John G. Samuel
Stories That Shift Mindsets. Talks That Spark Action.
John G. Samuel is a global speaker, author, and CEO who’s proving that disability isn’t a limitation—it’s a leadership advantage. His journey from hiding his blindness to becoming a catalyst for inclusion is one you won’t forget.
Trusted By:
Don’t Ask Me…Ask Them
“John has a gift of using his skills, abilities and challenges to move audiences, to educate the masses and most importantly to inspire change in a positive direction. I will be forever thankful for meeting John and our association will be forever better.”
Rich Phaneuf
CEO of Association Executives of North Carolina (AENC)
“John Samuel is a powerful storyteller whose message truly resonated with me and my team. His talk was engaging, authentic, and thought-provoking. I was so impressed by his perspective that I chose his book, Don’t Ask the Blind Guy for Directions, for our leadership team book club. It led to a meaningful and memorable discussion.”
Rachael Hollifield, Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine
VP Physician Services • UNCPN Administration Staff
Family Medicine Provider for UNC Physicians Network
“We were honored to have John speak at our Tech Workplace Summit this year and his topic of ‘No Fear’ was incredibly timely and poignant. Our audience was wow’d and got some great takeaways that they could put into action in both their personal and professional lives. John was amazing – as usual!”
Tracy Sternberg, NC Tech
Check out my TEDx Talk!
- Accessibility is often left out of DEI: Most organizations have diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, but very few include accessibility.
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DEIA = true belonging: Adding accessibility to DEI creates a sense of belonging for 20% of the population who live with disabilities.
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Reframing IDEA: If organizations resist, reframe DEIA as “IDEA” — and every organization loves a great acronym.
John’s Book
A 30,000-Mile Journey for Love, Confidence, and a Sense of Belonging
A raw, funny, and deeply human memoir about losing sight—and gaining clarity.
Embracing disabilities can lead to the greatest triumphs. Get Don’t Ask the Blind Guy for Directions and start seeing acceptance as a powerful resource for change.
Download a Free Book Club Discussion Guide
Turn powerful stories into meaningful conversations. Download the Don’t Ask the Blind Guy for Directions discussion guide and explore how differences can become opportunities for growth and belonging.
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Thought-provoking questions to spark honest reflection in your group or on your own
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Action prompts to help you apply lessons from John’s journey to your life and work
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Practical tools for building a more inclusive and accessible culture wherever you are
(No Spam, Just Optimism!)
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Speaking
Proximity builds empathy, and my storytelling humanizes what it means to be inclusive. Whether it’s a conference keynote, leadership retreat, book club, or fireside chat—I will meet your audience where they are and leave them inspired.
