An Ordinary Man With An Extraordinary Message
Award-winning keynote speaker that boosts morale and builds resilient leaders during turbulent change
Planning Your Next Event?
Here’s why Rene is the keynote choice:
- Fortune 500 & Enterprise Experience
Trusted by AT&T, Aflac, Coca-Cola, Verizon Wireless, the US Army and more - Proven Audience Engagement
Fortune 500 companies rebook him because attendees actually change how they work and lead - Customizable for Your Audience
From corporate teams to non-profits to educational institutions, Rene tailors his message to resonate with your specific group
- Measurable Post-Event Impact
Leaders report higher team retention, stronger productivity, and sustained morale improvements within 30 days of the event - Speaking Experience Matters
20+ years of keynoting. Speaking in boardrooms and on stages with global leaders. - Raving testimonials
People keep talking about the presentation for a longtime.
What Event Planners Need to Know Rene
Rene helps leaders and teams build strong teams, boost morale, and keep their top talent engaged even during uncertainty and turbulent change. He’s the award-winning author of “Kick Your Excuses Goodbye” and a trusted advisor to Fortune 500 companies.
Why He’s Different:
Rene doesn’t teach ideas he read in a book. He teaches lessons he
lived. He brings 20+ years of corporate speaking experience combined with an authentic story that resonates across every industry and audience.
The Media Gets It:
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution calls him a “motivational hit.” The Miami Times calls him a “motivational guru.” But most people know him as an ordinary man with extraordinary insights and the ability to shift how teams think about challenges.
What Sets Him Apart:
His blend of entertainment, style, and substance is why meeting
planners book him repeatedly. His keynote is not a lecture. It’s an
interactive experience. Attendees leave with:
• 3 practical resilience tools they can use immediately with their teams
• A clear framework for seeing opportunities within every challenge
• The emotional shift needed to face pressure with confidence
• Renewed commitment to their team and mission
His captivating keynote challenges audiences to embrace change and be more resourceful. More importantly, they apply what they learn—and their teams feel the difference.
From A Poor Village In Haiti
orn in a tiny and impoverished village in Haiti, Rene’s early life was
dismal. Poverty and disease vowed to end his existence. Even the
villagers gave up on him. They predicted he would not survive.
However, Rene had the resilience to keep fighting. He defied logic to rise above his challenges and prove the naysayers wrong.
Today, his story is an example of the dormant power we all have within us. He shows us how to transform challenges into opportunities.
Rene often reminds his audiences that a problem never shows up without answers. Otherwise, we would never call it a problem.
This early lesson shaped Rene’s entire speaking mission: Help leaders recognize that every challenge contains the seeds of its own solution.
When your team understands this principle, everything changes—how they respond to pressure, how they support each other, how they innovate.
The American Dream
Rene arrived in the US with only five dollars, one pair of pants, and
two shirts. He didn’t speak English. Most people would have given up.
He learned about the American Dream and saw people from all walks of life living it. He convinced himself that the dream was possible for him, too. On his own terms, Rene achieved the dream.
He tells us that the secret is hard work, personal initiative, and a
positive attitude. Making excuses, blaming others, and playing the
victim game are not solutions to our situation.
With only $3, Rene started his first business in the parking lot of a
bank washing cars in Miami. Most drivers in the parking lot rejected
him. But he kept asking until someone said yes. That one “yes” changed his life.
Today, through speaking, coaching, and strategic partnerships, Rene has built a thriving organization that impacts millions globally.
What This Means for Your Event:
This isn’t just an inspirational rags-to-riches story. It’s a masterclass in resilience applied to real business challenges:
• How to turn rejection into opportunity (like those car owners who said no)
• How to persist when the odds are against you
• How to build something from nothing
• How to inspire others to do the same
Event planners book Rene because he doesn’t just tell this story—he teaches your leaders how to apply these same principles to build teams that thrive under pressure.
The Impossible Is Possible
Today, Rene is sharing stages with global leaders. From classrooms to corporate giants, he inspires millions into action.
SPEAKING & IMPACT:
• 500+ speaking engagements across North America
• 100,000+ audience members directly impacted
• Featured speaker at: Fortune 500 companies, international conferences, corporate retreats, educational institutions
• Consistent 4.9/5 star ratings from event organizers and attendees
Corporate Clients & Trust:
Rene advises Fortune 500 companies like AT&T, Aflac, Coca-Cola, the US Army, and Verizon Wireless on building resilient teams and developing leadership that matters.
Strategic Partnerships:
He is a content partner at CEO Zones, a large organization of CEOs with a passion to make America stronger through leadership and resilience.
Community Recognition:
The city of Smyrna, Georgia dedicated an entire day as “Rene Godefroy Day.” The city of Fort Lauderdale, Florida granted him a key to the city in recognition of his impact on the community.
What This Means for Your Event Booking:
When you book Rene, you’re booking someone who has delivered on stages of every size and format. He knows how to read a room, engage diverse audiences, and leave attendees energized, inspired, and ready to take action. Your event won’t just be memorable. It will be transformational.
“Your fascinating story provided a great foundation for our mentors and mentees to understand what resilience really means and how to apply it. Thank you.”
– Jerry S. Wilson, Vice President, Coca-Cola
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“Rene clearly shows the positive impact we can all have on the lives of others with the right attitude!”
— Ken Ray, Vice President, AT&T
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“My dream is to inspire millions globally to see change and challenges as opportunities, not setbacks. When we shift our perspective, we unlock new possibilities. Challenges don’t define us. They refine us.”
– Rene Godefroy
This is the message Rene delivers to leaders and organizations worldwide. And the results speak for themselves.