speeches

THE BRILLIANCE OF RESILIENCE KEYNOTE

Resiliency isn’t just a nice trait to have—it’s the foundation of every success story. To rise, we must first stumble. To succeed, we must first learn from failure.

Dave Jonsson brings this truth to life with passion, humor, and authenticity. Using his skateboard as a powerful storytelling tool, Dave takes audiences on a high-energy journey through his own life, highlighting both triumphs and trials. From surviving a plane crash that nearly ended his career to competing at the highest levels of professional skateboarding, Dave shares unforgettable moments and practical principles that reveal how pain can become the pathway to purpose.

Whether speaking to students, educators, or corporate leaders, Dave equips audiences with a fresh perspective and an actionable mindset. They will leave not only inspired, but also challenged to discover the resiliency within themselves that they never knew they had.

Audiences will learn how to:

  • Reframe Failure: See mistakes and setbacks as stepping stones to growth instead of dead ends.

  • Find Hidden Strength: Unlock resilience they didn’t know they had in moments of pressure and challenge.

  • Turn Pain Into Purpose: Transform hardships into lessons that inspire, motivate, and propel them forward.

Perfect for:

  • Middle & High Schools, Colleges

  • Corporate Teams & Educators

  • Churches & Youth groups

Wheels of Resilience

Resilience isn’t just taught, it’s experienced. Wheels of Resilience is a high-energy program that fuses the adrenaline of BMX and skateboarding with powerful stories of perseverance.

Led by professional skateboarder Dave Jonsson and pro BMX rider Fontas Gilliatt, a cancer survivor, this program inspires students to see challenges not as roadblocks but as opportunities to grow stronger.

Participants will:

  • Experience live BMX and skateboarding demonstrations.

  • Hear authentic stories of resilience, hope, and overcoming adversity.

  • Learn how to transform setbacks into strength and purpose.

  • Leave equipped with courage to face their own challenges.

Perfect for:

  • Middle & High School Assemblies

  • Indigenous & Community Programs

  • Youth Camps & Leadership Events

Wheels of Resilience isn’t just a presentation, it’s a movement on wheels. 🚲🛹🔥

Story to Stage - keynote & Workshop

Story to Stage: Transforming Your Story Into Influence

Everyone has a story, but not everyone knows how to share it in a way that creates impact. The truth is, your story has the power to inspire, connect, and even change lives—if you know how to bring it to the stage.

In this dynamic workshop, Dave Jonsson draws from nearly two decades as a global speaker, author, and TEDx presenter to teach participants how to unlock the power of their personal story. Using his proven 4 C’s Framework—Craft, Connect, Converse, Convert—Dave equips attendees with the tools to not just tell a story, but to tell it with purpose and power.

Whether you’re a student, educator, or business professional, this workshop will give you the confidence and clarity to take the microphone, captivate your audience, and turn your message into lasting impact.

A free copy of STORY TO STAGE ebook is provided to all attendees.

Participants will learn how to:

  • Craft a story that is authentic, clear, and compelling.

  • Connect emotionally with any audience, from classrooms to boardrooms.

  • Converse with confidence by mastering delivery and stage presence.

  • Convert your story into influence, inspiring real change in others.

Perfect for:

  • Students & Young Leaders

  • Educators & Communicators

  • Business Professionals & Corporate Teams

TRUST Workshop: Build Bridges, not breeches

Trust is the foundation of every strong relationship, team, and culture. But how do you actually build it in a lasting way? In this interactive workshop, Dave Jonsson equips participants with a clear framework—the Four Pillars of Trust—to help them strengthen relationships, restore confidence, and create communities that thrive.

Through storytelling, practical exercises, and group discussions, Dave shows how trust is not accidental but intentional, and how every participant can begin building bridges instead of breaches.

The Four Pillars of Trust:

  • Consistency – Showing up faithfully in both the small and big things.

  • Transparency – Communicating with honesty and openness.

  • Competency – Delivering on promises with skill and reliability.

  • Empathy – Listening and leading with compassion.

Workshop Outcomes:

  • Gain practical tools to strengthen trust in personal and professional relationships.

  • Learn how to identify and repair breaches of trust.

  • Build a culture of unity, reliability, and care in any setting.

Perfect for:

  • Corporate Teams & Leaders

  • Educators & Administrators

  • Community & Faith-Based Organizations

  • Youth Leadership Training

the Power of Belonging: Creating Spaces Where Everyone Matters

The Power of Belonging: Creating Spaces Where Everyone Matters

At the core of every human heart is the desire to belong. When young people don’t find it, they often drift toward isolation, anxiety, or destructive choices. But when they discover true belonging, everything changes.

In this inspiring keynote, Dave Jonsson shares his own journey—from surviving a plane crash to creating The Belong Centre, an indoor skatepark and community hub where youth find acceptance, purpose, and hope. Through powerful storytelling and practical insights, Dave reveals how belonging transforms not just individuals, but entire communities.

Audiences will learn how to:

  • Build Trust: Create environments where people feel seen, valued, and safe.

  • Foster Inclusion: Break down barriers and invite diverse voices to the table.

  • Ignite Transformation: Use belonging as the catalyst for growth, resilience, and community impact.

Perfect for:

  • Schools & Universities

  • Educators & Administrators

  • Corporate Teams & Leaders

  • Community Organizations

Leave Life Empty: Pursuing Your Dream and Living by Faith

We only get one life—and the greatest tragedy is to leave it half-lived. True fulfillment doesn’t come from playing it safe but from pouring ourselves out in pursuit of the dreams God has placed in our hearts.

In this inspiring keynote, Dave Jonsson challenges audiences to live with courage, faith, and vision. Drawing from his journey as a plane crash survivor, pro skateboarder, and community builder, Dave shows what it means to step out in faith, take risks, and live a life that leaves nothing on the table.

Audiences will learn how to:

  • Live by Faith, Not Fear: Step into the unknown with confidence, trusting God’s bigger plan.

  • Pursue Purpose with Passion: Identify the dream that fuels them and commit to chasing it wholeheartedly.

  • Leave Nothing Behind: Cultivate a lifestyle of pouring out their gifts, talents, and energy so they finish life “empty,” having given their all.

Perfect for:

  • Students & Young Adults

  • Faith-Based Conferences

  • Corporate & Non-Profit Teams

  • Community Leaders