Robyn
O’Brien

Renowned Speaker & Best Selling Author Who Took On the FDA
“Erin Brockovich” of the US Food System
Teaches Audiences How to Answer the Question “What would you do if you weren’t afraid?”

Robyn O’Brien’s life and the lives of thousands of others were dramatically changed one morning as her family sat down to enjoy their frozen waffles. Robyn’s daughter had a sudden and severe reaction to an ingredient in her breakfast waffles that almost took her life. She began on a life changing journey after the harrowing experience of rushing her daughter to the hospital and helplessly watching the staff work to slow her daughter’s swelling and shorted breathing to save her life. All from simply eating a frozen waffle that many Americans have in their freezers.

Robyn’s commitment to helping her daughter and other families put her on a journey she never anticipated. She started documenting everything she discovered and eventually approached some of the highest level Executives and Government Organizations with her findings. Robyn faced incredibly hateful pushback against not just against her, but her entire family as she began to confront the giants in the Food industry.

But she didn’t back down, because she believed in what she was doing and knew change was necessary in order to save lives. Eventually, Robyn was asked to give a TEDxtalk that went viral and has been viewed by millions. Her award winning book, The Unhealthy Truth, How Our Food Is Making Us Sick and What We Can Do About It has translated into dozens of languages.

Speaking Topics

Leadership

Innovation

Change

Resilience

Accountability

Population Health

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Robyn O’Brien is a bestselling author, speaker, entrepreneur and investor who thrives at the intersection of courage, authenticity, innovation and leadership. Her critically acclaimed books The Unhealthy Truth, How Our Food is Making Us Sick and What We Can Do About It (2009) and Seeding Innovation, the Path to Purpose and Profit in the 21st Century (2024) established her as a thought leader and changemaker. She is a partner at Montcalm and was listed on the Forbes Impact 50 List for her work at the intersection of food, finance and climate.

Robyn is an internationally recognized speaker whose thought leadership on courage, innovation, culture, authenticity, and disruption drive transformative change. Her renowned TED talk with over 1.5 million views, has been transcribed into dozens of languages and has influenced food policy around the world.

Robyn has taken the stage at some of the world’s most powerful brands, such as Bloomberg, Morgan Stanley, Google, General Mills, Aspen Idea Institute, Tony Robbins, Danone, General Mills and others. She’s been a featured speaker at noted conferences in Brazil, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Spain and around the world.

Years ago, Robyn’s first foray into writing began with a column for Prevention Magazine, which quickly became the most popular column on their site. She’s contributed to several books on leadership, food, climate and the environment, and her work has been featured in a diverse array of publications from the New York Times, People and Runner’s World to Forbes, where she was listed on the Forbes Impact 50 List for her work at the intersection of food, finance and climate.

Robyn is a partner at Montcalm. She joins as a market maker who focuses on scaling impact and partnerships for the impact investment firm that provides wealth management services based on intelligent investing, authentic relationships, and integrity with the planet. With 25 years of experience in impact, investing and entrepreneurship, Robyn is also the founder of AllergyKids Foundation, rePlant Capital, and an executive producer of the award-winning documentary, Common Ground. She consistently creates and drives change and growth in the food and finance industries.

WATCH Robyn’S SPEAKER REEL

Testimonials

  • “Robyn’s ability to deeply inspire her audiences with her intelligence and passion is the reason I have asked her to keynote countless times over the last decade.”

    — Michael Pellman Rowland, Morgan Stanley, Baseline Capital

  • “I do not know of an author who has a broader vision when it comes to connecting the systemic breakdowns we are witnessing and who can reconnect us to techniques and pathways that restore our love for each other and our home, the planet.”

    — Paul Hawken, American environmentalist, entrepreneur, author, economist, and activist

  • “Robyn O’Brien’s wise and infallible moral compass always points us toward a better world. I’ll go anywhere she leads.”

    — Katherine Center, New York Times Bestselling Author

  • “Robyn’s personal journey, her wisdom acquired through years of wanting to be the change she wanted to see is reflected in Seeding Innovation.

    It’s both holistic in its eloquent framing of the macro business environment in the poly crisis world (Planetary Boundaries, Economic, Political and Social). It explains why ESG, DE&I and personal work is central to building resilient, profitable businesses. Seeding Innovation presents both sober and practical tools for entrepreneurs and leaders wanting to create lasting value for people and planet.”

    — Erik Bruun Bindslev, Global Impact Leader and Entrepreneur

  • "With a call for courage, a strong compass and a gentle hand, Robyn provides informed guidance for 21st century business leaders.”

    — Rose Marcario, former CEO of Patagonia, Board of Directors, Rivianoes here

  • “When you want to inspire your team, hire Robyn to keynote. You could hear a pin drop.”

    — Eva Antczack, Google

  • “Robyn delivered a powerful keynote to our team. You could have heard a pin drop.

    What is even more amazing is that the first tine we hired her, she was presenting virtually.”

    — Shobha Shetty, World Bank

KEYNOTE TOPICS

  • “When your purpose calls, will you be ready?”

    Within each of us lies a moment—a calling—that can change everything. Will you be ready when it arrives? Will your heart, your mindset, and your circle of support be strong enough to carry you forward? In this powerful talk, discover how to prepare when life’s greatest opportunities knock, how to build your personal inventory and supportive scaffolding so that you are resilient and ready so when your purpose calls, you don’t hesitate to walk in it.

  • We’ve all had it, that little voice in your head that tears you down. The one asking, “Who are you to do this?” Tackling imposter syndrome and the naysayer in your mind is a key part of success. So how do you get a hold of it? How can you quiet the impact of naysayers? In this session, you will learn the STOP Protocol, and tools to help you deal with your biggest critics!

  • Are you ready for change? From AI to robotics, to gender, equity and inclusion, the rate of change is accelerating, presenting both challenges and opportunities to organizations and leaders. Learn how to take a personal inventory assessment, how to build a strong team and governing board, so that you can avoid blind spots and paradigm blindness.

  • What happens when $30 trillion dollars changes hands, and women acquire wealth equivalent in size to the GDP of the United States? We are about to see a change in the financial system unlike anything we’ve seen before. It will impact everything from financial advisors to education, health care and food systems. What steps do you need to take, as this materializes? And what happens when women control $30 trillion in wealth, a number equal in size to the US GDP?

  • In order to drive revenue and performance, you can’t be blindsided by the unexpected. Learn how to build a resilient team, board and mindset to ensure that your organization is positioned for opportunity in the 21st century. Inspired by data and changing demographics, you can capture market share and consumer hearts, when you lead with authenticity and purpose.

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Fee Range: $20,000–$30,000

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