Available to book
Transform space program leadership with Gregory Robinson, speaker, NASA veteran and project management expert. Gregory elevates organizational efficiency and stakeholder communication, recognized as one of TIME's 100 Most Influential People and Federal Employee of the Year.
Gregory Robinson is a 33-year veteran of NASA and the former director of the James Webb Space Telescope (Webb), a $10 billion project that surpasses the Hubble Telescope in power. Under his leadership, the programme was transformed from being over budget and inefficient, with an efficiency rating of 55%, to achieving 95%.
Gregory improved communication with various stakeholders, including Congress, the White House, and international space agencies, while managing nearly 20,000 scientists and engineers across 29 countries and 14 U.S. states. Webb is now one million miles from Earth, sending back unprecedented images and expected to capture the origins of the universe over its 20-year lifespan.
Gregory has received numerous accolades for his contributions, including being named one of TIME Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People of 2022 and receiving the TIME100 Impact Award. He was also honoured as the 2022 Federal Employee of the Year and received the Distinguished Presidential Rank Award, one of the highest recognitions for senior executives in the U.S. government. Additionally, Columbia University has invited him to lecture on information strategy and project management.
Before leading Webb, Gregory held various roles at NASA, including overseeing 114 missions for the Science Mission Directorate and participating in 21 shuttle launches after the Columbia accident. He joined NASA in 1989 after earning a degree in electrical engineering from Howard University, becoming one of the few Black professionals at the agency.
Gregory also holds an M.B.A. from Averett University and was a Senior Executive Fellow at Harvard. He has previously taught at George Washington University in the Department of Engineering Management & Systems Engineering.
Topics, sessions and talks
In his inspiring talk, Gregory Robinson, an HBCU graduate and leader of the James Webb Space Telescope programme, shares his remarkable journey from the tobacco fields of southern Virginia to becoming one of TIME Magazine’s 100 most influential people. Born into a large family of sharecroppers and facing the challenges of segregation, Gregory's story highlights resilience and determination. Attendees will learn how humble beginnings can shape a successful career in STEM.
In his inspiring talk, Gregory Robinson recounts his journey leading the James Webb Space Telescope, which faced significant delays, budget overruns, and engineering setbacks. Despite challenges like COVID and hurricanes, he united 20,000 individuals across 29 countries and 14 U.S. states, nearly doubling the programme's efficiency. Attendees will learn how trust, communication, and effective leadership can empower teams to overcome obstacles and achieve ambitious goals.
Gregory Robinson, a NASA veteran, invites attendees on an inspiring journey through space and human potential, illustrated by stunning images from the James Webb Space Telescope. He shares his experience transforming a struggling programme into a monumental success, offering valuable insights on overcoming challenges, fostering trust, and enhancing collaboration. This session is ideal for any event aiming to motivate teams, and participants will learn how to achieve greatness together through teamwork and innovative thinking.
In today's fast-paced world, organisations must innovate to thrive. Gregory Robinson, a former NASA leader, emphasises that success lies not just in hiring talent but in fostering relationships, creativity, and open communication. He highlights the importance of soft skills, such as collaboration and problem-solving, drawn from his 33 years at NASA. Attendees will learn how prioritising the human element can drive transformation and help achieve ambitious goals in their own organisations.
Book Gregory Robinson to inspire your team with his extraordinary journey and leadership insights. His experience transforming the James Webb Space Telescope project showcases resilience, innovation, and effective communication. Learn how to elevate your organisation’s performance and navigate challenges with a calm, strategic approach from a true visionary.
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frequently asked questions
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To book Gregory Robinson, email gregory.robinson@getapeptalk.com or call PepTalk on +44 20 3835 2929 (UK) or +1 737 888 5112 (US), and one of our speaker agents will contact you within hours to confirm Gregory's availability and speaking fee. If you can, please include your budget upfront – it helps us fast-track your request. It’s also helpful to know the date, format (virtual or in-person), location, and about your audience.
Gregory Robinson uses NASA's James Webb Space Telescope programme as a case study, walking audiences through the concrete leadership interventions — improving stakeholder communication, restructuring team coordination across 20,000 personnel in 29 countries — that lifted the programme's efficiency rating from 55% to 95%.
Gregory Robinson speaks on personal resilience and career trajectory from sharecropping origins to NASA leadership, global team management under crisis conditions, and achieving large-scale organisational transformation through trust and collaboration. He served as Director of the James Webb Space Telescope, a $10 billion programme he turned from 55% to 95% efficiency, and was named one of TIME Magazine's 100 Most Influential People of 2022.
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Three to six months ahead is comfortable for most events, and 12 months is better for large conferences, peak-season dates or one specific in-demand speaker. Shorter timelines are workable, and PepTalk regularly fills last-minute and replacement bookings within days. Availability is the constraint, so get in touch as soon as you have a date.
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