Greg Vogt

One conversation has the capability to change your life. Just one. Detailing his lived experiences battling depression, anxiety, suicide attempts, psychiatric hospital visits, and loss of loved ones… to graduating college, becoming a published author, speaking across the country, and starting a family, Greg gives us a new way to look at hope; through conversations. Ordinary, everyday conversations, like the ones that unexpectedly happened to him… A conversation with a high school Spanish teacher that changed the course of his mental health journey. A conversation with his dad on the living room couch that changed his prospects for college. A conversation with a man on an airplane that changed what faith means to him. And a conversation with a girl on a cruise ship…who later would turn out to be his wife. The stories told through Greg’s speech will give students hope, encouragement, and confidence by providing the following truths embedded throughout the presentation:

• Current circumstances don’t define our future.
• The greatest change can happen at our worst times.
• We can have struggles and live a life of joy and purpose.
• We are not alone in our thoughts, feelings, experiences, or circumstances.
• We must give ourselves permission to experience two emotions at the same time; joy and sadness, confidence and doubt, excitement and fear, among others.
• We all have the intangibles that are necessary to have courageous conversations with others that can impact their life, and we will talk through how to have those conversations.
• One conversation can change or even save someone’s life.

College often receives high praise such as, “It’s the best four years of your life.” The reality is that may or may not be true for each person. What does ring true for most students is that going to college is often the greatest time of transition they’ve experienced thus far. What comes with this transition is opportunity, excitement, and growth, but also stress, fear, and responsibility. Whether it is the transition from high school to college or college to the professional world, Greg’s keynote shows how we can capitalize on transitional periods in our life by focusing on our mental wellness. Students will hear his raw personal story, from battling depression, suicidal ideations, and spending a year at a treatment center, to graduating from college and becoming a published author. The takeaways are transformational for students and young professionals; how to help a friend in need, and how to maximize your own potential. Greg‘s presentation can be adapted for high schools, colleges, parents, or professional audiences. 

While workplaces provide many important benefits, experiences, and opportunities for employees, stressors related to quotas, expectations, work-life balance, deadlines, and working from home inevitably arise. Without a plan in place to equip employees through these hurdles, employees may experience self-doubt, isolation, reduced performance, and even loneliness. Greg Vogt’s presentation serves as a catalyst to help employees and employers feel comfortable and empowered to have productive and safe conversations about mental health in the workplace. Greg offers a unique perspective with his lived experience facing mental health challenges paired with his background working for a Fortune 100 company. In this session, audiences will learn about the impact of mental health in the workplace, strategies to normalize the conversation, resources for seeking help, and a simple active listening tool for responding to a coworker who is struggling. Whether you are part of a small company or an industry leader, all audiences will find value in bridging the gap between mental health and the workplace.

Greg offers virtual versions of his presentations and workshops