​Josh Perry, former professional BMX athlete and cancer survivor, shares what truly takes to break through when the stakes are real. After building a career on resilience, discipline, and calculated risk, Josh faced a far greater challenge: multiple brain tumor diagnoses that forced him to redefine identity, performance, and purpose.

​Speakers

​Josh Perry

​Most of us believe the answer is to push harder: more hours, more effort, more discipline, more control. But that mindset often becomes the very mental prison causing stress, burnout, and disconnection driven by the illusion external security equals safety and fulfillment.

​Josh knows because he lived it.

​Josh left home at 17 to chase a dream, became a pro BMX rider, competed in the X-Games… and along the way, he survived multiple brain tumors. That journey eventually became the foundation for the coaching business he runs today, serving leaders, teams, and competitive athletes.

​What he realized is his biggest gifts — perseverance, reframing adversity, simplifying complexity — also had a dark side. He pushed too far, overrode his emotions, and sometimes lost depth in relationships. And that’s what so many of his clients face too. They’re wildly successful, but stuck in survival mode driving harder, chasing more, trying to prove themselves… all while quietly sacrificing their health, relationships, and peace of mind.

​Here’s the thing: you don’t need to do more to perform at a higher level. You need to do less of what feels familiar and safe.

​Location

​Bay 7 at American Tobacco Campus

​324 Blackwell St #700, Durham, NC 27701

​Parking

​Free parking is available at the American Tobacco Campus North Deck, courtesy of CBC Real Estate.

• ​Map to: 305 W Pettigrew St, Durham, NC 27701

• ​Use the 2nd floor and above. (Please do not park on first floor.)

​Questions?

​This session is part of Raleigh-Durham Startup Week. Click here to learn more about the event, plus get answers to your FAQs.

​TRACK SUPPORTER

​​Thank you to Smith Anderson for supporting the Keynotes Track at #RDSW26!