TORSTEN 

The word people have used to describe me is Maverick. My life has been defined by defying expectations and turning every “no” into a “yes.” At 15, a diving accident in the Bahamas left me a C6 quadriplegic, a moment many might view as limiting, but I see as transformative. That day, when I drowned and was clinically dead for 2.5 minutes, became one of the most important—and even best—days of my life.

It ignited a relentless drive to break through barriers, climb the corporate ladder, become the world’s only quadriplegic rescue scuba diver, and complete 12 marathons in 12 months. My story is not about inspiration but action: finding “loopholes” to succeed beyond the limitations others (and even we) place on ourselves.

In 2021, I added a new chapter to my journey: car racing. Living near Lime Rock Park, one of the country's premier tracks, combined with a lifelong love for speed and a track-day gift from my wife, Maggie, set me on this thrilling path. Racing became more than just a sport—it became freedom. Once buckled into my hand-controlled Porsche GT4 Cayman Clubsport MR, I leave my wheelchair behind and compete on equal terms. Since then, I’ve raced in International GT, SCCA, and the World Racing League, earning podium finishes and opening doors, including a role in Pennzoil commercials, becoming a brand ambassador for Volkswagen and a very exciting project which launches in March.

Beyond the track, I’ve built a dynamic career as a marketing strategist, currently serving as Chief Marketing Officer at Aloqia. Over the years, I’ve held leadership roles with Deloitte Consulting, J Walter Thompson, BBDO, and R/GA, and co-founded the Just Hands Foundation, which introduces adaptive athletes to performance driving and mountain biking. My work, both on and off the track, is fueled by a desire to motivate others—not just with ideas but with actionable ways to overcome their “wheelchairs,” whether visible or not, and turn challenges into superpowers.

Today, I live in Sharon, CT, with Maggie and our dog, Beau, embracing life as a constant adventure. Through racing, speaking, and sharing my story, I aim to show that limitations are often illusions. Whether battling a physical disability, PTSD, navigating relationship challenges, striving in the corporate world, or anything else, the key is to recognize the barriers within, push past them, and say “yes” to the possibilities ahead.