Robert Bruce is a social entrepreneur and outdoor-loving founder of Got To Get Out, a social enterprise designed to get Kiwis active and outdoors, seeing the world and making friends - all to improve people’s mental and physical health.
Robert also arranges annual treks to Nepal, following the footsteps of Sir Edmund Hillary. At times, his treks are in -40 degree snow conditions, and he has personally arranged medical evacuations for hikers with altitude sickness.
Robert is a New Zealander of the Year Semi Finalist (2019) and Kiwibank Local Hero award recipient. Robert's company is a Westpac Auckland Business Awards finalist for "best emerging business" and "excellence in community contribution", 2019.
Since launching the ‘social good movement’ of Got To Get Out in 2015 (while hiking in the Himalayas and changing his life personally), Robert has now taken more than 6,000 people on mostly free hikes around New Zealand, attracted over 16,000 fans to his Facebook community, and helped to burn several million calories from the attendees who have ‘gotten out’ with him. Robert is a trained hiking, mountain biking and paddle boarding coach as well as tour bus driver - all qualifications he has earned since leaving the corporate world to begin Got To Get Out.
Robert has led four treks to Nepal taking increasing numbers of Kiwis with him each time, all eager to follow the footsteps of Sir Edmund Hillary. In January 2020 Robert led 30 Kiwis to Mt Everest Basecamp return, and had to deal with a near-death situation at 5,000m above sea level with several guests getting altitude sickness on the same day - all requiring helicopter evacuation.
As well as running Got To Get Out, he also has raised funds and awareness for the Mental Health Foundation of NZ and The Himalayan Trust and been an ambassador for No Beers Who Cares after quitting alcohol.
Robert has been a Peter Blake ‘Dream Team’ ambassador, Toyota Financial Services Ambassador and Torpedo7 Ambassador - all roles where he has given team building speeches to large and small audiences, including schools, corporate offices, and teams.
Robert is an experienced and passionate public speaker, and has been a TedX speaker (University of Auckland version).
Talking Points
Entrepreneurship (socially minded business in particular)
Entrepreneurship (socially minded business in particular)
A life of adventure
A life of adventure
Community building/online communities
Community building/online communities
Following your dreams and pivoting careers (from corporate, to social enterprise)
Following your dreams and pivoting careers (from corporate, to social enterprise)
Making things happen: small business hustle
Making things happen: small business hustle
Social media and building online impact
Social media and building online impact
Creating a relationship between online activity and the 'real world' -changing behaviour
Creating a relationship between online activity and the 'real world' -changing behaviour
Having faith (that you can achieve your dream)
Having faith (that you can achieve your dream)
Doing it and not letting people say you can’t
Doing it and not letting people say you can’t
