Caroline Casey | Disability Inclusion and Looking Past Limits Keynote Speaker

Caroline Casey is an Irish social entrepreneur, business leader and international speaker who has spent more than two decades campaigning for disability inclusion. As the founder of The Valuable 500, she has worked with some of the world’s most influential business leaders to place disability firmly on the global leadership agenda.

Born in Dublin, Ireland, Caroline has ocular albinism, a condition that affects her eyesight and means she is legally blind. However, she did not learn the extent of her visual impairment until she was 17, when her ambition to drive prompted her family to tell her about her disability.

Caroline initially pursued a career in management consulting with Accenture, but at 28, she made a life-changing decision to leave the corporate world and focus on social change. In 2000, she completed a 1,000km journey across India on an elephant to raise funds for disability charities. The experience helped shape her determination to challenge attitudes towards disability and create opportunities for people who are often overlooked.

Over the following years, Caroline established several organisations and initiatives centred on disability business inclusion. These included Kanchi, a social enterprise focused on changing perceptions of disability, and the Ability Awards, which recognised businesses demonstrating good practice in employing and supporting people with disabilities.

Founder of The Valuable 500: Putting Disability Inclusion on the Global Agenda

Caroline’s work led to the creation of The Valuable 500, a global initiative that aims to transform disability inclusion through business leadership. Launched at the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting in Davos in 2019, the campaign called on 500 businesses to commit to putting disability inclusion on their leadership agendas.

The initiative achieved its target, bringing together 500 multinational organisations with a combined annual revenue of more than $8 trillion and approximately 20 million employees worldwide. Its members include major global businesses committed to improving accessibility, representation and opportunities for people with disabilities.

Caroline believes disability inclusion must be recognised as an essential part of business strategy rather than treated solely as a social responsibility issue. Through The Valuable 500, she encourages executives to reconsider workplace practices, challenge assumptions and build more inclusive organisations.

Her work continues to influence conversations around disability, leadership and social justice, demonstrating how businesses can become catalysts for lasting change.

Caroline Casey’s TED Talk: Looking Past Limits

Caroline is also a TED speaker, known for her talk Looking Past Limits, in which she shares the story of discovering her disability and learning to challenge the expectations placed upon her.

Her message encourages audiences to reconsider the labels and limitations that influence how they see themselves and others. Drawing on her experiences in business, activism and personal adventure, she explores the importance of resilience, self-belief and recognising individual potential.

In 2017, Caroline completed another extraordinary journey, travelling 1,000km on horseback through Colombia before speaking at the One Young World Summit in Bogotá. The experience reflected her belief in challenging expectations and taking action to create positive change.

As a keynote speaker, Caroline combines personal storytelling with insights from her work alongside global business leaders. She addresses themes such as overcoming adversity, leadership, inclusion and the importance of treating people with dignity and respect.

Global Recognition, Leadership and Advocacy

Caroline’s contribution to disability inclusion has earned international recognition. She is an Ashoka Fellow, an Eisenhower Fellow and a Young Global Leader of the World Economic Forum. She has also served as an advisor to the Clinton Global Initiative and as a One Young World Counsellor.

Her work has taken her across the globe, where she has collaborated with business leaders, policymakers and organisations seeking to improve disability inclusion and accessibility.

Caroline was appointed President of the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) in 2021 and has served on diversity and inclusion advisory boards for global companies, including L’Oréal, Sanofi and Sky.

In 2023, she received an honorary doctorate from the University of Bath in recognition of her commitment to inclusive business and her efforts to improve opportunities for people with disabilities.

Her story has also attracted international attention, including being featured in the National Geographic documentary Elephant Vision.

Through her advocacy and public speaking, Caroline continues to encourage organisations to recognise disability as an important part of the wider inclusion agenda. Her approach brings together lived experience, business leadership and a determination to create meaningful change.

Book Caroline Casey as Your Next Keynote Speaker

Looking for a keynote speaker who can challenge perspectives and inspire meaningful conversations about disability inclusion? Caroline Casey brings a powerful personal story and more than two decades of experience working with global organisations to make business more inclusive.

From inclusive leadership and workplace accessibility to resilience and overcoming adversity, Caroline delivers thought-provoking presentations that encourage audiences to look past limits and rethink what’s possible.

Book Caroline Casey for your next conference, corporate event or leadership summit. Contact Speaker Ideas today to discuss her availability, speaking topics and how her insights can make a lasting impact on your audience.