Benjamin Sledge

Wounded combat veteran, bestselling author, and award-winning designer, Benjamin Sledge inspires organizations with resilience, leadership, and mental health strategies proven on and off the battlefield.

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"Ben hit it out of the park with his talk at our event. In 5 years of doing these events, and of all the 100+ speakers, which included 2 US cabinet level secretaries, Ben stood out as one of the best. He is a brilliant speaker and storyteller, the way he shared his experiences was moving and real, but also taught us all important lessons about veterans lived experiences. We would welcome him back any time!!"

Drew Zachary

United States Census Bureau

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Why book Benjamin Sledge for your next event

Recipient of the Bronze Star and Purple Heart, Benjamin Sledge draws on battlefield-tested leadership to equip organizations with strategies for resilience, adaptability, and thriving under pressure. His lessons inspire leaders and teams to perform with courage in uncertainty.
His acclaimed book Where Cowards Go To Die has won multiple international awards, praised for its raw honesty and transformative insights. Sledge uses these powerful stories to help organizations confront challenges and foster a culture of perseverance and growth.
With over 14 years in creative direction, his designs have been featured in TIME Magazine and The New York Times. He offers organizations unique perspectives on innovation, branding, and storytelling that ignite fresh ideas and drive competitive advantage.

Non-binding request for Benjamin Sledge

From Battlefield to Boardroom: Lessons in Resilience and Leadership

A decorated combat veteran, award-winning author, and acclaimed creative director, Benjamin Sledge delivers transformative keynotes on resilience, leadership, and mental wellness. With proven insights from war, mental health, and design innovation, he equips organizations to overcome adversity, build stronger teams, and thrive under pressure.

Keynote Speaker Benjamin Sledge is recognized for his extraordinary ability to transform real-world experiences into powerful lessons for organizations. A decorated combat veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan, he served in the U.S. Army under the Special Operations community and is the recipient of the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, and multiple commendations for leadership in high-stakes environments. His battlefield-tested insights into resilience, teamwork, and adaptability resonate deeply with leaders and employees facing today’s fast-changing business landscape.

Beyond his military career, Benjamin Sledge is an award-winning author, mental health advocate, and experienced creative director whose work has been featured in TIME Magazine, The New York Times, and other global outlets. His acclaimed book Where Cowards Go to Die has won several international awards and is praised for its raw, authentic storytelling about perseverance and personal transformation.

When you book Benjamin Sledge for your event, you gain more than an inspiring story, you secure actionable strategies for building resilient teams, strengthening mental wellness, and leading through adversity. His keynotes combine compelling narratives with practical tools that empower organizations to navigate crises, embrace change, and foster innovation.

With proven experience speaking for the U.S. Census Bureau, Joint Special Operations Command, Volunteers of America, and universities nationwide, Benjamin Sledge is a trusted voice who delivers both inspiration and impact. Book Benjamin Sledge for your event to equip your organization with the mindset and tools to thrive in challenging times.

Customer Reviews

Drew Zachary United States Census Bureau

“It was refreshing to hear a talk on a subject that is only spoken in whispers or as someone else’s problem. We must first acknowledge the damage on our relationships and children. Then we can and start having real and authentic conversations re-enforcing what healthy relationships look like and model these in our own lives…denying power to something that has control over too many lives.”

Special Operations Forces (SOF) Service Member United States Special Operations Command

“Ben is a passionate, authentic, gifted communicator whose powerful personal story of life transformation motivates others toward the same. His knack for weaving in engaging stories and tackling the toughest of subjects with grace and truth makes him a compelling speaker. Our church loves him.”

John Burke New York Times & Amazon Best-Selling Author / Gateway Church

“Ben Sledge has a special gift that allows him to pull out raw emotion from very deep inside my soul. His empathy and eagerness to listen made me feel incredibly safe. Ben intuitively understands where I’ve been, so he knows where my story is going.”

Chris Meroff Wall Street Journal and USA Today Bestselling Author, Founder of DCX Business Conference

“Ben Sledge not only can bring clarity to real life situations, but through exceptional stories and examples draws you in further to take a look at the reality of where your heart stands with the subject at hand.”

Jake Luhrs Lead Vocalist of Grammy-Nominated band, August Burns Red

“Beneath the skin of Ben Sledge is a heart that has been exposed to some of life’s most brutal elements, a heart that has been bloodied and battered, and yet somehow emerged beating to bring more love, courage, and healing into this world. I think the world needs more hearts like that. And I think the world needs to hear from hearts like that. I sure do.”

Josh Riebock Wall Street Journal Best Selling Author & Keynote Speaker

"Well s**t—that was intense! Where Cowards Go to Die is an enthralling personal plunge down the rabbit hole of the Global War on Terror."

Peter Zeihan geopolitical expert and New York Times bestselling author of The End of the World Is Just the Beginning: Mapping the Collapse ofGlobalization

"Where Cowards Go to Die is a vivid and heartbreaking story about war, terror, bravery, loss, and sacrifice. God bless our men and women at the tip of the spear. Ben Sledge was there, and you will be as well."

Fred Burton Former counterterrorism special agent and bestselling author of Beirut Rules

"War is hell. Ben graphically takes us into the raw, gritty reality of war with a story of redemption in the hell of what so many return from war to fight—divorce, PTSD, and a search to find meaning after combat. Society and churches need to understand the psychology of war that Ben uncovers, so we can ensure our soldiers are cared for and don't come back wishing they hadn't."

John Burke Pastor and New York Times bestselling author of Imagine Heaven

"I couldn't put this book down. In fact, I read it faster than any book I've ever read. It wasn't only intense and gripping, but brutally honest and vulnerable. Benjamin takes you through the horrors of warfare to the terror of readjusting back to normal society. Most important, his honesty about his failing mental health and what it took to find peace following a life of war is something very few veterans speak of."

Dave Stephens Lead singer of metalcore band We Came As Romans

"Where Cowards Go to Die is a powerful account of war. Sledge openly exposes himself and the stark facets of combat page by page. Then, through his own lens, he shows the readers a raw perspective from the ground level of the courage, sacrifice, and valor of our Nation's Finest warriors that fought in and survived some of the most brutal urban fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan."

Scott Huesing Bestselling author of Echo in Ramadi: The Firsthand Story of US Marines in Iraq's Deadliest City

"Seldom have I read a memoir, autobiography, or documentary that reads like thriller fiction, complete with that all-important sense of reality... verisimilitude. Benjamin Sledge has achieved just that and impresses with vivid descriptions of war and all the brutality that entails. Where Cowards Go To Die is a fascinating, albeit horrific, dive into the world of war, a dive that is a life-changing event for everyone concerned, including the reader who most likely never has and never will personally experience it."

Reader's Favorite Book Review

"It took a lot of courage for Ben Sledge to perform his duty to his country, his fellow Soldiers, and the Marines he served with in Ramadi. It took a different kind of courage to write about his combat experiences and of his personal journey after he returned home. As one of the author's former comrades in arms, I for one, owe him a debt of gratitude for telling part of our shared story."

Lt Gen Sean MacFarland Ready First Combat Team Commander during The Battle of Ramadi, US Army, Retired

Keynotes

Keynote by Benjamin Sledge:

From Combat to Community: Rebuilding Your Tribe

Drawing on Ben’s transition from frontline service to creative and mental health leadership, this keynote highlights the critical importance of forging new communities, whether in the workplace, spiritual centers, or during life transitions, to foster belonging, resilience, and purpose for both veterans and civilians.

Target Audience: Corporate leaders, HR professionals, veteran support organizations, community leaders.

Key Takeaways:

How to create a “tribe” that fosters connection and retention.
Practical steps to integrate and support team members in transition.
Leadership strategies that build trust and loyalty.
Delivery Style: Story-driven keynote with personal anecdotes, audience Q&A, and practical frameworks.

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Keynote by Benjamin Sledge:

Leadership Under Fire: Lessons from the Frontline

Ben distills years of leading high-performing teams in both combat and corporate contexts into actionable insights on resilience, values-driven leadership, and authentic human connection. Attendees learn how to thrive under pressure and lead with empathy in any environment.

Target Audience: Executives, managers, team leads, sales organizations.

Key Takeaways:

Resilience as a core leadership skill.
Building loyalty through vulnerability and authenticity.
Decision-making under high stakes.
Delivery Style: Engaging storytelling blended with corporate leadership tools.

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Keynote by Benjamin Sledge:

When the Mind Battles War: Navigating PTSD, Moral Injury & Healing

Drawing from his personal journey with PTSD and moral injury, Ben delivers a candid exploration of mental health challenges, stigma, and pathways to recovery. The keynote offers tools for creating supportive environments where healing and performance can coexist.

Target Audience: Corporate wellness programs, HR teams, first responders, veteran groups.

Key Takeaways:

Recognizing signs of PTSD and moral injury in team members.
Destigmatizing mental health conversations in the workplace.
Building systems of support for sustainable well-being.
Delivery Style: Vulnerable storytelling paired with evidence-based strategies.

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Keynote by Benjamin Sledge:

Faith, Purpose & Belonging: Reigniting Roots in Modern Times

Ben invites both corporate and faith communities to rediscover compassion, connection, and purpose. Drawing from his experiences in ministry and service, he presents leadership principles grounded in values that resonate in a rapidly shifting cultural landscape.

Target Audience: Faith-based organizations, values-driven businesses, nonprofit leaders.

Key Takeaways:

Creating cultures of belonging and trust.
Applying timeless principles in modern contexts.
Inspiring others through service-based leadership.
Delivery Style: Inspirational keynote with a blend of faith and real-world applications.

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Keynote by Benjamin Sledge:

Storytelling as Survival: The Power of Narrative in Healing

Drawing from his memoir Where Cowards Go to Die and viral essays, Ben demonstrates how personal storytelling can transform trauma into triumph. Audiences learn to use narrative as a leadership and healing tool that fosters deep human connection.

Target Audience: Leaders, creatives, educators, HR professionals.

Key Takeaways:

How to share stories that inspire action and build trust.
Transforming personal challenges into lessons for others.
Leveraging narrative for culture-building and innovation.
Delivery Style: Story-based keynote with audience storytelling prompts.

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Keynote by Benjamin Sledge:

Creative Courage: Designing Resilience in Life and Work

Ben blends his background in design with his leadership experience to reveal how creativity fosters resilience, adaptability, and reinvention. This talk equips audiences to turn adversity into innovation in both professional and personal arenas.

Target Audience: Creative industries, innovation teams, startups, leadership retreats.

Key Takeaways:

Creativity as a resilience-building tool.
Reframing setbacks as opportunities for reinvention.
Leading teams through creative problem-solving.
Delivery Style: High-energy presentation with interactive creative exercises.

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Keynote by Benjamin Sledge:

The Hidden Wound: Masculinity and Emotional Vacancy

Based on his viral essay “Today’s Problem With Masculinity Isn’t What You Think,” Ben addresses the often-overlooked crisis of emotional vacancy in men. Drawing from personal experience and cultural analysis, he offers a new model of masculinity that values emotional presence, empathy, and relational strength, without abandoning strength or courage.

Target Audience: Corporate diversity and inclusion programs, men’s leadership events, universities, faith groups.

Key Takeaways:

Understanding the root causes of emotional detachment in men.
Building emotionally intelligent leadership.
Fostering healthy masculinity in work and life.
Delivery Style: Thought-provoking keynote blending cultural insight with personal storytelling.