Get ready to be empowered, inspired, and elevated to an evolved mindset and a new level of peak performance!
Mark has performed for sold-out audiences worldwide as the drummer for some of the greatest artists of all time, including P!nk, Foreigner, Billy Idol, and Cher. He has performed live for more than a billion people in his 30-plus-year career, gracing stages at The Grammys, The American Music Awards, America’s Got Talent, and nearly every TV and Awards show from the US and Europe to Australia and Japan.
Diagnosed with cancer at the height of his career, Mark applied his "Rockstar Attitude" to the ultimate fight. Having conquered crippling stage fright early in his career and later winning his battle with cancer, Mark proves that "resilience" isn't a buzzword—it is a survival strategy.
Mark blends unforgettable rockstar energy with repeatable, science-backed strategies that transform how people think, work, and lead. His keynotes combine interactive drumming, insider stories from world tours, and performance psychology that teams can use immediately.
Michael Hingson, blind since birth, was born in Chicago to sighted parents who believed in raising their son with a can-do attitude. Treated like all other children in his family, Michael rode a bike, did advanced math in his head, and learn to read and write – Braille that is! Michael's family relocated to the warm Palmdale area of California when he was five years old. It is here that Hingson had his first adventure with Guide Dogs for the Blind and received his first guide dog. He later attended college, earning a bachelor's and master's degree in physics, as well as a secondary teaching credential, from the University of California, Irvine. Michael then enjoyed a nearly-30-year career working for high-tech companies, spending most of his time in management roles.
Michael's life changed dramatically on September 11, 2001, when he and his guide dog, Roselle, escaped from the 78th floor of Tower One in the World Trade Center moments before it collapsed. Soon after, Michael and Roselle were thrust into the international limelight where Michael began to share his unique survival story and 9-11 lessons of trust, courage, heroism, and teamwork.
Mike has served as the National Public Affairs Director for one of the nation's largest Nonprofit organizations, Guide Dogs for the Blind, and as vice president of the National Association of Guide Dog Users. Michael has held a seat on the Fort Worth Lighthouse for the Blind. He is the chair of the board of directors of the Earle Baum Center for the Blind and serves as vice chair of the Colorado Center for the Blind. Additionally, Michael is the National Ambassador for the Braille Literacy Campaign of the National Federation of the Blind.
Until October 2019, he worked as the CEO of the Do More Foundation, the non-profit arm of Aira Tech Corp, a manufacturer of assistive technology that makes a revolutionary visual interpreter for blind people. In January 2021, Mike joined accessiBe as its Chief Vision Officer to help advance the company's goal of making the entire internet fully inclusive. AccessiBe provides an artificial intelligence-based product that makes websites accessible to many persons with disabilities.
He is the author of the #1 New York Times Best Seller: "Thunder Dog –The True Story of a Blind Man, a Guide Dog & the Triumph of Trust" – selling over 2.5 million copies Worldwide. In 2014, Mr. Hingson published his second book, "Running with Roselle," which is the first of its kind: a story for our youth shedding light on one of America's darkest days. Mr. Hingson's third book, "Live Like A Guide Dog", was released on August 20, 2024. This book shows readers how to learn to control fear and not, as Mike would say, "become blinded by fear in the face of crisis."
In June 2024, Mike was inducted as an alumni member into the honors Fraternity Phi Beta Kappa. Currently, Michael lives in Victorville, California, with Alamo, Michael's eighth guide dog, and his rescue feline, Stitch.
Stay tuned for more featured speaker announcements.
Publication Date: 3/2/2026
