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About the event
TBD
Event Description
Daikin is exploring speakers who can bring high-impact lessons in leadership, teamwork, accountability, resilience, adaptability, and organizational performance. This collection includes military leaders who translate experience from complex, high-pressure environments into practical business principles, alongside leaders from aviation and space exploration whose stories demonstrate what is possible when people align around a mission, build trust, learn from setbacks, and execute at the highest level. While each speaker brings a different perspective, all can deliver an engaging keynote with meaningful applications for leaders and teams across the organization.
Battle-Tested Leadership Principles for Stronger Teams, Clearer Execution and a Culture of Ownership
Echelon Front is a leadership development organization founded by former U.S. Navy SEAL officers Jocko Willink and Leif Babin. Its instructors include military combat leaders, business executives, coaches and leadership practitioners who teach the principles of Extreme Ownership and demonstrate how they can be applied across business, professional and personal environments.
Echelon Front’s mission is to educate, train, mentor and inspire leaders and organizations to solve problems through leadership, overcome challenges, seize opportunities and create a culture of Extreme Ownership that empowers people throughout the chain of command to lead and win.
Drawing from lessons proven in combat and subsequently applied across organizations and industries, Echelon Front helps leaders develop the actions and mindsets needed to address strategic alignment, team building, conflict resolution, planning and execution, innovation, safety, risk mitigation, crisis management and cultural transformation. Its central philosophy is that leadership is a skill that can—and must—be taught, practiced and developed at every level of an organization.
- Speaker Fees for JP Dinnell, Jamie Cochran, Rob Jones -- $30,000, plus travel and expenses
- Speaker Fees for Steve Ward, Sean Glass, Meg Miller, Codey Gandy -- $22,500, plus travel and expenses
Speaker Highlights
Speaker Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-udX0Ohrmbo
JP Dinnell
Chief Training Officer | Former U.S. Navy SEAL and Decorated Combat Leader
JP Dinnell is Echelon Front’s Chief Training Officer, as well as a leadership instructor, speaker and strategic advisor. He spent nearly a decade in the U.S. Navy SEAL Teams and completed three combat deployments.
During a deployment to Ramadi, Iraq, JP served with SEAL Team Three’s Task Unit Bruiser under Jocko Willink and alongside many of the leaders whose experiences became the foundation of Extreme Ownership. He later worked as an instructor at Naval Special Warfare Group One, where he developed demanding training scenarios to prepare SEAL units for real-world combat operations.
JP received the Silver Star, two Bronze Stars with Valor and the Army Commendation Medal with Valor for his leadership and courage under fire. He brings a direct, energetic and highly practical approach to leadership, helping audiences understand how belief, preparation, discipline and ownership influence a team’s ability to execute.
Highlights
- Chief Training Officer and senior leadership instructor at Echelon Front.
- Former U.S. Navy SEAL with three combat deployments.
- Awarded the Silver Star and two Bronze Stars with Valor.
- Worked directly with Jocko Willink and Leif Babin during and after combat operations.
- Experienced in developing and delivering high-pressure leadership training.
- Known for connecting military principles to relatable business situations.
- Strong option for an audience seeking energy, command presence and tactical leadership applications.
Client Feedback
“I have never been to a training like this before. JP Dinnell had my attention the whole time. The concepts and principles he shared were not only interesting, but also applicable to the business world.” — Attendee, Fujifilm
“Of course, expectations were high already, but JP delivered. It was great material delivered with passion and precision. Thank you for helping inform and motivate our conference attendees!” — ALERRT Center at Texas State University
Speaker Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_81Wpiv9M48
Jamie Cochran
Chief Operating Officer | Business Leader Translating Extreme Ownership into Organizational Practice
Jamie Cochran joined Jocko Willink and Leif Babin as Echelon Front’s first employee in 2014. After initially serving as Director of Operations, she expanded her leadership responsibilities and became Chief Operating Officer in 2021.
Before Echelon Front, Jamie held leadership positions in client relations, university programming and visual creative direction. Today, she oversees a diverse team responsible for the organization’s business operations, events and global client experience.
As a speaker and leadership instructor, Jamie connects the combat-tested principles of Extreme Ownership to the realities of running a business, leading teams, managing competing responsibilities and navigating relationships. She brings the perspective of an experienced operating executive, woman, mother of three and wife of a former Navy SEAL, showing that these leadership principles extend far beyond the battlefield.
Highlights
- Chief Operating Officer of Echelon Front.
- The organization’s first employee and a central leader in its growth and operations.
- Brings a genuine business leadership and operational perspective to Extreme Ownership.
- Connects the framework to communication, accountability, feedback, delegation and workplace relationships.
- Offers a different lens from the organization’s military instructors while teaching the same core principles.
- Particularly relevant for mixed audiences seeking corporate and personal applications.
- Strong female leadership option within the Echelon Front roster.
Client Feedback
“Jamie, thank you so much for your fantastic delivery on the leadership principles last week. Her approach was a good refresher on the content we received earlier from Jocko and Dave and a fantastic introduction for our emerging leader new attendees. We received a great deal of positive feedback on the sessions and a desire to carry them further forward. A ringing endorsement!” — Technology Company
“This was the second time we had commissioned Jamie to speak to one of our leadership groups. Both times, she was right on target with her messaging and impressed with her delivery. The team loved her presentation. I have a feeling that this will not be the last time we will ask her to be a speaker at an event or conference of ours.” — Vice President, Hospitality Company
Speaker Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABc3sj4fJjg
Rob Jones
Marine Corps Veteran, Paralympic Medalist and Leadership Instructor
Rob Jones is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, combat leader and leadership instructor with Echelon Front. During five years in the Marine Corps, he deployed to both Iraq and Afghanistan and served as a combat engineer responsible for identifying improvised explosive devices.
In 2010, Rob stepped on an IED while conducting a mission in Afghanistan, resulting in the loss of both legs above the knee. After an extensive recovery, he redirected his experience into a new mission centered on athletic performance, service and leadership.
Rob earned a bronze medal in rowing at the 2012 Paralympic Games, became the first double above-knee amputee to cycle across the United States and later completed 31 marathons in 31 consecutive days in 31 different cities. He now uses the principles of Extreme Ownership to help leaders and teams take responsibility, adapt to changing circumstances and overcome difficult challenges in business and life.
Highlights
- U.S. Marine Corps veteran with deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan.
- Combat leader whose personal story brings exceptional credibility to lessons on adaptability and ownership.
- Bronze medalist at the 2012 Paralympic Games.
- First double above-knee amputee to cycle across the United States.
- Completed 31 marathons in 31 cities over 31 consecutive days.
- Combines the Extreme Ownership framework with a powerful story of resilience and continued service.
- Particularly strong for audiences seeking both practical leadership principles and deep inspiration.
Client Feedback
“Rob did an excellent job relating just enough to the industry but not pretending to know a lot about the details of the construction industry. This made his content relatable and entertaining to keep employees thoroughly engaged throughout the presentation.” — Construction Executive
“This was the right topic at the right time! Rob Jones did an excellent job of covering leadership in an easy-to-digest manner. The real-world examples really brought clarity to the message.” — Technology Professional
Steve Ward
LDAP Director | Former U.S. Navy SEAL and Senior Combat Leader
Steve Ward is a former U.S. Navy SEAL, combat leader and Echelon Front leadership instructor. He spent nearly 30 years in the SEAL Teams and completed eleven deployments around the world.
Steve began his military career as a front-line operator and progressed through increasingly senior tactical and organizational leadership positions. His responsibilities included leading teams in Iraq and Afghanistan, overseeing high-risk training for West Coast SEAL Teams and helping prepare units for combat deployments.
His career gives him a combination of direct operational experience and senior executive-level leadership perspective. He understands how to build strong teams, set high standards, develop emerging leaders and delegate authority without losing alignment or accountability.
Highlights
- Nearly 30 years in the U.S. Navy SEAL Teams.
- Completed eleven global deployments.
- Leadership experience spanning front-line operations through senior command.
- Former leader responsible for preparing West Coast SEAL Teams for combat.
- Brings extensive experience in decentralized command, succession planning and leadership development.
- Strong fit for established and senior leaders responsible for building leadership capability throughout an organization.
Sean Glass
Former U.S. Navy SEAL Officer, Combat Leader and Leadership Instructor
Sean Glass is a former U.S. Navy SEAL officer and combat leader who spent 13 years in the SEAL Teams. He completed three combat deployments across Afghanistan, Iraq and Eastern Africa and led five SEAL platoons during highly dynamic operations against Islamic State forces in Iraq.
After returning from combat, Sean served as Officer-in-Charge of training for the West Coast SEAL Teams. In that role, he helped develop leadership training and personally instructed and mentored the next generation of SEAL leaders.
Sean brings first-hand experience leading people through pressure, uncertainty and competing priorities. His presentation helps business audiences understand how leaders can prioritize and execute, manage emotion, communicate intent and empower people to make decisions while remaining aligned with the larger mission.
Highlights
- Former U.S. Navy SEAL officer with 13 years of service.
- Three combat deployments spanning Iraq, Afghanistan and Eastern Africa.
- Led five SEAL platoons in highly demanding environments.
- Developed and delivered leadership training for West Coast SEAL Teams.
- Combines operational leadership experience with significant coaching and mentoring responsibilities.
- Strong fit for organizations focused on prioritization, empowerment, communication and decision-making amid uncertainty.
Meg Miller
LDAP Program Manager, Former Brown University Coach and Leadership Instructor
Meg Miller is Echelon Front’s LDAP Program Manager and a leadership instructor with an extensive background in coaching, team development and performance.
From 2004 through 2016, Meg coached Brown University’s women’s lacrosse team. During her coaching career, she worked across every area of the game, including offense, defense and goalkeeping, and served for several years as the program’s recruiting coordinator. She also worked in the university’s business office and later served as the head lacrosse coach at an independent school.
Meg applies the principles of Extreme Ownership through the lens of coaching, communication, culture and human performance. She helps audiences recognize that leadership is not dependent upon rank or title; it is demonstrated through preparation, discipline, relationships and the willingness to take ownership of the team’s results.
Highlights
- Leadership Development and Alignment Program Manager at Echelon Front.
- More than a decade coaching women’s lacrosse at Brown University.
- Experienced in recruiting, talent development, team culture and performance.
- Brings a relatable, nonmilitary perspective to the Extreme Ownership principles.
- Strong connection to coaching, communication, emotional control and workplace culture.
- Appropriate for broad employee audiences as well as emerging and people leaders.
Codey Gandy
Director of Experiential Training | Former U.S. Marine and Leadership Instructor
Codey Gandy is a former U.S. Marine, leadership instructor, speaker and strategic advisor who serves as Echelon Front’s Director of Experiential Training.
Codey spent more than five years as a ground combat leader in the Marine Corps. At Echelon Front, he helps leaders move beyond understanding leadership principles intellectually and begin applying them through real-world exercises, decision-making and organizational challenges.
His work addresses personal responsibility, complacency, discipline, workplace culture, delegation and the ability to remain objective under pressure. Codey’s direct and practical style reinforces that every person has an opportunity to influence the culture and performance of a team—regardless of position or formal authority.
Highlights
- Former U.S. Marine and ground combat leader.
- Director of Experiential Training at Echelon Front.
- Experienced speaker, instructor and strategic advisor.
- Helps audiences translate leadership concepts into observable behaviors and actions.
- Strong emphasis on combating complacency and taking ownership for individual and team outcomes.
- Particularly relevant for operational, safety, manufacturing and front-line leadership audiences.
Decorated Combat Leader, Professional Pilot and Creator of No Fail Trust®
Lieutenant Colonel Jason O. Harris, USAF (Ret.), is a professional pilot, best-selling author, workplace trust researcher and leadership authority whose career spans nearly three decades of military and commercial aviation.
A fourth-generation military service member and graduate of the United States Air Force Academy, Jason flew multiple aircraft across eleven combat deployments, accumulating more than 2,000 combat hours and 470 combat sorties. His career culminated in command of a Boeing KC-46 tanker squadron.
Jason’s experiences in aviation—where communication, preparation, personal accountability and trust can carry life-or-death consequences—became the foundation for his proprietary No Fail Trust® framework. He is also the lead researcher and author of The National Study on Elevating Trust and Performance in the Modern Workforce.
Through his keynotes, Jason helps organizations create cultures in which people trust their training, understand the importance of their roles, rely on one another and feel empowered by their leaders to perform at a consistently high level. His corporate clients include Cisco Systems, Caterpillar, Ford and Lockheed Martin.
- Speaker Fee: $25,000
- Travel: $2,000 flat travel fee [to cover RT Airfare, RT Ground, Meals and Incidentals]
- Hotel: In additional, booked by and billed to client master account
“Jason O. Harris does not disappoint. His high-energy message of No Fail Trust® highlighted how we can expand our knowledge and perspectives, build trust, and enhance our ability to deliver products to our customers. One of our teams gave us the best feedback, ‘Just watching this presentation has made me a better person!’" - Michelle Proctor, Chief of Staff, Risk Research & Quantitative Solutions, SAS
Speaker Highlights
Speaker Reel - https://vimeo.com/851540677?fl=pl&fe=sh
Gravity Speakers Profile - https://www.gravityspeakers.com/speakers/jason-o-harris
Speaker Website - https://jasonoharris.com/
Why Jason O. Harris
Jason offers Daikin a strong bridge between military leadership and modern organizational culture. His message is not centered solely on his accomplishments as a pilot; it provides a clear framework for building trust, accountability, engagement and operational consistency. His aviation stories create energy and credibility, while the No Fail Trust® methodology gives managers and employees practical tools they can use to improve communication, strengthen execution and create a greater sense of shared responsibility.
Topic: No Fail Trust®
The Flight Plan to Cultivating a High-Performance Team
This transformative keynote empowers leaders and teams to deliver consistently excellent results through a culture of No Fail Trust®. Jason shares tactics, techniques and practical tools for navigating the inevitable turbulence of life and cultivating high levels of empowerment, commitment and accountability throughout an organization.
The program is designed for leaders and teams experiencing low engagement or trust, struggling to improve performance and productivity, or seeking practical strategies for navigating the changing challenges of business.
Attendees will leave with:
- A clearer understanding of the critical role trust plays in engagement, collaboration and performance.
- A framework for creating greater empowerment, commitment and accountability.
- Practical techniques for adapting to unexpected conditions while maintaining trust and alignment.
- Strategies for moving employees beyond compliance and toward commitment.
- A stronger appreciation for how preparation, communication and role clarity influence operational results.
Alternate Topic: No Fail Trust® and the Future
Empowering Remote and Hybrid Teams for Peak Performance
This practical keynote equips audiences to develop trust and effective communication regardless of where team members are physically located. Drawing from his leadership experiences, Jason demonstrates how organizations can create a productive, connected environment for employees working remotely, in hybrid structures or within the same facility.
Attendees gain practical strategies for overcoming communication challenges, leading geographically distributed teams and engaging employees through trust, clarity and empowerment.
Highlights
- Decorated retired U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel.
- Eleven combat deployments, more than 2,000 combat hours and 470 combat sorties.
- Former Boeing KC-46 tanker squadron commander.
- Professional commercial pilot with extensive high-stakes team experience.
- Creator of the proprietary No Fail Trust® framework.
- Research-backed focus on workplace trust and performance.
- Strong business applications across leadership, culture, engagement, communication and accountability.
- Dynamic storyteller who combines aviation experiences with a repeatable leadership framework.
First Woman Thunderbird Pilot and Leadership Authority on Change, Resilience and Peak Performance
Colonel Nicole Malachowski, USAF (Ret.), is a combat veteran, former fighter squadron commander, White House Fellow and the first woman pilot selected to fly with the United States Air Force Thunderbirds.
During her distinguished 21-year Air Force career, Nicole served as an F-15E flight commander, evaluator, instructor pilot and flight lead. She accumulated more than 2,300 flight hours in six Air Force aircraft and more than 188 combat hours. She later commanded the 333rd Fighter Squadron, where she led the instructors responsible for training the next generation of combat aviators and oversaw significant personnel, equipment and operational resources.
Nicole also held senior assignments at the Pentagon, served as executive director of the White House Joining Forces initiative and advised national leaders on issues affecting service members, veterans and military families.
After her military career was unexpectedly ended by a debilitating tick-borne illness that left her struggling to speak and walk for months, Nicole fought her way back. Her story now encompasses not only trailblazing achievement and elite performance, but also vulnerability, change, identity and the ability to become resurgent after life-altering disruption.
- Speaker Fee - $38,500 plus hotel (up to 2 nights), meals and event city ground (for distances over 30 miles). RT Airfare and Home Ground, Meals and Incidentals included in Fee
“As we know, Nicole Malachowski is amazing; and our members now know it, too. I know she is one of your top speakers already but just know she may be the most inspirational speaker I have ever hired. Our attendees could not stop singing her praises at our reception following the presentation.” – American Boiler Manufacturers Association
“We engaged Nicole to speak at our conference on Advancing Women in Law Firm Leadership. Nicole is a captivating speaker with a truly motivational story. She is energetic, personable, and authentic – and the audience was riveted throughout her entire presentation. I wholeheartedly recommend Nicole as a speaker!” – Senior Vice President, Attorneys’ Liability Assurance Society (ALAS)
“Automotive News had the pleasure of having Colonel Nicole Malachowski serve as the closing keynote speaker at our 2018 Leading Women Conference on October 30th. She was outstanding and delivered an authentic, actionable message that hit home for every executive — male or female — who is trying to set clear goals, break barriers and improve their career path. Her thought-provoking message was delivered with passion and authority. She left our audience of leading women with a clear path to achieve greatness, create change and make better, brave decisions.” – Conference Director, Automotive News
“Your presentation was amazing! Everyone thoroughly enjoyed it and were so inspired by your story. I can truly say you were the highlight of the conference. I heard so many positive comments from so many of our attendees who were touched by your talk.” – MCAA
Speaker Highlights
Speaker Reel - https://vimeo.com/1180512262?fl=pl&fe=vl
Speaker Profile - https://www.gravityspeakers.com/speakers/nicole-malachowski
Why Nicole Malachowski
Nicole is a polished, proven mainstage speaker whose story offers both the excitement of elite military aviation and a deeply human perspective on leadership and adversity. She can address change, teamwork and peak performance while also challenging the audience to reconsider how they respond when circumstances disrupt their plans. Her cockpit footage, authenticity and practical leadership principles make her a strong option for an organization seeking an inspiring keynote with substantial business relevance.
Topic: Harnessing Headwinds of Change
In flying, headwinds slow you down. At their worst, they force pilots to change plans and can compromise the effectiveness of a mission. Headwinds require pilots to be resilient, resourceful and capable of adapting in real time.
Nicole uses headwinds as a metaphor for the changes affecting organizations and individuals. Drawing on her career as a fighter squadron commander, combat pilot and the first woman to fly with the Air Force Thunderbirds, she offers lessons in leadership, followership and overcoming adversity.
Her presentation incorporates storytelling and cockpit footage as the Thunderbirds execute precision maneuvers only inches apart at hundreds of miles per hour. The keynote helps audiences develop the courage and adaptability to confront change, recover from setbacks and continue moving toward the mission.
Alternate Topic: Pushing the Envelope—Being the Best When It Counts
What does it take to perform at your best when the stakes are highest? Individuals and teams that consistently achieve at an elite level are willing to push the envelope—to explore the limits of their capabilities while maintaining discipline and a standard of excellence.
Nicole translates this aviation principle into the business environment. She explores the importance of knowing your limits while continuing to expand them, using failure as a launching point for improvement, preparing for inevitable turbulence and trusting the skills and precision of the people around you.
The keynote provides a practical roadmap for organizations seeking to maximize talent, improve consistency and create teams capable of performing when it matters most.
Highlights
- First woman pilot selected for the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds.
- Combat-tested F-15E pilot and former fighter squadron commander.
- White House Fellow and former executive director of Joining Forces.
- More than 2,300 flight hours and 188 combat hours.
- Inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame and Women in Aviation International Pioneer Hall of Fame.
- Powerful personal story of recovering from a debilitating illness.
- Proven keynote speaker for leadership, manufacturing, automotive, healthcare and association audiences.
- Strong combination of leadership credibility, visual storytelling, inspiration and actionable business lessons.
History-Making Astronaut on Leadership, Resilience, Risk and Achieving the Impossible
Captain Scott Kelly is a retired NASA astronaut, U.S. Navy captain, fighter pilot, test pilot, engineer and veteran of four space flights.
After beginning his career as a naval aviator flying the F-14 Tomcat, Scott became a test pilot and was selected for NASA’s astronaut program in 1996. He piloted the emergency Hubble Space Telescope repair mission STS-103, commanded Space Shuttle Endeavour on STS-118 and later commanded multiple International Space Station expeditions.
His historic 340-day mission aboard the International Space Station made him the first American astronaut to spend nearly a full year in space and provided NASA with important research related to the physical and psychological effects of long-duration spaceflight. While Scott’s mission established a U.S. record at the time, NASA astronaut Frank Rubio now holds the current single-mission record at 371 days.
Across his four missions, Scott logged 520 days in space. His experiences demanded meticulous preparation, teamwork, attention to detail and the ability to manage isolation, risk, uncertainty and systems in which even a small mistake could have extraordinary consequences.
Scott is the author of the New York Times bestsellers Endurance: A Year in Space, A Lifetime of Discovery and Infinite Wonder: An Astronaut’s Photographs from a Year in Space, as well as Ready for Launch: An Astronaut’s Lessons for Success on Earth.
- Speaker Fee - $40,000 plus hotel for two nights. All other expenses are built into his fee.
"Let me just say how perfect Captain Kelly was for our event. His overall speech and experience were awe inspiring. He was great to work with. It was truly a pleasure!" -- Global Business Travel Association
"Scott was a huge success -- a hit with the audience, and the client was extremely happy. Likewise, it was great working with Keppler Speakers on this, and we look forward to future opportunities." --Novartis
Speaker Highlights
Speaker Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxD-ybTxuLs
Speaker Website - https://www.scottkelly.com/
Why Scott Kelly
Scott delivers the stature and immediate audience appeal of a history-making astronaut, but his keynote goes well beyond space exploration. His experiences provide a rare perspective on isolation, high-stakes decision-making, preparation, teamwork and the sustained resilience required to pursue a mission over an extended period. He is particularly well suited for an audience seeking an expansive, visually engaging story that connects leadership and performance to the larger theme of human possibility.
Topic: The Sky Is Not the Limit
During his historic Year in Space, Scott Kelly captivated the world while helping lay the groundwork for the future of long-duration space travel and exploration.
While science was central to the expedition, Scott’s personal stories from hundreds of miles above Earth—and the path that led him there—provide a unique perspective on embracing risk, discovering one’s potential and pursuing seemingly impossible objectives.
Drawing from his life journey and the experience of living in isolation for nearly a year, Scott shares lessons in leadership, teamwork, preparation and resilience, along with strategies for managing anxiety and stress during periods of uncertainty. His story is a testament to the strength of the human spirit and our collective ability to accomplish hard things.
Alternate Topic: Failure IS an Option—Transforming Setbacks into Success
Although Scott Kelly is known as a history-making astronaut, his path was filled with mistakes, disappointments and failures. Rather than allowing those experiences to define his limits, he learned to use them as part of the process of improvement and achievement.
Scott shares candid, inspiring and often humorous stories from his life and career, demonstrating how failure can become an essential step toward resilience and lasting personal and professional growth.
He also explores how organizations that acknowledge failure as part of innovation can create cultures in which employees feel able to contribute ideas, experiment, think differently and pursue more inventive solutions. By confronting setbacks and learning to fail forward, individuals and teams can discover new strengths and refocus on their most important goals.
Highlights
- Veteran of four space missions and three International Space Station expeditions.
- Completed a historic 340-day mission aboard the International Space Station.
- Logged 520 total days in space.
- Former U.S. Navy F-14 fighter pilot and test pilot.
- Pilot of an emergency Hubble Space Telescope repair mission.
- New York Times bestselling author.
- Visually engaging stories from space and the International Space Station.
- Leadership lessons encompassing preparation, teamwork, isolation, uncertainty, risk and resilience.
- High-profile choice with broad multigenerational audience appeal.
NASA Turnaround Leader Behind the James Webb Space Telescope
Gregory Robinson is a 33-year NASA veteran and the former program director of the James Webb Space Telescope—one of the most ambitious and complex scientific initiatives ever undertaken.
When Greg assumed leadership of Webb in 2018, the program was billions of dollars over budget, years behind schedule and facing declining stakeholder confidence. To bring the telescope successfully to launch and deployment, he aligned the work of approximately 20,000 people across 29 states and 14 countries.
Under his leadership, the team improved communication, rebuilt trust, increased efficiency and united an enormous network of scientists, engineers, contractors, government leaders and international partners around the shared objective of mission success.
Before leading Webb, Greg held numerous senior positions at NASA, including Deputy Associate Administrator for Programs, Deputy Center Director of NASA’s Glenn Research Center and Deputy Chief Engineer. His responsibilities included oversight of more than 100 science missions and involvement in the Space Shuttle program following the Columbia accident.
Greg was named to the TIME100 list of the world’s most influential people, received the TIME100 Impact Award and was named Federal Employee of the Year. He now teaches at Columbia University’s School of Professional Studies.
- Speaking Fee: $35,000,
- Travel and Expenses: $5000 Speaker to book and pay for round-trip airfare, home city ground transportation, meals and incidentals. Client to book and pay for professional car service in event city and up to two nights at a 4-5 star hotel.
"Not only was he flexible and easy to work with, but Greg took a special interest in meeting with our students, which provided a once-in-a-lifetime learning and networking opportunity." —Ann, University of Michigan
Speaker Highlights
Speaker Reel - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFnGZvnZ6Eg
Gravity Speakers Profile - https://www.gravityspeakers.com/speakers/gregory-robinson
Why Gregory Robinson
Greg offers Daikin a compelling business leadership story built around a globally recognized technological achievement. His keynote is not primarily about astronomy; it is about turning around a complex initiative, rebuilding stakeholder confidence and bringing thousands of people across different organizations, disciplines and countries together around one mission. His lessons in communication, culture, accountability, data-driven storytelling and cross-functional execution are especially relevant to large, technically sophisticated organizations.
Topic: Large Leadership Lessons from the James Webb Space Telescope
What does it take to successfully lead a complex project?
In 2018, Gregory Robinson was persuaded to lead NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope program, which was over budget and behind schedule. To successfully launch and deploy the telescope, Greg had to coordinate the work of approximately 20,000 people across 29 states and 14 countries.
Today, the telescope is expanding humanity’s knowledge of the universe. Its successful deployment also provides a remarkable case study in leadership, communication, organizational culture and mission-focused execution.
In this story-filled presentation, Greg shares the challenges, setbacks and leadership lessons behind the program’s turnaround. Through footage of the telescope’s launch and deployment, audiences see the magnitude of the achievement while learning how to:
- Work effectively with stakeholders, teams and external partners.
- Manage up and manage down.
- Communicate complex information and tell persuasive stories with data.
- Build trust across disciplines and organizational boundaries.
- Change culture person by person.
- Keep a large, distributed team focused on mission success.
Alternate Topic: Taking On Your Own Moonshot
Greg takes audiences behind the scenes at NASA against a backdrop of images from the James Webb Space Telescope. He shares how his team transformed a struggling program into one of humankind’s greatest scientific achievements and provides universal lessons in overcoming challenges, building trust, improving collaboration and communicating openly.
The keynote helps audiences consider their own moonshot: the major objective, difficult transformation or seemingly impossible challenge that requires people to work differently and reach beyond what has previously been achieved.
It is particularly well suited for leadership conferences, all-hands meetings, product launches and events designed to inspire people to pursue ambitious goals together.
Highlights
- Former program director of NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope.
- 33-year NASA veteran with extensive technical and executive leadership experience.
- Turned around a highly visible program that was over budget and behind schedule.
- Coordinated approximately 20,000 people across 29 states and 14 countries.
- Named one of TIME’s 100 Most Influential People.
- TIME100 Impact Award recipient and Federal Employee of the Year.
- Powerful case study in stakeholder management, culture change and complex execution.
- Combines inspiring visuals with immediately relevant business leadership lessons.
- Particularly strong for engineering, manufacturing, technology and operational leadership audiences.