Keynote Speaking
A story that changes the way people think about preparation, resilience, and purpose.
Bob Jenkins brings September 11 — and everything that led to it — into the room.
“He doesn't just tell you what happened. He shows you what it means for your own life.”
Bob Jenkins was on the 39th floor of the North Tower when the first plane struck. What he experienced in the hours that followed — and in the decades before — forms the foundation of a keynote that is equal parts gripping narrative, hard-won wisdom, and unexpected humor. The situation was, by any measure, FUBAR. What got him out was everything the Marine Corps had already built into him.
His message is not about tragedy. It is about preparation. About the quiet, often invisible steps that shape who we become long before the defining moment arrives. Semper Fidelis — Always Faithful — is not just a motto. It is a way of living that Bob carried into the stairwell and carries into every room he speaks in. Every audience leaves with a new way of looking at their own staircase.
Watch Bob Speak
See the Story in Action
Watch Bob deliver his keynote — a firsthand account of September 11 that leaves no audience unchanged.
Full keynote — a short highlight reel is coming soon.
Programs & Topics
What Bob Brings to the Stage
The Stairway to Heaven Keynote
Bob's signature keynote. Drawing directly from his memoir, he walks audiences through the morning of September 11, the descent from the 39th floor, and the lifetime of experiences that prepared him for it — without him ever knowing. Powerful, personal, and immediately applicable to every life in the room.
Duration
45 – 75 minutes
Best For
Corporate leadership, military and veteran organizations, first responder groups, memorial events
Prepared Without Knowing It
A focused session on the concept at the heart of Bob's story: that the experiences we dismiss as ordinary are often the ones that matter most. Ideal for leadership development programs, team retreats, and professional conferences where resilience and purpose are the theme.
Duration
30 – 60 minutes
Best For
Leadership conferences, corporate retreats, professional associations, university programs
Semper Fidelis: Leadership Under Pressure
Rooted in Bob's years of Marine Corps service, this session explores what real leadership looks like when the stakes are highest — and how the principles forged in military training apply directly to the boardroom, the locker room, and everyday life. In the Corps, SNAFU isn't a complaint — it's a starting point. Marines are trained to operate when everything goes sideways. Bob shows your team how to do the same.
Duration
30 – 45 minutes
Best For
Military and veteran organizations, executive leadership programs, law enforcement and first responders
September 11: A Firsthand Account
A memorial and commemorative presentation for audiences who want to hear September 11 described from inside the North Tower — not from a news broadcast, but from a man who was there. Respectful, honest, and deeply human.
Duration
45 – 60 minutes
Best For
Memorial ceremonies, civic organizations, schools and universities, government and public service events
Who Bob Speaks For
Corporate & Executive Leadership
Military & Veteran Organizations
First Responders & Law Enforcement
Memorial & Commemorative Events
Leadership Conferences
Universities & Schools
“We do not suddenly become courageous. We become the people our lives have been quietly shaping all along.”
— BOB JENKINS
Bring Bob to your next event.
Available for keynotes, half-day programs, panel discussions, and memorial ceremonies. Inquire about availability and fees.