Meet Kyle
“My mission is to help drive change and transformation in the world through contrarian ideas and efforts.” ~ Kyle
Kyle W. D. Nelson is an entrepreneur, unconventional thinker, and survivor of multiple traumatic events that have shaped his contrarian way of thinking. Some of his life events include surviving an abduction attempt while walking home from elementary school, donating a kidney while in business school, and saving two people’s lives from violent crime –just to mention a few events that have shaped his life path.
The last instance occurred in January 2020, when Kyle came upon an attempted murder in progress at a remote gas station in Texas. What he saw was two teens with knives repeatedly stabbing the gas station employee. Kyle intervened, saving the man’s life. It was this traumatic event that led to Kyle being diagnosed with PTSD. In response, he has aggressively taken control of his mental health and created the “This Contrarian Life" movement.
“This Contrarian Life” is based on the principle that you should reason independently, resist the pressure to conform, and build yourself (mentally, emotionally, physically, and professionally) from the ground up. By staying loyal to yourself, you will find your purpose and lead a more fulfilling life. “This Contrarian Life” is Kyle’s gift to the world, built on all the tragedy and triumph he has experienced.
Kyle has always believed that the biggest and best bet anyone will ever make is on themselves – and the bigger those bets, the greater the reward.
Background
Kyle’s professional background includes his current roles as investor/entrepreneur and management consultant, mostly focusing on healthcare organizations. Kyle trains, coaches, and advises like-minded organizations on how to achieve desired results. He also enjoys working with start-ups or smaller organizations seeking to implement a winning strategy for growth.
Prior to his current work, Kyle had a successful career as a CEO of a large regional private orthopedic practice in Colorado. He helped the organization triple its gross revenue and become the multistate presence it is today.
Kyle earned his MBA from the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota and participated in the first-ever Carlson School of Management’s Ethics Leadership trip to Europe in 2003. He received his undergraduate degree in biology from UM’s College of Biological Sciences. He also sequenced DNA for two years while in school.
In his spare time, when he’s not busy writing his autobiography, Kyle enjoys volunteering in his community, traveling, camping, and seeking out unique adventures. He is an avid golfer, concert- goer, and hiker. He is a proud father to three amazing kids and the grandfather to a marvelous grandson.
Kyle is available for interviews, speaking engagements, podcast bookings, and other contrarian adventures! For interviews or media requests, please submit your media request now. To connect with him about seeking the contrarian path in all that you do, you can reach Kyle at kyle@thiscontrarianlife.com.
