Unstoppable Tracy Schmitt
Embrace Possibility
Welcome
Hello Sisters,
How many times in your life have you thought, “I just can’t do that”?
After reading about Unstoppable Tracy, you may never think that again.
We love hearing from you and we hope you will continue to share
wmnmakingchange.com with others.
In solidarity and sisterhood,
Johnnetta Betsch Cole and Snowden McFall
wmnmakingchange.com
Unstoppable Tracy
“Your limitations are only as real as you allow them to be. Step over them, and you’ll find a world waiting to be conquered.”
Unstoppable Tracy Schmitt
From Snowden:
I met the wonderful Tracy Schmitt in Toronto in 2024 at an event where we were both being honored. I didn’t know anyone there, was a little nervous, and one of the first people I met was Unstoppable Tracy. She was so warm and welcoming. She is such a bright light that I knew I wanted to know her better. As we discussed this article, we discovered several more commonalities. We are both sailors, although she is a world champion. And we both taught school voluntarily in Kingston, Jamaica, an experience which enriched and awakened us both. Spend five minutes talking with her and you’ll understand why this shero is such a complete joy and inspiration to know. She lives life fully, embracing possibility everywhere she goes.
Tracy Schmitt, or Unstoppable Tracy as she is known worldwide, was born in Ontario in the middle of a snowstorm, with a rare congenital condition which resulted in her having no legs and only partially developed arms. Given grim predictions by the doctors, her fierce parents faced difficult decisions, but they lovingly embraced her and raised her to believe that nothing could stop her. They created homemade prosthetics to help her navigate and explore. She learned how to find solutions at a very early age and this philosophy is at the root of her life choices. “ I learned there’s no excuses, ‘no’ means they just don’t know, and everybody’s a valuable contributor.”
Unstoppable Tracy faced one of her biggest challenges early on. She was initially not permitted to enroll in kindergarten, as the principal had no idea how to teach her. However, hearing how she tied the shoes of 30 other children, none of whom knew how to do so, he understood her spirit and capability and became a big supporter. So much so that decades later when her book came out, he attended her book signing and cheered her on.
One of the big themes of her life when overcoming obstacles is: “I don’t know how, but we’ll figure it out.” So Unstoppable Tracy learned to read and write and she started crafting stories. She spent her summers at TESS The Easter Seal Society camps, where she swam, canoed, and rode horses, gaining confidence and courage.
At age 19, Tracy Schmitt climbed mountains in the Himalayas where sheer drops challenged her courage and endurance, emerging victorious. She was one of the first with her disability to achieve such an accomplishment. One of her greatest lessons on independence came while hanging in front of a rock face, stuck and very scared, and hearing someone else shout out to her. That reminded her that while she could pursue her dreams, she wasn’t alone. Today she asks her business audiences “ Who are your life lines? Who believes in you? If you have one person who believes in you, you can make it.”
Tracy Schmitt graduated with a Bachelor of Recreation and Leisure Studies (BRLS) from Brock University and a Bachelor of Education (BEd) from Queen’s University. This led to her exploring the world and volunteering as a teacher in Uganda, Nepal and Jamaica. From those fascinating and sometimes daunting experiences she learned, “ Nothing about us without us.” That means no one left behind and collaborating with others to meet goals, rather than trying to do it all yourself.
After earning her MBA in Organizational Leadership from the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto, Unstoppable Tracy began speaking and consulting for corporations, developing high performance teams and achieving amazing results with companies like Air Canada and Shoppers Drug Mart. She focuses on leadership training,
and activating change and possibility with the many business audiences she serves.
She also became a decorated para-alpine skier, claiming a bronze medal at the World Cup, demonstrating her sense of adventure, tenacity and playfulness. Learning how to ski illustrates her theme of “Embrace Possibility.” She realized her ski instructor had large feet, and that her thighs could fit into men’s ski boots facing backwards. It worked! She mastered skiing on Marble Mountain in Newfoundland, and after 20 runs she realized “ The only difference between success and failure is one more try.”
Her championship sailing career is one of Unstoppable Tracy’s most inspiring sagas, which still continues. At age 7, she fell in love with the sport, but quickly realized she would have to approach it differently than her friends, because she kept falling into the water. She began to read the waves and wind and mastered the basics. In 2012, she became a rising star. Oprah Magazine shared her story as a Quest for the Gold World Cup Sailor competing against able bodied men. She came in 2nd at the U.S. Disabled Sailing Championships in 2024.
In 2025, Unstoppable Tracy represented Canada in Sidney, Australia, and finished 2nd overall in the Gold Fleet of the Martin 16 class, and earned first and third in other competitions.
Unstoppable Tracy has had great success as a professional speaker and consultant. Having spoken in over 40 countries, her incredible passion for possibility and belief in others radiates through every presentation. As the bestselling author of Unstoppable YOU: Exceed Uncertainty, Embrace Possibilities, Earn Independence, she has appeared on stages with Jane Fonda and Dr. Phil. Honored as the #1 Female Transformational Global Leader by the John Maxwell Organization, Unstoppable Tracy has been inducted into Canada’s Disability Hall of Fame. She’s also appeared in media globally including ABC, BBC, CBC, NBC and many more.
Both a leadership and change expert, Unstoppable Tracy is also a committed social activist, and has consistently lobbied to break down barriers for people with disabilities around the world. Her global humanitarian efforts have touched millions of lives. She was named the Top Inspirational Speaker and Top Empowered Woman by the International Association of Top Professionals. Unstoppable Tracy serves on 20 different boards and has just joined the board of Adaptive Ocean Academy. For her long time support of Able Sail Toronto, she was awarded the 2024 Linda Clarke Exceptional Service Award. She also received the
C-SASIL Lifetime Achievement Award.
Tracy Schmitt is an incredible global changemaker and she is indeed Unstoppable. With humor, courage and boundless positivity, she pours herself into everything she does, from mountain climbing and scuba diving to sailing to speaking and serving others. She is a phenomenal example to us all to let nothing stop you.
Throughout her life, Unstoppable Tracy has focused on:
- Leadership and change management
- Women’s empowerment and gender equity
- Disability inclusion and accessibility
- Mental health and resilience
- Global humanitarian aid
Lessons from Unstoppable Tracy’s Life:
Exceed uncertainty; feeling uncertain is no excuse for inaction.
Even as a young child, whenever Tracy Schmitt had a new challenge to overcome, she took action. Tying the shoelaces of other 30 other five year olds in kindergarten, she overcame the objections of a skeptical principal.
Embrace possibility, even if you don’t know how.
When Tracy Schmitt wanted to learn how to scuba dive, she knew it was going to take longer than other people. While some could learn over a weekend, she thought, “ This may take me 20 dives each year for a few years.” But she still did it. She didn’t turn from the challenge because it was daunting.
Earn Independence
While captaining a 110-foot tall ship during the Quest for Gold World Cup sailing competition, Unstoppable Tracy confronted a skeptical crew. Hoisting sales, tightening winches, steering the helm, all are traditionally done with hands. But Unstoppable Tracy won them over with tenacity and strength, delegating effectively, adapting to her body. When the race ended, the crew’s called her “the Unsinkable Tracy.”
Action Steps You Can Take:
- What challenges in your life have you walked away from because you didn’t think you were capable? Embrace possibility and sit with a friend, brainstorming ways to make it happen.
- When have you let uncertainty prevent you from moving forward? What’s a new approach you could take to overcome the uncertainty?
- Independence means interdependence. Who can you count on to help you through life’s adversities? Write them a letter or card telling them how much you appreciate their support.
