Former American Hostage Held By The Islamic Republic Of Iran For Five Years; Resilience, Crisis Management & Ethical Leadership Speaker; Thirty-Year Private Equity Executive

Washington, DC, USA

Emad Shargi Biography

Emad Shargi is a motivational speaker, Iranian-American businessman, writer and lecturer with 30 years of experience in private equity. Shargi was held hostage by the Islamic Republic of Iran for a five-year imprisonment, from 2018 to 2023. The experience forced him to confront deep uncertainty, isolation and the psychological challenges of captivity. After his release, Shargi turned that experience into a platform for teaching resilience, crisis management and rebuilding personal and professional identity after trauma.

Shargi’s signature keynotes address resilience and mental strength under extreme adversity; ethical leadership and decision-making when the stakes are highest; crisis management and global business risk; rebuilding purpose and momentum after life-altering events; and freedom, dignity and the human realities of geopolitical conflict.

Shargi delivers reflective, emotionally grounded and insight-driven keynotes that combine lived experience with strategic perspective. His talks are designed to engage senior leaders, teams and organizations navigating change, uncertainty and transformation.

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Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 01/20/2026.

Emad Shargi Speaking Topics

  • Resilience and Mental Strength Under Extreme Adversity

    The following is a sample taken from one of Emad Shargi's keynote speeches about resilience:

    "I’m here today to share my story with you and to tell you how resilience helped me survive being an American hostage in the Islamic Republic of Iran. During those five and a half years, I was arrested twice, came very close to being shot, was held in solitary confinement for six months, and almost died the night Evin Prison was set on fire.

    Adversity will come our way in one form or another. Each of us will encounter hardships, trauma, and loss. What matters is how we protect ourselves and what we do with those experiences. How can we transform tragedy and trauma into positive & life-changing tools?

    I’ve tried to understand what made me resilient enough to handle such a nightmarish roller coaster. I can tell you that resilience isn’t just a single trait or characteristic; it’s made up of many different parts. I think of resilience like a toolbox, filled with the tools needed to build body armor to defend oneself from hardship and life’s unpredictability.

    Today, I want to share with you the five tools I ultimately used to survive those five and a half years. These aren't just survival tools; they are principles that can strengthen one’s personal life and offer shelter and solace from life’s challenges. So, what were my five survival tools?

    • Integrity
    • Optimism
    • Empathy
    • Humility
    • Gratitude

Emad Shargi Videos

Emad Shragi - CBS/"60 Minutes"

Emad Shragi - CBS/"60 Minutes"

American freed in Iran prisoner deal tells harrowing story for the first time.

Following an American's long journey home from Iran

Following an American's long journey home from Iran

After years of reporting on the American's imprisonment in Iran, Margaret Brennan interviews Emad Shargi about his ordeal on 60 Minutes. #news...

  • How do I book Emad Shargi to speak at my event?

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  • What are the speaker fees for Emad Shargi

    Speaking fees for Emad Shargi, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Emad Shargi are $10,000 - $20,000 for live events and $10,000 - $20,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Emad Shargi, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
  • What topics does Emad Shargi speak about?

  • Where does Emad Shargi travel from?

    Emad Shargi generally travels from Washington, DC, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.
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Emad Shargi is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Resilience and Mental Strength Under Extreme Adversity. The estimated speaking fee range to book Emad Shargi for your event is $10,000 - $20,000. Emad Shargi generally travels from Washington, DC, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Scott Daly, Marty Strong, Paul G. Stoltz, Faerie Grace and Alan Mallory. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Emad Shargi for an upcoming live or virtual event.

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