ABOUT AMY

EXPERIENCE

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Over two decades of inspiring audiences with real, relatable storytelling.

SPEAKING

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Amy has moved and motivated more than 35,000 people across the country.

AMY DOWNS

KEYNOTE SPEAKER. BESTSELLING AUTHOR. CEO. IRONMAN.

In 1995, Amy Downs was buried alive.

As one of the last survivors pulled from the rubble of the Oklahoma City bombing, she was given a second chance – one she didn’t plan for, but refused to waste.

At the time, Amy was a 355-pound credit union teller who had failed math and dropped out of college. She lived small, played it safe, and didn’t believe she was capable of much. But surviving the bombing shook her awake. It forced her to face hard questions: If I had died that day, would I have been proud of the life I lived? Had I done what I was put on this earth to do?

The answer was no.

And so began the journey of a woman determined to rewrite her story. One small step at a time.

Amy Downs smiling in a black dress and white blazer, standing confidently in an office with one hand on her hip and the other on a railing.

Amy returned to the very credit union devastated by the bombing and started climbing. Not just the corporate ladder (though she did eventually become CEO) but her own internal mountain of limiting beliefs. She retook college algebra (twice), earned her MBA, and stepped into leadership with a heart for growth and grit. Under her leadership, the credit union grew from $89 million to over $400 million in assets. She didn’t just rebuild a business – she helped rebuild trust, culture, and hope.

And then… there was the ride.

One day at an amusement park, Amy tried to join her young son on a rollercoaster, only to find the safety bar wouldn’t close. She was too large for the ride. The pain in her son’s eyes broke something open in her and sparked her next transformation. Over the coming years, Amy lost over 200 pounds and became an endurance cyclist. She went on to complete a full Ironman triathlon: 2.4 miles swimming, 112 miles biking, and 26.2 miles running.

All of it – the weight loss, the career climb, the speaking, the Ironman – started not with some grand gesture, but with small, consistent steps. That’s the heart of Amy’s story. And it’s what she helps others discover for themselves.

Today, Amy is a bestselling author, keynote speaker, and living proof that it’s never too late to change your life. Her book, Hope Is a Verb, has inspired readers across the country. She’s been featured in documentaries by Netflix and National Geographic, and she’s brought her story to stages everywhere from national credit union conferences to corporate boardrooms and leadership retreats.

Amy’s talks aren’t polished and performative – they’re powerful and personal. Audiences leave feeling energized, emotional, and ready to act.