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Paul Nicklen
Featured Videos
How to Increase Sales
Feature Demo: Humanity in Business
Meet Chris Bashinelli
The “Stoop”: Creating a Culture of Trust
Keynote Overview
Leading with Empathy
Life Story
Recognizing Our Humanity
Speech Topics
What if the real secret to sales success wasn’t persuasion—but connection?
Today’s customers are more discerning than ever. According to Edelman, 90% will walk away from a brand they don’t trust. And yet, in our rush to “influence” or “close the deal,” we often sacrifice the very thing that fuels long-term growth: authentic human connection!
In this game-changing keynote, National Geographic Explorer and Scientist of Human Connection, Chris Bashinelli, reveals the overlooked superpower in business: putting people first. Drawing on years of global research— from living with nomads on the Mongolian steppe to learning from financial advisors in Fort Worth – Bash shows that when we are fully present, deeply empathetic, and driven by service, we unlock the kind of trust that leads to exponential sales growth.
This is not about manipulating your clients— it’s about meeting them with genuine care, turning “them” into “us,” and building bonds that last far beyond the sale. Whether you’re leading a sales team or building client relationships one conversation at a time, this keynote will transform the way you sell—and the way you connect.
Key Takeaways:
- Bash’s patented “Discover Our In” method to build instant, lasting trust
- Practical tools to become fully present and emotionally attuned to clients
- How to shift from transactional selling to transformational relationships
- The science behind empathy—and how to apply it in real sales conversations
- Strategies to build a “People-First” Sales Culture that fuels growth and loyalty
In a world defined by rapid change—AI disruption, budget cuts, and burnout—one powerful force remains in our control: our ability to create happiness.
When National Geographic Explorer Chris Bashinelli returned from East Africa at just 20 years old, he was met with devastating news—his father had terminal cancer. That moment sparked a two-decade journey to uncover how people around the world live joyful, purposeful lives, even in the face of adversity.
Rooted in 20 years of mindfulness practice and first-hand experiences in 40+ countries, Bash reveals the unexpected truth: happiness isn’t a reward at the finish line—it’s the starting point for meaningful success.
From Tanzanian filmmakers to Mongolian nomads, and through deeply personal stories of loss and resilience, Bash shares transformative lessons that show how happiness fuels trust, boosts productivity, and drives high-performance teams. Backed by first hand research and brought to life with humor, vulnerability, and audience interaction, this keynote helps individuals and organizations unlock their most powerful resource—their mindset.
Key Takeaways:
- How to cultivate happiness even in challenging times
- Why abundance thinking often leads to greater wealth
- Simple gratitude practices that deepen trust and enrich relationships
- Mindfulness techniques to improve focus, reduce stress, and boost well-being
- The clear connection between happiness and business success
Companies that embrace diverse perspectives generate 20% higher sales, according to Harvard Business Review. Why? Because every team member brings a unique, irreplaceable gift—shaped by their personal story. The key to unlocking that potential? A culture of trust where people feel safe to show up fully, speak openly, and contribute authentically.
In this powerful and practical keynote, Chris Bashinelli—National Geographic Explorer and expert on human connection—draws from global adventures and his multicultural upbringing on a Brooklyn “Stoop,” where his friends shared a total of 13 nationalities. He shares a clear, actionable framework for building cultures that foster belonging, drive innovation, and unleash human potential.
Through compelling stories, interactive moments, and Bash’s signature blend of humor and heart, audiences learn how to create an environment where employees—from the sales floor to the C-suite—don’t just feel included, but feel inspired to bring their very best every single day.
Key Takeaways:
- A practical, human approach to building connection—without divisive buzzwords
- Bash’s “Bridge of Trust” framework, grounded in courage and vulnerability
- How to attract new business by making clients feel truly at home
- Ways to spark innovation by creating space for every voice to be heard
- The link between psychological safety and peak productivity
- How to build your own company “Stoop”—a culture of shared purpose and trust
Great leaders don’t just guide teams—they inspire transformation. And the most powerful form of leadership doesn’t come from authority—it comes from authenticity.
Our greatest superpower is often hidden in our greatest challenge. A childhood of poverty can lead to unmatched resilience. A struggle with illness may awaken deep empathy. The path to purpose isn’t about avoiding hardship—it’s about owning it and using it to empower others.
In this deeply personal and energizing keynote, Chris Bashinelli—National Geographic Explorer and celebrated speaker on human connection—shares how he turned the pain of losing his father into a mission to bring the world closer together. With zero connections or budget, he built a global TV series, became the youngest speaker in the United Nations General Assembly Hall, and forged partnerships with global brands—all by living the values of courage, compassion, and purpose-driven leadership.
Through compelling stories, powerful audience exercises, and actionable insights, Bash helps every leader in the room reframe their biggest challenges as the source of their unique superpower, and shows how leading from that place inspires teams to rise to their full potential.
Key Takeaways:
- How to identify your personal leadership superpower by reframing adversity
- Interactive exercises to help you embody the qualities you most admire in others
- Mindfulness tools to build resilience, deepen presence, and embrace change
- How to turn obstacles into fuel for connection, innovation, and impact
- Why the most powerful leadership is rooted in action—not words
Biography
“We need more people like Chris in the world,” says Dr. Jane Goodall.
Chris Bashinelli, National Geographic Explorer, TV host, and celebrated speaker on human connection, travels the globe researching what drives happiness, purpose, and belonging in life and business. Drawing from immersive experiences in over 40 countries, Chris—known affectionately as “Bash”—helps organizations boost sales, reignite employee inspiration, and build cultures of genuine connection.
Born in Brooklyn, New York to Lebanese and Italian-American parents, Bash’s worldview was shaped on his childhood “Stoop,” where his friends shared more than 13 nationalities. After a decade-long acting career, including a role on the hit HBO TV series The Sopranos, Bash traded the red carpet for the road, launching Bridge the Gap, a global documentary series featured on PBS and National Geographic Channel.
Bash’s adventures have taken him from living with nomads in Mongolia, to harvesting tea in China, to Sumo wrestling the heaviest Japanese human in recorded history. He fully embeds himself in different worlds as a modern-day cultural anthropologist, learning from Ugandan mystics, Mongolian herdsmen, Lakota suicide prevention activists, and some of TIME Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People on the Planet.
A passionate advocate for mental wellness and happiness, Bash has studied mindfulness and meditation for over 20 years. Following the loss of his father to cancer when he was 20 years old, he began a lifelong mission to understand the human condition. Through his service work, he has brought mindfulness to inmates across federal and state prisons and to veterans of nearly every major conflict since WWII.
As a keynote speaker, Bash brings stories of adventure, interactive exercises, and exclusive content from his travels to create powerful, customized experiences for every audience. His authenticity and curiosity spark something rare and unforgettable—an alchemy of trust, laughter, and transformation. Bash has headlined events for AT&T, American Express, Coca-Cola, Deloitte, the Federal Reserve Bank, the Million Dollar Round Table, and many more.
Bash has shared the stage with luminaries like Stevie Wonder and Michael Douglas, and at just 24, became the youngest person ever to moderate the United Nations International Day of Peace. His most recent film explores the power of friendship with his adoptive grandfather, actor Dominic Chianese (Uncle Junior on The Sopranos). His work has been featured in Delta Sky Magazine, Lonely Planet, Huffington Post, and The Daily News Zimbabwe. He’s also an Eagle Scout and guest host on the Be Here Now podcast network. In a world hungry for meaning and connection, Chris Bashinelli delivers – with heart, humor, and an unwavering belief in our shared humanity.
Chris Bashinelli is an inspiration to youth worldwide. He speaks with passion and his message is one of hope, cultural tolerance and call to action. He knows how to reach young and old alike. Bridge the Gap shares exciting and inspirational stories of daily life from the developing world and encourages us to realize that at the end of the day, we really are all the same and every single one of us makes a difference. We need more people like Chris in the world.
Jane Goodall PhD, DBE
Chris made us laugh. He made us cry. He nailed it! He knew our company better than any other public speaker we’ve ever hired. I’ve had… of our 2,000 people that attended today, no less than a dozen come up in tears and say the message they heard in terms of connection, the message they heard in terms of empathy and caring, is a message that will resonate with them for the rest of this show and probably for the rest of their lives. He was one of the best, if not the best, public speakers I’ve seen on circuit in my 25 year history in this industry.
Wyndham Hotel Group
What I love most about Chris is that he treats everyone exactly the same- be it the United Nations Secretary General or the hotel concierge. He does not distinguish between rich people, poor people, famous people, and everyday people. For Chris, everyone is equal. He has a great deal of respect for the ‘human being’ and this is a rare quality. Chris embodies what we say in Germany, ‘Wir sind alle gleich’, which means, ‘We are all the same’.
BMW Group
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