Cola, and Standard Chartered Bank. Audiences leave with a concrete framework for managing stress and anxiety using creative reframing techniques, a practical understanding of how to shift fixed thinking toward an explorer mindset, and tools drawn from Conn's medically supported methodology that have already been validated across thousands of corporate and clinical settings. For teams navigating change, Conn delivers the kind of shift in perspective that sticks long after the room clears.

Conn's showreel and videos

Topics, sessions and talks

How Purpose Builds Innovation

Innovation And Purpose. Finding your purpose is a life’s work. Learn how to make it fun, extraordinary and part of living a more resilient, creative and happy life.

Purposeful Teams Are Ridiculously Hard To Kill

Harnessing Collaboration as a harder to kill strategy. How to empower teams with simple purposeful creative strategies that inspire sharing, interaction and co-creation.

How Leaders Can Make Teams Harder To Kill

Creative Leadership during Crisis. Leading with creativity, empathy and insight into your audience.

How Creativity Makes You Harder To Kill

Building creativity for mental health and productivity. How to generate your own creative strategy for life, work and health.

Happy People Are Harder To Kill

Simple creative strategies for overcoming Adversity and Challenges. How to harness and use creativity to build resilience, embrace change and live a more extraordinary life.

Why we recommend booking Conn

Conn brings hard-earned perspective and compelling storytelling to conversations around resilience, pressure, and uncertainty. He connects his inspiring experiences with workplace realities in a way that feels grounded, with every session supported by medical and scientific expertise.

Check Conn's availability

Trusted by Google, Nestlé, Coca-Cola

Testimonials

Conn spoke at our Google summit and introduced a fresh approach of using creativity to solve serious problems. Since then, we’ve invited him back twice as the feedback is always outstanding. We rank Conn as a top trainer who provokes leaders with a shift in mindset that is hugely beneficial for everyone!

Sil Curiati

Google

Conn Bertish is a master speaker who delivers powerful holistic ways to future-proof your business and your personal life - especially during times of uncertraintly and existential change. Book him.

Bruno Olierhoek

Nestlé

Conn’s talk hit just the right tone and message for everyone at the conference - we’ve had incredible feedback! Thank you Conn.

Coca-Cola

15,000+ experts

Something we've not covered here?

Get in touch

How do I book Conn Bertish for my next event?

Email conn.bertish@getapeptalk.com or call PepTalk on +44 20 3835 2929 (UK) or +1 737 888 5112 (US), and one of our speaker agents will contact you within hours to confirm availability and fees. If you can, please include your budget upfront – it helps us fast-track your request. It’s also helpful to know the date, format (virtual or in-person), location, and a bit about your audience. As speaker agents, PepTalk can secure Conn Bertish for commercial and corporate events, conference keynotes, leadership talks, celebrity brand endorsements & partnerships, personal appearances, and motivational speaking engagements. We can assist with enquiries about Conn Bertish's speaking fees, availability, and booking process for private business functions, industry conferences, and team events. Please note, for media interviews, autographs, charity appearances, or personal matters, we recommend contacting Conn Bertish directly.

What is Conn Bertish's speaking style like?

Conn delivers engaging, practical sessions that blend lived experience with science, empowering audiences to reframe adversity, build resilience, and adopt an explorer mindset for real-world challenges.

What topics does Conn Bertish specialise in?

Have all the speakers on the website previously worked with PepTalk?

Not necessarily. While the speakers listed on our website may not have worked with PepTalk in the past, they are recognized professionals in the industry and known to engage in similar events and engagements. We work with a wide variety of speaker agents and talent agencies to ensure we have the best selection of speakers, hosts, comedians and entertainers available.

Can I request autographs, personal greetings, signed merchandise, or fan mail from the speakers?

Sorry, we do not accept requests for autographs, signed merchandise, fan mail, or any non-commercial contact with the speakers, comedians or entertainers.

How can I report an issue or make changes to an expert profile?

If you notice something that needs attention or have any queries regarding an expert speaker profile, feel free to email us at experts@getapeptalk.com, and we’ll be happy to assist.

Can I book podcast guests through PepTalk?

Yes. PepTalk books commercial podcast guests every week of the year. A high-profile voice can boost your podcast's reach and deliver ideas to your audience at scale. Fees typically start from £1,200 / $1,500, depending on the expert. Our network includes bestselling authors, industry leaders, and cultural figures who have appeared on leading global podcasts — and many host their own. Whether you want bold insights, candid stories, or deep expertise, we'll help you find the right guest to elevate your show. Contact us today to book your next podcast guest.

How far in advance should I book a motivational speaker?

Book a motivational speaker at least 3–6 months in advance, especially for popular speakers or large events. Top speakers get booked quickly, so earlier is always better. For major conferences or peak seasons, booking 12 months ahead ensures you secure your first choice.

Help, I need a last-minute speaker for my event!

No problem! We often handle last-minute requests and can secure or replace a speaker, comedian, awards or event host quickly — almost anywhere in the world. However, speaker availability might be limited as the event date approaches. Email hello@getapeptalk.com with your requirements.