Make the Impossible Possible
One Man’s Crusade to Inspire Others to Dream Bigger and Achieve the Extraordinary
Lavin Exclusive Speaker
As the founder and chairman of the Manchester Bidwell arts and training center, Bill Strickland inspires hope, generates jobs, and empowers citizens to become experts in any field—regardless of their circumstances. Strickland shows us how to pursue social restoration and profit with a conscience. His leadership fuels a deep desire to make the world we live in a better place—and anyone who hears him speak will undoubtedly be compelled to act.
Bill Strickland has created a blueprint for building centers that help end the cycle of poverty and poor education. But his true legacy lies in his ethical leadership, unwavering passion for people, and the steadfast belief that if you give them the right tools, they can—and will—perform miraculous deeds. To date, Bill has guided thousands of people towards employment, passion, craft, and dignity in their actions, even when it seemed like the odds were against him. After years of trying to raise the money for what would become Manchester Bidwell, Strickland changed tack: he persuaded one of Pittsburgh’s leading architects to design a new arts and training center. Then, he hit the pavement, showing the city’s business leaders, charity foundations, and public authorities why it was in their interest to fund his plan. Forty years later, he has a paradigm-shifting social enterprise that’s partnered with billion-dollar brands like Heinz and Bayer, won awards, broken records, and reshaped the business of social change.
In his revolutionary book Make the Impossible Possible, written with Vince Rause, Strickland shows how each of us can reach our fullest potential and achieve the “impossible” in our own lives and careers—and perhaps change the world a little in the process. Rather than teaching you how to succeed by the book, Strickland will show you how to defy habit, find your purpose, and build your business against the grain of conventional logic. Perhaps most important of all, the book helps us face our failures and come out on the other side of our challenges with renewed hope and resilience.
Strickland was once named one of 25 members of the White House Council for Community Solutions by President Obama, and for years now, the MacArthur Genius has shared his unshakable message of leadership, self-worth, and our intrinsic ability for remarkable transformation, to rapt audiences. He was also honored by the US Senate for his contribution to social innovation, was a recipient of The White House’s “Coming Up Taller” Award, and the founder of the Grammy-winning MCG Jazz, the most successful jazz subscription series in America.