Deborah Gardner

DEBORAH GARDNER: Competitive Performance Expert & Championship Mindset Coach

The TRIPLE THREAT Transforming Leaders Into Championship-Level Performers
Deborah Gardner is a competitive performance expert, six-time bestselling author, Guinness World Record holder, and the ultimate hype businesswoman who transforms leaders and teams into championship-level performers. With extraordinary experiences ranging from Olympic Trials swimmer to Mrs. America to CBS/NBC sports broadcaster to 21-mile open-water Catalina Channel conqueror, Deborah channels decades of athletic achievement, business success, and hospitality expertise into actionable strategies that help organizations think bigger, act bolder, and achieve at levels they never imagined possible.
HERE’S WHAT MAKES DEBORAH EXTRAORDINARY
Competitive Performance Expert
✅ Six-time bestselling author on leadership and performance✅ Guinness World Record holder: 21-mile Catalina Island Channel swim✅ Olympic Trials competitive swimmer✅ Professional athlete and endurance performance coach✅ ATHLETICpreneur: Founder and leader of three thriving businesses
Media & Recognition
✅ Former Mrs. America✅ CBS/NBC sports broadcaster (broke barriers as female sports journalist)✅ Host: “Hospitality Today Live” broadcast show✅ Featured alongside Magic Johnson, Les Brown, and Colin Powell
Hospitality Industry Authority
✅ 30+ years hospitality industry experience✅ Certified Meeting Professional (CMP, CVP)✅ Logistics expert who knows back-of-house operations✅ Special editions host for meetings and events industry
Personal Journey
✅ Grew up as a Marine Brat in a 16-foot trailer✅ Overcame humble beginnings to achieve extraordinary success✅ Championship-level swimmer who competed at Olympic Trials✅ Guinness World Record endurance athlete
HER MESSAGE: OWN YOUR LANE, COMPETE WITH YOURSELF
Deborah doesn’t just tell you to think bigger—she shows you exactly how, based on championship-level athletic performance translated into business results. Her message is clear: success always starts with you. Don’t chase your goals—catch them. Compete only with yourself. Believe in yourself. Championship performance isn’t about being the best in the world; it’s about being the best version of yourself every single day.
Throughout her career, Deborah has transformed struggling leaders into confident powerhouses and taken high-performing teams to their next breakthrough. Known by Fortune 500 companies as the “Pit Bull in a Skirt,” she spots what’s blocking leadership and organizational growth before you do, then delivers the exact tools and mindset shifts needed to break through to the next level.
HER PHILOSOPHY: CHAMPIONSHIP MINDSET FOR BUSINESS SUCCESS
✅ Own your lane—find your unique competitive advantage✅ Lead ambitiously—push beyond comfort zones✅ Think like a champion—cultivate winning mindsets✅ Compete with yourself—measure progress against your potential✅ Catch your goals—take aggressive action, don’t wait✅ Transform energy—shift from limitation to possibility✅ Build brave cultures—create teams rooted in trust and accountability
SPEAKING TOPICS
Deborah’s signature keynotes and workshops transform how leaders and teams think, act, and achieve:
📚 Own Your Lane: Finding Your Competitive EdgeDiscover your unique strengths and leverage them for championship-level performance in business and life.
📚 Lead Ambitiously: Championship Leadership for High-Performance TeamsLearn the leadership tactics that transform good teams into great teams and great teams into champions.
📚 Think Bigger, Act Bolder, GO FurtherBreak through self-imposed limitations and achieve results you never thought possible.
📚 The ATHLETICpreneur Mindset: Athletic Performance Strategies for Business SuccessApply championship athletic training principles to business strategy, sales, and leadership.
📚 From Olympic Trials to C-Suite: Lessons in Competitive PerformanceDeborah’s personal journey from competitive swimmer to business leader reveals the mindset shifts that drive extraordinary results.
📚 Catching Goals: The Offensive Approach to AchievementStop chasing—start catching. Learn the aggressive action strategies that turn goals into reality faster.
IDEAL FOR
✅ Corporate leadership conferences✅ Sales kickoff events✅ Hospitality industry conferences✅ Meeting professionals associations✅ Executive retreats and offsites✅ Women’s leadership summits✅ Performance and productivity events✅ Team-building and culture transformation✅ Athletic and sports organizations✅ Entrepreneurship and business growth conferences
WHY BOOK DEBORAH GARDNER
Deborah isn’t your typical motivational speaker—she’s lived everything she teaches. From growing up in a 16-foot trailer to swimming 21 miles across the Catalina Channel to building three successful businesses, Deborah brings authentic championship experience to every stage. Her presentations aren’t just inspiring—they’re interactive, energizing, and filled with practical strategies audiences can implement immediately.
Organizations don’t just book Deborah for a speech—they book her for transformation. Her clients report measurable improvements in leadership confidence, team performance, sales results, and organizational culture. She doesn’t do generic motivation—she delivers tailored, strategic, and actionable solutions that build brave cultures rooted in trust, accountability, and impact.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
✅ Top 30 Global Hospitality Gurus 2025✅ Eventex 100 Most Influential People in the Events Industry✅ CNN’s Top 75 Keynote Speakers Worldwide✅ Top 5 Most Requested Speakers by Meeting Professionals✅ Successful Meetings Magazine’s Top 50 Successful Women Leaders✅ Meetings Mean Business Ambassador✅ Past President of the Arizona Sunbelt MPI Chapter✅ Convention Industry Council’s Top 30 Most Influential Meeting Professionals✅ Meetings Today Magazine’s Meetings Trendsetter✅ Arizona’s Fabulous Women To Watch
CLIENTS
Walmart, Nike, Marriott, Blue Cross Blue Shield, FOX Restaurants, Outdoor Industry Association, Fairmont, MPI, Smart Meetings, PM Hotels, Northstar, Best Western International, Direct Selling, Teneo Hospitality, Crown Plaza Hotels, North Carolina Apartment Association, Society of Government Professionals, Fleet Con, Hotel Interactive, Women Leading Travel & Hospitality, Meetings Today Live, Global Business Travel Association, and more.
📚 DEBORAH BOOKS 3-6+ MONTHS IN ADVANCE
As a six-time bestselling author, Guinness World Record holder, and globally recognized competitive performance expert, her calendar fills quickly for conferences, corporate events, and leadership summits.
Fee Range: $25,000-$30,000
READY TO TRANSFORM YOUR TEAM INTO CHAMPIONSHIP-LEVEL PERFORMERS?

📧 Email: contact@presbourgspeakers.com 📞 US: +1-929-589-1440📞 Europe: +33.7.84.18.80.44

💬WhatsAppBusiness: +33.7.84.18.80.44

Contact us today to discuss your event and check Deborah’s availability.