Keynote Speaker
Have your audience wowed
Keynote Speaker
From Impossible to I'm Possible
A story they'll remember. A message they'll feel. An idea they can act on.
Colin Furphy combines powerful personal storytelling, humour and practical ideas to challenge audiences to reconsider what they believe is possible — and what they’re prepared to do next.
Possibility
Mindset
Courage
Action
The 1% Philosophy
The Signature Keynote
What happens when impossible stops being the final answer?
There was a time when Colin Furphy’s future looked very different.
Living with severe epilepsy from childhood, facing significant personal challenges and eventually undergoing brain surgery, Colin experienced periods where the future he wanted seemed almost impossible.
Then one seemingly unrealistic goal changed the direction of his life.
“Climb Mount Kilimanjaro.”
What began as an impossible idea eventually became a summit — and then a philosophy.
Today, Colin uses that journey to challenge audiences to reconsider their own impossible.
Change The Question
IMPOSSIBLE
I’M POSSIBLE
Challenges don’t disappear because we think positively. But changing the way we see a challenge can change the way we respond to it.
Instead of allowing “Can I do this?” to make the decision…
What would make this possible?
What The Audience Experiences
Five ideas that turn inspiration into action.
Colin takes audiences beyond a motivational story and gives them practical ideas they can apply to their own challenges, leadership and goals.
Possibility
What have you already decided is impossible — and what might change if you questioned that assumption?
Mindset
Learn how perspective influences choices, behaviour and the actions we are prepared to take next.
Courage
Courage doesn’t require fear to disappear. Sometimes courage is simply acting while fear is still present.
Action
Inspiration fades. Action creates momentum. Identify something meaningful you can actually do next.
The 1%
Meaningful transformation rarely requires changing everything today. Start by changing one thing.
The 1% Philosophy
You don't need a 100% transformation.
You need the next 1%.
Big goals feel impossible when we focus only on the entire distance between where we are and where we want to be.
Colin challenges audiences to make the goal smaller and the action clearer.
- One conversation.
- One decision.
- One habit.
- One action.
- One percent better.
Keynote Themes
One story. Different conversations
Colin can tailor the keynote to the people in the room, your event objectives and the challenges your organisation is facing.
From Impossible to I'm Possible
Perspective • Belief • Courage • Action
Colin’s signature keynote challenges audiences to reconsider what they have labelled impossible and identify the next action that could change it.
The Power of 1%
Consistency • Momentum • Improvement
How small, deliberate improvements can build confidence, momentum and meaningful long-term change.
Courage Over Comfort
Fear • Decisions • Growth
Growth often begins where certainty ends. Courage is sometimes simply taking the next step while fear is still present.
Resilience In Action
Setbacks • Perspective • Momentum
Explore how to rebuild momentum after setbacks without allowing one difficult moment to define the destination.
Leadership Starts With Ownership
Responsibility • Influence • Self-Leadership
Leadership begins with the decisions we make, the behaviours we own and the example we create for the people around us.
Possibility-Led Leadership
Vision • Culture • Performance
Help people see a meaningful future and create the belief and momentum required to move towards it.
The Mindset of Change
Change • Adaptability • Action
Move from reaction to response during uncertainty, transition and organisational change.
The Story You Tell Yourself
Identity • Perspective • Belief
Challenge the stories that influence decisions, confidence and behaviour — and separate where you’ve been from where you can go next.
What Audiences Take Away
What happens after the applause matters.
The aim is to give people something useful to take with them — a new perspective, a practical framework and a clear next step.
A New Perspective
A different way of looking at challenges, uncertainty and what may still be possible.
A Better Question
What have I already decided is impossible — and what would make it possible?
A Framework
A simple way to move from thinking about change to identifying what can actually be done next.
A 1% Commitment
One meaningful improvement, decision or action they can begin immediately.
Ownership
Greater clarity around what they can influence and where they can take responsibility for the next step.
Speaking Formats
Build the experience around your event.
From a keynote presentation through to a longer workshop, Colin can tailor the format to suit your audience, timetable and event objectives.
30–60 Minutes
Keynote
A focused keynote combining personal storytelling, audience engagement and practical ideas people can take away and use.
45–75 Minutes
Keynote + Q&A
The keynote followed by an interactive audience conversation, allowing the room to explore the ideas in greater depth.
90 Minutes – 3 Hours
Keynote + Workshop
Extend the keynote into practical exercises, discussion and reflection that help turn the ideas into action.
Conversational
Fireside Conversation
A more personal and conversational format exploring resilience, leadership, possibility, business and personal transformation.
Conference Format
Panel Participation
Suitable for conversations around leadership, resilience, transformation, business, mindset and personal development.
Immersive Experience
Full-Day Experience
Combine keynote content, workshop exercises, reflection and group participation into a deeper development experience.
Designed For
Different audiences. One human message.
Colin’s keynote can be adapted to suit the people in the room, the purpose of the event and the outcomes you want to create.
Corporate
- Leadership Conferences
- Company Retreats
- Team Events
- Employee Engagement
- Culture Programs
- Change & Transformation
Leadership
- Executive Events
- Emerging Leaders
- Leadership Development
- Strategy Days
- Organisational Transformation
Education
- Schools
- Universities
- Student Leadership
- Graduation Events
- Career Development
Conferences & Community
- Conferences
- Summits
- Charities
- Fundraising Events
- Wellbeing Events
- Private Events
Tailored To Your Audience
Your event shouldn't receive someone else's speech.
Every audience is different.
Colin works with event organisers to understand the people in the room, the objectives of the event and the challenges currently facing the organisation.
The story remains authentic. The message is adapted so it is relevant.
What do you want people to think, feel or do differently when they leave the room?
More Than Inspiration
Audiences don't need another person telling them to work harder.
They need a reason to care.
A story they remember.
A perspective that challenges them.
A question they keep thinking about.
A practical action they can actually take.
The goal isn't simply to create an inspirational moment.
The goal is to create a moment that leads to action.
Book Colin Furphy
Your audience has an impossible.
Let's help them see what's possible.
Bring From Impossible to I’m Possible to your next conference, leadership event, corporate gathering, school, summit or retreat.