Book Robert Xavier Fogarty — Interactive Keynote Speaker
Robert Xavier Fogarty is an interactive keynote speaker and founder of Dear World. He delivers customized keynotes and storytelling experiences for conferences, leadership summits, and corporate events worldwide. His three proprietary methods — Brain Tattoo, Portrait Process, and Write Your Future — follow a proven 3-act structure. Event formats range from 45-minute opening keynotes to full-day executive retreats, serving audiences of 10 to 5,000+ people. Trusted by Google, PayPal, Salesforce, Harvard, Stanford, and 500+ organizations across 100+ countries. 94% of attendees report feeling more connected to core values. The portrait studio travels with the Dear World crew: lighting, backdrops, cameras, and writing tables arrive the day before and the stations are built inside the event room the client has already booked, so no separate photo studio and no outside photographers are required. Each station photographs about 30 people per hour, and the station count is sized to the headcount and the open window. To book, contact his team for availability and a quote — most clients book 3–9 months in advance.
Make Your Event unforgettable.
- 500+
- Organizations Served
- 1M+
- Stories Shaped
- 94%
- Feel More Connected
"Dear World is so much more than a keynote, it’s a human experience. Dear World and Robert Fogarty don’t just speak to audiences; they change people. It’s a unique, immersive experience that your attendees will love, and your internal clients will thank you for. It’s the kind of moment that stays with people for years. If you want to be a star inside your company, bring Dear World in. I promise you will not be disappointed."
Caryn TaylorPast President, FICP
Choose Your Method
Every Dear World experience follows the same proven 3-act structure. First, pick the method that fits your event.
Brain Tattoo Method
Opening Keynote
30–60 min
Brain Tattoo Activation
TBD by Event
Storytelling Reveal
20–60 min
What You Get with Brain Tattoo Method
Pricing Available Upon Request
Every event is unique. Tell us about your audience, goals, and format — we'll send a detailed quote within 24 hours.
Request PricingSpeaking Topics
Pick Your Topic
The method is the how. The topic is the why — the message tailored to your audience. Topics and methods are mix-and-match.
Leadership Keynote
Executive teams, leadership summits
How storytelling drives leadership, trust, and culture.
Interactive Keynote
Large conferences (100–10,000+)
High-energy audience engagement with the full Dear World experience.
Executive Language
C-suite, leadership teams (10–50)
Corporate storytelling workshop — building psychological safety in the boardroom.
Guest Speaker
Panels, fireside chats, virtual events
Flexible format — authentic storytelling that breaks barriers.
Internal Truths
Teams navigating change, mergers, resets
Resilience through vulnerability — helping people find their anchor.
Inside The Room
What It actually looks like.
Boardrooms, ballrooms, refugee camps, and Fortune 100 keynotes — same method, different rooms.
The Photo Studio
The studio travels with us.
Planners hear that we photograph everyone in the room and start looking for a studio to rent. Nobody needs to. Our crew flies in the day before with the lights, backdrops, cameras, and writing tables, then builds the stations inside the room you already booked.
We Bring
- Lighting, backdrops, and cameras for every station
- The writing tables and the markers people write with
- A crew member on each station keeping it moving
- Post-production and the final high-resolution files
You Provide
- Floor space in a room already on your contract
- Power at the station
- A wireless lav mic and a screen for the keynote
- A headcount, so we size the stations to your room
Station Math
At 30 portraits an hour per station, that covers 300 people in 2 hours.
Thirty an hour, per station, is the number we plan against. Your team and ours run this exact math together before anything gets signed.
Stations open during breaks and receptions already on your agenda. We assign groups to time windows with your planners so nobody stands in a line.
How It Works
How To Book Robert Xavier Fogarty
Get In Touch
Contact our office to discuss your engagement. We'll be in touch shortly to review the details and confirm Robert's availability for your date. During this process, we'll help you determine if your event is a good fit. We will tentatively hold your booking date while we iron out the details.
Book Your Date
To secure a date on Robert's calendar, a deposit is required along with a signed agreement. Everything is sent quickly with e-sign capabilities. Upon signing, our team will schedule a pre-program consultation with Robert.
Consultation
Robert will meet with you and your team in person or over a call. This discussion helps him gain insight into your organization, event theme, meeting objectives, and audience. Using this, Robert will prepare a fully customized program for your event.
Pre-Production
Leading up to the event, we'll confirm room setup, provide marketing materials and promo assets for your program, and coordinate travel itinerary, staging, AV requirements, and all other logistics.
Showtime
For out-of-town engagements, Robert generally arrives the day before. This allows for an early sound check, portrait station setup, and time to review all production elements to ensure your event is an unforgettable success.
Event Formats
Select Your Experience
The Opening Keynote
Act 1 only — a powerful keynote speech with storytelling and audience engagement. No activation. Perfect when time is tight but impact matters.
The Keynote + Experience
All 3 acts — keynote + activation + reveal. The signature Dear World format for conferences, association meetings, and large offsites.
Half-Day Workshop
A deep-dive with full team participation, leadership stories, and extended activation time. Ideal for team offsites and retreats.
Full-Day Executive Retreat
Custom agenda for C-suite and senior leaders. Includes "Signature Story" development, vulnerable peer-to-peer connection, and strategic alignment.
Virtual & Hybrid
Adapted for Zoom/Teams with live facilitation, breakout rooms, and virtual activation. Ensures remote attendees feel just as connected.
Festival-Scale Activation
Multi-station setup for massive audiences at festivals, conventions, and company-wide events. Designed for high-volume, high-energy participation.
Planning Kit
Take what you need.
Bio copy for your program book, photography for your event site, and the logo files, all downloadable right here without asking anyone. If you need something that isn't on this page, email hello@dearworld.com and we will send it over.
Official Bio
Robert X. Fogarty is the founder of Dear World, a global storytelling movement rooted in meaning, values, and lived experience. He began photographing handwritten messages on people in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, and that small art project became a platform that has captured more than one million stories and over 50,000 portraits worldwide.
His work has been shown at the Nobel Peace Prize Forum, the United Nations, and the British Embassy in the United States. He has worked with leaders at Google, PayPal, Delta Air Lines, Charles Schwab, UBS, Hyatt, the United States Air Force, and Duke University Basketball. He lives in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Dear World Logo
Dear World® is a registered U.S. trademark, Reg. No. 4,137,822. Please carry the ® on the first written use of the name.
Photography
Click any frame to download the full file. Dimensions are listed so you know what will hold up in print.
Need a studio headshot or a specific format for your program book? Email us and we will cut it to your spec.
Support
FAQ
Book Robert
Check availability for your event. We respond within 24 hours.