Testimonials

Holly Hoffman

Testimonials

View these wonderful videos, featuring Addie Graham-Kramer, Jeannie Johnson, Rochelle Lauret, and Don Ryswyk, where they discuss their thoughts and impressions after hearing Holly Hoffman speak. We thank everyone for their time and kind words!

"As the 2025 Chair of the Mid-America Chamber Executives (MACE) Conference, I had the pleasure of working with Holly Hoffman as our opening keynote speaker, and she was nothing short of outstanding. From the moment we began planning, Holly was organized, engaging, and incredibly easy to work with. Her keynote was one of the most polished presentations I’ve ever seen, combining authenticity, humor, and powerful takeaways. Holly’s story from Survivor is compelling on its own, but it’s her ability to connect with an audience and deliver a message of resilience and leadership that truly sets her apart. Our attendees raved about her all conference long and for good reason. She set the tone for the entire event and left a lasting impact. I cannot recommend her highly enough."

Derek Rusher

President/CEO, Kearney Area Chamber of Commerce

“Holly was a delight to work with and delivered a phenomenal presentation for our annual Women Inspiring Women luncheon. She catered her message perfectly to fit the audience. Our guests have told us this was the best event they have attended all year. We highly recommend Holly for your next corporate event.”

Kristy Barse

President, Hastings Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism

"Holly came out to speak at our Credit Union Volunteer Summit in the Fall of 2024. Her story and authentic speaking style resonated with the audience. Holly also took the time to engage with attendees throughout the event, leaving a lasting impression and earning her status as an attendee favorite."

Liz White

Director of Professional Development Utah Credit Union Association

"Holly spoke to my group in Austin and brought the house down! She is full of energy, enthusiasm and keeps you on the edge of your seat. Holly's message is so positive and she brings out many emotions--you'll laugh, cry and cheer. Quite frankly, she made me want to try harder to believe in myself and how to be a survivor even when the odds are against you. Thank you, Holly, for a fantastic presentation. She's fabulous and your attendees with love her!"

Kim Kizer

Director of Employer Services Texas County & District Retirement System

"I heard Holly speak at a Minnesota Chamber conference and knew she would be a hit with our community, so we booked her for our Annual Spring Luncheon. She didn’t disappoint! Holly does a fantastic job of not only telling an entertaining story of her personal experience, but seamlessly connecting it to life lessons everyone can relate to on a personal and professional level. She is a high-energy, emotive presenter who provides attendees with solid takeaways and challenges them to grow beyond their comfort zone."

Tara Bitzan

Alexandria Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce

"Holly delivered her 'Lead Simply' presentation at our bank’s annual Team Development/Training Day. Her talking points and group activities kept everyone entertained and engaged – it was so refreshing to hear all the laughter on training day! She was prepared, well-spoken, commanding of the space, direct, and explained her ideas in a way that everyone could relate to. We are truly appreciative of Holly's outstanding contribution as our guest speaker and cannot commend her enough for her memorable presentation."

Jill Koehler

VP – Marketing Officer at First National Bank

"This was the second time we have had Holly as our keynote speaker and it was an amazing experience. Her stories about her journey highlight the struggles we all face in life. She was inspirational and positive which resonated with our employee group. I would highly recommend her!"

Tom Zingler, CLCP

Safety Coordinator at Southeastern Electric Coop.

“Kinseth Hospitality Companies was thrilled to have Holly Hoffman back as our key note speaker for the second time for our annual General Manager and Director of Sales conference. Holly’s experiences as a contestant on Survivor and her life’s experiences are mesmerizing. Holly has a unique gift of sharing these lessons so the audience in her seminars can imagine being there & sharing in her lessons.”

Leslie B. Kinseth

President, Kinseth Hospitality Companies

“Holly spoke at our annual caregiver appreciation event this November, which is a chance to honor and support family caregivers who work tirelessly to provide the best quality of life for their loved ones. Holly’s keynote speech about her experience on Survivor resonated so well with what they experience every day – the need to keep going, digging deep, and remembering their ‘why’. Her ability to relate her story with their day-to-day lives was inspiring and encouraged each of them to keep going & reach out to their ‘team’ who will cheer them on when they can’t cheer for themselves. I would highly recommend Holly to speak at any event that needs an uplifting message!”

Carmen Spurling

Active Generations

"Holly Hoffman is an powerful keynote speaker that will make a lasting impact on your organization. If you’re looking for a speaker who’ll connect with your team and bring a powerful message Holly has it. Together We Win!"

Michael D. Evans Jr

Market Director for Team Dakota, Aflac

"Holly Hoffman’s talk at our Staff Development Day was inspiring, uplifting, and fun! Her energy and sincerity can win over any audience. Add to that how easy she is to work with and the time she spent afterwards with our attendees means you have a recipe for extreme success and positive outcomes."

Philip Goodwin

Director of Talent Development, Oklahoma State University

"Holly nailed it. Audience rated her 4.84 out of 5. She was a delight to work with, incorporated our convention goals and personalized the presentation. She’s low-maintenance and a crowd-pleaser; Holly is an incredible value. Fully self-aware that someone who spent a month on a reality TV show doesn’t automatically have expertise to serve as a life-coach, Holly crafted an interesting and engaging story for fans and non-fans of Survivor, and connected her life lessons to our industry."

Clint R. Armistead

Director of Training & Events, Heartland Credit Union Association

"We were so excited to have Holly Hoffman as our keynote speaker at our 50th Anniversary Celebration. We knew we had to have someone phenomenal and Holly delivered. Some of our team members were skeptical with a reality TV show personality as our speaker; but Holly’s energy and message of determination woven into her experience on Survivor won the day. She is fantastic; you will not be disappointed."

Cindy McGregor, DDS

Doctor Executive Team, Metro Dentalcare

“Holly was incredible to work with. She was an excellent speaker, very engaging and funny. Our audience loved her. Awesome way to end our conference! I would highly recommend her!”

Amanda Meredith

Events and Education Program Specialist

“Holly gave two presentation at our Women’s Leadership Conference and everyone left the conference wishing Holly could have just talked the whole day! When we asked our attendees what there favorite part of the conference was, we had over 75% say it was Holly. Holly was engaging the entire time. She had us laughing, crying and feeling inspired as we left that day. She did a phenomenal job keeping a crowd of 140 engaged during the entire day! Our conference committee is grateful that Holly agreed to come and talk to our group!”

Taylor Gehring

Audit Manager, Omaha, NE

"We had the pleasure of hiring Holly Hoffman for our Afternoon of Inspiration event. She is an engaging and dynamic speaker who is able to captivate any audience with her storytelling and motivational messaging. Holly uses her experiences as a contestant on the reality show 'Survivor' to artfully deliver life lessons and resilience into her presentations, leaving audiences inspired and empowered. Her ability to deliver impactful messages makes her a captivating speaker."

Mindy Smith

President at I-94 West Chamber of Commerce

"Holly was captivating and her message inspiring. She is raw, real, and authentic. What I love most about her is that I could tell that the reason she keeps sharing her message is because she genuinely wants to inspire others. She is such an amazing person and I wish I could have had hours to just sit and visit with her!"

Jackie Lausch

Operations Coordinator Continuing Education, Bismarck State College

"Holly spoke to the South Carolina Municipal Human Resources Association at our 2023 Annual Meeting in Greenville, SC. I cannot think of a more ideal speaker for our group than Holly Hoffman. She was our closing keynote speaker, and she ended our meeting on an extremely high note! Holly’s message of survival and her stories about her life and time on Survivor: Nicaragua were inspiring, educational and thought-provoking. She made us laugh, cry, and ponder our own journeys through life, as well as our views on surviving daily challenges. She was candid and genuine. She connected with our audience on a deep level and we will not soon forget her powerful words."

Sara Whitaker, Staff Associate for Affiliate Services

Municipal Association of SC

“Holly spoke at the Society of Government Meeting Professionals National Education Conference (NEC) in Bloomington, MN. She was absolutely amazing. I have been attending the NEC for 14 years and I have never experienced a more powerful speaker than Holly Hoffman. She closed our conference, and we had the largest attendance ever for a closing speaker. Thank you, Holly, for a wonderful performance!”

Annette Wallace, CMP, CGMP

National President, Society of Government Meeting Professionals

“Holly gave an inspiring and thought-provoking talk at our Leadership Retreat. Her engaging storytelling, in-depth knowledge, and unique insights captivated our attention from the beginning and held it throughout the entire session. The practical takeaways and valuable insights she shared during her talk are something we will carry with us in our personal and professional lives. Her expertise and dedication to her craft were evident in every aspect of her presentation and made it a highlight of the event. She was approachable and willing to engage with our group. Her friendly demeanor made it easy for attendees to approach her with questions and feedback, which added to the overall positive experience. Thank you once again for sharing your wisdom and passion with us.”

Allyson Passmore

Human Resources Director, Trail Ridge Senior Living Community

"Holly Hoffman delivers! Holly has an awesome survivor story that keeps you engaged throughout. She will have you laughing and crying all at the same time. Holly intertwines her experience on Survivor to leadership principles we can implement in our everyday life. After Holly was done speaking our staff gave her a standing ovation. One of the best things about Holly is how personal she is and how quickly she connects to people. We will have Holly back to speak to the leaders in our company again."

Doug Johnson

CEO, Blue Stone Therapy

"Are you looking for someone to ignite the room with energy, laughter and stories? Holly is your gal! Our organization meets at 7:30am on Friday and as you can image the crowd is normally a little sluggish. After hearing from Holly our attendees bounced out of the room ready to tackle the day! Holly was not only charismatic, she is real, funny and sincere. Many of our attendees shared that they felt like they had known her for years because she is that relatable and her stories painted a picture."

Joy H.

President, WIN

"I was so blessed to watch Holly’s virtual presentation and oh my goodness, it was SPECTACULAR! I already knew what a great presentation Holly gives, but to bring it virtually with such power, personableness, expressiveness and expert delivery without the dynamics of a live audience was absolutely masterful. I felt she was embracing each one of us with caring and authenticity. The background, lighting, sound and DELIVERY was perfect…Holly knocked it out of the park!"

Norm B.

“SpeakFluence – Make Your Voice Count”

"Our company had the pleasure of having Holly as our keynote speaker at our General Managers & Sales Director’s Conference. Holly’s stories of her experiences on Survivor & life encounters were captivating. Her message of what she learned through her experience about perseverance, hard work & many other attributes required to survive & excel was perfect for our team."

Les Kinseth

President, Kinseth Hospitality Company

"I heard Holly speak for the first time at a Credit Union League Conference in Chicago, Illinois back in 2021. Everything about her message, delivery and teaching style was absolutely captivating and first class! Our credit union hired her to come to Decatur and spend the morning with our entire staff for a training day. Everyone LOVED her and the day was a total success!"

Julie Croslow

Vice President-HR & Compliance, Staley Credit Union

Addie Graham-Kramer
Director of Go Red for Women

Don Ryswyk
High School Principal

Rochelle Lauret
Certified Athletic Trainer

Jeannie Johnson
Small Business Owner

"Holly’s presentation was the highlight of our semester. Her genuine enthusiasm and energy is captivating. We were thrilled to have Holly share her story and experiences with our students. Campus was still buzzing a week later about her event! She went above and beyond to ensure her program aligned with the theme of our event, while still staying true to her message. She was a dream to work with and I would highly recommend Holly to anyone looking for a keynote speaker!"

Nicole Stowater

Administrative Assistant, Dakota State University

"Holly Hoffman was the talk of our convention! I personally thought she was a fantastic speaker! The make-up of our audience was approximately 20% female and 80% male. I was pleasantly surprised that Holly appealed to everyone. After her presentation I was in the spouse program and the women all shared how much they enjoyed Holly’s presentation. Thursday evening and Friday, when I was able to speak with the entire membership, they were all saying what a great presentation it was. It was obvious Holly touched the entire room. I would wholeheartedly recommend her."

Rochelle Hitz

Nebraska Concrete & Aggregates Association

“Working with Holly made my job easier than ever! She is so personable, positive, energetic, and kind. She was super accommodating and really wanted to make sure she was serving our employees. We received amazing feedback on Holly’s speech. Her story is so relatable to everyday life. Holly made you feel like you could immediately trust her. I would recommend her to anyone looking for an uplifting, fun and inspiring speaker!”

Logan Schumacher

Human Resources Business Partner, Minnesota West Community & Technical College

"Impressive person! Her story of the obstacles she over came in her life and on the CBS show “Survivor” will give you a glimpse of her strong character. A true survivor, a great person and someone you need to know. What a treasure her message is!"

Phillip Larabee

Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Lions Club

“Holly Hoffman was an amazing speaker. I heard nothing but glowing comments from our attendees. One attendee told me, ‘Holly’s talk is exactly what I needed to hear.’ She was inspirational, touching, and engaging. Plus, Holly is very easy to work with. She will do a great job for any association.”

Tomi Morris

Director of Programs and Communications, Delaware Health Care Facilities Association

"Recently I watched a virtual presentation with Holly Hoffman. I had previously seen her speak in person and was anxious to hear her again as she is such a dynamic speaker! I wasn’t sure if a virtual presentation would be as good but Holly knocked it out of the park! Her story is enticing and keeps the audience intrigued. Virtually she is just as dynamic and I would recommend her uplifting and positive presentation for any age or any group!"

Gayle Finn

"Holly’s keynote address was the highlight of our Women’s Leadership Conference! Her passion and enthusiasm kept the audience engaged from the moment she began speaking. It was remarkable how she was able to mold her message to speak specifically to our group of law enforcement professionals. Holly’s positive outlook on life and ability to relate the lessons she learned to everyone in the audience was truly amazing. We would have Holly back in a heartbeat to speak."

Stacy Murphy

Training Unit Commander, Saint Paul, MN Police Department

"Holly was everything we asked for and more. Not only did she engage and energize the crowd; she got a standing ovation and connected to all of us with a relatable message. She delivered a laughter-filled keynote address with a powerful message. Her passion and energy got our retreat off to a great start and our event is being called “The Best Ever” by our staff! Thank you again, Holly!"

Janelle Scherr

Human Resource Generalist

"I was thrilled to find an opportunity to hear Holly Hoffman speak live during this unprecedented time we are living in. Her optimism, inspiration and realness really came through and her speech was just what I needed personally. Holly’s Survivor story is warm hearted and entertaining. “A negative mind will never give you a positive life“ has become my new mantra. Cannot wait to read Holly‘s book Write Yourself a Note."

Sherry Tomasello

"Amazing. Excellent. High Energy. Inspirational. These are just a sample of our members’ comments after hearing Holly at our recent Governance Camp. As the program director I found Holly easy to work with, always quick to respond, and delivering what she promised. I would not hesitate to recommend Holly to any of our school board association friends around the country!"

Kathy Dundee

Director, Conference and Event Planning, Texas Association of School Boards

"We had the pleasure of working with Holly Hoffman and it was honestly one of the best experiences we have had. Holly was easy to communicate with and was able to present us with information needed to advertise to our community. Holly brought reality, struggle, and strength to our group in her speech. She was able to help us relate to her talk and to find light in struggles. I would recommend working with her any time you have the opportunity she is not someone who just comes in and speaks then leaves she is someone who leaves you feeling like you have made a friend and leaves an impression on your path."

Bri Schjei

President, FM Special Needs

"Wow! Holly is a class above keynote speakers! She delivered her message with grace, charisma and passion. She made the audience laugh, cry, reflect, and determined. Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Others leave footprints in our lives. Holly left footprints!"

Teresa Pearson, MBA

Wisconsin Health Information Management Association

"Run and book Holly today! She was so well received by our staff and in fact, many employees said she was the best presenter they have ever seen. I can’t express how impactful her story is and how she will resonate with everyone. She is truly one of a kind!"

Amanda Smith

Senior VP and Manager, Human Resources, First National Bank

“Holly was the keynote speaker for our 2023 Annual Conference, and we were so pleased to have her not only as a keynote, but also as a speaker for a breakout session. Holly is very engaging, personable, and giving of her time and attention. She makes everyone in her presence feel important and she shapes her message appropriately for the audience and theme of the conference. Feedback from conference attendees has been overwhelmingly positive towards Holly’s sessions. Holly communicated very well with me before, during, and after the conference, and I highly recommend her for any industry, especially healthcare.”

Machelle Hansens, CPHQ, PCMH-CCE

Director of Training and Technical Assistance, Missouri Primary Care Association

“Holly was recommended by another association to be our Keynote Speaker. Having never heard her speak, we took a leap of faith. We were BLOWN AWAY! Holly is SO personable! Her message resonates with each person regardless of their background or profession. She is able to connect with her audience, hold their attention, and deliver one of the best Keynotes you will ever hear! I would highly recommend Holly Hoffman to anyone looking for a speaker!”

"Knowing Holly as our closure, our members stayed to the very end to listen to her journey as a Survivor. Her program brought our conference attendees to their feet for a standing ovation. Her speech motivated our attendees to strive to take a chance to follow your dreams (even when they seem out of reach). At the conclusion of her program, she was surrounded by our members seeking signatures and pictures. I would highly recommend Holly to speak at your conference."

"Exceptional, Outstanding, Memorable, Inspiring — are words that easily describe the life lessons that Holly Hoffman brings to your audience. Her lively message resonates with traditional values and a never, never quit attitude. She delivered her A++ performance to a vast and diverse NAIFA National audience and took the extra time to learn about our industry, our culture, and our Mission. It is my honor and without hesitation to recommend her for your next Conference."

"We were thrilled to have Holly Hoffman as the closing keynote speaker at the WisHHRA Annual Conference held on April 18-19 at the Jefferson Street Inn in Wausau, Wisconsin. Her presentation on simple leadership was truly inspiring and energizing, leaving a profound impact on all attendees. Holly's dynamic storytelling and practical advice resonated deeply with our audience of healthcare human resources professionals, offering invaluable insights that we can readily apply in our daily roles. Her positive energy and engaging presence brought a wonderful vibrancy to our event. Thank you, Holly, for your excellent message and for empowering us with your wisdom and experience. You truly made our conference unforgettable!"

Rob Stapel

WisHHRA President

"Holly was an amazing speaker. Her energy and her story dominated the room. Holly went “above and beyond” to spend time after she spoke to interact with my group. She spent several hours observing our meeting prior to her time on stage, and pulled multiple points of interest from our program and integrated them into her speech. Her engaging personality and her ability to relate to the crowd was the highlight of our meeting. Holly is a true professional and an asset to any meeting."

Kris A. Rowe

Regional Sales Vice President, CPCU Nebraska

"Holly’s presentation rocked our conference. She was so inspiring and motivating. I left feeling so good about myself and can’t wait to start living my life and taking chances. She gave me the confidence and extra boost I needed. I will be forever grateful."

Marcia Schultz

President, MAEOP

"The presentation Holly shared with our group was Fantastic, Amazing, Sensational, Funny, and hit a home run with all in attendance, at the 35th annual North Dakota Roughrider Health Conference. I have had the opportunity to work with Holly on two occasions, and her energy and passion is contagious. I have worked with hundred of presenters oved the years and there is no-one more flexible than Holly. She tailored the program to our needs and never misses a beet. Hollys message is one that you take back with you to make a difference in your life and others."

Rod Volk

President, North Dakota Roughrider Health Promotion

"The Shakopee, MN Chamber of Commerce had the opportunity to host Holly Hoffman at our annual Women’s Event and we would book Holly again without hesitation. Her message is profound and resonates with all ages. Throughout the numerous years of keynote speakers I’ve listened to, I can honestly say Holly Hoffman is one of the best. Highly recommended!"

Elliot Johnson

VP Development, Chamber & Visitors Bureau, Shakopee, Minnesota

"Independent Community Banks of ND, the trade association for community bankers in ND, has had the privilege of presenting Holly Hoffman on more than one occasion to our members. Holly has been both a keynote speaker at our annual convention and at our Women in Community Banking Summit. Holly is both effective and inspiring. She is a courageous and animated speaker who uses her own personal story to empower others. Her candid and witty presentation helped insure the success of our event. Holly is also an amazing person to work with as a planner. Always in touch with you to make sure you have everything you need to make your event successful. She goes above and beyond insuring that you as the meeting planner looks great!"

Wendy J. Ruud

VP, Independent Community Banks of North Dakota

"Holly was amazing to work with start to finish! She came to our event incredibly prepared and was always available during the run-up to our event. She is so generous with her time, she stayed after her keynote was over to talk with our attendees. The attendees absolutely loved her keynote, we’ve already had requests to bring her back. Holly truly is a joy to work with!"

Harper Jarrett

Georgia REALTORS®

"Holly was so inspiring and perfect to get into the mindset of focus and making things happen. Holly's message was exactly what I needed for where I am in my life and my business! Holly Hoffman had amazing quotes that really made you think about what was going on in life and how you could be better. All the speakers were phenomenal, but hearing Holly’s story about Survivor was so incredible! Loved the way Holly correlated her experiences to real-life lessons! Very engaging. Holly was an incredible speaker but also gracious and generous to our attendees. She spent time with us. She chatted. She stuck around for the day."

Harper Jarrett

Georgia REALTORS®

"Holly was outstanding! She did two breakouts and our keynote, but she stayed through the entire day, listening to our general sessions and then incorporating key elements and tying things into her presentations, making them very relatable to our staff. She brought energy, passion and positivity and delivered a powerful message that everyone truly enjoyed. Holly was an absolute joy to work with."

Gina Evans

AVP HR and Talent Development, CUDE Credit Union of America

"On behalf of the Nebraska Bankers Association, thank you for speaking at our Young Bankers of Nebraska Conference. Your message was both inspirational and motivational and so much more than just another story from a reality TV show personality. The comments from the attendees were extremely positive and appreciative of the information shared and the takeaways that you offered by sharing your experiences. I will definitely look for future opportunities where we can have you speak to other groups within our association. Thank you!"

Ron Arrigo

NBA Senior Vice President, Nebraska Bankers Association

"Holly spoke at our Annual Sales Convention in the Bahamas. She arrived at our event a couple of days prior to speaking and spent quality time getting to know our people and absorbing the special culture of our company. “Never Give Up – The Survivor Way” was the most engaging, relevant, keynote presentation we have ever had! Holly is highly polished, personable, entertaining, and her message hits home to all ages, genders and anyone who has ever faced adversity. Holly Hoffman may not have won the million dollars on Survivor, but she certainly delivered a million dollar presentation!"

Jennifer Mond

VP of Administration, Platinum Supplemental Insurance

"Holly spoke to our high school, middle school and elementary students. Holly’s energy and wisdom will be remembered by the students and teachers of Polk County for a very long time. I loved watching her speak, but the thing I truly loved, was watching her talk to each of the students and teachers afterwards. It was so heartwarming, and seeing the personal connections Holly made with the audience was very inspiring. Holly truly is an inspiration to people where ever she goes. God knew what He was doing when He picked the small town South Dakota girl for Survivor. He had such bigger plans for you. 39 days on Survivor…and now, a lifetime of inspiring people!!"

Jodie Roberts

12 year school board member

Testimonials

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