Rob Shanahan
Rob Shanahan
Rob Shanahan grew up in small-town Minnesota and went on to become a world-renowned rock photographer. For over three decades, he has collaborated with legendary artists from the Rolling Stones to Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, Christina Aguilera, Ed Sheeran, and hundreds of others. His career behind the camera has been built on trust, collaboration, and creativity — lessons that extend far beyond the music industry.
As a keynote speaker, Rob brings these experiences to the stage in his signature program Take Your Shot. Through unforgettable images and stories from backstage, the studio, and beyond, he shows how culture is created not in boardrooms, but through people — by fostering trust, aligning teams, and encouraging bold individual expression.
Audiences leave Rob’s presentations entertained, inspired, and equipped with practical takeaways they can immediately apply: building stronger relationships, fueling creativity, and finding the rhythm that allows teams and organizations to thrive.
Most Requested Programs
Take Your Shot: What You Can Learn from ICONS
Rob Shanahan’s signature keynote blends powerful storytelling and iconic photography with his proven ICONS framework:
-Imagine the life you want to live
-Challenge yourself
-Opportunities — create and seize them
-Never give up
-Structure your success with positive habits
Drawing from three decades of photographing and collaborating with legends like Ringo Starr, Paul McCartney, the Rolling Stones, Sammy Hagar, Sheila E., and so many more, Rob reveals how these timeless principles inspire bold leadership, fearless living, and the courage to pursue your passions. Audiences walk away energized, entertained, and equipped with actionable takeaways to create their own legendary impact.
Picture This: Lessons in Creativity from Rock & Roll Legends
Creativity is the heartbeat of progress, whether in music, business, or personal growth. As the “photographer to the rock stars,” Rob Shanahan takes audiences behind the curtain with breathtaking visuals and stories of icons who dared to take risks and redefine what’s possible.
Through these experiences, Rob shares practical lessons on:
-Harnessing imagination as a launchpad for innovation
-Pushing past boundaries and embracing bold ideas
-Turning unexpected moments into breakthrough opportunities
-Staying resilient and inspired when challenges arise
With a drummer’s rhythm and a storyteller’s heart, Rob reconnects audiences to their creativity and shows them how to unleash it to achieve extraordinary results.
Testimonials
“With over 1000 people in attendance at CenturyLink's Ascend Partner Conference in San Diego, Rob took the stage and immediately rocked the house! He wove into his presentation key business principles relevant to our partner community, and led us through the fascinating journey of his life as a musician and photographer to the biggest names in rock & roll. Rob ended his inspiring message with a bang, receiving a standing ovation. The crowd left the room inspired, and each person received a personally autographed copy of Rob's first book - Volume 1, an incredible collection of his outstanding photography, as a keepsake of this captivating presentation. Rob is a quadruple-threat resource for companies looking for an inspiring keynote speaker. He is an entrepreneur of the highest order, a polished public speaker, a published artist, and an outstanding performing musician. I couldn't recommend anyone more highly for your next corporate event than Rob Shanahan!” -Mark Bierle, CenturyLink
“I can't speak highly enough about Rob as a keynote speaker. Rob spoke at Ciena's Global Sales Conference and captivated the 500+ person crowd with stories of perseverance, achieving goals, and chasing dreams - all while relating it to the universal language of music. As a result, I recommended him as a keynote speaker for our YPO Chapter in Dallas. Once again, Rob delivered a stellar keynote performance, and the session was the highest-ranked event of the season.” -Paul Bullock, Ciena
“Are you interested in a passionate, genuine, interesting, motivating keynote speaker? If so, Rob Shanahan is your guy. Rob combines his passions from the music and photography world to deliver an amazing story of entrepreneurship and business success. Rob can quickly understand your business and tailor the conversation towards your event/topic. That’s a super rare quality in a speaker. It’s because he cares and listens! And the stories, my goodness, the stories! Rob is a true professional, and I’m also blessed to call him my friend. He is the true celebrity and rockstar!” -John DeLozier, CEO - ConvergeOne
"His Keynote was the most genuine, interesting, entertaining, captivating, and memorable one I have ever heard in my 30+ years working for Fortune 100 and Fortune 500 companies. I highly recommend him for any corporate, not-for-profit, or industry event. He will captivate your audience and they will not soon forget their experience, it is not the "same old, same old" your audience has come to expect. This is by far something so special and so much more!" - Janine Soika, SASE Global Business Development Leader
“You nailed it, Rob! You perfectly hit all the talking points discussed in our prep meetings. I was immediately convinced you were the right guy. Hard to keep the attention of a ballroom full of executives, but you had them hanging on every word. Thank you!” -Bruce Hembree, Vice President North America, Ciena
“Rob, you have a remarkable career and put together a beautiful collection of photographs." -David Letterman, CBS, The David Letterman Show