SPEECH TOPIC 1

TRANSFORM YOUR TOMORROW

With a 12-year sentence ahead of him, Raphael Rowe, who was wrongly convicted of murder and a series of aggravated robberies, tells a captivating story of fight, hope, resilience, growth and reinvention.

Following a change in mindset, he stopped protesting, complaining and acting aggressively and instead decided to adopt a new way of thinking and behaving.

Through education, mentorship and taking the “but” out of his narrative, Raphael set out to remove the label of ‘murderer’, who those around him believed him to be.

Through revisiting his experiences, Raphael will leave your audience with a new lens on how to change how others can perceive you. From linking back to his survival techniques whilst in prison, to changing his mindset & campaigning, which resulted ultimately in his release, Raphael will provide the right tools and techniques on how to build resilience, including training on the skills needed to adapt your behaviours for the better.

The talk is perfect for motivating employees looking to grow within business, especially those striving for the next level of their careers.

SPEECH TOPIC 2

STRENGTH COMES FROM MINDSET

From the confinement of a prison cell and a looming life sentence ahead, staying positive for Raphael wasn’t easy. There were days when was unable to get out of bed, desperately avoiding the glaring temptation of alcohol and drugs to pass the time, which he witnessed from many of the other prisoners around him. But Raphael was not defeated and after spending countless hours in solitary confinement – he found the fire within him to not give up.

Upon self-reflection, Raphael realised that he was in full control of how he reacted to prison life and that he needed to take full responsibility, rather than spending his days lying in bed, achieving nothing.

Raphael discovered the power that physical fitness had on his determination, motivation and overall mindset. Using the one hour of daily release to run laps within the prison enclosure, whilst helping other in-mates at the same time, Raphael was recognised by the prison guards and allowed to work in the gymnasium.

One lesson Raphael still leads with today is you can turn the negative of any situation into a positive, simply by self-reflection, taking risks and controlling the controllables. With his stories of living through the most extreme conditions and mentally coming to terms with unimaginable injustice, Raphael will leave your audience with a feeling of hope, drive and determination that change is in their control and uncovering their positive mindsets is all they need to live their best lives.

SPEECH TOPIC 3

DIVERSITY & INCLUSION; ACTIONS NOT WORDS

Recent times have seen a real movement amongst the workplace – one that recognises the power of having a diverse and inclusive workforce – but there is still a long way to go.

Sadly, Raphael found himself a victim of institutional racism which led to his wrongful sentencing and incarceration. After his release however, he made history as the first person of colour to present on BBC’s Today Programme, 6 o’clock News and Panorama. Raphael stands to evoke real change in society but even his transition into a journalist didn’t come without its pre-judgement, despite the fact the BBC was even condemned as “hideously  white” by those at the top.

There is still so much work to be done. Raphael firmly believes that education, acceptance and embracing each other’s differences are what will allow people from different cultures and backgrounds to flourish in the workplace and through his continuous efforts, he has
become a leading advocate for equality, social justice and reform.

Raphael is on a journey to support businesses on their road to change and by speaking for those who may feel injustice within the workplace, he can help companies to not only talk the talk, but always walk the talk.