Jacob is a former NFL athlete turned entrepreneur, transformational keynote speaker, best-selling author, and business coach. He is also the co-founder of Varlo, a leading brand in cycling, triathlon, and athleisure fitness apparel. Jacob has faced plenty of challenges – academic setbacks, business hurdles, personal losses, and even homelessness. But with each stumble, he found strength. He learned that failure isn’t the end; it's a stepping stone. As a three-time TEDx speaker, Jacob was also named one of the '40 Under 40' in 2015.

His insights have been featured in Forbes, Wall Street Journal, and Good Morning America. Top brands and institutions like Intel, Meta, LinkedIn, Dallas Cowboys, UPS, Stellantis, University of Notre Dame, University of Michigan, University of Wisconsin, and Central Michigan University have been captivated by his talks. Jacob's mission goes beyond motivation.

He promotes a transformative approach to life, advocating for a mental reset and a shift in perspective to discover one’s true calling. His #FailForward philosophy, shared on LinkedIn, through motivational posts, and in powerful videos, has inspired countless individuals worldwide to turn setbacks into strength.

Ready to connect? Text or call me @ 248-805-6093 or email me at jacob@failforwardbrown.com

For speaking inquiries: www.failforwardbrown.com

Jacob Brown

This should ring true both professionally and personally.

Jacob Brown 🎤

When I was 27, I applied for a position I knew I wasn’t qualified for – and I landed it.

It was my "dream job."

This position was a lead role for a very large digital agency and one that I had always wanted to work for.

I had a phone interview on a Wednesday, a face-to-face that Friday, and was made an offer that Sunday.

Yep, Sunday.

I even received my benefits package the same day.

They offered me $30k more than what I was currently making at the time, 4 weeks of PTO, and every other Friday off during summer.

Jackpot, right?

Nope!

That Monday, I received a call that the position was going to be eliminated due to lack of budget.

Thank God I hadn't already put in my 2 weeks.

I was crushed.

But I was not defeated.

Shortly after, I was offered an even better position and life went on.

Moral of the story - fail forward.

Hey, new followers and connections! 🖐

If you’re new to my page - welcome! I’m so glad you’re here, and I want to take a moment to introduce myself.

My name is Jacob Brown 🎤, but you can call me Jake! 

I’m a former NFL athlete turned keynote speaker, leadership coach, and bestselling author who is obsessed with one thing: helping humans lead from within.

Before I ever stepped on a stage, I spent 15+ years as a Creative Director, leading teams, managing pressure, coaching talent, and building culture in fast-moving environments.

Today, I work with:
 ⚡ HR leaders and people teams
 ⚡ Associations and conferences
 ⚡ Organizations in tech, healthcare, finance, auto, manufacturing, education, and many more
 ⚡ Executives and mid-level leaders navigating change, burnout, or culture drift

And I speak about:
 🗣️ Leadership alignment
 🗣️Culture transformation
 🗣️Navigating burnout and disengagement
 🗣️Turning failure into fuel
 🗣️Building teams that actually trust each other
 🗣️Leading with purpose instead of pressure

I’ve been fortunate to share this work with companies like Intel, Meta, GM, UPS, LinkedIn, and the Dallas Cowboys - along with universities, associations, and SHRM chapters across the country.

But more than any credential, here’s what matters most: I care deeply about helping people grow. Not just as professionals, but as humans.

I’m glad we connected.

I’m here to serve.

- Jake

I put together 5 leadership lessons that I wish I knew sooner as a leader.

5 Leadership Lessons I wish I knew sooner

Before you'll ever enter rooms you wish to be in, you must first enter them in your mind.

2026…we're coming for you. Here’s to building powerful rooms together next year.

Sunday evening reminder that you still have PTO left this year - so take it.

Public confidence is found in private discipline.

Accenture

I oversee the solutioning & execution of transitional projects coming from Health and Life Science clients in North America.

This includes, coaching new transition architects and transition leads, assisting clients in developing solutions to fit their needs, and overseeing the implementation to ensure delivery of the agreed solution.

NA HLS Offering

Definitive Logic

Support DL clients in the San Antonio area find solutions in how they modernize their asset management approach.

DL Leadership

Worked within the Mobilization group at Accenture that handles the transition of work into Accenture.  I have worked predominantly in the H&PS and CMT industries - both as an architect in the sales cycle and the project manager that is over standing up the new service.  

Previous to this position, I was a PMO lead for our operations supporting an IT client.  I worked with our delivery leads to ensure there was consistency in how we delivered the service (reporting packages, change controls, risk / incident management, etc.).  I also ensured our internal metrics such as cost control and profitability margins were in line with what we owed our internal shareholders.  

Before that, I worked as a Global Delivery Lead over a purchasing project for a manufacturing client.  I started as the contract negotiations were finalizing and stayed on until the project was stable.  We ensured each general office and manufacturing site complied with our client's compliance policy & regulatory requirements, which drove the contractually required savings as we our negotiated rates with the potential vendors our client considered.  Out minimum requirement was 7% savings, we were at 11% when I moved on.

Project Manager / Architect

Oxford University Press

Responsible for implementation of company policy in the America's for Global Academic Business (GAB) OUP.  This includes drafting GAB level guidance on company policy; providing, conducting, and tracking training accordingly; as well as conducting due diligence research on third parties that are tracked in SAP.

• Created a Risk Assessment Tool in Excel enabling teams to conduct Risk Analysis' internally.  Provides checklist of required documentation and clarifies when Compliance Team involvement is required.
• Released GAB level guidance on all Company Policies that were compliant to the FCPA and UK Bribery Act.
• Increased training compliance to the UK Bribery Act.

Compliance Advisor

United States Marine Corps

Second in command for a company consisting of nearly 700 Marines, I focused on administrative, training and legal issues enabling the Company Commander to employ his company as needed.  

•	Unit disaster response lead, ensured unit property was stored safely and stocks were maintained to provide initial response support for humanitarian aid missions.
•	Managed conflicts between platoon commanders, ensuring unit cohesiveness existed and supported mission accomplishment.
•	Increased company deployment training readiness from 67% to 95%.
•	Increased meeting effectiveness by increasing report transparency and reducing personnel required at meetings.
•	Oversaw the completion of 2 congressional investigations, 3 sexual investigations and 3 property investigations.
•	Oversaw unit safety program, passed OSHA compliance inspection with minor discrepancies.
•	Oversaw the definition of contract requirements for warehouse modernization, a contract worth $1.2M.

Company Executive Officer

Managed budget of $1M per fiscal year, ensured accurate accountability of unit assets totaling over $40M in the new Oracle database the Marine Corps uses. Warehoused an inventory of repair parts, tents and clothing totaling over $7M; requisitioned all unit needs, averaging 80 requirements a day; supervised 21 Marines.

•	During Hurricane Sandy relief efforts, assisted supply chain distribution at NY shipping yards by organizing and securing supplies which increased efficiency of the National Guard’s resupply efforts to local distribution centers around the effected islands.  
•	Trained in humanitarian aid missions ranging from extraction to initial response.  
• Increased record compliance from 77% to 98% in first quarter.
• Reduced delivery time of repair parts from averaging 30 days to 8.
• Implemented procedures to reduce shrinkage and enhance transparency of the delivery of parts.
• Advised in 2 Article 32 Hearings (preliminary hearings) and 1 General Court-Martial.
• Doubled the efficiency of repair part delivery through analysis and redesign of inventory system.
• Resolved 17 property investigations for equipment valued from $300 up to $500K.
• Proposed changes in Power Point to top leaders of Marine Corps and Naval logistics based on Continual Process Improvement in the supply chain of units deployed on ship, it is currently being tested for broader implementation.
• Passed 3 Credit Card audits with no issues.
• Prepared and assisted in the creation of conctracts ranging in price from $11,000 to $106,000.

Battalion Supply Officer

Managed budget of $5M, ensured accurate accountability of unit assets totaling over $110M in the SASSY/ATLASS databases used by the Marine Corps. Supported units deployed to Afghanistan by acquiring and shipping parts and weapons to forward deployed locations; supervised 15 Marines.
 
•	Supported Haiti relief efforts with material requisitions.
• Reconciled property records, correcting over $20M in discrepancies and implemented cross-functional training to prevent recurrence.
• Revised document retention procedures and processes to deter shrinkage.
• Advised in 4 Article 32 Hearings and 3 General Courts-Martial.
• Resolved 62 property investigations for equipment ranging in price from $1,500 up to $2.5M.
• Passed a regulatory inspection with 2 accommodations: 1 in shipping/receiving procedures and 1 in the storage of personal effects.
• Passed 2 Credit Card Audits with no issues.
• Prepared and assisted in the creation of contracts ranging in price from $11K to $350K.

Regimental Supply Officer

1/10—7/10	 Basic School Student: Trained in Marine Corps leadership, customs and weaponry.  While there, developed communication skills, discipline and military skills proficiency.  Received training on physical loss prevention skills.

10/09—12/09	Candidate: Commissioning source.  10 week course, was screened and accepted by the Marine Corps based on proven and potential in leadership, discipline and acumen.

Marine Officer

NA Health Offering @ Accenture | PMP, MBA

As a H&LS Transition Offering Lead at Accenture Operations, I have over a decade of experience in project management and architecture, with a focus on identifying and realizing value for health and life science clients in North America. I am passionate about creating solutions that fit the needs and expectations of the clients, and that are aligned with the post-COVID landscape.

I have oversight for any deal that is in the solutioning or implementing phase, ensuring delivery of the agreed solution and satisfaction of the client. I have successfully coached new transition architects and leads, assisted clients in developing solutions, and overseen the implementation of transitional projects across various industries. I have also leveraged my PMP® certification and leadership skills to manage complex and large-scale projects, both as an architect in the sales cycle and the project manager in the mobilization group. I thrive on finding ways to incorporate technology at an accelerated rate and driving value for H&LS clients with transition solutions at Accenture.

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