Shaun Tomson

World Champion Surfer, Author, Entrepreneur, Speaker on Empowerment, Peak Performance and Positive Values

  • Shaun Tomson Keynote Speaker Fee Fee range is for U.S. events, depending on location and organization type

    $20,001 - $30,000

  • Languages Spoken

    English

  • Travels From

    California, USA

  • Shaun Tomson Keynote Speaker Fee Fee range is for U.S. events, depending on location and organization type

    $20,001 - $30,000

  • Languages Spoken

    English

  • Travels From

    California, USA

Suggested Keynote Speaker Programs

The Surfer and the Sage: A Guide to Survive and Ride Life's Waves

Sometimes life’s waves knock you down; other times, life might seem to sweep you along powerless. But the choice is always yours to swim back up to the light. Legendary world champion surfer Shaun Tomson and international bestselling poet-philosopher Noah benShea join forces...

Sometimes life’s waves knock you down; other times, life might seem to sweep you along powerless. But the choice is always yours to swim back up to the light. Legendary world champion surfer Shaun Tomson and international bestselling poet-philosopher Noah benShea join forces to offer you insight on a path of purpose, hope, and faith. This timely guidebook alternates between Tomson’s inspiring experiential essays and benShea’s spiritual commentary that lift the soul, all accented with stunning full-color surfing photographs.

After losing his son, Tomson walked the bitter road of loss and crossed from darkness into the light. The Surfer and the Sage addresses the ten relentless, breaking waves of life, from loss and aging to relationships and depression, and guides you to transformation. It is not a list of rules to follow that guarantee success, health, or wealth, but rather a collection of advice from two guides who have traveled far and wide and suffered deeply, but still look forward to tomorrow with faith and hope.

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Catch the Next Wave: Six Lessons Surfing Can Teach About Business, Life and Leadership

When faced with extraordinary challenges, we reach for the attitudes and positive outlook that will be necessary to not only survive the ups and downs of life, but to master them and emerge a winner Shaun Tomson has been called one of the greatest ...

When faced with extraordinary challenges, we reach for the attitudes and positive outlook that will be necessary to not only survive the ups and downs of life, but to master them and emerge a winner Shaun Tomson has been called one of the greatest surfers of all time – he is a world champion, a best-selling author and a successful businessman who has founded and sold two $50 million dollar companies. Surfing is a passion, a lifestyle and a multi-billion dollar business and can teach some fundamental lessons about life and leadership, success and failure.

1.     Never turn your back on the ocean – maintain your passion for what you do while keeping an awareness for any potential danger or opportunity.
2.     Take the drop with commitment – success is dependent on facing one’s fears through absolute determination and focus
3.     Always paddle back out – never, ever give up no matter how severe the wipeout
4.     Never fight a rip tide – be aware of inexorable trends coursing through society and the markets. Be mindful that some of these trends are too powerful to fight. Know that you will succumb only if you panic.
5.     Realize there will always be another wave – maintain an optimistic and calm attitude in the knowledge that there will always be another opportunity.
6.     Share the stoke – be a mentor, share your knowledge. Give of yourself to others that are less fortunate. Be charitable. Doing good is good for business and good for the soul. Understand the successful relationships between all stakeholders are the key to a successful business.

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Riding a Wave of Change: How to Deal with Risk and Uncertainty While Maintaining a Vision for the Future

Never fight a rip tide:  Be aware of inexorable trends coursing through society and the markets. Be mindful that some of these trends are too powerful to fight. Know that you will succumb only if you panic. ...

Never fight a rip tide:  Be aware of inexorable trends coursing through society and the markets. Be mindful that some of these trends are too powerful to fight. Know that you will succumb only if you panic.

Paddle around the impact zone: Go around dangerous situations and conflict – don’t try and push through it. There may be many ways to approach difficult, unpleasant and dangerous situations. A head on assault is usually not the best strategy. Observe and study before plunging in.
Watch out for other surfers after a big set: Camaraderie and teamwork are key to success. We are all part of a wider community in life and in business and have a responsibility to others to watch out for other people as well – be compassionate and be empathetic
All surfers are joined by one ocean: We all work together towards the same mission. We are all part of a wider world – business is about creating joint success scenarios and not winning at all costs.
Ride, don’t paddle in to shore: Always ride it out to the end  – be it a relationship, a deal or a business venture. The law of diminishing intent states that intent diminishes over time so it is important to seize the opportunity and catch the wave when it comes. Complete what you start not because you have to but because it is the right thing to do.
Catch a wave every day, even in your mind: Take time out to escape the stress of life daily.Recharge your batteries, even by escaping in your mind. Relax time complements what you do in work time
Honor the sport of kings: Associate and benchmark yourself with honorable people. Be proud of what you do and what have selected as your profession. Do what you love and love what you do. Remember the honor embodied in a simple handshake. Respect yourself and respect others.

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Catching the Wave at its Peak: The Peak Performance CODE for Leaders

How to lead more effectively through: Commitment, Optimism, Determination and Empathy. We all live in a challenging sea and our attitude towards those challenges defines who we are, and how we live our lives. Our...

How to lead more effectively through: Commitment, Optimism, Determination and Empathy.

We all live in a challenging sea and our attitude towards those challenges defines who we are, and how we live our lives.
Our attitude about the present defines our future.
Our attitude about the future defines the present.
Our attitude defines how we see the world and how the world sees us.
Our attitude is the power that propels us on a journey from where we are, to where we want to be.
Our attitude is the light that can show us the way out darkness.

While we all have limited control over our circumstances, we have absolute control over our attitude. Attitude is the single most important determinant in success or failure – success is determined not by talent, not by education and not by DNA.

The Peak Performance Code is a simple, actionable and readily understandable collection of principles to build an attitude of absolute power, an attitude focused on realizing one’s potential, an attitude that enables one to perform at one’s peak. The code stresses the fundamental core business and life principles of commitment, optimism, determination and empathy.

Commitment: The inner force to face and conquer fear, the energy to pursue a goal.
Optimism: The vision and passion for the future, for change, for a new challenge.
Determination: The drive to overcome adversity and misfortune and constantly persevere.
Empathy: The understanding and appreciation that the world is not an island and that life and business are built on relationships with other people sharing the same dreams and aspirations.

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Catching the Best Wave": The Surfer's Code for Business Success - The Power of "I Will

Life is a series of choices and decisions and The Code is a simple actionable strategy for confronting everyday challenges and making positive, life-changing choices. In a series of metaphorical stories Shaun Tomson shares the power of “I Will&#...

Life is a series of choices and decisions and The Code is a simple actionable strategy for confronting everyday challenges and making positive, life-changing choices. In a series of metaphorical stories Shaun Tomson shares the power of “I Will”—a code that has carried him to the heights of professional success and helped him navigate the depths of profound grief after the loss of his teenage son, Mathew.

“All you need to turn hope into action is to write your promises down and say them out loud—to make a promise to no one but yourself. The Code is about many things—faith, courage, creativity, determination—but above all it’s about the promises we make to ourselves about the future. ”  – Shaun Tomson

The starting point is to develop a personal code of 12 promises to oneself, 12 lines, every line beginning with “I Will…”
When you think and write down your promises they develop great power – our thoughts are transformed from imagination to reality as letters, words and sentences – they are legible, tangible and actionable. Values and goals come to life as promises, as a series of commitments that form a roadmap for the future. 

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Catch the Next Wave: Doing Good is Good for Business

Environmentalist of the year award winner, entrepreneur, author, board member of Surfrider Foundation, the world’s largest ocean environmental group discusses the new 21st business paradigm – Doing Good is good for business. ...

Environmentalist of the year award winner, entrepreneur, author, board member of Surfrider Foundation, the world’s largest ocean environmental group discusses the new 21st business paradigm – Doing Good is good for business.

A focus on extreme quality, environmentalism, sustainability and community outreach can make your company recession proof.

Shaun discusses working at Patagonia, the world’s leading environmentally focused apparel company and how organic cotton, community outreach and a passion for quality transformed the company into a $500 million dollar company that influences every company in the $135 billion dollar apparel sector. He also talks about creating his own $50 million dollar company and how a focus on sustainability differentiated his company from the sea of competition.
He also discusses how philanthropy transformed his life and the lives of thousands of others and led him down an unexpected road of prosperity and self-fulfillment.

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Ride the Wave of Entrepreneurship: Commit to Your Dream

Do what you love and love what you do. Passion fuels our purpose. When faced with extraordinary challenges, we reach for the attitudes and positive outlook that will be necessary to not...

Do what you love and love what you do.

Passion fuels our purpose.

When faced with extraordinary challenges, we reach for the attitudes and positive outlook that will be necessary to not only survive the ups and downs of life, but to master them and emerge a winner.

Entrepreneur, environmentalist and author Shaun Tomson discusses how doing what he loved and following his passion helped transform his lifestyle into a multi billion dollar industry. Shaun Tomson has founded and sold two $50 million clothing brands – Instinct in the 80’s andSolitude in the 90’s. He is the author of the best-selling books Surfer’s Code and The Code, and the writer and producer of the award-winning documentary film Bustin’ Down the Door.He is a Business Administration and Finance graduate from the University of Natal. Shaun talks about entrepreneurship and business success based on his real life experiences of overcoming challenges, in and out of the surf. An attitude of Commitment and Positivity is the basis for his unique empowering business philosophy of I Will based on his book, Surfer’s Code12 Simple Lessons for Riding through Life. He has spoken internationally and inspired audiences as large as 3,000 people, has shared the stage with well-known personalities including Sir Richard Branson and Malcolm Gladwell, and addressed corporations like Disney and Google.

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Catching the Right Wave: The Power of "I Will"

Life is a series of choices and decisions and The Code is a simple actionable strategy for confronting everyday challenges and making positive, life-changing choices. In a series of metaphorical stories World Surfing Champion, best selling author ...

Life is a series of choices and decisions and The Code is a simple actionable strategy for confronting everyday challenges and making positive, life-changing choices. In a series of metaphorical stories World Surfing Champion, best selling author and successful entrepreneur Shaun Tomson shares the power of “I Will”—a code of absolute commitment and positivity that has carried him to the heights of professional success and helped him navigate the depths of profound grief and failure.

“All you need to turn hope into action is to write your promises down and say them out loud—to make a promise to no one but yourself. The Code is about many things—faith, courage, creativity, determination, perseverance —but above all it’s about the promises we make to ourselves about the future. ”  – Shaun Tomson

The starting point is to develop a personal code of 12 promises to oneself, 12 lines, every line beginning with “I Will…”
When you think and write down your promises they develop great power – our thoughts are transformed from imagination to reality as letters, words and sentences – they are legible, tangible and actionable. Values and goals come to life as promises, as a series of commitments that form a roadmap for the future…

Learn More

Bustin' Down the Door: Disrupting a Universe

You can’t just knock on the door if you want to be successful. Sometimes you just have to bust it down. During the winter of 1975 in Hawaii, surfing was shaken to its core. A group of young surfers from ...

You can’t just knock on the door if you want to be successful. Sometimes you just have to bust it down.

During the winter of 1975 in Hawaii, surfing was shaken to its core. A group of young surfers from Australia and South Africa sacrificed everything and put their lives on the line to create a sport, a culture, and an industry that is today worth billions of dollars and has captured the imagination of the world. With a radical new approach and a brash colonial attitude, these surfers crashed headlong into a culture that was not ready for revolution.

Shaun Tomson has been called one of the greatest surfers of all time and was part of a revolution that changed a lifestyle into a sport, which became a 16 billion dollar industry.

Along the way he built two $50 million dollar companies while having his share of wipeouts and near death experiences both in and out of the water.
Take a roller coaster ride with him on an epic journey to Hawaii, home of the world’s most dangerous waves and learn the fundamental business and life lessons that surfing has taught him about business and leadership.

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The Light Shines Ahead: How to Overcome Adversity and Maintain Hope for the Future

A message of hope, optimism and faith in the face of profound personal tragedy. Shaun Tomson was at the pinnacle of his professional and personal life—former world champion surfer, successful entrepreneur of multimillion-dollar clothing brands and ...

A message of hope, optimism and faith in the face of profound personal tragedy. Shaun Tomson was at the pinnacle of his professional and personal life—former world champion surfer, successful entrepreneur of multimillion-dollar clothing brands and author—when his fifteen-year-old son Mathew died in a tragic accident. Drawing on the strength of lessons learned from his childhood in apartheid South Africa to competition in the world’s most dangerous waves, Tomson provides an inspirational account of facing life’s hardest challenges by looking toward the light that shines ahead. Tomson tells a story of terrible loss and miraculous rebirth and how our path forward from the darkness into the light is determined by our faith, attitude and core principles.

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The Power Code for Young Adults: The Power of "I Will"

20,000 young people aged 15 – 24 die every year in the USA from preventable accidents, all caused by poor choices. The Code is a simple exercise that empowers young people to make positive choices in their ...

20,000 young people aged 15 – 24 die every year in the USA from preventable accidents, all caused by poor choices.

The Code is a simple exercise that empowers young people to make positive choices in their everyday lives. Built around 12 promises that young people make to themselves, The Code gives them an effective tool to navigate the rough waters of adolescence and young adulthood by asking them to visualize their futures. The power of writing—the power of affirming “I Will”—helps young people see beyond today and set a course for tomorrow.

When you think and write down your promises they develop great power – our thoughts are transformed from imagination to reality as letters, words and sentences – they are legible, tangible and actionable. Values and goals come to life as promises, as a series of commitments that form a powerful and personal code for today and tomorrow.

The ultimate goal of The Code is to create a wave of positive energy that keeps circling the globe, infusing everyone that comes across it with a powerful spark of hope for the future. For young people it is designed to create a feeling of confidence in oneself, an attitude of strength that results in positive decision making to combat despair, risky behavior and negative peer pressure.

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About Keynote Speaker Shaun Tomson

Shaun Tomson’s Key Accomplishments Include . . . 
A speaker on self-empowerment, positive values and peak performance, Shaun Tomson is sought after by Fortune 500 companies, schools and universities and talks about the influence of a positive attitude on success in life and business based on his own experiences of overcoming seemingly insurmountable challenges on land and in the world’s most dangerous waves as a world-champion professional surfer. An attitude of Commitment and Positivity is the basis for his unique holistic business philosophy based on his #1 Amazon best-seller The Code – The Power of “I Will.”

He is also the author of the best-selling book Surfers Code and the writer and producer of the award-winning documentary film Bustin‘ Down the Door.

Shaun has spoken internationally and inspired and touched the hearts of audiences as large as 3,000 people, has shared the stage with well-known personalities including Sir Richard Branson and Malcolm Gladwell, and inspired corporations like General Motors, Cisco, Price Waterhouse, The Gap, Toys R Us, Disney, Patagonia and Google.

Shaun Tomson is a true entrepreneur, having founded, managed and sold two $50-$100 million clothing brands – Instinct in the 80’s and Solitude in the 90’s – and has held executive positions with lifestyle brands Patagonia and O’Neill.

A World Surfing Champion, inductee into the Jewish and South African Sports Hall of Fame, as well as the US Surfing Hall of Fame, Shaun Tomson has been described as one of the greatest surfers of all time (Surfing Magazine 2004) and one of the most influential surfers of the century (Surfer Magazine 1999). He is a board member and ambassador for the Surfrider Foundation and the Santa Barbara Boys & Girls Club.

More About Speaker, Shaun Tomson. . .
Shaun Tomson is on a mission to help young people and is spear-heading an effort to bring attention and action to the epidemic of poor decision-making that is killing one million Americans every year. He is a board member at Boys and Girls Club in Santa Barbara and his work  at schools and universities is designed to empower young people to make positive choices. His simple 30 minute exercise, “The Power Code,” is a set of 12 personal promises a young adult can make that can assist in positive decision making – an unbreakable bond between the present and future that is powered by hope and core values.

In keeping with his commitment to environmentalism and sustainability, Shaun is a board member of Surfrider Foundation, the world’s largest environmental group dedicated to protecting the world’s waves, oceans and beaches.
Shaun understands the intimate connection between fiscal and social responsibility.

“Doing good is good for business” is a mantra Shaun developed while working at progressive apparel company Patagonia and his own company Solitude. Shaun realized that environmentalism and sustainability are not only socially responsible but also fiscally responsible. Top line revenue can be increased by creatively engaging with the customer and adding value through promoting a positive mission or moral imperative.

A Business Administration and Finance graduate from the University of Natal, Shaun Tomson lives with his wife and son in California.

Testimonials

“I had the privilege to hear a unique speaker, Shaun Tomson.  Mr. Tomson was the Keynote speaker for our conference, Meeting of the Minds.  This conference was attended by 420 individuals form all areas of life, professionals, public servants, and consumers.  In reviewing the evaluations of all presentations, Mr. Tomson’s discussion was the highest rated, very informative, and most enjoyed. I have had participants state, they would like Mr. Tomson to return, so his message can be heard by many more individuals.  We loved it!”

Daphyne Watson

MSW, Executive Director, Mental Health America San Diego

“Shaun is an amazing person and he brings a unique combination of energy, passion and spiritual awareness that will leave a lasting impression on your organization.  His message is perfect for anyone seeking inner peace while maximizing their God-given potential.”

Victor Coleman

Chairman & CEO, Hudson Pacific Properties

“Shaun’s presentation was extremely well received by our group. The intermingling of Shaun’s surfing and clothing career with his commitment to 12 simple values starting each goal with “I will” resonated well with our clients. I highly recommend Shaun’s presentation for any business looking for an inspirational speaker.”

Tim Brown

CEO, Vow Financial Group, Sydney, Australia

“Shaun Tomson translates his triumphs & challenges as a surfer to real life situations to inspire his audience to never give up. He delivers with magical simplicity, charm and humor & kept us hanging on to his every word with the hope that he wouldn’t stop.”

Savi Bhim

Programs Chair, Rotary Club of Simi Sunrise

Entertained and Inspired.  And more.  I’ve heard motivational speakers, professional athletes, heads of state, NBA and NFL coaches all speak…and certainly I’ve been entertained.  Shaun stood toe to toe with any of them in this regard.  But he blew them all away by also being inspirational.  His story of changing an industry and creating a sport all with the backdrop of global politics and personal-business challenge was the stuff of legends.  And to top it off…sharing his book The Code and having us create our own codes was transformational.

Mark Godley

CRO, HG Data

I was initially skeptical that the Code exercise would work on a large group of “AAA” types, and to my surprise, not only was I completely moved by my own experience of trying to define my own Code, as I instinctively switched into a whole different zone of reflection and focus, but I was similarly blown away by the process of sharing our Code with each other — the solemnity and importance of that time together.  Everyone I talked to in our group, 50 executives of totally different backgrounds, had the same experience of being moved and touched and inspired.  I have yet to come across another group motivational event with such power.

Amir Nashat

Managing Partner, Polaris Ventures (Phd MIT, Top 100 VC in the USA)

“I wanted to let you know how pleased we are with the inspirational speech you gave at our retreat in Palos Verdes at the Terranea Resort. Everyone who attended was absolutely captivated and enthralled by the presentation. The points you emphasized resonated and gave us all a lot to ponder. You have a great presence and speaking style. We also really appreciate how you tailored your remarks to our firm’s particular goals for the program. I will certainly recommend you to my friends and colleagues who run companies and are in need of an inspirational speaker.”

Todd C. Theodora

Theodora Oringher, Counselors at Law

“Shaun’s breadth and depth of experience, outside the box thinking, international perspective and common touch provided our group with the creative motivation to stretch further than we thought possible.  We came back from our session with Shaun energized and excited about our prospects and opportunities to move our products and our company to the next level and beyond.  Definitely a different take on the usual management training or motivational speaker, Shaun is truly capable of connecting on a number of levels.  Our team was WOWed by the opportunity to visit and learn from this wonderful ambassador of possibility.”

John Glanville

General Manager, Benchmark Maps

“Shaun is an amazing keynote speaker!! His energy, passion and ability to relate surfing to the business arena is truly impressive and very motivating. Everyone at my company is stoked and READY TO PADDLE OUT!! Thank you for sprinkling your magic on all of us.”

Roni Deutch

Owner and Founder, Roni Deutch Tax Center

“Shaun was fantastic! The group loved both the content and the delivery of his presentation. It was a nice break in our meeting to reflect on ‘how’ we do things in life. The fact that it all linked to our surf theme made it perfect.”

Marc Low

Disney International Apparel

“The feedback we have received on your presentation has been outstanding. Everyone I spoke to thought that you offered tangible take always for them to use in their own operations. Great work!”

NBAA

 

Media

Article

Jun 6, 2011

BigLaunch: Shaun Tomson Releases the Surfer's Code

Questions? Contact Us Any Time: 805.965.1400 info@bigspeak.com Facebook Instagram LinkedIn YouTube

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Article

Dec 14, 2010

BigStories: Shaun Tomson Unveils Surf Creatures Phone App

Questions? Contact Us Any Time: 805.965.1400 info@bigspeak.com Facebook Instagram LinkedIn YouTube

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