Amanda Boxtel's keynote speeches and motivational presentations focus on how to change tragedy and challenge into opportunities to achieve greatness. Her path in this work began in the winter of 1992 while downhill skiing. What started as a somersault ended with a crash that left her paralyzed from the waist down. In the course of struggling with her unexpected paraplegia, Amanda found herself confronting a new idea ... that her limitations were not the end of her life but the beginning of a new life. With this, she dedicated herself to the founding and promotion of Challenge Aspen, which is now an internationally active non-profit that helps and guides people with disabilities to enjoy life and fulfill their maximum potential. Amanda Boatel's is a story of inspiration and motivation that she tells with remarkable compassion and compelling humor.
Amanda shares her life experiences to motivate and inspire audiences. A story of overcoming, her keynote and motivational presentations include topics on embracing change, how to turn conflicts into opportunities and how to live your most passionate life.
Amanda has a unique ability to teach individuals and businesses how to accept and embrace change, how to turn tragedies into triumphs, and how to realize and manifest their unfulfilled potential. She inspires others to take responsibility for choosing their own path and to believe in their power and ability to create anything they want. As a true motivational catalyst, Amanda is passionate about assisting others to launch their dreams and celebrate as their dreams unfold.
Amanda is an internationally recognized speaker who captivates her audiences with her stories, weaves in the valuable lessons she has learned along the way, and warms their hearts with laughter and compassion. She focuses her energy to present fresh material in a polished style.
Amanda is the author of “Pivotal Moments – Life Lessons In Overcoming”. In her coaching practice, she applies the lessons from her experience in a structured and integrated process creating an environment of transformation for personal and professional growth.
A life changing moment…
On February 27, 1992, at the age of 24, Amanda’s life took a dramatic turn and her dance on wheels began. It happened in a split second while downhill skiing… a freak somersault and she was left paralyzed.
She soon became a ski instructor teaching skiing - sitting down. Amanda challenged herself with all the things - a rock climbing, paragliding, biking, and diving. Life became a journey of confronting adversity, and through sheer frustration, her pivotal moment came when she decided to turn “why me” into “why not me”.
Two year’s post injury, Amanda went on to co-found Challenge Aspen, which has grown into a successful internationally recognized, million-dollar non-profit organization that enables individuals with disabilities to recreate and realize their life potential.
In 2000, Amanda was given the title of Colorado Ski Country USA Adaptive Athlete of the Year, and in 2002, carried the Olympic torch by mono-ski. She participated in the first disability raft trip down the Grand Canyon, and assisted with research on tourism for disabilities. Through Challenge Aspen’s global outreach, Amanda has helped establish adaptive skiing programs in Iceland, Chile, and Argentina.