Chris Bashinelli
National Geographic Explorer and TV Host; United Nations Moderator; Arab-American Diversity Speaker; Expert on Human Connection and Humanity in Business
“We need more people like Chris in the world.”, says Dr. Jane Goodall. National Geographic Explorer Chris Bashinelli pulls from experiences in over 40 countries to inspire a practical and powerful message of human connection. An Arab-American from Brooklyn, New York, he uses the relatable metaphor of the “Stoop” to empower diversity, equity & inclusion. “Bash” takes audiences on an inspirational journey, coupled with stunning video footage and thought-provoking exercises.
Chris Bashinelli, better known as “Bash”, was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York to Lebanese and Italian-American parents. After a decade-long acting career including an appearance on the HBO hit television show, The Sopranos, Bash decided to follow his real passion – using media to build bridges between cultures. He now traverses the globe from Uganda to Haiti as Host of Bridge the Gap, a television series featured on PBS and the National Geographic Channel, where he experience’s life in someone else’s shoes.
A celebrated Human Connection and Wellness speaker, Bash has traveled the world for more than a decade sharing a message of connection and understanding everywhere from Fortune 500 Companies, to inside prison walls, to the United Nations General Assembly Hall. His world view was shaped on his childhood “Stoop” where his friends shared a combined total of thirteen nationalities. He has shared the stage with Stevie Wonder, the UN Secretary General and his mentor – Dr. Jane Goodall.
After studying Anthropology in East Africa at 20 years old, Chris Bashinelli returned home to discover his father had been diagnosed with terminal cancer. The death of his father sent him on an international quest to better understand the human condition and the universal qualities that lead to a happy, meaningful life. Bash has lived with nomads in Mongolia, worked with suicide prevention activists in Pine Ridge and Sumo wrestled the heaviest Japanese human being in recorded history. Through one of kind stories of adventure and authentic moments of human connection, Bash truly bridges the gap between self and other, helping us recognize our shared humanity.
Bash has spoken around the world – from TEDx, to Abu Dhabi, to Azerbaijan, at multi-million dollar corporations and Ivy League Universities. At 24 years old he became one of the youngest moderators in the history of the United Nations. Bash is a National Geographic Explorer, a UN Moderator, an Eagle Scout and has interviewed some of Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People on the Planet.
STEP INTO YOUR POTENTIAL
po·ten·tial: the space between where we are, and where we can be; our unrealized abilities
Bash brings attendees on an inspirational journey, coupled with stunning video footage and thought provoking exercises. Through one of a kind stories of adventure and connection – he helps organizations reduce employee burnout, renew inspiration and tap into the power of their greatest asset – their people.
THE POWER OF HUMAN CONNECTION – EMBRACING DIVERSITY, BUILDING STRONGER TEAMS
Embark with Bash on an international adventure, from the sweeping grasslands of Mongolia to the remote hillsides of China, coupled with stunning video footage and thought provoking exercises, where we learn to truly embrace diversity and harness the collective power of our shared humanity.
It is only when every single team member, from the office manager to the CEO, feels safe to bring their whole, most authentic selves to work every day, that our organization will realize its full potential. So long as anyone feels they must hide who they are, we leave untapped resources on the table – negatively impacting our bottom line. Embracing the powerful metaphor of his childhood “Stoop” in Brooklyn, where his friends shared a combined total of thirteen nationalities, Bash reminds us that it is only when our uniqueness is celebrated and all perspectives equally welcome, that we can truly tap into the power of human connection.
Takeaways
- Diversity, Equity and Inclusion within a simple, powerful framework.
- How to encourage every employee to be their authentic selves.
- How to create a safe, inclusive environment in the workplace
- The benefits of creating a “Stoop” with our teams. How to build lifelong bridges between cultures.
CREATING A CULTURE OF TRUST & EMPATHY – THE SUPERPOWER TO TRUE BUSINESS GROWTH
In this flagship keynote, Bash shares the profound method he’s used to build trust and forge lifelong friendships around the world as a National Geographic Explorer. From living with nomads in Mongolia, to Sumo-wrestling Japan’s heaviest human being of all time, Bash shares the superpower for true business growth in engaging, humorous and practical terms.
Without trust, business suffers profoundly – with it, our people and our company thrive. When our clients feel on a core level that we have their best interest in mind, they will be inspired to work with us, and business will flourish. As we live and work from a place of empathy we will naturally create an inclusive culture that inspires teammates to want to work together towards our mission and attract clients who trust us with their business.
Takeaways
- Discover our “In” – Bash’s trademarked secret to true human connection.
- Why focusing strictly on our bottom line undercuts our clients’ trust in us.
- The short and long term business benefits of emotional intelligence.
- How to create an inclusive culture where teammates are inspired.
- Why deep trust is the foundation to long term business growth.
INSPIRATIONAL LEADERSHIP – REIGNITE EMPLOYEE INSPIRATION & BRING YOUR BEST SELF EVERYDAY
Join Bash on an international adventure, from the distant hilltops of Western Hunan, to the iconic Mongolian steppe, where we learn, through the power of story, that the most effective way to lead others is to become our best selves, each and every day. Pulling from his most memorable experiences in travels to over 40 countries, Bash shows that it is only because of challenge, not in spite of it, that we can realize our full potential – the space between who we are and who we can be.
When our leaders truly embrace empathy and show an unwavering commitment to realize their full potential, the result is inspiration. Leaders inspire us by what they say and do, but perhaps more than anything else – by who they are. In this revolutionary keynote we’ll explore how the results of influence are often short term and self serving, whereas the impact of inspiration lasts a lifetime.
Takeaways
“Inspiration vs. Influence” – Why inspiration always outperforms influence.
Re-Ignite your team’s passion for your mission and purpose.
Inspire your team by becoming the best version of yourself.
Embrace challenge as a means to realize your potential.
Harness the magnetic power of selflessness.
THE POWER OF MENTAL WELLNESS – RENEW EMPLOYEE INSPIRATION, CREATING A HEALTHY WORKFORCE
We are working harder, under more pressure, and for longer hours than ever before – but without a mindful approach to work and life, one that values our well being as well as the bottom line – burnout and turnover are inevitable. Pulling from more than a decade of in-depth mindfulness and mediation studies, Bash shares how to incorporate positive mental health strategies into our work and life in order to increase productivity, profit and happiness.
Colored by Bash’s extraordinary adventures around the world as a National Geographic Explorer, this keynote brings to life the core lessons he’s learned to create a healthy workforce in fun, engaging and practical ways. No matter what our organization is struggling with – employee retention, company layoffs, or economic downturns – it can fuel our path to a wiser, more caring and more innovative culture.
Takeaways
- Mental Health tools to increase happiness, productivity and profit.
- The power of mindfulness to reduce stress and increase concentration.
- How to create work/life boundaries that empower joy & productivity.
- How embracing challenge gives rise to real innovation.
- The scientific link between “Happiness” and “Trust”.
STEP INTO YOUR POTENTIAL – CHANGE YOUR MIND, CHANGE YOUR WORLD
Potential is the space between “where we are” and “where we can be”, it is our “unrealized abilities”, personally, professionally and as an organization. Stepping into our potential means understanding that it is only because of challenge, not in spite of it, that we can become our best selves. In this thought provoking keynote, colored with international stories of adventure, resilience and triumph – Bash shares the power available to each of us when we stop seeing challenge as an obstacle to success, and instead as the very vehicle by which we can achieve it.
From a remote Chinese village that rebuilds after a devastating fire, to a young Tanzanian filmmaker’s unimaginable dream come true, to Bash’s own personal experience of tragedy to triumph – this talk reminds us that when we change our minds, we truly can change our world. We will only realize our potential as an organization when every single team member is committed to realizing their strength individually. This keynote experience is at once a call to action for each of us personally as it is a reminder of the impact that’s possible when we tap into the collective strength of our shared humanity.
START AT STEP Z – A GUIDE TO REALIZING OUR POTENTIAL
In this interactive keynote Bash walks attendees through the step by step method of how to get from Step “A”, to Step “Z”, reverse-engineering the path to their goals. With total clarity, he emphasizes that the swiftest way to get from where we are, to where we want to be, is to be there first – on the inside.
From speaking in the United Nations General Assembly Hall at 23 years-old with no prior training, to attracting partnerships from some of the world’s most recognizable brands, to leading a National Geographic Expedition in Mongolia, Chris Bashinelli has forged his own path in life. This talk is a call to action for each of us to embrace our full potential – first by imagining it, then by believing it, and finally through definite action.
Takeaways
- Bash’s patented 4-step method for achieving seeming out of reach goals.
- Why mental wellness comes from focusing on what is in our control.
- How to reverse-engineer the pathway to our potential.
- How to embody the qualities that manifest our vision.
- The scientific link between confidence and action.
Chris made us laugh. He made us cry. He nailed it! He knew our company better than any other public speaker we’ve ever hired. I’ve had… of our 2,000 people that attended today, no less than a dozen come up in tears and say the message they heard in terms of connection, the message they heard in terms of empathy and caring, is a message that will resonate with them for the rest of this show and probably for the rest of their lives. He was one of the best, if not the best, public speakers I’ve seen on circuit in my 25 year history in this industry.
WYNDHAM HOTEL GROUP
What I love most about Chris is that he treats everyone exactly the same- be it the United Nations Secretary General or the hotel concierge. He does not distinguish between rich people, poor people, famous people, and everyday people. For Chris, everyone is equal. He has a great deal of respect for the ‘human being’ and this is a rare quality. Chris embodies what we say in Germany, ‘Wir sind alle gleich’, which means, ‘We are all the same’.
BMW GROUP
Dear Chris, Words cannot quite convey the impact your visit has had on myself and so many of our folks who were with us in person and joining virtually. We are truly grateful. Your message of "focusing on our minds first and then the world will change" is such a powerful way of centering us and allowing that sense of peace and calm to take over. I continue to hear from so many how thankful they are of the time you spent and your stories you shared. Very much a life changing moment. We now think of you as part of us. Hopefully, we will be able to find ways of staying connected.
DELOITTE
Chris, Thank you for your talk! There are two critical moments in people’s lives- the day they are born and the day they understand why. Today you reminded me why I was born- to truly connect with others and to connect with my authentic self. Thank you for grounding us to what matters most! Titles don’t matter. Money doesn’t matter. What matters is how we can build a better life together with those around us, at work and at home. True success is about the success of others. Today you reminded us why it is so important to have the patience to truly listen to and understand others. Thank you.
MARS DRINKS
Dear Chris, What an absolute delight it has been to listen to your wisdom, warmth, and beautiful messages today. I can’t think of a better way to end this Forum, this day, these precious minutes. Thank you for helping all of us remember what is truly important, and what it takes to truly connect. What an incredible journey your life has been thus far! I wish you many more such journeys, meeting people and hearing stories that you are so eloquently sharing with the world. The world needs more people like you in it. How blessed we have been to have you with us today. Sending much love and gratitude, on behalf of the many people whose lives you touched today. We have been greatly blessed.
LINCOLN FINANCIAL