The American-born son of a Holocaust survivor, Alexander Blass knows personally how life is truly a miracle and a gift. When he was 30 years old, he traveled to the camps at Auschwitz and Birkenau to pay respect to his ancestors. He left a successful venture capital career to invent, patent, design and launch a revolutionary new way to give charity directly to people through the Internet and was humbled to be named the grand prize winner of the Top Innovator of the Year Award for “revolutionizing charitable giving.” Most importantly, he has had the privilege of helping many people in dozens of countries worldwide, through the technology he invented.
As a man of faith himself, his keynote speeches to religious audiences are very personally rewarding to him. Having traveled to nearly 40 countries, he enjoys inspiring audiences by sharing his passion, vision, and fascinating experiences.
When an engagement is booked, Alexander is pleased to customize his speeches to the nuances and needs of your particular audience for maximum impact.
To further his deep respect for and support of the religious community, qualified organizations receive a significant discount from his standard fees.
Sample Keynote Speeches:
FINDING YOUR PASSION: YOU TOO, CAN CHANGE THE WORLD
Topics: motivation, inspiration, social entrepreneurship
As a child, Alexander Blass often gazed at the black and white photos on his parents’ piano of his father’s family members who perished in the Holocaust. The lessons he learned as a boy about the preciousness of human life, combined with world events, ultimately led him to a “lightbulb moment.” He left a career in finance to make a difference, inventing and patenting a new way to make philanthropic contributions in 50 countries through the power of the Internet. Blass draws from his experience and the lessons learned as a social entrepreneur to inspire and motivate, ensuring audiences that by finding their passion, maximizing their unique abilities, and embracing change, one person can indeed change our world.
[Note: A half-day Master Class length version of this topic is also available on social entrepreneurship and corporate and social responsibility.]
FROM ADVERSITY TO THE AMERICAN DREAM: MOVING MESSAGES FROM A HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR AND HIS SON
Topics: holocaust, adversity, inspiration, spirituality
In this powerful and extremely rare opportunity, Hungarian-born Holocaust survivor Dr. Thomas Blass — an internationally recognized social psychologist and author who has published several critically acclaimed books and over 50 papers — teams up with his son, award-winning CEO and innovator Alexander Blass to deliver an unusually moving and poignant keynote together. In the opening half of the engagement, Dr. Blass details his harrowing and miraculous tale of survival as a boy hiding in Budapest, Hungary during Nazi occupation while most of his family was deported to and murdered in Auschwitz. Then American-born son Alexander Blass, who has traveled to 40 countries, continues by discussing the profound impact of this family legacy on his own personal development, including a visit to Auschwitz to pay respects to his ancestors that forever changed his life and career. [Note: Alexander Blass is also available to speak individually on this subject from the perspective of a survivor's son.]
FUNDRAISING 2.0: REVEALING AND RAISING THE INVISIBLE MILLIONS
Topics: philanthropy, fundraising, social networking, technology
Blass, credited with “revolutionizing charitable giving,” offers an evocative and eye-opening look into human nature, delving into the psychology of giving as well as the power of social networks and grassroots activism. Blass explores how technological innovation is changing the face of philanthropy, and offers thought-provoking strategies for fundraising success.
[Note: A full-day Master Class length version of this topic is also available.]
TALES FROM THE INNOVATOR: FROM IDEAS TO IMPLEMENTATION
Topics: innovation, entrepreneurship, marketing, and overcoming adversity
In this fascinating and often hilarious recount of his journey to becoming an award-winning entrepreneur, Blass offers a candid view of the enormous challenges and setbacks that were overcome, emphasizing the importance and power of tenacity in the face of adversity. From sleeping on his software developer’s couch thousands of miles from home to a “memorable” encounter with Seinfeld’s Jason Alexander, Blass’s story inspires and educates audiences. Blass teaches the qualities necessary to be a successful innovator and how anyone can create a marketing sensation and “buzz” with limited resources. [Note: A full-day Master Class length version of this topic is also available for successfully launching new ventures.]