Testimonials
Stories of Success and Satisfaction
Tony Megally
Director - Global Partnerships
The Faculty
I had the pleasure of meeting Nicky Abdinor and hearing her amazing story at Big Ideas Summit Sydney powered by Procurious.
Nicky delivered a mesmerising keynote on believing that anything is possible by playing to your strengths. I loved her natural ability to engage the entire audience. Her delivery is captivating, effortless, entertaining and her message thought provoking. The standing ovation Nicky received was truly deserving!
Nicky, thank you for reminding me to “focus on what you can do and not on what you can’t”.
I’d highly recommend Nicky to anyone seeking a top inspirational keynote speaker at your next event or conference. You will not be disappointed.
Nandini Basuthakur
CEO
Procurement Leaders™
Thanks for your energy, humour, motivation, resilience and for being such an impressive and impactful raconteur. Since your inspiring keynote at SAP Ariba Live in Amsterdam, I have repeated, quoted and coined many of your insights internally and externally. Procurement executives of the future need to be inspirational coaches and change agents, equipped with building strong and empowered relationships with their suppliers and stakeholders. They require purpose, positivity, self-belief and fortitude to tolerate uncertainty while remaining agile and fun leaders. You are the epitome and role model for these “super powers!” I left your orbit as a stronger leader!
Harry Welby-Cooke
Master Licensee of ACTION COACH South Africa, Founder of LegacyBRANDZ
ACTION Coach South Africa
I recently had the privilege of hearing Nicky speak for the 3rd time. I invited her to be one of the keynote speakers at our year-end national ActionCOACH franchise conference. She was professional beyond measure in all our dealings. Her talk just blew everyone away. As a seasoned audience, that have been exposed to some of the world's best, Nicky stood her own and made a massive impact to each and every one of our business coaches and their teams. She's funny, articulate, inspirational, motivational, full of practical content and her story is PERFECT for any audience. I cannot recommend Nicky highly enough. I'll gladly listen to her again and again and will definitely invite her back for future events. Thank you Nicky. You truly are amazing!
Tania Seary
Founder
Procurious
Absolutely fabulous speaker! We have asked Nicky to speak at our events in both the Northern & Southern hemispheres and the results have been consistent - everyone loves Nicky! Super smart speaker that uses humour to drive her important messages home. Oozes authenticity and humility (which is why she is a personal favourite of mine!).
Malden Warren
Operations Executive
Cape Union Mart Group
Nicky was the guest speaker at our Store Leader conferences in October 2018. Her message was relatable, humorous and above all inspirational beyond words. Never have I received as much positive feedback from delegates as after Nicky’s talk. The impact it made on them personally and professionally has been significant, many said life changing. Nicky thank you for sharing your beautiful story with us. You have set the bar so high we’re not sure how we’re going to find someone better for next time!
Prof Jonathan D Jansen
Vice-Chancellor
University of the Free State
Nicky Abdinor is by far the most impressive professional that I have met, anywhere. As soon as you meet this bright, young clinical psychologist, you are aware of the fact it is her abilities that shine through, her capacity to confront, work through, and then rise above the struggles of a physically different and challenged body.
Ms Abdinor represents the best in human kind, offering us living testimony of how a determined spirit can overcome a potentially debilitating problem in ways that remove all barriers to intellectual (degrees in psychology) or technical (driving a car) or sheer human (motivating others) accomplishment.
Most of all, Nicky has developed the fine art of communicating with very large and small audiences in ways that not only keeps the attention of the listeners, but spurs them to action.
If there is one person who captures within her body, mind and spirit those rare Mandelian values, it is Nicky Abdinor.
Nicolas Le Roux
Africa, Middle East & South Asia
Travelport
Nicky makes me the hero of any event. Certainly the one in a million find in keynote speakers. Nicky has the ability to connect with and inspire audiences across multiple geographies, cultures, languages and genders. Nicky’s ability to deliver key messages through emotional personal experiences has meant that the audience instantly connected with her which has led to no less than three standing ovations. Regardless of conference theme or specific industry, Nicky’s connection with the audience is one that would leave people with self-reflection, belief, inspiration and above all motivated both in one’s personal or work environment.
Mladen Ludic
General Manager
Travel Counsellors South Africa
Nicky’s contribution to our conference was exceptional. Our company is designed to support entrepreneurs in the travel industry to achieve their dreams and start and run their own successful businesses. Our annual conference is a fundamental part of our engagement with our Travel Counsellors and over the years we have learned that messages that we carry over in all the presentations are vital to the success of our business. Nicky completely absorbed our desired outcomes into her stories and used her own personal journey to convey the message which was so pertinent to our own experiences. Nicky has an amazing ability to connect to her audience and to maintain this connection even after the event was over. We are sure to invite Nicky again.
Anthea Scholtz
Deloitte
You Touched The Hearts And Minds Of Everyone In The Room. On behalf of Deloitte Women in Leadership and all the women of Deloitte Western Cape, I would like to thank you for being part of our annual Women’s Day event. You touched the hearts and minds of everyone in the room. You have a very powerful story, and your passion and conviction are admirable.
Mariki Schwiebus
Communication Manager
PEP Head Office
Nicky has the rare ability to speak to all levels of an organisation. Nicky has a wonderful gift to connect to each and every person in the audience. Her talk is heartfelt and sincere and it touches the hearts of everyone. She also has the rare ability to speak to all levels of an organisation at once. I left inspired to live my life to the full!
Helen Nicholson
The Networking Company
Nicky rocked the event. Nicky spoke at my annual Women’s day function this year- she rocked the event. Nicky’s presentation is inspiring and real- she received a standing ovation and I couldn’t think of anyone who deserved it more. She’s one of the most courageous people I’ve met.
Paul du Toit
CSP Global
I would recommend you to any audience, anywhere. Your keynote contribution to our PSASA (Professional Speaker’s Association of Southern Africa) convention on 12 April 2014 was absolutely top drawer. You had us fully engaged and in awe for your entire presentation. You speak with clarity and warmth, and a lovely touch of humour. You inspired us all to re-look the abundance of gifts we have in our lives. What was extraordinary was your calmness and authenticity in front of the cream of South African Speakers – quite remarkable. I would recommend you to any audience, anywhere. Thank you!
Vionne Tregurtha
Sanlam Investments
Nicky's messages were applicable to everyone regardless of circumstance. Nicky spoke to the Human Resources Operational team of Sanlam Investments. The talk was a year end “thank you” to the team who had worked exceptionally hard during the year and an opportunity for everyone to take a break and to reflect on their own lives and thoughts. Nicky established a good rapport and interacted comfortably with the team. Her key messages were applicable to everyone regardless of circumstance. The best recommendation I can give Nicky is feedback from one team member who said “the whole of Sanlam Investments should hear Nicky talk.”
Kim Kirkby
Pick n Pay
Emotional Inspiration. What a response we have had to you, Nicky! Thank you for being our Women's Day speaker and adding such an emotional inspiration!
Kim Thompson
Cosmic Fashion Accessories
You managed to motivate our staff in a way that no one else has ever been able to do! Words cannot express my thanks. You managed to motivate our staff in a way that no one else has ever been able to do! You are truly amazing and inspiring!
Anwar Fortune
Media24, Cape Town
The talk was truly awe inspiring. Nicky Abdinor recently spoke at the Media 24 Books Employee Engagement Forum. The talk was truly awe inspiring and Nicky shows how one can succeed in the face of adversity. The focus of the meeting was disability in the workplace and Nicky through her humour, confidence and determination showed how much can be achieved even though physical limitations existed. From tears, jaw dropping expressions to laughter she had the crowd fully engaged and I would strongly recommend Nicky as an inspirational and motivational speaker to other organisations. Nicky, thank you for the memory!
Nakedi Pilane
Assistant General Manager
AVBOB
Nicky's talk to our sales teams delivered exactly what we wanted. Nicky's talk to our sales teams delivered exactly what we wanted to achieve on our sales conference. Our Sales Managers and Executive Sales Representatives were inspired and motivated to take up the new year's targets head on. The basics of success that Nicky shared with us: believe in yourself, focus on what you can do , learn to tolerate uncertainty and be grateful are the great lessons that make us believe that we can achieve anything we set ourselves to do.
Thank you Nicky for being such a great inspiration. You are definitely part of the AVBOB family. We are getting requests from all our branches to come and inspire the rest of the sales teams.
Rian Truter
Organiser
Annual Education Summit (Stellenbosch)
Nicky's presentation was considered one of the best of the conference, if not THE best! Nicky was one of my keynote speakers at the 2016 Education Conference attended by teachers from all over South Africa. I could not have asked for a better speaker and presenter!
From the first day I met Nicky, her willingness to be involved with the conference and her professionalism was a joy to observe.
Nicky 's personality and understanding of her audience, makes her suitable for any audience, from adults to children. The story of her life, and how she converted her obstacles to building blocks is inspiring and a guide for all who have the privilege to listen to her. From the feedback of the delegates, it was clear that Nicky's presentation was considered one of the best of the conference, if not THE best!
I'll recommended Nicky at any time and for any audience. Nicky's story is so inspiring that it must be heard by all.
Clifford Klaas
Executive Director: Corporate Affairs, Human Resources & Sustainability
Siemens (Proprietary) Limited
We are already inundated with positive feedback from your talk. Nicky, I would like to congratulate and thank you for the very professional presentation you gave at Siemens Park today.
Your presentation captured all the salient points we requested in our brief. You really connected with your employees and we are already inundated with positive feedback from your talk.
I am sure that your presentation will go a long way for us to create the necessary awareness amongst our employees to welcome people of all abilities to our workforce.
Joya Appadu
Africa D&I and OD Leader
EY South Africa
We spoke about Nicky’s moving talk all week long. Self-deprecating, funny and authentic, Nicky is testament that “things are only impossible if you believe it”. Nicky spoke at our Women’s Day event – and we spoke about Nicky’s moving talk all week long. Thank you Nicky for the work you do, for sharing your experience and for your wisdom. As we say here at EY: thank you for building a better working world.
Mike Russell
Headmaster
Bridge House School
Nicky's infectious optimism is exactly the kind of inspiration we need in our country right now. Nicky spoke to an audience of around 1200 people aged from 4 through to adults at Bridge House Founders’ Day. Despite the range of age-groups, she had us mesmerised throughout her story. Our theme was “Gratitude”, and Nicky’s message moved us, amused us and uplifted us. She is a wonderful role-model and her infectious optimism is exactly the kind of inspiration we need in our country right now. We recommend her as a keynote speaker without reservation.
Conrad Harley
TrickyT Concepts
We were looking for a true inspirational speaker. For the recent Spur Convention, we were looking for a true inspirational speaker. Not an adventurer or somebody who aims to motivate through an experience, but something more real, more heartwarming. Nicky was a showstopper, literally, out of the 12 guest speakers on display, she was the only one to receive a standing ovation. Her story is remarkable and the way she commands the stage and holds the audience is commendable. She is my new super hero and also crept into the hearts and souls of the 900 attendees.
Warren Farrer
Foundation Executive
Do More Foundation
Yesterday Nicky Abdinor kindly gave of her time to #domore for our first ever virtual Heroes conference to honour RCL FOODS and Vector Logistics employees who contribute to The Do More Foundation.
A few years ago I met Nicky at a conference where she told her story - her incredible spirit and approach to life brought me to tears. Yesterday, despite being on Zoom (through her professional but authentic, loving and infectious spirit) Nicky delivered a heartfelt, poignant valuable message to our Heroes and to me - her delivery was as impactful! Nicky's messages, amongst others, were that we should "embrace our vulnerabilities"; the need to learn to tolerate uncertainty and your "disabilities could be your "weapons".
Nicky Abdinor you rocked our day - YOU are awesome :-).
Should you be looking for a truly incredible inspirational speaker contact Nicky :-)
Sarah Beaumont
Consulting Manager
Emergent Consulting, Australia
I first heard Nicky present at the Big Ideas Summit in Sydney October 2018. I had the pleasure of inadvertently sitting alongside her and instantly warmed to her authenticity and joy. I could listen to her inspirational message 1000 times and still get more from it.
Lisa Ferraz
Industrial Psychologist
Nicky was a guest speaker at one of our virtual leadership webinars. The audience for these webinars are our most senior leadership, including Executive Directors, Directors, Managers, and Heads. We have been running these virtual webinars to assist leaders to lead with vigour and authenticity during the difficult pandemic that we currently find ourselves in.
It is therefore no surprise that one of the topics which we wanted to cover was resilience and grit, and how to cultivate these qualities as leaders in the workplace. Nicky was our guest speaker on this specific topic and she most definitely blew the audience away with her inspirational message. Her talk came at a time that was most needed for the organisation and was therefore just what the doctor ordered. Two weeks later, we are still receiving wonderful feedback from participants.
What makes Nicky so unique is not her disability but rather her ability – she is able to remain calm, warm and understanding in times of panic; she is able to engage with people in an authentic and beautiful way, and she is able to capture the minds of so many who listen to her and her story. I believe that it is this ability in Nicky that contributes to her own resilience and grit in life, which is a quality that shines through every engagement I’ve had with Nicky.
Gretchen Eischen
Vice President of Marketing
SAP Ariba
Nicky’s presentation to our European audience of procurement professionals was, in a word, moving. She inspired our audience to think bigger, and anticipate what is possible beyond perceived limitations. She presented an intelligent and thought provoking story that resonated personally with participants, but also invoked lessons of leadership and expanded thinking on how to use innovation and technology to solve challenges.
Julie Gerdeman
SAP Ariba
Resilience, adaptability, and perseverance have new meanings for me because of Nicky Abdinor! Nicky was our keynote speaker for the SAP Ariba Live (Amsterdam) Leadership and Diversity Forum. She truly has a gift to challenge Procurement professionals to view the future of the industry from a non-traditional perspective. Her personal and refreshing viewpoint on what it means to align purchases with higher causes, challenged the audience to reflect on their own company’s values and to recognize that they have the power to make an impact in another person’s life simply through intentional procurement decisions. Resilience, adaptability, and perseverance have new meanings for me because of Nicky Abdinor!
