Why bold, scary firsts build the strongest version of you.

Be the First is a high-energy keynote where Angela Gargano empowers audiences to step beyond fear and uncertainty and do something they’ve never done before. Because “being the first” isn’t about being the strongest, smartest, or most experienced—it’s about having the courage, discipline, and mindset to take that very first step into the unknown.

Drawing from her journey as a 6-time American Ninja Warrior, former biochemist, and coach to thousands of women achieving their first pull-up, Angela blends science-backed performance strategies with unforgettable storytelling. She shows leaders and high performers how to embrace change, reframe failure, and create unstoppable momentum—whether that’s sending a daring email, launching a bold project, or making an epic comeback after a setback.

Audiences learn that courage gets you started, but discipline and mindset are what keep you moving—long enough to turn the “impossible” into reality.

Key Takeaways:

• A science-backed blueprint to move through fear, failure, and uncertainty with confidence.
• How to build the courage, discipline, and mindset to do something you’ve never done before.
• Tools to reframe setbacks as springboards for resilience and growth.
• A framework for creating unstoppable momentum—starting with your very first step.
• Inspiration to stop asking “What if I fail?” and start leading with “What if it all goes right?”

The Mindset Shift That Turns Challenges into Breakthroughs.

What if, instead of focusing on what could go wrong, you started asking: What if it all goes right?

Angela Gargano teaches individuals and teams how to shift from hesitation to high performance using her RIGHT Framework:

• Recognize & Feel
• Identify What You Want + What You Can Control
• Game Plan it Out
• Hold the Adaptable Mindset
• Take Relentless Delusional Action

This proven system empowers people to navigate uncertainty, embrace change/failures, build resilience, and take bold action—even before they feel ready. Instead of being paralyzed by worst-case scenario thinking, they gain the tools to adapt, innovate, and turn challenges into opportunities. By focusing on what’s possible, rather than what’s preventable, they unlock a mindset that fuels growth, confidence, and long-term success.

The result? Stronger leadership, greater adaptability, and the ability to take decisive action—again and again. This keynote is more than just motivation—it’s a battle-tested strategy for resilience, leadership, and achieving impossible goals.

When most people stop, you will keep going, growing, and leading.

Key Outcomes & Takeaways:

• How to navigate uncertainty like a high performer—whether in leadership, business, or life.
• A battle-tested, reliable system for moving through hard things—the RIGHT Framework.
• How to break big challenges into manageable steps—so you don’t just start, you finish.
• Reframing failure and setbacks as fuel for your next breakthrough.
• Mastering emotions, building confidence, and taking bold action in high-pressure situations.
• How to show up as a powerful leader—whether for your team, your clients, or yourself.
• Stories that inspire, strategies that stick, and a mindset shift that lasts long after the event.
• A deeper sense of fulfillment, excitement, and ownership over your work and life.

The Little Things Matter.

In this transformational keynote, Angela Gargano shares the powerful story of how one split-second ACL tear on national television forced her to redefine her identity, rebuild her strength, and reimagine her purpose. What began as a devastating moment turned into the foundation of her signature RIGHT™ Framework—a step-by-step method that has helped thousands of people rise from burnout, overwhelm, and setback. Through raw storytelling and vulnerability, Angela brings the audience into the moment when everything she worked for was ripped away—and how that moment, rather than breaking her, became the catalyst for everything that came next.

Designed for leaders, high achievers, and everyday people navigating wellness, leadership positions and personal growth, this keynote challenges the idea that success comes from massive leaps or perfect plans. Instead, Angela reveals that real transformation comes from the little things: choosing to check in with yourself, moving your body for just 30 minutes, reframing a failure, or taking a single step before you feel ready. With humor, heart, and science-backed insight, she bridges the gap between inspiration and implementation, offering tangible tools that can be used immediately—at home, in business, or in leadership.

Angela closes by asking a bold question: What if the thing you think is breaking you… is actually building you? Through her RIGHT™ Framework, she invites audiences to stop waiting for the perfect moment and start creating momentum with small, intentional actions. This isn’t just about bouncing back—it’s about breaking through. 

Key Takeaways:

• You are not defined by your breakdown—you’re shaped by how you rebuild.
• Small, consistent actions matter more than big, perfect ones.
• Recognizing how you actually feel is the first step to change.
• Focusing on what you can control creates power and peace.
• Adaptability is more important than having a flawless plan.
• Confidence is built by taking bold, imperfect action.
• The hallway between where you are and where you’re going is where your next level begins.
• You already have everything you need—it’s just time to take the first step.