Former Champion Cross-Country Skier, Aerobatics Pilot, Resilience Educator, Change Agent & Author

Alta, WY, USA

Janine Shepherd Biography

Janine Shepherd is an inspirational speaker and writer whose books have become classics in the survivor genre. A champion cross-country skier in training for the 1988 winter Olympics, Shepherd’s life changed forever when she was hit by a truck during a bicycle training ride in the Blue Mountains of Australia.

Doctors warned her parents that—even if she somehow miraculously survived her massive injuries — Shepherd would almost certainly never walk again. After a risky procedure to rebuild her shattered vertebra, and almost six months flat on her back in a hospital spinal ward, Shepherd came home to heal. With the promise of a career as an elite athlete now gone forever, Shepherd faced a daunting recovery and an uncertain future.

Struggling to rehabilitate with permanent disabilities, Shepherd rekindled her defiant spirit in a dramatically improbable way. Sitting outside in her wheelchair one day and watching a small plane fly overhead, she declared, “That’s it! If I can’t walk, I’ll fly!”

Still encased in a full body cast, Shepherd had to be lifted into an aircraft for her introductory flight lesson. But within a year she had defied the odds and succeeded in gaining her private pilot’s license. Her talent and skill as a pilot subsequently earned Shepherd a commercial pilot license and ultimately, her flying instructor’s rating. She then decided to learn to fly upside down, and finally, to teach aerobatic flight to other pilots.

Shepherd went on to succeed not only as a professional pilot but also to attain her University degree, raise three children, and author several best-selling books, including "Defiant: A Memoir" and "Never Tell Me Never." Her remarkable life story ultimately captured the interest of a prominent film company, which produced the feature-length movie, aptly titled "Never Tell Me Never."

In recognition of her service to the community and her tireless efforts in raising awareness for spinal cord research, Shepherd was awarded the Order of Australia, her nation’s highest honor. She is an ambassador for Spinal Cure Australia and Red Bull’s “Wings for Life” and a contributor to Deepak Chopra’s workshops. Shepherd’s story has been featured on 60 Minutes, This is Your Life, and CNN’s Turning Points with Dr. Sanjay Gupta. Her inspirational and emotional TEDx talk, “A Broken Body Isn’t a Broken Person,” has been viewed almost 2 million times.

She was recently named as an “Architect of Change” in Maria Shriver’s “Sunday Paper.” Shepherd lives in Wyoming, USA but is frequently traveling the globe delivering keynotes and her inspirational message of “defiance.” She has developed the "Twelve Pillars of Resilience" and founded ‘The School for Resilience’ to further empower individuals to overcome challenges and achieve their full potential.

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Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 09/18/2025.

Janine Shepherd Speaking Topics

  • THE POWER OF THE DEFIANT HUMAN SPIRIT

    In Janine’s signature keynote presentation, she shares her lived belief that ‘The Defiant Human Spirit’ is not something we have, it is something we are. It is the essence of our true selves and, when fully employed, is what makes us unstoppable.

    Janine is a gifted storyteller who uses her wit, humor, and impeccable timing to engage her audiences. As she shares her journey in the realm of defiance, she will touch every heart in the room and invite listeners to dream and reach beyond their preconceived ideas of what is possible.

    This presentation will not only leave audiences inspired, humbled, and motivated, but will also cause them to think at the deepest level about how they live their own lives.

    Listeners leave with the conviction to change their attitudes and find the power within to enable them to perform to the best of their abilities.

    Key Takeaways:

    • Be inspired and motivated to change your attitude to live to your highest potential.
    • Learn how to lean into the ‘hills’ (Janine’s signature mindset) and transform your greatest fears into courageous action.
    • Identify limiting beliefs and rewrite the story of your life as a positive narrative.

  • DON’T BOUNCE BACK, BOUNCE FORWARD: How to Reinvent and Repurpose in The Face of Challenge

    Any disaster in life can create challenge in the most profound way. Responding appropriately requires resources and courage that you may not even know you have until you tap into your innate resilience.

    It is at times such as these that there is a choice to be made: Do you sit back trying desperately to make life work using old patterns of thought and beliefs that no longer apply, or do you choose to explore and learn new and more effective ways to approach life?

    Janine relies on her personal experience, as well as her extensive study in neuroscience, neuroplasticity and positive psychology, to demonstrate that when tragedies or difficulties cross your path, not only can you bounce back, you can actually reappraise, learn and grow.

    The audience leaves with actionable steps toward putting this powerful knowledge into practice—to building an unshakable core.

    This program is ideal for corporate audiences, especially companies in industries challenged by competition or unwelcomed changes in the marketplace.

    Key Takeaways:

    • Discover the neuroscience of resilience and how to apply these principles in your personal and professional lives.
    • Learn about self-directed neuroplasticity and how to use this to create desired change in your life.
    • Uncover your default mindset- fixed or growth? – and learn simple techniques to help you cultivate a growth mindset.
    • Learn the “Twelve Pillars of Resilience” and how to employ them in managing any challenge in life.

Read More +

Janine Shepherd Videos

Janine Shepherd The Janine Shepherd Story

Janine Shepherd The Janine Shepherd Story

Janine Shepherd, a champion cross country skier in training for the winter Olympics, her life was irrevocably altered when she was run over by ...

Janine Shepherd: "Janine Shepherd speaker Demo Reel""Architect ...

Janine Shepherd: "Janine Shepherd speaker Demo Reel""Architect ...

Survivor, Author, Australian National Champion Skier Who Survived Traumatic Accident, Popular TED talk (over 1.5 million views) Hire Janine ...

Inspirational, Change - Janine Shepherd - How to heal a broken ...

Inspirational, Change - Janine Shepherd - How to heal a broken ...

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Janine Shepherd is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as THE POWER OF THE DEFIANT HUMAN SPIRIT, DON’T BOUNCE BACK, BOUNCE FORWARD: How to Reinvent and Repurpose in The Face of Challenge, A PATIENT’S JOURNEY: The Care, And Caregivers, That Changed My Life, THE RESILIENT WOMAN: At Work and At Home and WHY WALK WHEN YOU CAN FLY? Attitude Plus Power Equals Performance (Corporate Keynote). The estimated speaking fee range to book Janine Shepherd for your event is $20,000 - $30,000. Janine Shepherd generally travels from Alta, WY, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Tatyana McFadden, Jessica Cox, Afterburner, Chris Waddell and Amanda Beard. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Janine Shepherd for an upcoming live or virtual event.

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