Alicia Smith

Alicia Smith has a message that moves everyone in organizations to take accountability for their own actions and delight in personal responsibility and empowerment. Accountable people show up, step up, and help others. That empowerment spreads like wildfire as the very threads of organizations are strengthened through increased individual development and involvement. After hearing Alicia speak, people want to take the reins of their own possibilities and are inspired to fight for the very best that life and their organizations have to offer. Through Alicia’s riveting story, she empowers others to embrace their own adversities and transform them into catalysts for growth and positive change. 

As a 21-year-old college student at the University of Arizona, Alicia had dedicated her life to the art of dance. Her future was bright–Alicia couldn’t have ever imagined a life without dance. Despite her years of experience and a prestigious dance scholarship, Alicia’s dreams were dashed when she was randomly caught in the crossfire of a gang-related shooting. Bullets from an AK-47 ripped through her abdomen as she was getting into a car with some friends. Doctors predicted Alicia had a 1% chance of survival.

As Alicia awoke to the reality of her new life, she experienced the grief of losing her dreams and learned to embrace the possibility of something different than she had planned. It took her ten years of grueling physical and emotional recovery to understand a transformative truth: when we let go of the future we thought we would have and learn to understand and accept the possibilities of our new future, we begin to take action for a happier, more fulfilled life.

Now a wife, mother, educator, and Amazon bestselling author, Alicia’s story inspires others to work through change to become the best version of themselves no matter what life may throw their way. Alicia finds fulfillment in her 12-year career in education. She also spends time sharing her love of dance through teaching and helping others as a fitness instructor. Alicia has spent time speaking to audiences about her stunning book, Thread, which recounts her heroic and determined recovery.  She is also the co-author of the Amazon Bestselling book Voices of the 21st Century. As a TEDx speaker, she captivated audiences with whom her message has continued to spread and reverberate online.

Alicia’s remarkable ability to tailor her message of resilience and empowerment to audiences spanning from college athletes to business and non-profit organizations underscores her universal appeal and transformative influence. Those who hear her speak recognize that she is a beacon of hope and inspiration whose journey embodies the resilience of the human spirit. With her inspiring words and unwavering spirit, Alicia invites you to join her on a journey of transformation, where trauma marks not the end, but the beginning of a new chapter abundant with hope, positive change, resilience, and boundless possibilities.

Past Clients Include

• March for Our Lives

"Alicia captivated everyone in the room, evoking strong emotions. I received numerous glowing reviews after her speech. If you’re unsure about booking Alicia, don’t hesitate. Her story will profoundly impact your life!" -M.K.

• College of the Ozarks

"Alicia’s address resonated deeply. Her harrowing experience, recounted with profound honesty, transcended mere storytelling. Her narrative became a powerful teaching tool, offering a clear path forward. It was a testament to the human spirit’s ability to transform adversity into a force for positive change." -K.B.

Most Requested Presentations

• "Thriving Beyond Trauma: Empowering Individuals through Self-Acceptance and Transformation"

Alicia’s inspiring keynote leaves audience members with the empowerment to increase their satisfaction in life, no matter what their past. Alicia’s unique message truly hits home: accepting one’s new self after trauma can foster resilience and adaptability. Audiences feel inspired to embrace life’s challenges with a positive attitude, knowing that they have the strength and resilience to overcome adversity.

• "Choosing Growth: Turning Adversity into a Positive Perspective"

In this motivational presentation, Alicia masterfully guides participants on a journey of increased personal empowerment. As audience members feel more in control of their own lives, they realize that their reactions and attitudes have the power to shape their own experience. Audiences come away with stronger problem-solving skills and the energy and drive to create new change in their own lives and in their organizations.

Audiences receive the gift of learning in minutes what Alicia paid the price to learn over the course of ten difficult years. Alicia’s presentations are stripped of pretense—she brings an authenticity to the stage that draws people in. Her empathy and compassion create a space where anyone can feel safe to explore new possibilities in their own lives. Alicia provides actionable tools for overcoming trauma and shifting from surviving to thriving. She inspires listeners everywhere to rise above trauma, embrace hope, build resilience, and unlock limitless possibilities.