Known worldwide as "The Trainer's Trainer,” Bob started his career doing what most trainers do—overusing lecture. But he burned out participants going through his three-week master training academy. This led to him designing what we call today instructor-led, participant-centered training. The result was transformational. Participants learned faster, better, and easier—and more importantly transferred what they learned to the job.
Bob’s "Creative Training Techniques Handbook" sold over 330,000 copies in its first three editions making it the best-selling train-the-trainer book ever published. He authored 35 books and designed over 600 training programs for clients like IBM, Hewlett Packard, Pfizer, Mayo Clinics, Saudia Airlines, Aramco, and Covidien. Bob worked in over 25 countries and trained more than 150,000 trainers on five continents, proving participant-centered training works in any culture.
Bob was proud of his work with the Association for Talent Development (ATD), Training Magazine and Conference, and Lead Like Jesus. He received the Certified Speaking Professional designation and the Council of Peers Award of Excellence (CPAE) from National Speakers Association, ATD’s Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Thought Leader Award from Instructional Systems Association (ISA).
Bob grew up in Fox Lake, Ill., with his mom and siblings. He graduated from Grant Community High School and then attended the U.S. Naval Academy before transferring to Moody Bible Institute in Chicago. He worked for Master Education Industries and Personal Dynamics Inc., and then became a serial entrepreneur, founding The Bob Pike Group, Resources for Organization, and Creative Training Techniques Press.
In 2012, Bob sold The Bob Pike Group to his daughter, Becky Pike Pluth.
