Through movement and storytelling, this partnership highlights the emotional and physical realities of living with drug-resistant epilepsy.
LivaNova, a global leader in medical technology, has announced a meaningful new partnership with professional dancer and epilepsy advocate Briar Nolet, who will deliver a bespoke performance at the LivaNova Global Leadership Conference (GLC) 2025, held at The Starling Hotel in Atlanta on 1–2 December 2025. This collaboration brings together Nolet’s artistry, personal resilience, and international influence with LivaNova’s mission to improve quality of life for patients worldwide. It highlights the company’s commitment to weaving human stories into its leadership narrative, ensuring innovation remains deeply connected to the lives it impacts.
About Briar Nolet: Performer, Advocate, and Voice for Epilepsy Awareness
Briar Nolet is a celebrated Canadian dancer and actress known for her explosive movement style, global touring career, and standout performances on screen, including her role as “Richelle” on The Next Step and her Top 5 finish on NBC’s World of Dance. Beyond her professional achievements, Nolet is widely admired for her openness about living with epilepsy. Diagnosed at 19 after experiencing seizures from a young age, Nolet has spoken candidly about navigating fear, disruption, and uncertainty yet refusing to let her condition end her dance career. Her message of resilience, courage, and self-empowerment has inspired audiences worldwide, positioning her as a powerful advocate for epilepsy awareness and patient visibility.
About LivaNova: A Global Leader in Life-Changing Therapies
LivaNova is an international medical technology company focused on improving patient outcomes across two core therapy areas. LivaNova is a market leader in VNS Therapy, an implanted device designed to help control, reduce, or eliminate seizures in patients living with Drug-Resistant Epilepsy (DRE). The company is also a global leader in heart lung machine technology for major cardiac and chest surgeries. With operations in more than 100 countries, LivaNova continues to advance cutting-edge therapies that support both neurological health and life-saving surgical care. At its core is a commitment to the people behind the medical devices, their stories, struggles and successes.
A Performance with Purpose: Bringing the Patient Journey to Life
At GLC 2025, Nolet will perform a 60–90 second interpretive dance piece, followed by a live on-stage interview that invites attendees into her personal journey with epilepsy. The performance is crafted to reflect the emotional and physical realities experienced by individuals living with drug-resistant epilepsy and other neurological challenges. Through movement, Nolet will depict a story of fear, disruption, hope, and transformation, mirroring the experiences of patients who rely on therapies such as LivaNova’s VNS Therapy. Her presence creates a rare opportunity for global leaders and stakeholders to experience the patient journey not through clinical data but through emotion, empathy, and human connection.
Why This Partnership Is a Powerful Match
This collaboration is uniquely powerful because it is rooted in authenticity, shared purpose and meaningful storytelling. Briar Nolet’s lived experience with epilepsy brings a genuine and trusted voice to LivaNova’s mission, allowing her to humanise the impact of medical innovation through her movement and narrative. Her performance bridges the gap between clinical advancements and the emotional reality faced by patients, reminding leaders and stakeholders of the human stories behind every therapy. Both Nolet and LivaNova champion themes of empowerment, hope and taking back control, making their alignment natural and deeply resonant. By openly discussing her journey, Nolet also plays a crucial role in raising awareness and reducing stigma around epilepsy, while her global platform enables LivaNova to reach broader audiences, including younger communities that may not traditionally engage with medical technology. Together, they amplify a shared mission: inspiring resilience, elevating patient voices, and shining a light on the transformative potential of innovative therapies. Through this partnership, LivaNova reinforces its dedication to elevating the patient voice at the centre of its mission. Briar Nolet’s performance at GLC 2025 promises to be a defining moment, one that blends art, advocacy, and innovation to remind leaders of the human stories behind every therapy and every breakthrough.