Athlete/Anchor/Exec

 NINA SOSSAMON-POGUE

USA Gymnast | Emmy-Winning News Anchor | Tech Exec | Author

“I want to be in a room full of smart, hard-working people who are facing a challenge and embolden them to keep leveling up, and then give them the tools to handle anything that gets in their way.” ~Nina

I’m on a mission to help high achievers and ambitious teams take on the tough stuff - rewire fear, reduce stress, and build real resilience that lasts a lifetime.

I’ve spent decades performing under pressure. As a team U.S.A Gymnast, Emmy-winning news anchor, tech executive, and bestselling author, I’ve lived and led in high-stakes environments where fear and uncertainty are part of the job. I was on the leadership team of a hyper-growth SaaS company that scaled to a successful IPO, and I saw firsthand how mental wellness, constant change, and pressure to perform take a toll, even on the best and brightest.

Along the way, I became obsessed with what helps people thrive through challenge… not just survive it. I studied neuroscience, cognitive behavioral therapy, and stoic philosophy. I researched elite athletes, entrepreneurs and organizations that had highs and lows. And I developed a practical, proven framework called THIS Method. It’s a science-meets-stoicism approach that helps people rewire their brains under pressure, shift how they think, and show up stronger in every area of life.

Through my keynotes, I teach driven professionals how to build the kind of resilience that fuels growth, clarity, and sustainable success - without burning out.

I’ve been trusted to speak to global brands like GE, Chick-fil-A, SHRM, and top cybersecurity and tech organizations. But what drives me most isn’t the logos, it’s the people.

I want to be in a room full of hard-working humans and empower them to take on the tough stuff - and keep leveling up.

Experienced, Intelligent, Authentic

Nina’s Mission:

‘Helping Hardworking Humans Thrive Through Tough Times’

We’re in a Mental Health Crisis that is crippling individuals and organizations across the globe, and we need our best and brightest to keep reaching new heights. Nina’s message can help during this unprecedented time. “I want to make the world a better place by motivating and equipping our best and brightest to tackle challenges and navigate change.” - Nina

‘THIS’ Framework

Because thriving under pressure starts with how you think—not how much you can take.

Nina created the T.H.I.S. framework as a practical tool for navigating Challenges. To handle the stress, setbacks, and pressure. It’s rooted in research from neuroscience, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and Stoic philosophy - all of which show that how we think, connect, and respond to adversity can physically reshape our brains and influence our outcomes.

Each step, Timeline, Humans, Isolate, and Story, targets a specific psychological process:

• Timeline creates perspective, helping regulate emotional intensity through cognitive distancing.

• Humans taps into the social safety system, calming the nervous system through connection.

• Isolate teaches focus and control, reducing anxiety by applying Stoic principles and narrowing attention to the present.

• Story engages neuroplasticity - reframing thoughts to shift mindset and build new mental patterns.

The result? You feel more grounded, less overwhelmed, and more in control, even in the middle of chaos.

Resilience Personified

Background:

1. 1980s: Member of the USA Gymnastics Team; Olympic hopeful; awarded "Miss Congeniality" at the USA Gymnastics Championships.

2. 1985-1986: Competed for Louisiana State University’s gymnastics team (SEC powerhouse); athletic career ended by a knee injury, featured in The Reveille with the headline “Another One Bites the Dust.”

3. Post-College: Began journalism career as a reporter at WBRZ-TV in Baton Rouge, LA.

4. 1992-2007: Became an Emmy-winning journalist and television news anchor in Charleston, SC, receiving the Emmy Award for Best News Anchor in the Southeast and being voted Charleston’s Favorite News Anchor for 10 consecutive years.

5. 2007-2019: Transitioned to the tech industry, joining the leadership team of SaaS company Benefitfocus. Played a pivotal role as VP of Marketing and Communications during its highly successful IPO, recognized by Forbes as a top ten tech IPO of 2013.

6. 2019-Present: Published two best-selling books:

   • This Is Not The End: Strategies to Get You Through the Worst Chapters of Your Life (2019).

   • But I Want Both: The Working Mom’s Guide to Creating a Life She Loves (updated edition, Fall 2023).

7. 2020s: Full time speaker, and Host of the podcast This Seriously Sucks: The Right Podcast When Life Goes Seriously Wrong (two seasons available).

8. Non-Profit Work: Executive Advisor with the Alzheimer’s Association; focuses on Alzheimer’s advocacy in memory of her father (passed in 2017); serves on several non-profit boards.

9. Present Day: Today, Nina lives in Charleston, SC, with her husband Ben, and they’re proud parents to three thriving adult children. She travels the country as a sought-after motivational speaker, equipping audiences with the mindset and tools to navigate change, overcome adversity, and keep rising—no matter what.

Brief BIO

Nina Sossamon-Pogue is a nationally recognized keynote speaker who helps high achievers and ambitious teams rewire stress so it fuels success instead of breaking performance. Her bold message: Train your brain. Change the game. She equips audiences with practical, science-backed tools to rewire fear, reduce stress, and build real resilience—so they can thrive through change and succeed for the long haul.

Nina’s career spans elite athletics, broadcast journalism, and executive leadership. She competed as a USA Gymnast (1982–1984), became an Emmy-winning news anchor for more than a decade, and served on the leadership team of a hyper-growth SaaS company for 10+ years, helping take Benefitfocus public in 2013. Along the way, she faced career-ending injury, public setbacks, and personal tragedy - including a car accident that made headlines and tested her at every level. Through it all, she didn’t just bounce back - she came back stronger.

Today, Nina blends lived experience with her deep study of neuroscience, stoic philosophy, and cognitive behavioral psychology to deliver her proven method called THIS, a framework that equips audiences to meet challenges of all sizes head-on and come out stronger.

She is the author of two bestselling books, This Is Not the End and But I Want Both, and host of the podcast This Seriously Sucks: The Right Podcast When Life Goes Seriously Wrong. Nina has spoken for national brands like GE, Chick-fil-A, SHRM, and at leading tech and cybersecurity events throughout the US, and she’s frequently called on to help teams navigate stress, pressure, and high-performance demands.

Named a Woman of Distinction by the State of South Carolina, Nina serves on multiple nonprofit boards and is a passionate advocate for the Alzheimer’s Association. Based in Charleston, SC, she travels globally, helping hardworking humans take on the tough stuff, rewire stress, and keep leveling up.