THEME: "Heartbeat of Change: Inspiring Solutions for Global Cardiac Health"
University of the Witwatersrand, Australia
Title: Harnessing Optimism: Small Steps to Big Success
Rael Bricker is a global speaker and business excellence strategist who turned a personal health crisis into a mission to inspire lasting change. In 2013, after completing triathlons and while training for a marathon, Rael was diagnosed with two severely blocked arteries—resulting in life-saving stents and a life-changing shift in purpose. Today, 20kg lighter and stronger than ever, he shares how optimism became the driving force not just in recovery, but in leading high-performance cultures across industries. With over 30 years as a serial entrepreneur, Rael has built businesses, led teams on two continents, and guided over $3 billion in financial transactions. He holds an MBA and MSc (Engineering), is a Certified Speaking Professional (CSP), and a passionate advocate for aligning vision, behaviour, and resilience. At the Heart Congress, Rael brings a unique blend of lived experience and leadership insight—demonstrating how the "soft stuff" is often the hardest, and most vital, to get right.
In 2013, I received an unexpected wake-up call.
Despite being fit and active, training for a marathon after a season of
triathlons, I was diagnosed with two severely blocked arteries. Two stents
later, I emerged not just physically stronger—20 kilograms lighter and more
aware—but with a renewed understanding of what drives sustainable personal and
professional transformation: optimism.
This keynote shares how optimism—often dismissed as
“soft”—is, in fact, the critical foundation for resilience, leadership, and
recovery. Drawing from my journey as a serial entrepreneur, strategist, and
survivor, I explore how we can apply optimism not just in personal health, but
in creating healthy organisations, cultures, and teams.
The talk is built around four key pillars:
1.Crafting a Vision for Excellence – Like a GPS,
optimism gives us direction, not just intention.
2.Inspiring Alignment and Engagement – Emotional
leadership builds psychological safety and team trust.
3.Leveraging Strengths for Sustainable Growth – Optimism shifts focus from fixing what’s broken to amplifying what works.4.Driving Impact Through Incremental Action – Like flying a plane, success comes from constant small adjustments.