Top 10 french speakers on disability

In 2026, the integration of disability within organizations goes beyond accessibility or compliance with legislation: it drives the transformation of management practices, team cohesion, and overall performance. In the face of these challenges, companies are seeking concrete benchmarks and feedback to move beyond a theoretical approach and address the ethical, operational, and human questions raised by this issue. To support this evolution, we have selected ten speakers whose expertise and personal experience provide valuable insights for decision-makers and professionals looking to make progress in this area.

Our speakers on the topic

Virginie Delalande

The first woman born deaf to be sworn in as a lawyer in France, Virginie Delalande embodies determination and the ability to turn the impossible into success. Her journey, marked by career changes and personal challenges, illustrates the power of perseverance and self-confidence. Through her talks, she encourages everyone to believe in their own resources to overcome obstacles—an inspiring message for anyone facing adversity.

Talk: Give Up? Never! Discover how to turn the impossible into success in this inspiring talk led by Virginie Delalande, the first profoundly deaf woman lawyer in France. Through her extraordinary journey, you’ll learn how to overcome obstacles, cultivate resilience, and develop practical tools to never give up, no matter how difficult the challenge.

Themes: motivation, management, perseverance, handicap, pouvoir, choix, power, resilience, courage, limite, depassement-de-soi, reve, leadership, rebondir, femmes, esprit-dequipe, engagement, confiance-en-soi, optimisme, passion, difference, inclusion, epanouissement, diversite, reussite, developpement-personnel, faire-la-difference, passage-a-laction, coaching, performance, egalite-homme-femme, etat-desprit, succes, innovation

Sébastien BICHON

Paralympic medalist in para-cycling, Sébastien Bichon has turned adversity into a driving force for performance, both in elite sports and in accomplishing extraordinary personal challenges. Having had a leg amputated in childhood, he shares with authenticity how to transform a constraint into a lever for action and commitment. His journey inspires teams to overcome obstacles—whatever they may be—and turn them into opportunities for lasting growth.

Talk: Turning Obstacles into Competitive Advantages
Through the inspiring story of my journey as an amputee, Paralympic medalist, and adventurer, discover how to turn every difficulty into a strategic asset. Participants will learn to adopt a solution-oriented mindset, strengthen collective engagement, and make the unexpected a driver of performance, so they can approach professional challenges with confidence and determination.

Themes: leadership, team-spirit, engagement, performance, diversity, transformation, disability, resilience, self-surpassing

Florence Alix-gravellier

Florence Alix-Gravellier, former world No. 1 in wheelchair tennis and Paralympic medalist, has established herself as a leader in the world of sports and brings a unique perspective on performance, shaped by a journey marked by challenges. A Sciences Po graduate, she shares her experience of individual achievement in service of the collective with authenticity. Her path, marked by resilience and commitment, resonates with the richness of unconventional journeys and the diversity of talents.

Talk: WINNING BACKHANDS – Unleashing Human Potential to Drive Collective Performance. In “Winning Backhands,” Florence Alix-Gravellier, Paralympic medalist and inspiring leader, reveals how recognizing human uniqueness becomes the true engine of collective performance. Through her extraordinary experience, she encourages us to go beyond norms, to value belonging and legitimacy in order to unlock everyone’s potential within the organization. Participants will leave with concrete tools to turn difference into strength and build engaged, inclusive teams.

Themes: management, leadership, motivation, diversity, inclusion, sport, performance, change, disability, employer branding

Marine CHOSSON

After more than twenty-five years in social housing, Marine Chosson’s life was turned upside down by a stroke, followed by a long journey of recovery marked by the acceptance of new limitations. Drawing on this experience, she now shares her story about returning to work after a life-changing event, and offers her thoughts on the importance of giving everyone their rightful place—beyond appearances—for genuine and lasting inclusion.

Talk: REACTive: The method to retain your talents after a life-changing event.
Through the story of my stroke and its consequences, I share how I transformed the ordeal of disability and dismissal into an opportunity for creation with the REACTive method. Participants will discover practical tools to support their employees sustainably after a life-changing event, and thus prevent dismissal for incapacity as the only outcome.

Topics: management, diversite, handicap, handicap-invisible, avc, re-accueil

Paul Fontaine

Paul Fontaine, professional speaker and accomplished athlete, pushes the boundaries of what’s possible every day with just 55% lung capacity, living with cystic fibrosis. Having taken on challenges such as climbing Mont Blanc and crossing the Alps self-supported, he shares with authenticity a vision of life where constraints become a driving force for achievement. His powerful story invites everyone to uncover their inner strength and fully embrace their uniqueness.

Talk: STEEL MINDSET – Boost Your Mindset Energize Your Teams Open Your Heart Discover Paul Fontaine’s “Steel Mindset” talk: a powerful moment of inspiration where authenticity, resilience, and openness of heart come together to transform both individual and collective mindsets. Participants leave with practical tools to push past their limits, strengthen team cohesion, and put Love and meaning back at the center of their professional commitment.

Themes: esprit-dequipe, inclusion, changement, developpement-personnel, optimisme, motivation, vision, reve, amour, handicap, valeurs, audace, empowerment, rebond, resilience, depassement-de-soi

Lali Dugelay

An autistic woman and author of the novel “L’autisme est mon super-pouvoir,” Lali Dugelay speaks in companies and in the media to raise awareness about inclusion and living together. Drawing on her personal experience and training, she shares practical tools to better understand and embrace the diversity of profiles, especially around DYS disorders and ADHD in the workplace. Her approach, rooted in real life, sheds light on the challenges of the professional environment for everyone.

Talk: DYS DISORDERS AND ADHD AT WORK This talk offers a fresh perspective on DYS disorders and attention deficit disorder with or without hyperactivity (ADHD) in the workplace. Through practical tools and real-life situations, participants will learn to identify these disorders, understand their impact at work, and implement tailored solutions to foster inclusion and everyone’s performance.

Topics: motivation, transformation, emotional-intelligence, human-resources, inclusion, hr-transformation, disability, csr, leadership, hr-development, autism, diversity, health, invisible-disability, awareness, change, change-management, management, qwl, irp, well-being-at-work, unconscious-bias, performance, strategy, employer-brand, positive-psychology, coaching, best-practices, recruitment, communication, well-being

Tiffany Mazars

Tiffany Mazars, decorated with the National Order of Merit and a committed author, shares her unique experience of human diversity through conferences and performances where she humorously challenges our perceptions of difference. Co-founder of the association Ensemble & Co and French ambassador for Hidden Disabilities Sunflower, she invites companies and institutions to take a fresh look at the invisible realities that run through our organizations. Her approach, shaped by her personal experience, encourages open dialogue about everyone’s place in society.

Talk: Invisible Disability, Capable in Other Ways Experience an immersive talk that overturns common misconceptions about invisible disabilities: it’s much more than just the absence of visible signs—it’s a journey filled with challenges, resilience, and ingenuity. You’ll leave with a deeper understanding of these realities, concrete tools for support and inclusion, and practical solutions to implement in your professional or personal environments.

Topics: handicap, handicap-invisible, management, innovation, resilience, csr, environment, biomimicry, women, gender-equality

Steves HOUNKPONOU

Steves HOUNKPONOU embodies the power of perseverance in the face of adversity. Born in Benin with a leg length difference and having overcome multiple medical challenges, he made his mark in the French luxury industry, becoming one of the youngest sales directors in the sector. A successful entrepreneur, he now shares his inspiring journey, demonstrating that obstacles—no matter their nature—can become stepping stones to surpass oneself and achieve success.

Talk: No More Excuses: 3 Secrets to Stop Making Them and Succeed In this inspiring talk, Steves HOUNKPONOU will reveal three essential keys to move beyond excuses, overcome obstacles, and reach excellence—even when faced with the impossible. You’ll discover how to turn your difficulties into drivers of success, cultivate a conqueror’s mindset, and unlock your full potential, both professionally and personally.

Topics: startup, digital, travel, stress, motivation, engagement, difference, disability, passion, power

ERIC PAYAN

At the age of twenty, Éric Payan learned he had Stargardt disease, a degenerative retinal condition. Trained as an engineer, he built a distinguished career in digital transformation within an international industrial group before founding “Point de vue” to raise awareness among leaders about the inclusion of people living with visual impairments. His journey, marked by the gradual acceptance of his disability, fuels authentic and impactful talks, echoing his book “Regarder sans voir.”

Talk: Me, Fragile—and You? Through an authentic and inspiring personal account, Eric Payan shares the keys that enabled him to transform his vulnerability into a true strength, building a remarkable career despite his visual impairment. Participants will discover concrete strategies to overcome obstacles, embrace their differences, and unlock their potential, no matter what challenges they face.

Themes: determination, motivation, diversite, management, inclusion, discours-inspirants, motivation-des-equipes, resilience, leadership, handicap, handicap-invisible, inspirer, engagement, leader

Nadalette La Fonta-Six

Nadalette La Fonta-Six, author and speaker, shares with authenticity the story of her recovery after becoming paraplegic following an operation. With a background in management at major international groups and a commitment to promoting diversity, she explores resilience, the meaning we give to adversity, and the ability to reinvent oneself. Her testimony offers a unique perspective on difference and the strength of lived experience, resonating with the challenges of inclusion.

Talk: Giving Meaning to Adversity, Giving Meaning to Your Life
Through the moving account of my journey, from hardship to resilience, I invite you to discover how to find meaning in adversity and turn obstacles into a springboard for a new life. Participants will learn to rethink their relationship with failure, personal transformation, and to find unexpected resources to overcome their own challenges.

Themes: leadership, rebirth, women, tedx, self-fulfillment, transformation, acceptance, disability, self-confidence, emotion, choice, resilience, adversity, digital, freedom, opportunity, living-your-life