Change the World - Liz Sumner

Orly is the founder of the global non-profit, Life Vest Inside, a kindness expert, educator, best selling author, entrepreneur and keynote speaker who inspires audiences to take action. Her talks and workshops provide the groundwork for lasting change and motivate people to become the best version of themselves so that they can influence the world for good. Drawing from her personal journey, groundbreaking science, and her signature wit, Orly inspires people to tap into the power of kindness—the most underutilized skill in today’s world. Through her talk, Orly demonstrates how kindness and a simple shift in perspective can alter the way a person connects with themselves and the world around them.

From a young age, Orly was determined to become a part of the change she wished to see in the world. After tragedy stuck her and her family in her adolescent years and she was thrown into a deep depression, Orly found her voice, her strength and made a promise to be there for others the way she had wished someone would have been there for her. It is that promise that has guided her along her journey.

From her teenage years as a community activist, Orly went on to become a middle school educator teaching the children to embrace unity, build their self-esteem and identify their purpose. In 2011, Orly founded Life Vest Inside, a non-profit organization with a mission to inspire, empower and educate people of all backgrounds to lead a life of kindness.

Life Vest Inside gained international acclaim when Orly’s award-winning film “Kindness Boomerang” went viral, receiving over 100 million people, landing her a spot at TED2013 and launched what has come to be known as the “Kindness Revolution”. Her film set a precedent that was incorporated into the culture and marketing strategy of companies and organizations alike.

Through Life Vest Inside, Orly has created a powerful kindness network that fosters dialogue with people across the globe, including parts of the world torn apart by conflict. Through our approach, we establish peace in place of conflict, love in place of hatred, hope in place of fear, and kindness in place of mistrust. As a result we have seen a positive change in the way people engage with one another and respect each other.

In 2012, Orly created and launched Dance for Kindness, the largest annual worldwide FlashMob which has grown to be a phenomenal leadership training program in over 50 countries. In 2015, she co-created Project Hope Exchange – a digital online repository of messages of hope. In 2017, Orly released her best-selling first book, Kindness Boomerang.

Orly travels globally giving talks and workshops in schools, companies and community centers as a means of inspiring others to infuse a culture of kindness into the everyday. Most recently, in 2019, Orly created and launched a mobile app in memory of her grandfather. The app, Abraham’s Legacy: A Social Network for Prayer connects people across the globe through the power of collective prayer.