Rob Lilwall

Global Keynote Speaker on Resilience, Agility and Growth Mindset | NatGeo TV Adventurer | Conferences & Events | Based in HK & SG

[Rob Lilwall @roblilwall]

A more productive question is: What is the next right action?

When conditions are difficult, progress rarely comes from having the perfect plan. It comes from adapting, refocusing, and continuing to move forward one step at a time.

#ThinklikeanAdventurer #keynotespeech

[Rob Lilwall @roblilwall]

It has been a delight last week to speak virtually for @Google as part of their elite flagship programme for rising talent.

Using stories from my crossing of the Taklamakan Desert - the legendary Desert of Death - we explored, among other things, how to deal with the pressure.

[Rob Lilwall @roblilwall]

when things aren’t going according to plan. In the business context, it can feel a bit like dragging a very heavy cart across a very treacherous desert!

1 lesson that stands out from both adventure and work is that we often waste energy wishing the terrain were different.

[Rob Lilwall @roblilwall]

Thank you to Brice TCHAPLYGUINE, Don Mak, Van Mulryan, and all the other leaders who participated so enthusiastically and contributed to such a thoughtful and engaging session. I look forward to staying in touch. #ThinklikeanAdventurer #leadershipworkshop #Keynotespeech

[Rob Lilwall @roblilwall]

Great fun last week speaking at the APAC @TAGHeuer leadership event on Sentosa, Singapore.

We explored a simple but increasingly important idea: in a rapidly changing world that is ever more full of setbacks and uncertainties, each of us needs to "Think like an Adventurer."

[Rob Lilwall @roblilwall]

Over three hours, we combined stories (from Siberia, Papua New Guinea, Afghanistan), activities, discussion, and reflection to explore how Thinking like an Adventurer can help us build greater resilience and agility in the face of uncertainty and change.

[Rob Lilwall @roblilwall]

We reflected together on the importance of "Thinking like Adventurers" in the world's current state of great uncertainty and rapid change.

#keynote #change #ThinklikeanAdventurer

[Rob Lilwall @roblilwall]

Great fun to give a speech at BDO Unibank's IBG annual conference in Manila two weeks ago! They themed their event around the concept of "The Great Expedition" and everyone (audience and speakers alike) wore expedition outfits - which was extra fun!

[Rob Lilwall @roblilwall]

I made my flight no problem! Thank you to ST Engineering for having me speak - a really fun event, and a brilliant audience. And thank you to Mervin for saving the day and acting fast! #lastminute.com #keynotespeaker

[Rob Lilwall @roblilwall]

I was already cutting it a bit fine to try and catch a flight back to Hong Kong at 6pm, after finishing my speech to the ST Engineering leadership conference at the Grand Hyatt in Singapore at 4.10pm last Thursday.

[Rob Lilwall @roblilwall]

Then in the Grab ride to the airport, I realised I had left my laptop at the event! Thankfully, the heroic Mervin Tan, who had already done an awesome job with organising me to come and speak, acted fast. He jumped in his car with the laptop, pursued my Grab to the airport.

[Rob Lilwall @roblilwall]

3. Although the headlines are so full of bad news these days, it's wonderful how much kindness you encounter when you get out into the world.

Many thanks to Brian Wright and team for inviting me and organising everything so brilliantly.

[Rob Lilwall @roblilwall]

Superb audience of 1000 key players from the Californian tourism industry at the @VisitCA Forum 2026 in Chula Vista last week.

We did reflect on three key messages, drawn out of my 50,000 km Cycling Home From Siberia journey:

[Rob Lilwall @roblilwall]

1. When we break a huge goal into parts, it's amazing what we can achieve.
2. When we habitually and intentionally get out of our comfort zone, it's incredible how we grow (and we all need to do this in today's changing world).

[Rob Lilwall @roblilwall]

- But how, even when everything goes wrong, it can still end up being good for us!

A delight to have our son at a talk for the first time too (especially because he features in this story, as an unborn baby!).

#keynotespeaking #impostersyndrome

[Rob Lilwall @roblilwall]

Great fun to give a public speech at the Royal Geographical Society - Hong Kong last week, about my Taklamakan Desert journey.

I reflected on:
- Imposter syndrome as an adventurer!
- The fear that comes with taking on impossible challenges outside our comfort zones.

[Rob Lilwall @roblilwall]

I’m doing a public talk in Hong Kong, and I’d love to invite you.

The event is kindly hosted by the Royal Geographical Society (HK), and I’ll be speaking about my recent expedition across the Taklamakan Desert in western China.

See you there!

https://t.co/uXvfGlFShY

[Rob Lilwall @roblilwall]

Last week it was great fun to reflect on and share about this in front of three amazing audiences, twice for @BNPParibas in HK and Singapore, and once for @Mubadala in Abu Dhabi. #keynotespeaking #thinkinglikeanadventurer

[Rob Lilwall @roblilwall]

To survive and thrive on an expedition through wild places, there are some techniques that help a lot, each specific to the environment.

For ex, in the cold, you wear enough clothes, keep moving, eat lots, & stay aware of when your fingers or toes are going numb.

[Rob Lilwall @roblilwall]

It is also vital for thriving in today's fast-changing business world. The great thing is, anyone can learn to do it.