UNBREAKABLE: John Furlong
John Furlong
John Furlong has been described as the ultimate crisis manager and sport ambassador, having steered the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games through monumental challenges to achieve resounding international acclaim.
His personal story both before and after the Games is a deeply human, inspiring testament to overcoming the odds — in business, in sport and in life.
Hear Furlong in person, in his first major address in three years, talk about how UNBREAKABLE resolve, humility and inner belief in the face of life's toughest and, at times, seemingly insurmountable challenges can expose true character and inspire personal success.
About the Speaker
John Furlong is well known as a true champion for amateur sport and the power of the human spirit to overcome adversity. His account of leading the 2010 Games and the challenges and opportunities he has faced before and since are both deeply personal and characteristically frank. Through masterful storytelling, he inspires leaders to develop a more humble, human, raw and emotional approach to leadership.
Furlong along with Jack Poole led the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games from the beginning of the bid phase through to the closing ceremonies. Relentless in his pursuit to deliver a Games that would touch every Canadian, he became the face and voice of the Games that would change the country forever.
His commitment to sport in Canada continued post-Games with the Vancouver Whitecaps FC soccer team and as the volunteer Chairman of Canada's highly successful Own the Podium program. As a board member for several companies -- including Canadian Tire and its Jumpstart youth sport foundation, Whistler Blackcomb and the Rocky Mountaineer -- he draws on a wealth of business acumen and deep sport and recreation knowledge. Most recently he chaired Vancouver's successful bid to host the World Rugby Seven's series starting in 2016 and leads now the Board of Directors for this exciting new annual international rugby tournament.
Always a passionate ambassador for Canada, Furlong has been honoured with numerous awards, including Officer of The Order of Canada; Member of the Order of British Columbia; Canadian of the year, Marketer of the Year; Sport Executive of the Year; The Globe & Mail's Nation builder for 2010 and one Canada's top 25 most transformational Canadians alive.
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