Simone Knego

Keynote Speaker / Author

Simone Knego is an author and speaker who has taken a non-linear path to arrive at her purpose. Like so many, Knego made life choices according to what she thought she was supposed to do. She graduated from The University of Florida, passed her CPA exam, and later realized she was just going through the motions. That’s when Knego decided to change the way she saw herself—to her surprise, it changed the way the world saw her, too.

She stopped listening to the little voice in her head telling her to play it safe. That led to her climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, writing a motivational book (The Extraordinary UnOrdinary You), and adopting three kids from South Korea and Ethiopia. Knego also discovered a love for public speaking through volunteering at the Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee. These days, she’s a keynote speaker who inspires other people to realize what they’re capable of.

“You don’t have to be a huge celebrity on stage,” Knego says. “You don’t have to be a big-time philanthropist. You just need to be you.” Her message includes taking the time to interact with people and valuing them as people versus their function in your life. She also emphasizes how words matter. “We don’t use the word ‘can’t’ in our family. Instead of saying you can’t do something, ask yourself if you WANT to do it.”

Knego stays involved with the national and local Jewish Federation because “it’s about humanity. It’s about caring for other people, respecting them for exactly who they are.” That idea—plus the Jewish phrase Tikkun Olam, meaning “repair the world”—informs all Knego does. 

Along with her neurosurgeon husband, six kids, and four dogs, Knego is repairing the world through small acts of kindness and reminding others of their own extraordinariness.

Simone Knego
Keynote Speaker/ Author
simone@simoneknego.com
simoneknego.com