In his talk, Maarten van der Weijden shares a powerful, four-step cycle Feel, Think, Compassion, Do that redefines resilience by centering it on compassion. He argues that the key to overcoming life’s greatest challenges isn’t just toughness, but a willingness to engage with our experiences authentically.

Drawing from his remarkable journey as a leukemia survivor turned Olympic champion, Maarten shows how compassion for oneself and others is the critical force that transforms profound setbacks into opportunities for genuine growth. His approach challenges conventional societal pressures to “just be strong,” offering instead a heartfelt, practical guide for facing life’s challenges with both intelligence and humanity.