Chris Bashinelli
“We need more people like Chris in the World,” says Dr. Jane Goodall. Chris Bashinelli pulls from real life experiences in over 40 countries to empower organizations to create a culture of true human connection. He helps companies renew employee inspiration, foster a culture of inclusion & wellness and tap into the power of their greatest asset – their people.
Chris Bashinelli, better known as “Bash”, was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York to Lebanese and Italian-American parents. After a decade-long-acting career including an appearance on the HBO hit television show, The Sopranos, Bash decided to follow his real passion – using media to build bridges between cultures.
He now traverses the globe from Uganda to Haiti as Host of Bridge the Gap, a television series featured on PBS and the National Geographic Channel, where he experience’s life in countless cultures around the world.
A celebrated Diversity & Inclusion and Wellness speaker, Bash has traveled the world for over fifteen years, sharing a message of empathy and understanding everywhere from Fortune 500 Companies, to inside prison walls, to the United Nations General Assembly Hall. His world view was shaped on his childhood “Stoop” where his friends shared a combined total of thirteen nationalities. Bash has spoken around the world, from Abu Dhabi to Azerbaijan, and has shared the stage with Stevie Wonder, the UN Secretary General, and his mentor, Dr. Jane Goodall.
A passionate Mental Wellness advocate, Bash has studied meditation & mindfulness for more than a decade. After studying Anthropology in East Africa at 20 years old, Bash returned home to discover his father had been diagnosed with terminal cancer. The death of his father sent him on an international quest to better understand the human condition and the universal qualities that lead to a happy, meaningful life. Bash brings to life the powerful lessons he’s learned about the power of mental wellness, inviting attendees on an inspirational journey, coupled with stunning video footage and thought-provoking exercises.
Bash has lived as a nomad in Mongolia, worked with suicide prevention activists in Pine Ridge and Sumo wrestled the heaviest Japanese human being in recorded history. Through one of kind stories of adventure and authentic moments of human connection, Bash truly bridges the gap between self and other, helping us recognize our shared humanity. At 24 years old he became the youngest male to ever moderate the UN International Day of Peace. He is a National Geographic Explorer, an Eagle Scout and has interviewed some of Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People on the Planet.
Whether he’s embarking on yet another jaw-dropping adventure for National Geographic, or interviewing his mentor, Dr. Jane Goodall, for PBS – he will leave audiences inspired and empowered, reminding us of our greatest asset – our people.
Mr. Bashinelli will present the keynote: Creating a Culture of Trust & Empathy – The Superpower to True Business Growth