Justin Wren

After battling depression, suicide, and drug addiction, Justin experienced a life-changing journey living with the Mbuti Pygmy people of the Congo Basin Rainforest. When he returned, he founded Fight For The Forgotten, to knockout the world water crisis, which today has expanded its impact to serve the Batwa Pygmies of Uganda. Justin has a deep-seated belief & ability to empower people to stoke the fire that is within us all.

Justin “The Big Pygmy” Wren is a 10-time State Champion, 5 time All American, and 2 time National Champion Wrestler, UFC veteran, and has been inducted into the Black Belt Magazine Hall of Fame. His MMA record is 15-2.

As a humanitarian he’s the Founder and CEO of the non-profit Fight for the Forgotten, also authoring a bestselling book with the same name through Simon & Schuster publishing. Justin’s transformative storytelling Ignites a fire In the human soul that inspires and empowers us to take action that leads deeper purpose, high performance, and long lasting change and impact.

Justin has inspired millions through his appearances on the Joe Rogan Experience (9x), Mike Tyson’s HotBoxin’, the Ed Mylett Show, ESPN, Sports Illustrated, NBC, CBS, ABC, FOX, and TEDx Talks, along with his book, Fight for the Forgotten. Today he is the host of his own inspirational podcast, Overcome with Justin Wren and a globally recognized keynote speaker.

From the Ring to the Rainforest: Leadership Principles from an Ultimate Fighter’s Remarkable Journey

A once prominent UFC fighter, Justin emerged from a near death experience, found purpose through service to others, and now stands as a force for good on the international humanitarian stage. The visionary Founder and CEO of Fight For The Forgotten, his organization has provided life-changing clean water, housing, healthcare, land ownership and freedom from slavery for thousands of the world’s most disadvantaged people.

In his inspiring keynote, From the Ring to the Rainforest: Leadership Principles from an Ultimate Fighter’s Remarkable Journey, he unveils the rollercoaster of his life – from headlining MMA (UFC) fights in front of capacity crowds in Las Vegas, to plummeting into the abyss of addiction, and ultimately, to his extraordinary redemption deep in the jungles of Africa helping those most in need. With raw vulnerability and emotion, he narrates how one flawed man, grappling with his own insignificance, discovered the power to create change, one person, one life, at a time.

People leave Justin’s presentation revived in the belief that their own work matters.  Their personal individual efforts can create meaningful impact.  No matter your place on the corporate ladder, everyone’s effort matters in the mission of the company or organization.  He is not asking the audience to pursue a life of service, not at all, that is his calling.  Instead, he reminds people that you are never out of the fight, you can always get back up, and that big impact can occur one drop at a time.

Justin speaks of how personal accountability, resilience in the face of adversity, and profound gratitude for each new day can ignite a fire in all of us to create meaningful change in our work, in our lives, and in our world.

Audiences travel with Justin to the remote Congo Basin Rain Forest for a rare insider’s view of the Mbuti Pygmy people, where they laugh, cry, and stand up and cheer as they bear witness to an improbable yet profoundly inspiring tale of redemption – a testament to the enduring power of second chances.

Overcome and Thrive: How to Overcome Obstacles and Win This Fight Called Life

In the electrifying arena of life, we all step into the ring, donning the gloves of struggle, pain, and adversity. In the face of every challenge, we have a choice to make — a choice to rise, to fight, and to overcome.

As an MMA fighter, Justin has danced in the octagon, where every second counts and every blow matters. But his toughest fight, his most grueling bout, was not inside those steel cage walls. It was the battle within his own mind, the war against self-doubt, fear, and the weight of past failures.

This speech is not just about fighting in the ring – it’s about fighting for your dreams, your purpose, and the meaningful impact only you can create. Together, Justin takes the audience through unraveling the secrets of the Overcomer’s mindset, the unyielding spirit that separates the victors from the defeated. It’s time to transform pain into fuel, setbacks into comebacks, and doubts into unwavering belief.

Generate Impact: Finding Purpose Through Service to Leave Your Imprint on this World

What happens after you hit rock bottom? Sometimes you find a calling that changes your life forever. You just might become a hope dealer who empowers sustainable change for others.

The Pygmies, a marginalized and forgotten people, became the catalyst for Justin’s journey of purposeful service. Through his experiences with these incredible individuals, he witnessed firsthand the immense impact we can have when we dedicate ourselves to a cause greater than ourselves.

Together, Justin will take audiences through an exploration of the power of service, the profound difference we can make in the lives of others, and the ripple effect that extends far beyond what we can imagine – including the transformation that occurs within ourselves when we choose to serve selflessly.

Above all, this talk is about hope. How to become a hope-dealer from one of the worlds greatest hope dealers turned change makers. It is a reminder that we each possess the power to create a better world, one act of kindness at a time. By leaving our imprint on this world through purposeful service, we can inspire others to do the same, sparking a chain reaction of love and compassion that reverberates far and wide.