Available to book
Rob Lawless
Transform workplace connection with Rob Lawless, speaker and human connection expert. Rob works with organizations to enhance team collaboration, foster inclusion, and build authentic relationships, sharing insights from 6,000+ conversations across 90+ countries.
Rob Lawless is the creator of Robs10kFriends, a social experiment and human connection project through which he has committed to spending one hour each with 10,000 strangers. Since beginning this journey in 2015, Rob has had meaningful conversations with over 6,000 people from more than 90 countries, using his story to highlight the transformative value of intentional connection.
With a background in finance and entrepreneurship from Penn State University, Rob began his career at Deloitte Consulting before moving into the start-up space. After the company he joined was acquired, he took the opportunity to pursue his connection project full-time. The decision was driven by a desire to restore the sense of community and authenticity he had experienced during his university years — something he felt was lacking in corporate life.
Rob’s experience has not only led to thousands of hours of conversation but also appearances on national television and features in major media. Through these platforms, he shares the insight that every human interaction holds the potential to inspire, connect and create opportunity. His work has resonated with organizations looking to improve culture, foster inclusion and retain talent by focusing on genuine human relationships.
In his talks, Rob introduces the FRIEND framework - a practical tool designed to help individuals build rapport through more meaningful conversations. He demonstrates how these simple, structured connections can enhance collaboration, innovation, and a sense of belonging across teams. By drawing on thousands of diverse human stories, Rob shows how slowing down and making time to truly listen can change not only workplace dynamics, but also individual lives.
Topics, sessions and talks
Rob Lawless presents "The Untapped Value of Human Connection," focusing on building empathetic and successful relationships in the workplace. Since 2015, Rob has connected with over 6,000 people globally, sharing insights on the importance of intentional connections for fostering inclusive organisational cultures. Attendees will learn to cultivate belonging, broaden perspectives, and unlock new opportunities through his interactive FRIEND framework, equipping them with tools to enhance conversations, practice active listening, and set intentions for meaningful connections.
Testimonials
often considered together
Darren Burns
Diversity and Inclusion
Employee Engagement
Workplace Culture
Mimi Nicklin
Empathy
Leadership Development
Psychological Safety
Christine Armstrong
Future of Work
Hybrid and Remote Working
Diversity and Inclusion
frequently asked questions
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To book Rob Lawless, email rob.lawless@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 Rob'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.
Rob Lawless structures his talks around the FRIEND framework, a practical tool drawn from his ongoing social experiment in which he has committed to spending one hour each with 10,000 strangers, accumulating over 6,000 conversations across 90 countries since 2015.
Rob Lawless speaks on human connection in the workplace, intentional relationship-building, inclusive organisational culture, and active listening through his FRIEND framework. He is the creator of Robs10kFriends, a project through which he has held over 6,000 one-hour conversations with strangers across more than 90 countries since 2015.
No. PepTalk adds no booking fee, so you pay the speaker's fee and nothing beyond it. The service, from shortlist through to contracts and event-day logistics, is included. For repeat or multi-event bookings, PepTalk can agree preferential rates with your procurement team.
Share your event date, audience, format, objectives and budget, and PepTalk sends a hand-picked shortlist within 24 hours. Each suggestion comes with a profile, a fee and a recommendation on the strongest fit. Once you choose, PepTalk handles contracts, travel and logistics through to event day.
The typical fee range is the speaker's standard in-person fee in their home market, shown in their local currency. It moves with format, location, date and session length: virtual sessions and shorter slots usually cost less, while international travel and peak dates cost more. Send your brief to PepTalk and the team will confirm the exact fee in your currency.
Not all of them, and it makes no difference to your booking. PepTalk's network of 15,000+ speakers covers talent the team works with directly alongside speakers represented by agents and agencies worldwide. PepTalk approaches the speaker, negotiates the fee and handles contracting either way.
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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