Larry Gilbert

Athlete, Business leader, Connector, Entrepreneur, Idea generator, Life mentor, World traveler, Writer/Editor

Larry Gilbert is an entrepreneur, educator, and author whose career has been defined by shaping how people experience the world. As the Founder and CEO of Event Network, he built the leading experiential retail company serving the attractions and hospitality industries, partnering with iconic cultural institutions, museums, zoos, aquariums, and resort destinations. Under his leadership, Event Network has redefined experiential retail by creating immersive environments where storytelling, place, and commerce come together to deepen guest engagement. With decades of experience at the intersection of retail and experience, Larry has built a company known for its stewardship of iconic attraction brands and its ability to translate mission-driven storytelling into meaningful, memorable experiences. His industry leadership has helped set the standard for how retail is a critical enhancement of the guest journey. Beyond his role as CEO, Larry is committed to developing the next generation of leaders. At the Rady School of Management at UC San Diego, he teaches Leadership from the Inside-Out, helping students align personal values with purposeful leadership and build cultures grounded in character. He is also the author of the illustrated children’s book Flo the Quokka, inspired by his belief that humility, curiosity, kindness, courage, generosity, and gratitude are foundational traits best nurtured early in life. The story has since been adapted into a youth theater musical, Flo! The Show!.

Family. Community. Play. Wondering deeply. Acting generously. Staying curious. Trails and foreign streets. Writing and teaching. Choosing the harder road — and trusting it will be worth it.

Curiosity and generosity pair beautifully.

Building purpose-driven enterprises, Inside-out leadership development, Storytelling to build character, The experiential economy and meaning-making, Values-based culture design

Flo the Quokka began as a metaphorical business book and grew into something more — what I now describe as children’s adventure-philosophy. It’s a story about discovering humility, curiosity, kindness, courage, generosity, and gratitude — core virtues that spark joy and sustain a life of meaning. I wrote Flo because I’ve come to believe that the meaning we seek in adulthood is rooted in the virtues we first encounter in childhood. An illuminated inner life precedes radiant outer achievement. Whether building a company, teaching MBA students, or writing about a small Australian marsupial with a big heart, my work circles the same idea: If we want healthy organizations, we need aligned inner lives. If we want meaningful experiences, we must become purposeful people. And when curiosity and generosity grow together, they change us — and transform communities.

Making gelato