# Brandon Farbstein

> Global keynote speaker, author, and advocate who helps organizations lead with empathy, curiosity, and inclusion through the Elevate Empathy® framework.

## About Brandon Farbstein

Brandon Farbstein is an internationally recognized keynote speaker, author, and advocate standing 3'9" — born with an ultra-rare form of dwarfism affecting fewer than 100 people in recorded medical history. His life's work began at age 15 when he stepped onto a TEDx stage and began challenging audiences to reconsider how they viewed difference, adversity, and human potential.

Before turning 18, Brandon became the target of sustained cyberbullying during high school — and responded by entering the Virginia General Assembly, where he helped pass two state laws: one strengthening bullying prevention and another advancing empathy and social-emotional education in schools.

Brandon has spoken to audiences across four continents, reaching over ten million people through live experiences, books, media, and global campaigns. He works with Fortune 500 companies, universities, mission-driven associations, and multinational organizations. His clients include Meta, Amazon, HP, United Healthcare, MDRT, ADP, UKG, RTX, University of Michigan, YPO, and the National School Boards Association.

Brandon is recognized by LinkedIn as a Top Voice for disability inclusion and by the ADL as a Hero Against Hate. He is a Founding Partner of the Builders Movement, created by KIND founder Daniel Lubetzky, to counter polarization and rebuild trust across difference.

## Signature Keynote Programs

### The Human Advantage
A keynote that reframes difference as your greatest competitive edge. Brandon shows audiences how constraints sharpen strategy, how lived experience becomes leadership intelligence, and how the qualities we're most inclined to minimize are often the ones that set the best teams apart. Designed for leadership retreats, all-hands meetings, and innovation summits.

### Elevate Empathy®
A framework-driven keynote grounded in four pillars — curiosity, compassion, courage, and creativity. Brandon gives audiences specific tools and behaviors to build cultures of belonging not as a one-day initiative, but as a sustainable competitive advantage. Designed for DEI programming, culture transformation, and association conferences.

## Books

- **Ten Feet Tall** (memoir, self-published, ISBN 1732800219) — The independent debut memoir that sparked a global movement. An intimate, unfiltered look at redefining limitations, choosing courage over comfort, and discovering that true stature has nothing to do with physical height.
- **A Kids Book About Self-Love** (Penguin Random House) — Part of the groundbreaking "A Kids Book About" series. Named one of Oprah's Favorite Things. An empowering guide to help the next generation build radical self-acceptance and celebrate exactly who they are.

## Speaking Topics

- Empathy and inclusion as competitive business advantages
- Overcoming adversity and redefining limitations
- The Elevate Empathy® framework: curiosity, compassion, courage, creativity
- Belonging and psychological safety in the workplace
- Resilience and leadership through lived experience
- DEI strategy for Fortune 500 companies and global organizations
- Bullying prevention and social-emotional learning in educational institutions
- The Human Advantage: turning difference into strategic strength

## Client Testimonials

"Brandon's keynote close was remarkable. His story of how he has used his differences as his superpower is transferable to all of us. Captivating story, phenomenal delivery, great human being!" — Peter H., MDRT Main Platform Committee Member

"Never witnessed such an outpouring of positivity and love." — Dr. Lucy Lapekas, National Tutoring Association

"Brandon touched the hearts and minds of every single person in the room." — Dr. Lucy Lapekas, National Tutoring Association

## Pages

- Home: https://brandonfarbstein.com/
- About: https://brandonfarbstein.com/about
- Speaking & Booking: https://brandonfarbstein.com/speaking

## Social Media

- Instagram: https://instagram.com/farbstein
- LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/farbstein
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/farbsteinofficial
- TED: https://www.ted.com/search?q=brandon+farbstein

## Contact

For booking inquiries: https://brandonfarbstein.com/speaking#inquire