JUSTIN WREN HAS DEDICATED HIS LIFE to making a positive impact . Inspired by a life-changing trip to the Democratic Republic of Congo , the wrestler and MMA fighter founded Fight for the Forgotten to help provide clean water , education and empowerment to Pygmy communities in Africa . He advocates for indigenous rights and is a powerful voice for marginalized communities .

Justin Wren will present the Power Session address on the third day of the 2024 ISPA Conference in Phoenix , where he will accept the 2024 ISPA Alex Szekely Humanitarian Award . ( See Justin Wren ’ s keynote speaker profile on page 18 .)

IN HIS OWN WORDS

Pulse : At the 2024 ISPA Conference , you will be honored with the ISPA Alex Szekely Humanitarian Award . When did you start focusing on humanitarian work ? When did you consider philanthropic action to be your calling ? Justin Wren : I ’ ve been pursuing humanitarian work and philanthropic action as my calling since 2011 . I was only 24 years old . And I realized life ’ s not about me . Life ’ s about we . Or us . All of us .

And my biggest fear is regret at the end of my life . Looking back and knowing I could have made waves for good and change — change in this world , on this earth , in my community , or even halfway across the globe — and

I said no instead of yes . And so I try to say yes to impact and yes to making a meaningful difference , whether it ’ s for a moment or for a lifetime .

And I ’ m incredibly honored to get this award . I ’ m humbled . Thank you so much . Whenever I received the news , I spent about an hour in gratitude in my office , in the sauna , in the ice bath . And I texted my favorite powerhouse women , Amy , my mom . And with this incredible community of ISPA , I know it ’ s going to be a very special moment in my life that I ’ ll always be thankful for and look back on and just be humbled . I can ’ t wait to be there to celebrate all of you and all the meaningful work that you do on a day-to-day basis , through your vocation , and through your calling ! n

MARCH 2024 n PULSE 25