Rob Lawless

Discover the Untapped Value of Human Connection: Create more connected, empathetic, and successful relationships in the workplace and with your clients through the exponential power of human connection.

In 2015, Rob Lawless set out to meet 10,000 people, spending one hour with each person to truly understand their stories.  His project, Robs10kFriends, is all documented on his instagram @robs10kfriends.  

Rob believes that genuine human connection is something important in today’s world and through his journey, Rob has discovered how the power of intentional connection can unite, connect and empower us in ways far deeper than we ever imagined.

Key Speech Themes:

Communication, Networking, Creating a Positive Corporate Culture, Improving Client Relationships, Creating Meaningful Connections, Attract, Engage and Retain top talent, Diversity & Inclusion

Ideal Audiences:

All Audiences, Human Resources, Associations, Sales

Meet Rob

Rob Lawless initiated the "Robs10kFriends" project in 2015, committing to spend an hour with 10,000 people. With a finance degree from Penn State and a stint at Deloitte Consulting, he transitioned to a start-up, dedicating full-time to his project after its 2016 acquisition. Having connected with over 6,000 individuals globally to date, Rob emphasizes the transformative impact of intentional connections.

In his keynote, Rob shares insights on fostering positive, inclusive organizational cultures through intentional connections. Citing research on workplace exclusion's productivity impact, he empowers leaders to unlock value through meaningful connections, fostering belonging, innovation, and opportunities. Rob's interactive FRIEND framework aids audiences in facilitating conversations, practicing active listening, and setting intentions for connection, creating lasting and meaningful relationships. Drawing from his experience connecting with thousands worldwide, Rob demonstrates how intentional human connection enhances business outcomes and fosters inclusive environments. Attendees leave inspired and equipped to implement intentional connection strategies within their teams and customer interactions.

Topic & Description

The Untapped Value of Human Connection

Create more connected, empathetic, and successful relationships in the workplace and with your clients through the exponential power of human connection.

Videos & Media

Full Bio

Rob Lawless is a 33-year-old originally from Norristown, PA, with a genuine passion for getting to know new people. Graduating with highest honors in May 2013 from Penn State University, he earned a Finance degree with minors in Accounting and Entrepreneurship. Rob then joined Deloitte Consulting as a Business Analyst in Strategy & Operations, fulfilling his dream job. However, after a year and a half, he made a typical Millennial move, accepting a significant pay cut to join RJMetrics, a $24 million venture-funded startup.

At RJMetrics, Rob worked as a sales representative, engaging in daily cold emailing and requesting 30-minute phone calls to discuss the company's product offerings. Yet in his post grad life, he missed the authentic connection he'd experienced in college. As a result, he set off on a journey in November 2015, aiming to meet 10,000 people for an hour each for no specific reason. The responses were overwhelmingly positive, and he began meeting people from incredibly diverse backgrounds.

Testimonials

"We hired Rob for our 2024 HR Retreat because we wanted an uplifting message that reminded us of the importance of human connection. He spoke to 30+ of our members across business, legal, labor relations, security and our creative services teams. He made our attendees feel empowered and reinvigorated to make real connections with our colleagues, he left us with a framework to build those connections and he set the tone for how our teams can create a better culture. We absolutely loved Rob's session and found his theme of connection and communication to be a common thread throughout our retreat!"  - Chelsea Merriman, Director Business Operations, FOX Sports

"After seeing Rob at an event in late 2023, I couldn't wait to bring him in as a keynote speaker for our 2024 full team annual meeting. We were looking for a keynote speaker that would be of value to our team members professionally, but also a message that would be of value for personal growth as well. Building true connections is difficult when working in a remote environment. Rob engaged our team and helped us bring our 70 member team closer together. The presentation was customized to align with our company core values. We received very positive feedback and thanks from the team for investing in them, with the gift of Rob Lawless sharing his story and the relationship tools he provides." - President & CEO, Veritas Association Management

"We had Rob come to speak to the Washington State Chapter of the American Public Works Association in April as his project aligned well with my theme for the year. He was a hit! We had just under 500 participants in attendance and Rob did a great job of engaging them all! No one was looking at their phones and everyone participated in mini 1:1 sessions that Rob facilitated. So not only did we have his message on the value of Intentional Connection, but through these mini-session he was able to demonstrate the value. And of course it was fun! Highly recommended as your next keynote speaker!"  - Tara Davis, President, APWA Washington State Chapter

"We hired Rob for our NACUFS Spring Conference - Buffalo where he spoke to 225+ of our collegiate dining professionals and industry members. Many of our members have experienced challenges with burnout and student staffing and retention since Covid so we wanted to focus on connection and inspiring growth. Rob’s talk gave our members a tangible framework for building relationships in their own trainings, it reignited their curiosity in the people around them and even helped introverts feel comfortable asking questions and having conversations with new people. Rob was amazing to work with behind the scenes and he’d make a fantastic speaker for any organization!" -  Andrea Grove, Event Professional, NACUFS

“We partnered with Rob to speak at our 2024 Sales Summit because building strong connections with our clients and employees is how we live out our company Purpose everyday. Rob spoke to 240+ of our salespeople and helped our team get to know each other more deeply through his breakouts, which I enjoyed more than I anticipated. He made our team feel connected, he left us with the framework to conduct meaningful conversation, and motivated our team to not just build relationships for business but in their personal lives as well. Rob was a pleasure to work with and would be a great fit for any team's sales event!”  - Sales Business Partner, Brokerage Services, Holmes Murphy

"Rob recently spoke at our event and shared his message, the power of intentional connection. After many years of holding events and working with keynote speakers, it is challenging to find a new speaker who shares a unique message and also provides value for our clients, Independent Business Owners from all across North America. Rob spent a lot of time listening to our needs and was very open to customize his message for our clients. In addition to sharing his own story, Rob provided a clear path our clients could follow to implement what they learned in their own businesses and personal lives. He was very well received by everyone in attendance and would be a great addition to any audience who would benefit from learning more about the power of intentional connection. -Royalty Rewards VP of Operations

"Rob was the only external speaker at our annual sales event because we felt his theme of connection was something our attendees needed to hear! He spoke to 60+ of our employees, made them feel comfortable breaking out of their silos and building real connections with each other outside of the usual work chatter. I’ve already run into colleagues who are using Rob’s tips in the workplace and think he’d be a great addition to any speaker lineup!” - Jody Brandes - Gilead

"Rob was the 2024 closing keynote at the Inclusive Leadership Conference co-hosted by Temple University and Campus Philly. He spoke to 300+ students from across the region, helped them feel significant and seen, and left them with tangible strategies to build authentic relationships with people in their network now and throughout their lifetime. Rob’s message was spot on for our goal of having students think more deeply about each other’s stories to foster diversity, inclusion, and a sense of belonging. He would make a great speaker for anyone looking to encourage more inclusivity and connection across their organization." - Jen Johnson Kebea - Campus Philly

“Rob was a guest speaker at a quarterly program for the Strategic Marketing & Patient Engagement team at Penn Medicine. His talk was not only inspiring but also highly interactive, fostering engagement and participation. His incredible cooperation and ease of collaboration behind the scenes contributed to the seamless execution of the event. He instilled a sense of empowerment among our group of 90+ employees, creating stronger connections within our team. I'm confident that every individual in the audience left the room motivated to cultivate deeper connections in their life. Based on his exceptional delivery and the positive response from our team, I know Rob would be a fantastic speaker for other organizations!” - Associate Director, Marketing, Penn Medicine

"Rob was EXCELLENT. Everyone loved him. He is such an engaging and energetic speaker with such a warm personality. I really think he enjoyed getting to know everyone during the welcome reception. The  survey results were all positive!” - Events & Marketing Manager, North Carolina Dental 

"Rob was our closing keynote at our annual CoreNet Global India conference, which had 450+ attendees. His talk was about human relationships and the unexpected ways they can transcend boundaries. Our audience was truly inspired by Rob and the insights he gave on the power of human connection, leaving our attendees equipped to foster a workplace environment that has a genuine feeling of belonging. Rob was a joy to work with and we would definitely recommend him for other organisations." - Katleen Beeckman (VP of Member & Component Relations at CoreNet Global)

"I loved the active participation. I really enjoyed meeting colleagues that I otherwise would never have interacted with in my normal job duties.” - Meeting planner, Shell

“ Best DEI session in the past 2 years!” - DEI Team, Amazon

"One of the most impactful presentations I've seen this year. A clear call for improving communication, but more importantly making the effort to connect more deeply." - Credit Union National Association