Bringing the Science of Human Potential to Your Stage
SCOTT BARRY KAUFMAN is the world's leading authority on the science of human potential. He has worked with thousands of leaders from category leading companies such as Google, Deloitte, Vogue, and Under Armour, helping them achieve what they are truly capable of through a research-backed, accessible, and actionable framework that he humorously shares from some of the biggest stages in the world. He is the perfect blend of deep research and content that has attendees smiling from ear-to-ear as he delivers exactly what audiences need to hear in a way that is accessible to everyone.
This mission is deeply personal. As a child, Scott was placed in special education classes and labeled "learning disabled" — told, in effect, that his potential had a ceiling. It took one teacher who saw past the label to change the trajectory of his life entirely. That experience became the foundation of everything: a lifelong conviction that intelligence cannot be captured by a single test score, that creativity and potential exist in all kinds of minds, and that the greatest breakthroughs happen when we stop asking "how smart is this person?" and start asking "how is this person smart?" From special education classrooms to the world's biggest stages, Scott has dedicated his career to proving that every mind — given the right conditions — is capable of extraordinary things.
Science-Backed. Unforgettable.
Rise Above: How to Reach Your Full Potential and Empower Others
Never before has the world been busier, more convoluted, and difficult to navigate than it is today. Competition is fierce and the technology penetrating the market is confusing us in ways we've never imagined before. Of course, all of this results in an inability to perform at our best, be as productive as we'd like to be, and ultimately achieve the creativity and excellence we know we're capable of.
We need to stop trying to push harder, work faster, and blindly do more — and instead learn strategies that will truly help us be more creative, self-actualize, regulate our emotions, and not only bounce back but grow forward after distress. In this engaging, actionable, and humorous talk, Scott helps people transition from fear about the future to confidence like they've never experienced before.
Attendees will learn- The characteristics and actions to effectively self-actualize
- The science of psychological flexibility and thought regulation
- How the sailboat model can guide you to your desired destination
- How to draw on and leverage unique character strengths to rise above
- 5 dangers to avoid when seeking and living an empowerment mindset
Education Reimagined: A New View of Intelligence
In an educational system founded on rigid standards and categories, students who demonstrate a very specific manifestation of intelligence get the keys to the kingdom, while those who deviate tend to fall between the cracks.
After overcoming his own struggles with how intelligence is defined, passion and perseverance for long-term personal goals are at the core of Scott Barry Kaufman's theory of Personal Intelligence. If we want to increase self-actualization in students, we need to take into account the child's dreams, passions, and goals — and harness their greatest strengths in the service of realizing who they truly want to become.
Kaufman applies the latest science of positive psychology and self-actualization coaching to help all people reach their full potential. His research has particular implications for children with learning difficulties, including dyslexia, ADHD, autism, and emotional and behavioral disorders, as well as ethnic and racial minority students.
The Amazing Science of You: A Mentalist's Guide to Human Potential
What if the most powerful demonstration of human potential wasn't a lecture — but an experience you'd never forget? In this one-of-a-kind keynote, Scott Barry Kaufman does something no other speaker in the world can do: he combines his credentials as one of the world's leading cognitive scientists with his skills as a trained mentalist to reveal the astonishing, largely untapped capabilities of the human mind.
Through a seamless blend of live mentalism and cutting-edge psychology, Scott demonstrates — in real time — how perception, belief, creativity, and expectation shape what we're capable of achieving. Audiences don't just hear about the science of human potential; they feel it, experience it, and leave with a visceral understanding of how much more is possible when we learn to work with the mind rather than against it.
Equal parts mind-bending and mind-expanding, this signature talk is the perfect opening or closing keynote for any event that wants to leave a lasting impression.
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Scott delivers keynotes that leave audiences not just informed, but genuinely transformed — combining rigorous science with theatrical wonder. For speaking and media inquiries, reach out directly.
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