Dustin Giannelli

Dustin Giannelli is a keynote speaker, disability advocate and the founder of HearsDustin LLC, a company dedicated to improving communication, accessibility and workplace culture. Profoundly deaf and wearing hearing aids since the age of five, Dustin leverages his lived experience to deliver powerful messages about resilience, inclusive leadership and the real impact of accessibility on performance and belonging.

Through his signature “Be On Offense” framework, Dustin challenges individuals and organizations to take a proactive approach to communication, how they show up for themselves, their colleagues and their communities. His keynotes provide strategies for creating environments where employees feel seen, heard and valued, particularly those with invisible disabilities.

Dustin has spoken at industry-leading organizations including SONY, McDonald’s, NBCUniversal, Fidelity, Converse, HubSpot, Ralph Lauren Corporation and TIAA, as well as top universities such as Princeton University, the University of Michigan, Emerson College, and his alma mater, the University of New Hampshire. His message resonates across industries, from tech and media to fashion, healthcare and education.

More than a speaker, Dustin is a connector. He blends storytelling, audience interaction and emotional intelligence to make conversations around accessibility, communication and mental health engaging, actionable, and human.

SPEAKING PROGRAM TITLES: 1.) “BE ON OFFENSE”: THE MINDSET THAT CREATES INCLUSIVE CULTURE AND INCLUSIVE LEADERSHIP

The strongest cultures aren’t reactive. They are proactive, intentional and built by people who take ownership.

In this keynote, Dustin introduces the “Be On Offense” mindset, a leadership framework rooted in self-advocacy, preparation and personal responsibility. Drawing from a defining moment at Michael Jordan’s basketball camp at age 11, Dustin shares how adopting an offensive mindset empowers individuals and teams to stop waiting for permission, navigate challenges with confidence and create environments where people feel supported, seen and heard. Through storytelling and actionable application, this talk challenges organizations to rethink how mindset influences performance, inclusion and organizational growth.