Ray Zahab
Ultra Distance Runner, Author, Founder of Impossible2Possible, Royal Canadian Geographical Society Speaker
- Author,
- Entrepreneur,
- Explorer,
- Humanitarian,
- Inspirational,
- Leadership,
- Mindset,
- Motivational,
- Overcoming Obstacles
Presentations
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Ray Zahab is a proud Royal Canadian Geographical Speaker
Talk About Speakers represents Ray Zahab as a Royal Canadian Geographical Society Speaker. When booking Ray through Talk About Speakers or RCGS Speakers, a portion of the revenue generated from Ray’s speaking engagement is reinvested into RCGS programs to help develop the next generation of Indigenous and Canadian geographers, scientists and storytellers.
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Turning the Ordinary into Extraordinary
In the span of seven years, Ray Zahab went from being a pack-a-day smoker to stepping into the Red Sea after running thousands of miles across the Sahara Desert. Matt Damon narrated and produced the documentary “Running the Sahara”, which chronicled this journey. Zahab would go on to cross the largest deserts on the planet — including the Namib, the Gobi, and the Atacama Deserts — and would complete unsupported expeditions to the South Pole and Arctic regions.
Zahab doesn’t see himself as a gifted athlete, but rather an ordinary person who discovered within themselves the ability to be extraordinary. Through a series of decisions, challenges, commitments, and passion, he became a living example of how ordinary people can do extraordinary things.
Drawing on his incredible stories and showcasing his stunning photographs and videos, Zahab inspires individuals and organizations to take positive action to incite incredible change and identify the limits we place on success to break through them and move beyond.
Zahab has presented hundreds of times, all over the world, to top corporations and non-profits, connecting to audiences with humour and engaged storytelling, in a relatable and accessible way.
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Resilience: How We Are All Capable of Exceeding Our Perceived Limits
Over the past 20 years, Ray Zahab has been on more than 30 expeditions to the most extreme and remote locations on earth. He transformed from a pack-a-day, sedentary smoker to a world-class explorer and endurance athlete.
From nearly drowning in the freezing waters of the Arctic to running through the blistering heat of both the Atacama and Sahara deserts, Zahab uses his rich experiences to illustrate his messages that we can all go from the “impossible to possible”, and that we all have the capability to build resilience, push ourselves, and thrive in the face of adversity.
As Zahab has said: “In each of us is the ability to transcend what we feel is our limits. By taking on a challenge… by immersing ourselves in our goals, we learn very quickly that we can rise to a new level of performance. That, in fact, if we do things that we aren’t totally sure we can finish… we grow.
There is no FAIL, but only First Attempts in Learning. And with this knowledge, our ability to face risk and adversity with improved resilience becomes natural. And we become freed from all boundaries”.
Ray Zahab is a proud Royal Canadian Geographical Speaker
Talk About Speakers represents Ray Zahab as a Royal Canadian Geographical Society Speaker. When booking Ray through Talk About Speakers or RCGS Speakers, a portion of the revenue generated from Ray’s speaking engagement is reinvested into RCGS programs to help develop the next generation of Indigenous and Canadian geographers, scientists and storytellers.
Turning the Ordinary into Extraordinary
In the span of seven years, Ray Zahab went from being a pack-a-day smoker to stepping into the Red Sea after running thousands of miles across the Sahara Desert. Matt Damon narrated and produced the documentary “Running the Sahara”, which chronicled this journey. Zahab would go on to cross the largest deserts on the planet — including the Namib, the Gobi, and the Atacama Deserts — and would complete unsupported expeditions to the South Pole and Arctic regions.
Zahab doesn’t see himself as a gifted athlete, but rather an ordinary person who discovered within themselves the ability to be extraordinary. Through a series of decisions, challenges, commitments, and passion, he became a living example of how ordinary people can do extraordinary things.
Drawing on his incredible stories and showcasing his stunning photographs and videos, Zahab inspires individuals and organizations to take positive action to incite incredible change and identify the limits we place on success to break through them and move beyond.
Zahab has presented hundreds of times, all over the world, to top corporations and non-profits, connecting to audiences with humour and engaged storytelling, in a relatable and accessible way.
Resilience: How We Are All Capable of Exceeding Our Perceived Limits
Over the past 20 years, Ray Zahab has been on more than 30 expeditions to the most extreme and remote locations on earth. He transformed from a pack-a-day, sedentary smoker to a world-class explorer and endurance athlete.
From nearly drowning in the freezing waters of the Arctic to running through the blistering heat of both the Atacama and Sahara deserts, Zahab uses his rich experiences to illustrate his messages that we can all go from the “impossible to possible”, and that we all have the capability to build resilience, push ourselves, and thrive in the face of adversity.
As Zahab has said: “In each of us is the ability to transcend what we feel is our limits. By taking on a challenge… by immersing ourselves in our goals, we learn very quickly that we can rise to a new level of performance. That, in fact, if we do things that we aren’t totally sure we can finish… we grow.
There is no FAIL, but only First Attempts in Learning. And with this knowledge, our ability to face risk and adversity with improved resilience becomes natural. And we become freed from all boundaries”.
Testimonials
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"In the 15 years we’ve hosted this conference, you are the first to have feedback with 100% in the “amazing” category. And we’ve had some high-profile people in the past. So many thanks! You were the perfect choice to compliment our theme, but more importantly your presentation, deliverance of it, professional manner, and story itself were all stellar. You have an infectious personality and it obviously resonated with the audience."
Sun Life Financial
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"Your vision and commitment are totally inspiring! Your story clearly demonstrates that when one has determination and a clear vision, miracles can literally unfold."
GBD Environment Canada
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"Ray was a pleasure to work with and a true inspiration to the team. Everyone was talking about him that night at our dinner event, and all were moved to action in one way or another by his presentation."
Takeda
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"Ray, thank you!! A great presentation that captured the imagination of our audience. They could relate to your struggles and to your victories by virtue of your exceptional ability to tell a story. Your ability to coax your body to achieve unbelievable feats of endurance is remarkable but as you say, “it can be found within all of us”. On behalf of my partners at CIBC, thanks again for delivering your unique message at our conference."
Head of Equity Research, Equity Markets, CIBC Wholesale Banking
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"The events with Ray went AMAZING! He was great and did an awesome job considering he had 4 sessions to speak to in a two-day span! We got to know Ray over the two days, and it was really inspiring to hear what he has done and the goals he has set out for his company and himself! It was great and we would recommend him highly! We had MANY staff approach Ray after each talk to thank him and to ask questions or show interest in his work."
Conservation Halton
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"Ray Zahab hit a home run…probably fair to say a grand slam actually. Very inspiring, engaging, and relevant for our conference."
DHL Express (Canada) Ltd.
