Jacob Brown is one of the most electric voices rising in the world of professional speaking.

A former NFL athlete turned serial entrepreneur, best-selling author, and transformational keynote speaker, Jacob has quickly become a go-to expert for companies and conferences that want to shift mindsets, build resilient leaders, and transform workplace culture.

Today, Jacob is a trusted keynote speaker for organizations like Intel, Meta, LinkedIn, UPS, General Motors, the Dallas Cowboys and many more. He’s delivered standing-ovation keynotes at top universities including Notre Dame, Michigan, and Wisconsin, and his insights have been featured in Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, and Good Morning America. Jacob is also the author of Fail Forward Mentality, a powerful book designed to help individuals and organizations break free from perfectionism, embrace resilience, and transform setbacks into growth.

His book is a natural extension of his message on stage, equipping readers with actionable tools to reframe failure and lead with courage. As co-founder of Varlo, a global athletic apparel brand, Jacob knows the entrepreneurial hustle. But it’s his work with executive teams, HR leaders, and frontline managers that sets him apart. His keynotes go beyond motivation - they activate change. Using humor, hard-earned wisdom, and practical frameworks, Jacob helps leaders unlock their teams' potential by transforming failure into strategy and adversity into alignment.

Whether guiding companies through burnout, broken culture, or leadership drift, Jacob equips audiences to embrace discomfort, lead with authenticity, and build failure-resilient organizations that thrive in uncertainty.

He lives in Metro Detroit with his wife and their four children. Offstage, you’ll find him cheering at basketball games, attending ballet recitals, or sneaking in a family vacation - always leading from the core.

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

For speaking inquiries: www.jakebrownspeaks.com

Jacob Brown

Design2Train

SAIC

Business Analyst

Unisys

Project OCM Communications: commercial and Federal Agencies

Organizational Change Manager

American General Life Companies

eCommerce Director - VALIC Insurance, Red Apple Online Project
Leader for national K12 education online community site Red Apple Online.  The website launched with 500,000 hits the first week. Won 2002 ISPI National Training Award for Outstanding Instructional Communication.

Director Ecommerce

Questia Media

Recruited to develop a secondary school initiative for a pre-IPO DOT.com startup.  Assisted in developing a national database of college text books for launch of a innovative online library.

Marketing Manager

Compaq Computer Corporation

Responsible for managing Commercial Portable Division team to produce new product training to 300,000 worldwide community of internal trainers and field sales / service staff. Consistently delivered all products (CD, Video, PowerPoint, Intranet / Internet / Extranet Websites) on-time. Saved over $250K in development costs the first year.  Received 1999 ASTD Excellence in Practice Award for Electronic Learning, the first Compaq recognition for training leadership.  Member of the Global Training Steering Committee for policy development.

Commercial Portable Training Manager

Electronic Learning Facilitators

Training project leader for three multi-media contracts $1Million FAA - Airway Facilities and Civil Aeronautical Medical Institute with a staff of twelve. I was hired to interview / hire all employees, furnish and network the office, and deliver all projects on-time.  Received bonus for on-time delivery, Responsible for obtaining additional $400K contract for creating training for a Red Cross Emergency Field Response Vehicle. Office closed to corporate restructure.

Site Manager

The Zenith 

Lead knowledge architect consultant of $8 Million business process re-engineering project, responsible for CBT work simluation exercises in a Model Office. Co-founded a corporate university, internal consultant on performance management and workforce productivity.

Instructional Design Consultant

National University

Taught 250 graduate students : Clear CA Teaching Credential - Computers in Classroom
Twenty-five students became technology leaders in their schools districts as a direct result from my course.

Adjunct Professor

GTE Education Services

Developed and delivered corporate training on: The Electric Pages - a proprietary host and communications software; SpecialNet - special education , K12 educators / administrators at the state, national and international levels.  Lead the development of CA.Schoolcom - a California K12-based network. Trained educators on: email, bulletin boards, databases, and computer conferencing.  Recruited and trained professional education organizations as content providers.

Regional Marketing Manager

Val K Miller, M.Ed. CMP
Award-winning Instructional Designer, founded Design2Train (2001) eLearning services

PLAN239 (2018) eLearning project leadership coaching system, based on consistent delivery of 100s of hours of custom training On-Time & On-Budget to Fortune 500 & Federal agencies.

taplio

The Battle

Jacob Brown

Val K Miller

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