Dorsa Derakhshani

Dorsa Derakhshani has failed—on global stages, in private moments, and in the pressure of high expectations. And she's learned to be grateful for every single time. From being publicly banned by her home country to losing World Chess Championship Gold for girls under 16 to struggling through medical school setbacks. Too often, we’re taught to avoid failure—but failure has been her greatest teacher. She's learned to reframe failure as redirection.

In this talk, Dorsa opens up about what it’s really like to be a high-achiever who sometimes falls—hard—and how she's found purpose in getting back up. She explores imposter syndrome, perfectionism, and the intense pressure to succeed, especially as a woman, an immigrant, and someone navigating two demanding fields: elite chess and medicine. Through her journey, Dorsa has discovered that failing forward builds grit, emotional maturity, and long-term success. This talk is for students, professionals, and perfectionists like Dorsa who need the reminder that failure doesn’t define you—what you do next does.

'The human life is made up of choices. Yes or no. In or out. Up or down. And then there are the choices that matter… Love or hate. To be a hero or to be a coward. To fight or to give in'

Attendee Results:

• Learn to reframe failure as redirection
• Gain mental tools for bouncing back stronger
• Understand how resilience fuels long-term success
• Walk away more willing to try, fall, and rise again