Mercilessly bullied as a child, Justin responded by transforming himself into a champion MMA fighter. Yet despite his success, he quietly questioned the significance of his own athletic accomplishments. Each time his hand was raised in victory, he thought, “Is this it? Is this as good as it gets?” As he fought his way to the top and battled never-ending injuries that accompany the profession, he slid into pain-killer addiction, battled depression, and attempted suicide. He was a champion on the outside but broken within. It wasn’t until a chance collection of circumstances led Justin to one of the most remote places on earth, to live in the rainforest among the Pygmy people, some of the most impoverished and marginalized people on the planet, that he found his true purpose – helping others.
When I stopped fighting for myself and started fighting for others, I felt passion, I felt purpose, and that is what led to my greatest impact. -Justin Wren
From that experience, ‘The Big Pygmy’ returned to the ring with purpose, founding the non-profit Fight For The Forgotten (FFTF) along the way. Since 2013, FFTF has provided more than 52,000 indigenous people with access to clean drinking water, replanted thousands of trees, acquired more than 3,000 acres of land in the name of the tribe, and helped 1,800 people out of slavery and into freedom. Current projects include housing, education, healthcare, and sustainable livelihoods through community empowerment. Today, Justin shares his remarkable story on stages across the country and around the world, teaching others the tools, tactics, and techniques to navigate any adversity, find purpose, and achieve meaningful impact in business and in life.
If you’re looking for a speaker to inspire your audience like never before, you need to book Justin. While doing so, he teaches personal techniques to confront any adversity, in business and in life, with the goal of maximizing impact. Whether you’re looking to drive a sales team forward, navigate a changing corporate environment, or demonstrate the power a single person can have in making a true difference, Justin’s humility, authenticity, and masterful storytelling will not soon be forgotten.
From Justin: When I began my MMA career, I fought for me. I fought to win. I fought to become a champion. But each time my arm was raised in victory, it felt hollow. It lacked true meaning. I wondered, ‘Is this it?’It wasn’t until a collection of my life’s challenges led me to one of the most remote places on earth, to live among some of the most impoverished and marginalized people on the planet, that I found purpose. It was there that I began to understand the tools, tactics, and techniques I needed to turn that purpose into peak performance, to navigate any adversity. This has led to my greatest impact on both others and myself. This is what I want to share with your audience. How to find true, meaningful purpose in your own life, and use that purpose to overcome any challenge, to improve performance, to create lasting impact. I'll customize each of the speaking topics below to fulfill your event goals and help your audience develop PURPOSE, PERFORMANCE, & IMPACT.
"I didn't expect an MMA Fighter to have me in tears for most of his presentation, but I guarantee every human will leave changed for the better, having heard The Big Pygmy's talk."
"I didn't expect an MMA Fighter to have me in tears for most of his presentation, but I guarantee every human will leave changed for the better, having heard The Big Pygmy's talk."