Dean Otto
Dean Otto is a business strategist and motivational speaker whose life was forever changed after a catastrophic accident left him paralyzed—with only a 2% chance of walking again. Defying the odds, Dean rebuilt his body, mindset, and purpose. Today, he shares hard-won lessons on resilience, leadership, and what’s possible when determination meets belief.
Reality Bender
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2% Chance Taker
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Courage Champion
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Reality Bender • 2% Chance Taker • Courage Champion •
More about Dean
Dean Otto is a nationally recognized speaker, athlete, and former sales executive whose life embodies belief, grit, and forgiveness. After a devastating bike accident left him paralyzed from the waist down, Dean defied a 2% chance of walking again. One year later, he challenged the man who hit him and the neurosurgeon who treated him to run a half-marathon together—raising funds for adaptive sports and others without his miraculous outcome.
Before the accident, Dean built a 30-year career in high-performing executive roles across sales and marketing at companies including Pillsbury, Frito-Lay, KPMG, and start-ups such as Marigold and Braze. He led global teams, managed multi-million-dollar business units, and thrived in high-pressure, results-driven environments. At Braze, Dean served as Senior Strategic Global Account Lead for five years, managing key clients including Warner Bros. Discovery, Paramount Global, McDonald’s, and YUM! Brands.
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In 2024, Dean made the bold decision to leave the corporate world to focus on inspiring others. Drawing from his own miraculous journey, he now speaks to corporate, healthcare, and mission-driven audiences about what it means to Finish the Ride—personally, professionally, and collectively. His talks emphasize resilience, unity, and the power of belief: if your conviction is strong enough, the odds don’t matter. Dean’s story has been featured on The Ellen Show, TODAY, ABC News, and People Magazine, inspiring countless individuals to embrace challenges, lead with courage, and rise above adversity.
Speaking Topics
Reinvention
Leadership
Resilience
Managing Change
Team Dynamics
Health & Wellness
Overcoming Obstacles
Watch Dean in action
Presentations
Finish the Ride: The Power of Belief in Action
Dean Otto knows what it means to lose everything—and rebuild with purpose. From addiction recovery to overcoming paralysis, he defied the 98% odds and learned to walk—and compete—again. Now, he inspires leaders, teams, and organizations to overcome burnout, resistance, and change. Speaking from experience, humility, and action, Dean shows how to stand back up stronger on the other side.
“Belief isn’t something you have. It’s something you activate—especially when the odds are stacked against you.”
– Dean Otto