Courtney Clark teaches teams when to persevere and when to pivot. She is a change researcher, award-winning author, and global keynote speaker who loves motivation but hates toxic positivity.

A four-time 9/11-related cancer survivor, Courtney knows that life rarely goes according to plan. Through her signature keynote, Ready for Anything, Courtney introduces audiences to Strategic Adaptability™, a research-backed approach to navigating disruption, recognizing when old strategies no longer work, and knowing what to do next.

Drawing on her two national research studies, practical frameworks, and laugh-out-loud storytelling, she helps teams recognize when grit is keeping them stuck and discover new ways to reach their goals. 

Trusted by leading organizations like Amazon, Google, and Nike, Courtney brings an uncommon combination of research, real-world insight, and high-energy delivery to the stage. Her expertise has been featured by CNN, Forbes, and USA Today. She is the author of four books, including her multiple-award-winning book, The Short Cut. 

Courtney is also a proud quitter of things that weren’t working, like her attempted Broadway career, rollerblading, and keeping a sourdough starter alive. Because sometimes the smartest move isn’t to try harder. It’s to try something different.