Rolf Schrama

About Rolf Schrama

Rolf has a very rare form of dwarfism, which made the outlook at his birth very bleak. As a result, Rolf has faced many extreme challenges. From a young age, he set himself the goal of living grandly. From a street punk in secondary school, he climbed up to become a doctorandus in Economics. One day, from the posh office building along the Amsterdam canals, he looked outside and thought, ‘Is this life really that grand?’

“You should not fight against the wind, but you should use it to move forward”

The story of Paralympic sailor Rolf (1.25m) is not a standard success story, but an authentic, vulnerable, and humorous tale of how he set a wrong course, ended up in increasingly severe weather, and ultimately faced shipwreck. He realized that he had made the entire journey for the outside world. After a deep valley, he literally took the helm into his own hands, set a new course, and slowly regained control over his life. It was the beginning of an unforgettable journey where he learned countless lessons about what growth is truly about.

From start to finish, Rolf captivates his audience with a smile and a tear with his life story, which will serve as a wake-up call for many to take a good look at themselves. In a compelling narrative, Rolf shares how he then went in search of himself. How he began to accept his disability and ultimately embraced it. From that moment on, he was able to redefine his notion of greatness. Four years ago, he stepped into a sailboat for the first time and knew almost immediately. I want to participate in the Paralympic Games in Rio. From that day on, he traveled the world with his boat, taking one step closer to his ultimate goal every day.

Rolf’s lectures are as customized as possible but, of course, also very authentic. Because Rolf has not walked a conventional path. Effortlessly, he draws parallels between his life as an elite athlete, economist, and his life with a disability. What has he learned from this? How does he deal with changes? Are you searching for your better self? How does he experience setbacks? Or are there none? What goals does he set and why? In short, a positive story that will make you and your employees think, after which you can build an even more beautiful future together!