The Speaker Lab Podcast Turning Adversity Into Purpose with Lance Cibik
Sep 30, 2025
Lance Cibik, a former senior vice president in finance, now inspires as a professional speaker and author. He shares how he transitioned from corporate life to embrace speaking full-time, driven by a desire to use his personal experiences with adversity. Topics include the pivotal moments that led to his career shift, the importance of audience engagement, and techniques for effective outreach. Lance emphasizes treating speaking like a business and highlights how personal stories can resonate, turning pain into impactful lessons for others.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
From Corporate VP To Full-Time Speaker
- Lance burned the boats and went all-in on speaking after testing his message multiple times.
- He proved to himself by repeating gigs and posting on LinkedIn that speaking could replace his corporate role.
Leap After 22 Years In Finance
- Lance left a 22-year banking career and went full-time into speaking after completing the Speaker Lab.
- Within 12–18 months he became a paid speaker, coach, and bestselling author.
A Childhood Marked By Trauma
- Lance was born into difficult circumstances and four days before his first birthday his mother committed suicide.
- He later attempted suicide at 13 and navigated a childhood of instability and independence.
