Bert Jacobs

Co-Founder and Chief Executive Optimist of Life is Good

Keynote speaker Bert Jacobs is a top business keynote speaker and co-founder and CEO (Chief Executive Optimist) of Life is Good, which spreads the power of optimism through inspiring art, a passionate community, and groundbreaking nonprofit work. Bert and his brother John launched their business with $78 in their pockets, selling T-shirts in the streets of Boston. Today, Life is Good is a $100 million positive lifestyle brand sold by over 2,000 retailers across the US and Canada.

  • Bert Jacobs Keynote Speaker Fee Fee range is for U.S. events, depending on location and organization type

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  • Languages Spoken

    English

  • Travels From

    Massachusetts, USA

  • Bert Jacobs Keynote Speaker Fee Fee range is for U.S. events, depending on location and organization type

    Please Inquire

  • Languages Spoken

    English

  • Travels From

    Massachusetts, USA

Suggested Keynote Speaker Programs

Life is Good: The Power of Optimism

In this heartwarming, funny, and refreshingly human keynote, Bert tells the story of how the $160 million lifestyle brand Life is Good came to be—mistakes, missteps, and all, including an unlikely and humble beginning. Bert’s story will leave audiences with the tools they ...

In this heartwarming, funny, and refreshingly human keynote, Bert tells the story of how the $160 million lifestyle brand Life is Good came to be—mistakes, missteps, and all, including an unlikely and humble beginning. Bert’s story will leave audiences with the tools they need to develop an optimistic mindset that leads to success, along with tips on building a vibrant community and brand that will stand the test of time. Get ready to laugh, and maybe cry (have tissues on standby), but most of all, be ready to uncover a deeper purpose in both business and in life. Your audience will leave united, connected, and ready to spread the power of optimism.

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Optimism Can Take You Anywhere

Bert Jacobs and his brother John launched the Life is Good Company with $78 in their pockets selling t-shirts on the streets of Boston. Today, Life is Good is a $100-million, positive lifestyle brand sold by more than 2,000 retailers across the ...

Bert Jacobs and his brother John launched the Life is Good Company with $78 in their pockets selling t-shirts on the streets of Boston. Today, Life is Good is a $100-million, positive lifestyle brand sold by more than 2,000 retailers across the U.S. and Canada. Their inspiring business story and lessons of optimism and corporate social responsibility will demonstrate how focusing on the good can transform your life, your business, and take you anywhere– and you’ll enjoy the ride!

Keynote presentations can be tailored

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What For-Profits can Learn from Nonprofits

The smartest capitalists of today and in the future will integrate social work into their businesses–their customers demand it. Doing so draws out a deeper purpose in corporate work and strengthens organizations. Bert explains the benefits...

The smartest capitalists of today and in the future will integrate social work into their businesses–their customers demand it. Doing so draws out a deeper purpose in corporate work and strengthens organizations. Bert explains the benefits of philanthropizing for-profit organizations and guides audiences through the process: from integrating charity into the sales process, to marketing the message, to cultivating a genuine culture of social good in the workplace. Bert has lived and breathed “giving” at every stage of Life is Good’s growth, making his ideas and experiences relevant to audiences of any size.

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Harnessing the Power of Optimism to Innovate and Thrive in Times of Change

Now more than ever, business leaders foresee significant change ahead for their companies. 71% of CEO’s expect the next 3 years to be more critical for their industry than the last 50 years combined. Jacobs’s presentation helps companies ...

Now more than ever, business leaders foresee significant change ahead for their companies. 71% of CEO’s expect the next 3 years to be more critical for their industry than the last 50 years combined. Jacobs’s presentation helps companies harness the power of optimism by creating a  “yes, and” culture focused on seeing opportunities and building a brand that will stand the test of time.

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Co-Create: The Secret to Building (and Keeping) Your Audience

Life is Good’s core message of optimism and resilience was inspired largely by its customers who, over the years, have shared hundreds of personal stories about how optimism has helped them in times of great adversity. As a result, the ...

Life is Good’s core message of optimism and resilience was inspired largely by its customers who, over the years, have shared hundreds of personal stories about how optimism has helped them in times of great adversity. As a result, the positive lifestyle brand has gathered a passionately loyal customer base–after all, they helped build it. From the company’s inception–starting with Jake, the smiley-faced Life is Good mascot–the Jacobs brothers have incorporated community feedback into the creation of their brand, and still continue to do so today. In this presentation, Jacobs shares lessons on co-creating with your community to build loyalty, relevance, and a deeply personal connection with your audience.

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Optimism from the Inside Out: Growing a Positive Company Culture

Creating a positive customer experience begins first with creating a positive employee experience. Simply stated, happy employees make happy customers. Rallying customers behind your brand’s mission (and product) begins within the walls of your organization. In this ...

Creating a positive customer experience begins first with creating a positive employee experience. Simply stated, happy employees make happy customers. Rallying customers behind your brand’s mission (and product) begins within the walls of your organization. In this presentation, Jacobs shares his experiences developing Life is Good from its humble beginnings–operating out of a van and selling on the streets of Boston–to the iconic lifestyle brand that now employees over 200 brand champions who truly believe in the power of optimism. Drawing on lessons of gratitude, openness, and compassion–which are vital to Life is Good’s company culture–this presentation will help employees discover their own sense of optimism by uncovering a deeper meaning to the work they do. Through simple mindset shifts, Jacobs will teach you how to grow a company culture that creates a positive experience for your employees, your customers, and beyond.

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About Keynote Speaker Bert Jacobs

Bert is the CEO (Chief Executive Optimist) and co-founder of the $160 million lifestyle brand Life is Good. When he and his brother John started the company in 1994, they had $78 in their pockets, lived out of their van, and sold t-shirts on the streets of Boston. Was this their way of avoiding the “real world”? You betcha. Did it turn into something much bigger? Absolutely.

It has been over 29 years since they sold their first t-shirt, but Bert and John champion the same mission: to spread the power of optimism. On their journey, they’ve been inspired by a vibrant community of resilient optimists—people from all walks of life who identify deeply with the brand and who constantly demonstrate the depth and meaning behind the three simple words “Life is Good.”

But here’s the thing: While Bert and John believe life is good, they also know life isn’t perfect, which is why Life is Good donates 10% of its annual net profits to the Life is Good Playmaker Project, helping over 1 million kids each year. In making their company a fully integrated for-profit/ non-profit model, the brothers hope to use their business as a vehicle to do good in the world.

Because of his unique perspective that ties rational optimism to business, Bert has been asked to share his transformative message at a wide range of corporate and thought leadership conferences including Inc 5000, Morgan Stanley, SAP Sapphire, Discover, and more. He and John have been featured in Forbes, NPR’s How I Built This, CNNMoney, CNBC’s Business Nation, ABC News’ Nightline, NBC’s The Today Show, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Inc. Magazine, and Men’s Health Magazine, among others.

Testimonials

Bert was a HUGE success and people want him back! He made quite an impression on so many of our attendees and his presentation hit home for many folks. He is definitely real and people sensed it.

ASAE: The Center for Association Leadership

 

Absolutely outstanding, standing ovation was the least we could do to thank him! His passion and zest for life while telling his story is inspiring and has a unique universal message that caters to all!

Gartner

 

In an auditorium filled with over 400 high school students, adults, and educators from across the US, Bert opened our hearts with his inspiring stories. His message of optimism and the power of kindness evoked a sense excitement, inspiration, and indeed bravery. We were honored to have partnered with Life is Good for the Emotion Revolution Summit and there is no doubt that his message moved everyone in the audience.

Cynthia Germanotta

President of Born This Way Foundation

To say that we were more than thrilled with Bert’s participation would be an understatement. There is no doubt that there are 1600 new huge fans of Life is good and Bert Jacobs. He made us laugh, cry, and everything in between…he was fun, approachable and I especially appreciated his interest in our culture and company. He is truly one of a kind.

Matrix, a division of L’Oreal

 

I can’t express enough how great Bert was. After the event it was like escorting a rock star through the crowd. Everyone conveyed that he was the best speaker we’ve ever had. Bert was motivating, inspiring, and a great example of how to live.

Citizens Financial Group

 

Bert manages to balance the need for a polished and serious business speaker, with one that can share with audiences his admirable brand of success, all while conveying his genuine personal optimism. Hands- and minds-above, Bert was a standout for this conference.

Boston Private

 

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