‘It’s not what happens to us that is important, but what we do with what happens to us and if we choose to, we can get past anything that happens to us in life.’   

 – MADELEINE BLACK 

In these unprecedented times we face many challenges. Like many of you, I am finding new and innovative ways of working remotely to continue to motivate and inspire others in finding their resilience, strength and growing though adversity. Please get in touch with any enquiries.

INTERNATIONAL SPEAKER AND BEST-SELLING AUTHOR

Madeleine has an unusual personal story which she uses to inspire and motivate others. A deeply moving and empowering story, as she discovers that life is about how a person chooses to recover from adversity.  We are not defined by what knocks us down – we are defined by how we get back up.

Violently gang raped when she was thirteen years old, and raped three more times before the age of eighteen, Madeleine has experienced more trauma in her life than most ever will. Living in a state of shock and self-loathing, it took her years of struggle to confront the buried memories of that first attack and begin to undo the damage it wrought, as men continued to take advantage of her fragility in the worst possible way.

Yet, after growing up with a burden no teenager should ever have to shoulder, she found the heart to carry out the best revenge plan of all; leading a fulfilling and happy life.  For Madeleine, forgiveness was the key.  True forgiveness takes genuine effort.  It takes a real desire to understand those who have done us so much harm.  It is the ultimate act of courage.

Madeleine's Bio

FIND OUT MORE

Keynote Speaker

An experienced Keynote Speaker, Madeleine has an unusual personal story which she uses to inspire & motivate others.

The Book

In Unbroken, Madeleine tells her deeply moving and empowering story, as she discovers that life is about how a person chooses to recover from adversity.

TEDx

At TEDx in Glasgow, Madeleine shared her personal and moving story to shatter the shame, stigma and silence surrounding sexual violence.

Book Madeleine

Landi Jac (Business Strategist)

‘For our most recent international event in Namibia, we appointed Madeleine Black as the closing keynote to our conference, knowing she will help our audience to reconnect with their hearts. The power with which she spoke and the message about courage that she delivered got her a standing ovation and far exceeded my expectations. Madeleine clearly lives her values, understand how to create boundaries and is the face of hope.’

Eksteen de Waal (CEO of Exponentially Me)

‘Powerful, impactful and courageous. Madeleine does not leave a single person unmoved. With her vivid keynote and take always she inspires the audience to act.’

Matt Wallace (Helping HR managers)

‘Madeleine presented at the Life Through a Lens event in Inverness and it was incredible. Her story showed how one event can shape an entire life and affect our core beliefs. She was raw, full of passion about her subject and hooked you from start to finish to teach valuable lessons.’

Karen Tui Boyes (Champion for lifelong learning)

‘From the moment she took the stage, I was captivated by her presence, story and powerful message. Most of all I was moved by her grace, heart and courage in which she told her challenging story. Her words have stayed with me and made a positive impact on my life.’

Landi Jac (Business Strategist)

‘For our most recent international event in Namibia, we appointed Madeleine Black as the closing keynote to our conference, knowing she will help our audience to reconnect with their hearts. The power with which she spoke and the message about courage that she delivered got her a standing ovation and far exceeded my expectations. Madeleine clearly lives her values, understand how to create boundaries and is the face of hope.’

Eksteen de Waal (CEO of Exponentially Me)

‘Powerful, impactful and courageous. Madeleine does not leave a single person unmoved. With her vivid keynote and take always she inspires the audience to act.’

Matt Wallace (Helping HR managers)

‘Madeleine presented at the Life Through a Lens event in Inverness and it was incredible. Her story showed how one event can shape an entire life and affect our core beliefs. She was raw, full of passion about her subject and hooked you from start to finish to teach valuable lessons.’

Karen Tui Boyes (Champion for lifelong learning)

‘From the moment she took the stage, I was captivated by her presence, story and powerful message. Most of all I was moved by her grace, heart and courage in which she told her challenging story. Her words have stayed with me and made a positive impact on my life.’

IN THE MEDIA

Madeleine in the Media

CLIENTS

RECENT BLOG POSTS

Unbroken – The Podcast with Madeleine Black

I'm so excited to announce that I'm going to start my own podcast soon called "Unbroken - The Podcast with Madeleine Black" Through my journey, I have come across extraordinary people that have triumphed after adversity and have not just bounced back, but forward. By...
Read More

“Unbroken” | Episode 1| Mike Haines| Standing Against Hate

Welcome to "Unbroken" The Podcast.Healing Through Storytelling.** Contains frank descriptions of hatred and ideologically based violence, which may be disturbing to some listeners**#unbrokenthepodcastYou will learn the incredible power of choice- in even the most...
Read More

Kindness

It’s  Mental Health Awareness this week and the theme this year is kindness. I think it could be the most important week they’ve ever run They have chosen kindness because of its singular ability to unlock our shared humanity. Kindness strengthens relationships,...
Read More
View all posts

SUBSCRIBE/UNSUBSCRIBE

Any information submitted by using the form below will only ever be used to subscribe or unsubscribe you to receiving an email when a new blog post is published. It will never be used by us for any other reason or passed on to any third party. For more information on the use and storage of your Data please see our Privacy Policy Page

UNBROKEN – THE BOOK

amazon logo linking to site to pre-order unbroken

Out Now - Order Your Copy Today

 

Unbroken is Madeleine’s memoir and tells her story of being gang raped at thirteen by two American teenagers in the late 1970’s.  It follows her journey of survival, healing, forgiveness, transformation and hope.

Visit Amazon

Find Madeleine on Social

Madeleine Black Speaker & Author

14 hours ago

Madeleine Black Speaker & Author
Posted @withregram • @dgnofficial_ The 25th of November was day 1 of #16DaysofActivism against Gender-Based Violence, an international campaign that calls for advocacy, education & the elimination of violence against women & girls Here's an exerpt from our #AskAway episode with @madblack65 where she talks to us in depth about the campaign. Stay tuned for the full episode!------------------------madeleineblack.co.uk/www.unwomen.org/en/what-we-do/ending-violence-against-women/take-action/16-days-of-activism16dayscampaign.org/#OrangeTheWorld #16days #stopviolenceagainstwomen #stopviolence #domesticabuse #domesticviolence #domesticviolenceawareness #violencesfaitesauxfemmes #feminism #violenzasulledonne ... See MoreSee Less

Video

View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

Madeleine Black Speaker & Author

2 days ago

Madeleine Black Speaker & Author
1 in 3 women worldwide experience violence in their lifetime. On International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, during the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence and every day, I stand against all forms of gender-based violenceViolence against women and girls is a human rights violation that’s been perpetuated for decades. It’s pervasive, but it’s not inevitable, unless we stay silent.Speak out, #OrangeTheWorld & break the cycle of abuse during #16Days of Activism! I will continue to speak out and share my story of sexual violence to end the shame, stigma and silence and to help others find their courage and voice too #OurActionsMatter #16daysofactivism #endgbv #16days #endvaw #metoo ... See MoreSee Less

Photo

View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

Madeleine Black Speaker & Author Madeleine Black Speaker & Author is in London, United Kingdom.

4 days ago

Madeleine Black Speaker & Author
The book fairy is on her travels and made a book drop this morning at Victoria StationWonder who will find this copy? 📚 🧚🏼‍♀️💚#ibelieveinbookfairies #bookfairies #bookdrop #book #booklove #bookstagram #memoir #truestory #Unbroken ... See MoreSee Less

Photo

View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

Follow Madeleine on TwitterFollow

Avatar
Retweet on TwitterMadeleine Black Retweeted
AvatarMadeleine Black@madblack65·
15h

It took me years to find my voice to speak out being gang raped at 13, but now that I’ve found it I won’t be silent anymore and I will always believe survivors

https://madeleineblack.co.uk/whyididntreport

#OrangeTheWorld  #metoo  #16DaysofActivism #16Days  #endthesilence

Retweet on TwitterMadeleine Black Retweeted
AvatarClaire Drewery@DrCDrewery·
2h

@madblack65 I was 15 when this happened to me. Your description of disassociation is frighteningly familiar. I constantly question why women are so often assumed to be liars rather than victims of such extremities of abuse. Solidarity from one who knows, & 🙏 for your courage in speaking 💔

Retweet on TwitterMadeleine Black Retweeted
AvatarGlasgow Women's Aid@GWA1973·
24 Nov

Tomorrow we are launching our #16Days16Places campaign as part of the wider #16DaysofAction2021

16 organisations across Glasgow have signed up to host our QR code posters - leading to our animations challenging misconceptions surrounding domestic abuse.

#16DaysofActivism2021

Retweet on TwitterMadeleine Black Retweeted
Avatarbecausesheis.org@becausesheisorg·
4h

@madblack65 Thank you for speaking. It took a breakdown at 49 for me to start Because She Is, and to write my book "Press Pause" in order to share hope with survivors. Continue speaking. We need to come together in order to create change that truly provides HELP for survivors.

Retweet on TwitterMadeleine Black Retweeted
AvatarLouise Beech@LouiseWriter·
13h

@madblack65 I'm eternally grateful for your voice. xxx

Load More...