Optimism is more than talk

About Steve Gross

Steve Gross is a clinical social worker and the Founder of the Playmaker Project, a nonprofit dedicated to providing training, resources, and ongoing support for early childhood professionals — enabling them to use the power of play to build healing, life-changing relationships with the children in their care.

For over 30 years, Steve has pioneered innovative, play-based, trauma interventions for communities around the world. Steveʼs work is rooted in his belief that play is the universal language of children and that adults must speak it fluently in order to help them heal, grow, and thrive. His unique approach has been instrumental for communities around the world facing large-scale trauma events. Steveʼs work has been celebrated by international trauma experts and was featured as an example of how play can be used in therapy in the longtime #1 New York Times Bestseller, The Body Keeps the Score.

Steve believes that how we care for our kids, especially our most vulnerable and wounded kids, will influence how far we evolve as a society. Join Steve in his mission to transform childrenʼs lives by investing in the professionals who serve them. 100% of Steve’s speaking fees are donated to the Playmaker Project. Learn more at lifeisgood.com/playmakerproject.

Steve loves to talk about:

• The power of a playful mindset and how it can be used to spark creativity, increase engagement, and bring powerfully positive energy to your organization
• How to maximize your true net-worth and live a life of positivity and purpose
• How to succeed in the life-changing relationship business (after all, it’s all about relationships)

Testimonials:

"Steve is one of the most memorable and impactful keynote speaker I have seen in a long time. He took the time to get to know who we are and crafted a keynote presentation that resonated with everyone in the room." - BlueCross Blue Shield

"Steve's message was the highlight of the conference. So inspiring and absolutely perfect." - EVP, Synovus Bank

"Steve is always such an inspiration, and any time I get to hear him speak I jump on the opportunity. I feel refreshed and ready to tackle anything that comes my way after hearing him!" - Preschool teacher, Valley Opportunity Council

About Bert Jacobs

Bert and his brother John started Life is Good with $78 in their pockets, selling T-shirts on the streets of Boston and in college dorms up and down the East Coast. Today, Life is Good is a $100 million positive lifestyle brand sold by over 2,000 retailers across the U.S. and Canada.

Bert and John are the youngest of six siblings from Needham, MA. They credit their mother, Joan, as the first powerful optimist in their lives—and the ultimate inspiration for Life is Good.

In the early years of their business, Bert and John were inspired by stories of people—especially children—facing great adversity. These stories inspired an integrated business model dedicated to helping kids in need. To this day, Life is Good donates at least 10 percent of its annual net profits to the Life is Good Kids Foundation, a non-profit that positively impacts over 1 million kids every year.

Bert focuses on the Product side of the brand, guiding vision, art, and message across categories. He enjoys live music, travel, and surfing. His shoes do not always match.

Bert has been awarded honorary doctorates from several universities for entrepreneurship, business innovation, and philanthropy. He and Life is Good have been featured on “Business Nation,” “Nightline,” “The Today Show,” and in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Inc. Magazine, and Men’s Health Magazine, among others.

Bert loves to talk about

Embracing the power of optimism to innovate and thrive in times of change

Business leaders see significant change ahead for their companies as 71 percent of CEO’s expect the next three years to be more critical for their industry than the last 50. Jacobs dives into creating a “yes, and” culture focused on opportunities—not obstacles—and the kind of brand-building that can stand the test of time.

Cultivating a culture of optimism from the inside out

Jacobs shares experience from Life is Good to help audiences discover their own sense of optimism and uncover a deeper meaning to their work. Lessons on gratitude, openness, and compassion show how simple mindset shifts can transform company culture and customer experiences.

Positive purpose

More than ever, consumers expect the brands they buy from to be socially responsible. Jacobs shares the Life is Good story and inspires audiences to integrate a deeper meaning into their work—the authentic way.

Life is Good – the power of optimism

Bert Jacobs’/ John Jacobs’ inspiring business story and lessons on optimism and conscious capitalism will demonstrate how focusing on the good can transform your mindset and business, and take you anywhere.

About John Jacobs

John and his brother, Bert, started Life is Good with $78 in their pockets, selling T-shirts on the streets of Boston and in college dorms up and down the East Coast. Today, Life is Good is a $100 million positive lifestyle brand sold by over 2,000 retailers across the U.S. and Canada.

John and Bert are the youngest of six siblings from Needham, MA. They credit their mother, Joan, as the first powerful optimist in their lives—and the ultimate inspiration for Life is Good.

In the early years of their business, John and Bert were inspired by stories of people—especially children—facing great adversity. These stories inspired an integrated business model dedicated to helping kids in need. To this day, Life is Good donates at least 10 percent of its annual net profits to the Life is Good Kids Foundation, a non-profit that positively impacts over 1 million kids every year.

John focuses on Brand Marketing, providing creative direction to writers, designers, and photographers, while collaborating with his brother, Bert, on Product. He enjoys outdoor adventures with his family, awkward dancing, and diving into the water to catch things real or imagined.

John has been awarded honorary doctorates from several universities for entrepreneurship, business innovation, and philanthropy. He and Life is Good have been featured on “Business Nation,” “Nightline,” “The Today Show,” and in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Inc. Magazine, and Men’s Health Magazine, among others.

John loves to talk about

Embracing the power of optimism to innovate and thrive in times of change

Business leaders see significant change ahead for their companies as 71 percent of CEO’s expect the next three years to be more critical for their industry than the last 50. Jacobs dives into creating a “yes, and” culture focused on opportunities—not obstacles—and the kind of brand-building that can stand the test of time.

Cultivating a culture of optimism from the inside out

Jacobs shares experience from Life is Good to help audiences discover their own sense of optimism and uncover a deeper meaning to their work. Lessons on gratitude, openness, and compassion show how simple mindset shifts can transform company culture and customer experiences.

Positive purpose

More than ever, consumers expect the brands they buy from to be socially responsible. Jacobs shares the Life is Good story and inspires audiences to integrate a deeper meaning into their work—the authentic way.

Life is Good – the power of optimism

Bert Jacobs’/ John Jacobs’ inspiring business story and lessons on optimism and conscious capitalism will demonstrate how focusing on the good can transform your mindset and business, and take you anywhere.