Molly Burke
At four-years‐old Molly Burke’s world darkened: she was diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa, a rare retinal disease causing loss of vision. Despite the obstacles and hardships she faced, it wasn’t long before she began bringing light into the lives of others. Molly began public speaking at the age of five as an ambassador for The Foundation Fighting Blindness. Since then, she has inspired hundreds of thousands with her story.
As a student, she was tormented by bullies, and struggled with depression and anxiety. It wasn’t until she found the strength to face her challenges, and the courage to reach out to others, that she came to find her purpose - bringing hope to others.
As a motivational speaker, Molly has travelled the world sharing her story with youth and corporate organizations. She has shared stages with the likes of Demi Lovato, Macklemore, Martin Sheen and Magic Johnson and has collaborated with activists like Martin Luther King III, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and Malala Yousafzai.
In June 2017 Molly was selected by the Canadian Government to speak at the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. She also became the face of Dove’s latest international ad campaign and was selected as one of thirty women worldwide to represent SpecialK’s partnership with the UN’s Girl Up to help develop the inner strength of women.
Molly is a makeup and fashion lover, enjoys skiing, yoga and Pilates. She is a passionate Guide Dog user of 10+ years. Alongside her successful career as a motivational speaker she releases weekly YouTube videos to an audience exceeding 200,000.
Molly shares her experiences of overcoming adversity and embracing diversity, connecting with her audiences at a very personal, emotional, and relatable level. Her goal is to educate, motivate and inspire others to find peace, happiness and achieve their goals, even in the darkest days.
[Programming descriptions are generated by participants and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of SXSW.]
Programming descriptions are generated by participants and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of SXSW.