Sara Minkara Profile Photo

Sara Minkara

Keynote Speaker

Founder, In the Dark Methodology; Former U.S. Special Advisor International Disability Rights; Entrepreneur; Innovator in Authentic Leadership and Diplomacy

Sara Minkara is a global leader in disability diplomacy, leadership, and policy innovation. Appointed by President Joe Biden as the U.S. Special Advisor on International Disability Rights, she has shaped policies across trade, technology, and climate action, advocating for sustainable, inclusive solutions in over 70 countries. A bold and transformative voice, Minkara challenges conventional leadership models, showing how true leaders embrace diversity, adaptability, and systemic change. 

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Sara Minkara'S SPEAKING FEE $25K - $40K

Sara Minkara Profile Photo

Sara Minkara is a world-renowned, in-demand speaker and visionary who masterfully shatters conventional wisdom about leadership, disability, and human potential. Having served as U.S. Special Advisor on International Disability Rights and leading foreign policy on disability, Minkara revolutionized how nations and multilateral fora approach diplomacy, leadership, and disability. Minkara’s diplomatic mastery spans 70+ countries and the highest levels of global governance, private sector engagement, and civil society consultation, transforming policy landscapes in trade, emerging technologies, climate action, and international security. 

Minkara’s unique story as a blind Muslim woman and Arab-American entrepreneur, which has shaped her into a powerful voice for change, is one that will bring a fresh perspective. Minkara not only served as an ambassador on disability, fostering meaningful partnerships across diverse stakeholders — from grassroots organizations to ministerial meetings, she also founded and ran an International NGO for 10 years, Empowerment Through Integration (ETI), which worked systemically to break down barriers for 1,000+ youth with disabilities across the MENA region. Minkara pioneered her “In the Dark Methodology,” a groundbreaking framework that catalyzes profound transformation in Fortune 500 boardrooms, government chambers, and international forums, fostering an authentic dialogue that breaks down systemic barriers and builds bridges across diverse communities. Her ability to create scalable, sustainable impact has earned her prestigious recognition, including Forbes 30 Under 30, the Clinton Global Initiative, and Vital Voices. 

Each session with Minkara is an unparalleled journey. Her style is interactive, hopeful, and impactful, creating space for authentic dialogues and difficult conversations to flourish and develop. Minkara does the work with her audiences; she leaves them feeling seen, heard, and valued. Through her groundbreaking work in disability diplomacy, social entrepreneurship, and adaptive leadership, Minkara equips organizations with actionable frameworks to drive systemic change.

Why Choose Sara Minkara?

  • Global Impact: Minkara has played a pivotal role in historic milestones such as leading the first-ever G7 Inclusion and Disability Ministerial, co-hosting the ASEAN-U.S. High-Level Dialogue on Disability, and advocating for the adoption of the APEC Arequipa Goals. Her leadership in global forums and her bilateral engagements with countries like Kenya, Malaysia, Uzbekistan, Colombia, Ukraine, and Turkey have had lasting effects on how disability is integrated into international foreign policy.
  • Authentic Leadership: Minkara’s unique background as a blind Muslim woman and Arab-American entrepreneur, coupled with her life experiences, has given her an unparalleled insight into authentic leadership. Having served as the most senior diplomate on disability, an entrepreneur, and an innovator, Minkara promotes curiosity through a lens of compassion, leading to effective and authentic leadership.
  • Inspiring Change: Minkara’s engagements always inspire action. Through her words and frameworks, she creates space for difficult conversations, shared responsibility, and capacity so everyone can access the tools to make lasting change.
  • High-Profile Engagements: In addition to her multilateral and bilateral engagements, Minkara has also given numerous speeches at world-renowned events and conferences, such as the Delphi Economic Forum, India G20, APEC, OAS, and the United Nations General Assembly. Regardless of the avenue, Minkara’s sessions are transformative, leaving a lasting impact on the audience.

Featured Videos

Sara Minkara Profile Photo
Sara Minkara

Sara Minkara on Reframing the Conversation

Sara Minkara’s Speech Topics

  • Adaptive Leadership: Building Inclusive and Resilient Organizations

    Sara Minkara shares her expertise in adaptive leadership, emphasizing how inclusivity fosters resilience and innovation in today’s rapidly changing world. Through real-world examples and lessons learned from founding Empowerment Through Integration (ETI), Sara provides a roadmap for leaders to navigate complexity while creating environments that celebrate diversity. Attendees will gain tools to break down barriers, encourage collaboration, and transform their organizations into hubs of creativity and progress.

  • Authentic Conversations That Drive Social Change

    Using her unique “In the Dark Methodology,” Sara Minkara challenges audiences to examine societal narratives around disability and leadership. This interactive experience facilitates authentic dialogue, breaking down preconceived notions and fostering empathy. Sara’s speech equips participants with strategies to build trust, encourage diverse perspectives, and lead with authenticity—essential skills for anyone aiming to drive social change and create inclusive communities.

  • Disability Policy as a Catalyst for Global Change

    In this presentation, Sara Minkara explores the intersection of disability rights and global policy, showcasing how inclusive approaches can transform sectors like trade, climate action, security, and technology. Drawing on her groundbreaking work in disability diplomacy and her experience engaging policy stakeholders in over 70 countries, Sara provides actionable strategies for embedding disability perspectives into decision-making processes. This topic empowers audiences to see disability not as a limitation, but as a driver of innovation and systemic change on a global scale.

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