RYAN’S STORY
How a 2,000-mile walk, a collapsed life, and two decades in branding turned into a message the world needs now.
Meet Ryan Benz
For years, Ryan Benz helped global brands tell their stories. He was good at it—really good.
He spent his days helping organizations uncover what made them truly unique.
But somewhere along the way, he realized something he could no longer ignore: he had lost himself.
On paper, life looked great—a growing career, a steady relationship, a beautiful home.
But the pace, the pressure, and the constant push to perform slowly pulled him out of alignment.
He found himself living a life that looked successful… but didn’t feel meaningful.
So he did something few people have the courage to do: he paused.
He packed his life into a backpack and hiked more than 2,000 miles on the Appalachian Trail.
What began as a physical journey became something much deeper—a stripping away of noise, pressure, and performance.
Somewhere between the blisters and the breakdowns, he discovered a truth that now guides all of his work:
“You don’t need to become someone new. You just need to remember who you already are.”
From building brands to building authentic lives.
With nearly two decades of experience in brand strategy—both before and after the trail—Ryan has spent his career helping organizations uncover what makes them truly unique.
Today, that same expertise guides his work with people and purpose-driven organizations: helping them build their most authentic brand from the inside out.
Through storytelling, mindfulness, and practical reflection, Ryan helps audiences reconnect with who they are beneath the layers of expectation, comparison, and performance.
The work today.
Ryan is now a bestselling and award-winning author, TEDx speaker, and storyteller known for his deeply human approach to authenticity and personal growth.
His memoir, Wander: A Memoir of Letting go and Walking 2,000 Miles to a Meaningful Life, chronicles that transformation from burnout to belonging.
His TEDx talk, The Quiet Rebellion of Being Yourself, expands the message for our times — revealing that authenticity isn’t something you find; it’s something you build.
From schools to corporations to leadership summits, Ryan inspires audiences to live and lead with greater clarity, courage, and connection—reminding us that in a world of performance and comparison, being yourself is the quiet rebellion that changes everything.
Certifications & Training
Certified Mindfulness Teacher
Certified Nature & Forest Therapy Guide
Certified Yoga Instructor
Certified Life Coach
20 years in Brand Strategy
As Seen In
TEDx
National Speaking Tours
Fortune 500 Companies & Universities
Dozens of School Districts & Youth Organizations
Wellness & Leadership Events
Media Outlets & Podcasts
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Ryan Benz is a bestselling and award-winning author, TEDx speaker, and storyteller known for his deeply human approach to authenticity and personal growth.
With nearly two decades of experience as a brand strategist, Ryan brings a rare perspective to his work: the understanding that the most important brand you’ll ever build is the one inside yourself. Today, he helps people and organizations uncover what makes them truly unique—building authenticity from the inside out.
His bestselling memoir, Wander, and his TEDx Talk, The Quiet Rebellion of Being Yourself, have inspired audiences worldwide to live and lead with greater clarity, courage, and connection.
Because in a world obsessed with performance, attention, and comparison, Ryan reminds us that authenticity isn’t a trend—it’s a quiet rebellion that changes everything.
Ryan lives in New Jersey with his family, where he continues to write, speak, and explore the intersection of authenticity, awareness, and purpose.