Visiting Every Country in the World | Sam Goodwin

What does it take to not just survive chaos, but to come out stronger, wiser, and equipped to lead others through it?

Sam Goodwin is an inspirational keynote speaker, bestselling author and founder of SGI Ventures. He has delivered hundreds of keynotes all around the globe, from Fortune 500 companies to industry-leading organizations.

As one of the few people to have traveled to all 193 countries in the world, Sam’s global journey took an unexpected turn in 2019 when he was taken hostage and wrongfully imprisoned in Syria. His bestselling memoir, Saving Sam, recounts this harrowing experience and reveals the hard-earned wisdom he discovered through the ordeal. Today, these lessons form the foundation of SGI’s signature program, “Winning Through Uncertainty.”

A former Division I hockey player, Sam spent six years living in Singapore working for a tech startup and an NGO. He completed bachelor’s and master’s degrees before earning a doctorate in International Affairs from Johns Hopkins University in Washington DC.

Away from the keynote stage, Dr. Goodwin is a private pilot, Ironman triathlete and adjunct professor of entrepreneurship at Washington University in St. Louis. He and his wife, Natasha, make their home in Tampa, Florida, where Sam balances coaching leaders, logging flight hours and playing in a weekly men’s league hockey game.

Sam’s mission is simple: to serve others. Through humor, heart, and practical insight, he asks every audience: How will you turn uncertainty into your greatest advantage?