Keynote speaker, photographer, and founder of Dear World. 500+ programs delivered to global brands and leadership teams.
This is his story.
Robert grew up believing stories could move people, but it was after Hurricane Katrina that his purpose came into focus. In New Orleans, he listened to people rebuilding their lives and invited them to write one sentence on their skin - then photographed it.
One message read 'Cancer Free.' That moment reframed what storytelling could do. It was not performance. It was permission - to be honest, vulnerable, and connected.
A storytelling movement rooted in meaning, values, and lived experience.
He took a Boston Marathon bombing survivor back to the finish line for the first time since the explosion — not to relive the trauma, but to reclaim the moment.
He did the same for a police officer who spent three hours inside Pulse nightclub on the night of the shooting, helping him step back into a space defined not only by tragedy, but by courage.
A nine-year-old Syrian refugee, burned by fire and displaced by war, once told him she had to come back. And through a photograph and a few handwritten words on her skin, she did.
But not all trips go according to plan. While in the world’s newest country, South Sudan, the government detained him. He negotiated his way out while his team and passports sat in another room — and while Oxfam and international players lobbied for their release.
He believed then — and believes now — that we all carry powerful stories. But often, we need a mechanism to share them. A mirror. A stage. A prompt. A moment of permission.
Since then, he has worked with leaders, companies, athletes, refugees, first responders, and everyday people across the world.
Today Robert delivers interactive keynotes for Fortune 500 teams, associations, and universities. Every room leaves with deeper trust, stronger belonging, and stories people remember.
The Dear World Story
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