Michael Chase
Boston Marathon Survivor | Keynote Speaker | Author
President & Founder, Reflective Journey Foundation
Leadership. Resilience. Human Connection.
Michael Chase is a keynote speaker and author who challenges audiences to rethink how they lead when the stakes are high. Drawing from lived experience, humor, and hard-earned perspective, he delivers a message rooted in resilience, service, and human connection.
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In April 2013, Michael stood just fifteen feet from the second blast at the Boston Marathon. Injured in the explosion and left with permanent hearing loss, he faced a moment that could have defined him. Instead, he chose to turn crisis into purpose.
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With more than 25 years serving at-risk youth first as a special education teacher, then as a street cop, and now as a School Resource Officer, Michael has seen firsthand how trusted relationships shape lives. His work across schools, communities, and law enforcement reinforces a simple truth: resilience is built through connection.
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Whether addressing educators, first responders, or corporate leadership teams, Michael equips audiences to lead with clarity under pressure, strengthen culture through trust, and create environments where people feel seen, supported, and safe.
From Crisis to Leadership
MICHAEL'S sPEAKING tOPICS
Leading Under Fire
Courage, Trust, and Human Connection When It Matters Most
When everything changes in an instant, leadership is revealed.
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Standing fifteen feet from the second bomb at the Boston Marathon, Michael Chase was thrust into a moment where hesitation was not an option. What followed became a powerful lesson in courage, trust, and human connection under pressure.
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Through humor, heartbreak, and hard-earned insight, Michael challenges audiences to rethink how they lead when the stakes are high.
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Audiences will discover:
• How courage is built long before crisis arrives
• Why trust is the foundation of high-performing teams
• How human connection strengthens culture and performance
• What decisive leadership looks like in moments of uncertainty
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Adaptable for corporate teams, educators, healthcare professionals, and first responders.
​The Power of One Adult
How Connection Changes Everything
In every school, there are students carrying more than anyone realizes.
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As a former educator and current School Resource Officer, Michael Chase has seen firsthand how a single trusted adult can change the trajectory of a student’s life.
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Through powerful storytelling drawn from his journey in education, service, and crisis response, Michael reminds educators why their presence matters far beyond curriculum.
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Audiences will discover:
• How small moments of connection build lasting impact
• Why culture is shaped in everyday interactions
• How to lead students with confidence and influence
• What it truly means to be the adult students remember
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This keynote reconnects staff to their purpose and reinforces the profound influence they carry every day.
What Comes Next
Rebuilding After Life Changes in an Instant
Life can change in seconds.
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After standing just fifteen feet from the second blast at the Boston Marathon, Michael Chase faced not only physical recovery, but the emotional weight of trauma and uncertainty about what the future would hold.
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In this deeply personal and powerful keynote, Michael shares the realities of healing, the discipline of resilience, and the intentional choices that transform pain into purpose.
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Audiences will discover:
• What true resilience looks like beyond the moment of crisis
• How to navigate uncertainty with strength and clarity
• Why recovery is both personal and collective
• How adversity can become the foundation for meaningful impact
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This keynote offers hope without minimizing hardship and challenges audiences to consider not what happened to them, but what they choose to build next.
Real Impact & Lasting Change
What Educators, Leaders, and Law enforcement Say About Michael Chase
Michael Chase's presentation skills are truly exceptional. He has a remarkable ability to tailor his content to suit the audience he is addressing. Having witnessed his presentations to both student and adult groups, I can attest to his impressive capacity to connect with his listeners. I am delighted that Michael has been able to impart his vital message to our school community.
Shannon Donnelly
Principal
Essex North Shore Agricultural & Technical School
Hathorne, MA
As co-captain of Danvers High School's varsity soccer team, I had the privilege of getting to know Michael Chase during his first year as coach. Michael was a true leader and quickly became a mentor to every player in the program. Shortly after I returned from combat as a US Marine, Michael showed the world what courage and leadership were by his actions during the Boston Marathon bombing. We spoke the following day, realizing we both shared experiences that very few fully understand. I hung the newspaper article of his actions in our USMC hangar and told every Marine about his heroic actions. Unknown to Michael, he became a hero to over 300 US Marines. Each of them agreed “the hero in the blue shirt” may not wear the same uniform, but he is one of us. The Sheepdog guarding the flock from wolves. Michael Chase is a hero’s hero.
Kevin Powers
United States Marine Corps
Owner - KAPture Digital Media
San Diego, CA
I had the honor of attending a presentation by Michael Chase where he shared his experiences during the Boston Marathon bombing and his remarkable perseverance and resilience in the following weeks, months, and years. His ability to transform such a tragic event not only in his life, but in the lives of many others, into a source of positivity is truly motivational. As a fellow Police Officer and former School Resource Officer, I strongly recommend hearing his story and discovering what it means to be a true hero in real life. You will leave feeling uplifted and ready to face whatever challenges come your way. I certainly did.
Kim Wood
Detective
Middleton Police Department
Middleton, WI
get in touch with michael
michael@michaelchasespeaks.com
978-907-4610
