Joe Roberts

From homelessness to CEO – Joe Roberts inspires audiences to unlock resilience, purpose and human potential.

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Rarely do we find individuals whose personal life experience has the power to motivate and move people like your story did. The way you delivered with consistency night after night and the impact you had on each room was reflected in the high level of engagement and feedback that we are still receiving. Your message was perfect, and I want to thank you for inspiring, educating, and empowering all of us.

Vice President Strategic Accounts

AGF

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Why you should book Joe Roberts for your next event

Joe Roberts combines real-world business success with a deeply personal story of resilience, leadership and transformation.
Former homeless addict turned award-winning CEO and keynote speaker with more than 20 years of international speaking experience.
Inspires organizations to create lasting change through purpose, perseverance, accountability and human connection.

Non-binding request for Joe Roberts

The Skidrow CEO inspiring leaders, teams and organizations through resilience and transformation

Joe Roberts is one of the most inspiring keynote speakers on resilience, leadership and human potential. Known internationally as “The Skidrow CEO,” Joe’s journey from homelessness and addiction on the streets of Vancouver to becoming a successful CEO and award-winning speaker has inspired audiences around the world. With decades of business experience and a deeply human story of transformation, Joe delivers powerful keynotes that challenge people to rethink what is possible – both personally and professionally.

Book Joe Roberts for Your Event

Joe Roberts is an internationally recognized keynote speaker, entrepreneur, and advocate whose extraordinary life story has inspired audiences around the world. Known as The Skidrow CEO, Joe combines powerful personal experience with proven business leadership to help individuals and organizations navigate change, overcome challenges, and unlock their potential.

Whether speaking to Fortune 500 companies, leadership teams, associations, or educational organizations, Joe delivers keynotes that are inspiring, practical, and deeply memorable.

From Skid Row to CEO

Joe's story is one of the most remarkable transformations in modern business and personal development.

In 1989, he was homeless and struggling with addiction on the streets of Vancouver's skid row. Through determination, accountability, and a commitment to rebuilding his life, Joe overcame those challenges and created a new future for himself.

He later founded Mindware Design Communications, growing the company by more than 800% in under four years and generating millions of dollars in value for clients across multiple industries. His journey gives him a unique perspective on both personal resilience and organizational success.

Today, Joe uses his experiences to demonstrate that circumstances do not define potential and that meaningful transformation is possible for individuals, teams, and organizations alike.

The Skidrow CEO Message

What makes Joe's keynotes so impactful is his ability to connect personal lessons with real-world leadership and workplace challenges.

Drawing from both business and life experience, he explores topics such as:

Resilience during change and uncertainty
Leadership and personal accountability
Building strong workplace cultures
Human connection and engagement
Team performance and growth
Unlocking potential in people and organizations

His presentations combine compelling storytelling with practical insights that audiences can immediately apply in their work and lives.

Business Leadership with Real-World Perspective

Before becoming a sought-after speaker, Joe built and led a successful multimedia company through a period of rapid growth and transformation.

His firsthand experience as an entrepreneur gives him credibility with leaders facing complex business challenges. He understands the realities of growth, change, innovation, and organizational development, making his message relevant not only on a personal level but also from a leadership and business perspective.

This combination of executive experience and lived adversity allows Joe to connect with audiences in a way few speakers can.

The Push for Change

After rebuilding his life, Joe made a commitment to help others facing circumstances similar to those he once experienced.

That commitment led to The Push for Change, a national campaign focused on preventing youth homelessness across Canada.

To raise awareness, Joe pushed a shopping cart more than 9,000 kilometres across the country, engaging communities, organizations, and leaders along the way. The initiative captured national attention and became a powerful symbol of what can happen when purpose is paired with action.

The experience continues to influence Joe's work, reinforcing his belief that leadership is defined not by position or status, but by service, courage, and the willingness to create positive change.

National Recognition

Joe's contributions as a business leader, advocate, and speaker have earned widespread recognition across Canada.

His honours include:

Named one of MacLean's Magazine's 10 Canadians Who Make a Difference
BC Courage to Come Back Award recipient
Ontario Premier's Award for Business recipient
Honorary Doctorate from Laurentian University
Canada 150 Medal recipient from the Senate of Canada
British Columbia Medal of Good Citizenship recipient
Meritorious Service Medal recipient from the Governor General of Canada

These recognitions reflect the impact of Joe's work across business, community leadership, and social advocacy.

A Keynote Audiences Remember

With more than 20 years of speaking experience, Joe has inspired audiences internationally through presentations that are authentic, engaging, and actionable.

He speaks with honesty, humility, and conviction, creating a connection that stays with audiences long after the event ends. More than sharing an extraordinary story, Joe challenges people to rethink what is possible for themselves, their teams, and their organizations.

For organizations seeking a speaker who can inspire action, strengthen leadership, and energize people through a message of possibility and purpose, Joe Roberts delivers an experience that leaves a lasting impact.

Customer Reviews

Vice President Strategic Accounts AGF

"Your presentation was absolutely thought-provoking, powerful, and very moving. It was very motivational for the group to hear what happens when "things go right."

Commissioner Ontario Provincial Police

You connected with people using your authentic personal experience with both mental health and addiction, something that touches all our lives.

Area Manager BC Hydro

“I have heard you speak twice now, and both times you successfully touched the audience in a way that only someone who has lived their story can. You taught us all that we can endure change and hardship in life and still come out victorious. Your “Skidrow to CEO” message is what the world needs today.”

President Justice Institute of BC

Keynotes

Keynote by Joe Roberts:

From Skid Row to CEO

Building resilience one step at a time

In this empowering keynote, Joe teaches audiences how to build the resiliency needed to succeed in the face of adversity and change by taking small, attainable steps. Sharing the story of his catastrophic failure and extraordinary success, Joe inspires audiences to see beyond their perceived limitations to overcome life’s challenges and embrace change.

This keynote is ideal for anyone who is:

Trying to adapt to significant change or disruption
Disconnected from their purpose and passion and showing signs of burnout or underperformance
Feeling stuck or holding onto limiting beliefs and a negative outlook
Struggling to see their potential and ability to accomplish anything!

The audience will leave with:

Actionable insights on building personal resilience no matter what challenge or change they are facing
A greater understanding of the cumulative impact of small, consistent actions and the motivation to take the first step
Renewed interest and focus in their work as they reconnect to their purpose and passion
Tools for reframing a limiting mindset so they can see the possibilities in themselves and the world around them

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Keynote by Joe Roberts:

There’s More to You Than You Can See

Collapsing mental health stigma

In this eye-opening keynote, Joe shares the critical role family and community support played in helping him overcome a lifelong struggle with substance use disorder and mental illness.

Through the lens of his incredible transformation, audiences will be reminded that every person, including themselves, has enormous potential and will leave inspired to create safe spaces for others to learn, grow, and change.

This program is perfect for leaders and teams who are:

Seeing a rapid rise in sick leave, burnout, suicide, PTSD, substance use disorder, and depression in their organization
Experiencing productivity decreases, increased sick days, quiet quitting, unmotivated staff, high turnover, or internal strife and tensions
Needing to build empathy-based leadership and a psychologically safe work environment
Unaware or unconcerned about the stigma and issues surrounding mental health, addiction, and suicide

The audience will leave with:

The motivation and tools to develop empathy centered leadership and see the possibilities in everyone they meet
Simple steps anyone can take to create a safe space where people are seen and heard
Practical techniques for supporting the person AND challenging the behavior, including tools for conducting “Tough Stuff” Mental Health Conversations

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Keynote by Joe Roberts:

To Protect and Serve

The life-changing potential of every interaction

In this inspiring keynote, Joe Roberts highlights the life-changing impact first responders can have in every interaction through his own remarkable story.

What was a typical distress call for Constable Scott MacLeod (another man with a gun threatening suicide) became a moment that changed Joe’s life forever. Joe’s story reminds first responders of the power of every interaction and the deep impact they have, but don’t always see, on their communities.

This keynote is perfect for any first responder who is:

Feeling underappreciated under the weight of public hostility, negative headlines, and the growing anti-police movements
Needing a reminder of the good work being done every day in their millions of positive interactions
Struggling to see the potential in the people they support and serve because of burnout, frustration, or unrecognized bias and stigma

The audience will leave with:

A feeling of being honored and appreciated for their work
A powerful reminder of their ability to make a difference in their community through a real-life example
A rededication and commitment to purpose and passion and tools for staying inspired and motivated despite external factors
Greater empathy and respect for the potential of those who struggle with mental health or addiction

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Keynote by Joe Roberts:

Safety - It’s About the Little Things

Leading and inspiring a culture of safety

In this keynote, Joe explores the connection between mental safety and physical safety and shares how anyone can connect their personal purpose to safer behavior.

As Joe walks the audience through his first poor choice and how it led to a journey of degradation and despair, they will understand why people make unsafe decisions and how they can intentionally build physically and mentally safer workplaces with every small decision.

This presentation is perfect for safety leaders and teams who are:

Unaware of the significant impact mental health can have on job performance and safety
Lacking a safe and supportive environment where employees feel comfortable discussing their mental health
Struggling to pay attention to the little things, leading to potentially costly mistakes
Unsure how they can build a culture of empathy where people feel seen, heard, and safe enough to address potential safety issues

The audience will leave with:

A deeper understanding of why the little things matter so much and the motivation to make every small choice a good one
A greater appreciation for the importance of advocating for prevention, even if it means having a tough conversation
Tools for creating a safe space where people are not only seen and heard but also supported in their struggles

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Keynote by Joe Roberts:

The Push for Change

How to lead, inspire, and engage on purpose

Pushing a shopping cart 9,064km across Canada may sound impossible, but amazing things happen when passion aligns with purpose!

Joe shares lessons learned from The Push for Change, a 17-month walk across Canada to support the end of youth homelessness. As audiences follow along with his journey, they‘ll learn practical insights for developing a purpose-driven leadership that inspires and engages others.

This program is perfect for any audience who wants to lead well but is:

One of the 4 in 5 people that aren’t playing to their strengths in the workplace
Unsure how to handle the issues they’re facing with their teams, such as decreased productivity, increased sick days, unmotivated staff, and internal strife and tensions
Struggling with apathy, disengagement, and underperformance, due to burnout-out or a disconnect from their purpose and passion

The audience will leave with:

Tools they can immediately use to overcome adversity and reframe a limiting mindset
The ability to tackle big projects and stay focused by tapping into their deeper sense of purpose-driven leadership
Three core things that get people and teams fired up so they can achieve literally anything!