Terry Jones
Founder of Travelocity & Founding Chairman of Kayak.com | Built Two Billion-Dollar Unicorns | Bestselling Author & AI Innovation Expert
Eduardo “Coco” Oderigo
Criminal Lawyer & Sports Psychologist | Co-Founder, Fundación Espartanos | TEDx Speaker | Disney+ Series Protagonist
Few stories cut through a corporate audience like Coco Oderigo's: a criminal lawyer who walked into a maximum-security prison in 2009 and walked out with a mission. As co-founder of Fundación Espartanos, he reduced inmate recidivism from 60% to under 5% across 44 prisons in Argentina and six countries. His keynotes on resilience, leadership, and human transformation are as evidence-based as they are unforgettable.
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Eduardo “Coco” Oderigo biography
Eduardo “Coco” Oderigo is an Argentine criminal lawyer, sports psychologist, and social entrepreneur whose work has become one of Latin America’s most compelling stories of transformation through sport. A graduate of Universidad de Belgrano and a former player at the prestigious San Isidro Club (SIC), Oderigo spent fifteen years working across criminal courts within Argentina’s National Judiciary — observing firsthand the revolving door of recidivism that no one seemed willing to break.
That changed in 2009, when a chance visit to the maximum-security Penal Unit 48 in San Martín, Buenos Aires, set a new course for his life. Where others saw danger, Oderigo saw an opportunity: to bring rugby — its discipline, teamwork, and values — behind prison walls. Against the skepticism of colleagues, prison administrators, and even friends, he launched the first incarcerated rugby team in Argentine history. The players named themselves Los Espartanos.
Fundación Espartanos: A Model for Social Reinsertion
In 2016, what had begun as a grassroots experiment formalized into Fundación Espartanos, an NGO that combines rugby with education and spirituality as a comprehensive rehabilitation model. The results are extraordinary: recidivism rates among program participants have dropped from over 60% nationally to as low as 2–5% among those who complete the program. Today, more than 2,500 people participate across 44 prison units in Argentina and in facilities in Uruguay, Chile, Peru, El Salvador, Spain, and Kenya. The foundation’s story was adapted into Espartanos: Una Historia Real, an eight-episode Disney+ series produced by former Los Pumas captain Agustín Pichot, with Oderigo portrayed by acclaimed actor Guillermo Pfening.
As a motivational speaker, Eduardo “Coco” Oderigo brings to the stage a story that is simultaneously intimate and sweeping — built on resilience, leadership, second chances, and the transformative power of belonging. Audiences at corporate events, leadership conferences, and social impact forums leave with a renewed understanding of what real change requires: courage to act, consistency under pressure, and the conviction that every person has an unrealized version of themselves for which it is worth fighting.
Eduardo “Coco” Oderigo Speaking Videos
Eduardo "Coco" Oderigo wins World Rugby Award for Character
He is a lawyer and founded a rugby team in a prison.
Eduardo “Coco” Oderigo Keynote Topics
What happens when you apply the principles of rugby — respect, sacrifice, discipline, and collective purpose — to a maximum-security prison? Coco Oderigo shares how he built one of Argentina's most effective rehabilitation programs from scratch, and what the experience taught him about what it truly means to lead. This keynote draws powerful parallels between high-pressure environments inside prison walls and the organizational challenges leaders face every day, offering a fresh lens on culture, accountability, and building teams that don't quit.
Recidivism in Argentina sits above 60%. Among Espartanos participants, it drops to 2–5%. In this keynote, Coco Oderigo unpacks the mindset, methodology, and relentless consistency that produced that gap. Drawing on fifteen years in the judiciary and over a decade running Fundación Espartanos, he offers audiences a framework for building environments where human potential is unlocked rather than discarded — applicable whether you're leading a sales team, a nonprofit, or a global company.
Organizations that invest in people — unconditionally, and especially when it's inconvenient — are the ones that earn trust, loyalty, and extraordinary performance. Coco Oderigo's journey from criminal court to prison rugby fields to the Disney+ screen is a masterclass in what happens when you bet on human beings. This keynote challenges audiences to rethink how they treat underperformers, disengaged employees, and people who simply haven't been given the right conditions to succeed.
Based on his acclaimed TEDxSanIsidro talk, this keynote explores the moment of decision — the one where you say yes to something uncomfortable, uncertain, and entirely outside your comfort zone — and how that single choice creates ripples that transform not just your life, but the lives of everyone around you. A session on courage, purpose, and the responsibility of action.
FAQs on Booking Eduardo “Coco” Oderigo
Why Eduardo "Coco" Oderigo?
Booking Eduardo "Coco" Oderigo for your event is an investment in a story that truly moves people. As the founder of Fundación Espartanos and one of Argentina's most sought-after motivational speakers, Coco delivers something rare: a keynote rooted in lived reality, not theory. He took a radical idea — teaching rugby to maximum-security prisoners — and turned it into a scalable social transformation model now active in more than 44 prison facilities across Argentina and six other countries. His ability to translate the values of teamwork, resilience, and leadership into lessons that resonate with corporate audiences, executives, and high-performance teams makes him one of the most impactful voices available for conferences today. Represented by Aurum Speakers Bureau, Coco is available for keynotes, panel discussions, and leadership workshops.
What is Fundación Espartanos and how did it start?
Fundación Espartanos is an Argentine NGO founded in 2016 by Eduardo "Coco" Oderigo that uses rugby, education, and spirituality to rehabilitate incarcerated individuals and reduce recidivism. It grew out of a visit Oderigo made to Penal Unit 48 in San Martín, Buenos Aires, in 2009, where he began teaching rugby to prisoners informally. The program's participants named themselves Los Espartanos — after the Spartan warriors — and the name stuck. What began with a single prison unit has since expanded to over 44 facilities in Argentina and operations in Uruguay, Chile, Peru, El Salvador, Spain, and Kenya, reaching more than 2,500 people.
Is there a series or documentary about Espartanos?
Yes. Espartanos: Una Historia Real is an eight-episode fictional series based directly on Eduardo "Coco" Oderigo's story, available on Disney+. Produced by former Los Pumas captain Agustín Pichot through his production company PEGSA, the series stars Guillermo Pfening as Oderigo. Two former Los Pumas players — Juan Leguizamón and Javier Ortega Desio — also appear in the cast. The series premiered in February 2025 and received widespread critical attention across Latin America.
What topics does motivational speaker Eduardo "Coco" Oderigo cover?
Eduardo "Coco" Oderigo speaks on leadership under adversity, the power of teamwork and trust, resilience and reinvention, social impact and purpose-driven organizations, and the psychology of high performance. He draws on his dual career as a criminal lawyer and the founder of one of Latin America's most recognized social reinsertion programs to deliver keynotes that are both emotionally compelling and strategically relevant. His talks are especially impactful for audiences focused on organizational culture, human potential, and change leadership. To check Coco's availability or request a booking, contact Aurum Speakers Bureau.
How to book Eduardo “Coco” Oderigo as a keynote speaker?
Aurum Speakers Bureau can help you book Eduardo “Coco” Oderigo as a speaker for your next event, conference, or board meeting. Simply fill out our contact form to inquire about Eduardo “Coco” Oderigo's availability for a speaking engagement. One of our booking agents will respond to your request immediately and contact the speaker to let them know you want to hire them. We will assist you with obtaining speaking fees, booking information, and confirming availability for Eduardo “Coco” Oderigo or any other top keynote speaker or celebrity of your choice.
How much is Eduardo “Coco” Oderigo speaking fee?
Eduardo “Coco” Oderigo speaking fees are determined by several factors, including the event's date, whether it's a virtual or in-person event, the duration, format, preparation required for their speech, and more. The same applies to the cost to hire any other top expert speakers and celebrities. The Speaker Fee Range listed on our website is simply a guideline and is subject to change without notice. If you would like to hire Eduardo “Coco” Oderigo to deliver a keynote speech for your event, please fill out the contact form or email us at info@aurumbureau.com with as much detail as possible. One of our experienced agents will get in touch with you and let you know exactly how much it will cost to book Eduardo “Coco” Oderigo.
How can I contact Eduardo “Coco” Oderigo?
We only work with Eduardo “Coco” Oderigo on paid speaking engagements. Aurum Speakers Bureau can assist you in booking Eduardo “Coco” Oderigo and will handle all negotiations, contracts, and logistics associated with having Eduardo “Coco” Oderigo speak at your event. We will be your sole point of contact throughout the process. Get in touch with Aurum Speakers Bureau today, and we will reach out to any motivational speaker or celebrity you want to enquire about speaking at your event. If you wish to contact Eduardo “Coco” Oderigo for any other reason, we will be unable to assist you as we are not authorized to provide personal contact information.
Can I book Eduardo “Coco” Oderigo for a virtual keynote?
Yes, Eduardo “Coco” Oderigo is available for virtual keynotes and webinars. To book Eduardo “Coco” Oderigo for a virtual event, please complete the contact form or send us an email to inquire about the special fees for virtual engagements.
