I'm a humourist, motivational speaker and company culture architect who, through my real worldlived experience as a gay South African, Greek man faced prejudice in all forms. I activatecompanies to have the courageous conversations about the world of gender, diversity, equity andinclusivity.My signature keynote, The Shame Game, is packed with humour, sensitivity and deep insights about how destructive shame can be as an enemy to INCLUSIVITY. It shines a light on ways for companies to use kindness and tolerance as a substrate upon which they can grow their greatness, creativity, productivity and profitability.It explores my journey where I learned to hide who I really was; failing to accept myself and my unique place in society nearly killed me. I developed coping mechanisms that included substance abuse, which I wrote about in my critically acclaimed book, I Am Costa: From Meth To Marathons.In a nutshellI educate in an engaging and entertaining way diversity concepts that are normally difficult to navigate for companiesI challenge thinking around diversity and inclusivity and invite everyone to be open to new ways to engage with each otherI make people feel comfortable to express their authenticity in the workplaceMy humour and unique story creates a memorable moment for the collective audience; that triggers new thinking and behaviour towards one another. To look for the humanity in each other.I help companies create a culture of tolerance and inclusivity, where everyone feels they belong.I assist companies and employees clear blocks in their restrictive thinking around diversity to foster better relations, communication, safety for all and increased creativity and productivity.What some people have said about me:“An incredible story and a true testament to the strength we have.” - Roland Schoeman,SA Olympic Gold Medalist.“I laughed, I cried.” – Kuli Roberts, TV Host and Producer"Talk about turning pain into gold, delivering wisdom with a wicked sense of humour. Costa always adds value!" - John Sanei, Global SpeakerWhen I am not speaking, I'm flipping burgers at my two RocoMamas franchises, or consulting on marketing strategy. You may have also come across my acting skills on Legacy or The River or doing stand-up comedy.If you're looking for a humorous, insightful and dynamic speaker on gender mainstreaming, diversity, equity, inclusion, resilience and our shared humanity, consider me for your next conference or event.You can reach me on costa@thisiscosta.com or check out my website https://iamcosta.com/