Steve Gross

Steve Gross

Keynote Speaker: Founder & Chief Playmaker at Life is Good Playmaker Project

Steve Gross Biography

In the late 80s, Steve Gross, MSW, began running playgroups for homeless children in Greater Boston. His only goal was to help our most vulnerable kids.

His focus on play, joy, relationships, and environment caught the attention of trauma response experts. By the early 90s, Gross was called upon to lead widespread healing efforts for communities impacted by war, natural disasters, gun violence, poverty, addiction, and illness.

Following his field experience, Gross and a trusted team of researchers and colleagues developed the Playmaker program-- a series of transformative workshops, retreats, and tools that serve more than 16,000 teachers and early childhood educators and help more than 1 million kids overcome trauma every year.

Today, Gross inspires audiences with true stories of how optimism can be harnessed to overcome adversity and how early childhood educators can cultivate a more optimistic disposition to insulate children against toxic stress and create life-changing relationships to help them heal, learn, and grow.

Contact a speaker booking agent to check availability on Steve Gross and other top speakers and celebrities.

Steve Gross Speaking Topics

Tailor your keynote experience with tracks that emphasize:

  • Disposition & rethinking how you approach your job and life
  • Elevating your life & business through life-changing relationships
  • Transforming culture with the power of optimism
  • Creating joyful customer and employee experiences
  • Building business while doing good
  • Navigating challenging & change-filled times

His talk for nonprofits

The importance of discovering your own sense of optimism before cultivating it in others. Steve shares a wealth of experience working with childcare providers and kids impacted by trauma to show the importance of cultivating connected, loving, trusted relationships and prioritizing self-care—as you care for others.

Steve’s keynotes directly benefit the Life is Good Kids Foundation’s Playmaker Program, which impacts the lives of over 1 million children annually.

His talk for organizations

Optimism is powerful. When human beings grow their capacity to see and focus on the goodness in themselves, others, and the world, their social, emotional, and cognitive superpowers emerge.

Optimism, however, can be fragile. Chronic stress, fear, and overwhelming adversity can weaken and destroy our capacity for optimism. Over time, a lack of optimism can lead to strained relationships, poor health outcomes, lost productivity, and shorter, less fulfilling lives.

Steve’s inspiring presentation helps individuals discover the power of optimism to create environments that enable optimism to take root and flourish. Using research, humor, and personal stories from his 25+ years as a clinical social worker, Steve shares how optimistic leaders bring out the best in people and organizations—especially in challenging, change-filled times.

Steve Gross Videos

About the Life is Good Kids Foundation
How You Can Find YOUR Superpower | Steve Gross | Goalcast

How do I book Steve Gross to speak at my event?

Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Steve Gross for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Steve Gross, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Steve Gross or any other speaker of your choice.

How much does it cost to book Steve Gross for a speaking engagement?

Speaking fees for Steve Gross, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Steve Gross are $30,000 - $50,000 for live events and $30,000 - $50,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Steve Gross, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.

What topics does Steve Gross speak about?

Steve Gross is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Inspirational, Happiness, Overcoming Adversity, Psychology, Social Sciences, Family & Parenting, Early Childhood Education, Leadership, Mental Health, Youth, Social Activism, Disability and Education.

Where does Steve Gross travel from?

Steve Gross generally travels from Newton, MA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.

Who is the agent for Steve Gross?

AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Steve Gross for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Steve Gross for your next private or corporate function.

What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Steve Gross or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.

Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.


Steve Gross is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics including Inspirational, Happiness and Overcoming Adversity. The estimated speaking fee range to book Steve Gross for live events is $30,000 - $50,000, and for virtual events $30,000 - $50,000. Steve Gross generally travels from Newton, MA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Hill Harper, Rudy Ruettiger and Michael Oher. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Steve Gross for an upcoming event.

Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 11/12/2025.

Steve Gross Speaking Topics

  • Tailor your keynote experience with tracks that emphasize:

    • Disposition & rethinking how you approach your job and life
    • Elevating your life & business through life-changing relationships
    • Transforming culture with the power of optimism
    • Creating joyful customer and employee experiences
    • Building business while doing good
    • Navigating challenging & change-filled times

  • His talk for nonprofits

    The importance of discovering your own sense of optimism before cultivating it in others. Steve shares a wealth of experience working with childcare providers and kids impacted by trauma to show the importance of cultivating connected, loving, trusted relationships and prioritizing self-care—as you care for others.

    Steve’s keynotes directly benefit the Life is Good Kids Foundation’s Playmaker Program, which impacts the lives of over 1 million children annually.

  • His talk for organizations

    Optimism is powerful. When human beings grow their capacity to see and focus on the goodness in themselves, others, and the world, their social, emotional, and cognitive superpowers emerge.

    Optimism, however, can be fragile. Chronic stress, fear, and overwhelming adversity can weaken and destroy our capacity for optimism. Over time, a lack of optimism can lead to strained relationships, poor health outcomes, lost productivity, and shorter, less fulfilling lives.

    Steve’s inspiring presentation helps individuals discover the power of optimism to create environments that enable optimism to take root and flourish. Using research, humor, and personal stories from his 25+ years as a clinical social worker, Steve shares how optimistic leaders bring out the best in people and organizations—especially in challenging, change-filled times.

Steve Gross Videos

About the Life is Good Kids Foundation
How You Can Find YOUR Superpower | Steve Gross | Goalcast
  • How do I book Steve Gross to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Steve Gross for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Steve Gross, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Steve Gross or any other speaker of your choice.
  • How much does it cost to book Steve Gross for a speaking engagement?

    Speaking fees for Steve Gross, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Steve Gross are $30,000 - $50,000 for live events and $30,000 - $50,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Steve Gross, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
  • What topics does Steve Gross speak about?

    Steve Gross is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Inspirational, Happiness, Overcoming Adversity, Psychology, Social Sciences, Family & Parenting, Early Childhood Education, Leadership, Mental Health, Youth, Social Activism, Disability and Education.
  • Where does Steve Gross travel from?

    Steve Gross generally travels from Newton, MA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.
  • Who is the agent for Steve Gross?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Steve Gross for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Steve Gross for your next private or corporate function.
  • What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Steve Gross or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
  • Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

    If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.
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STEVE GROSS

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