Co-Founders of Shoulder To Shoulder, Appeared as Allies at Pride in London, Featured in The Times, The Independent, Cosmopolitan & BBC Radio 4
Tom Stroud & Dan Shrigley’s Biography:
Tom Stroud and Dan Shrigley are the co-founders of Shoulder to Shoulder, one of the United Kingdom’s fastest-growing communities dedicated to tackling adult male loneliness through meaningful social connection. The pair first connected after Tom’s appearance on ‘Love Is Blind’, when a viral clip of him speaking about masculinity and emotional openness landed in Dan’s inbox. United by a shared belief that men need stronger friendships and healthier conversations, they created a movement that now hosts more than thirty events every month, bringing men together through walks, coffees and shared experiences. Drawing on personal stories about their fathers and their own experiences of connection, they deliver powerful keynotes on long-term happiness, workplace connection and men’s mental health, making them highly sought-after keynote speakers for organisations seeking practical, inspiring and relatable conversations.
Tom and Dan combined their professional backgrounds with a shared passion for creating positive social change. Their partnership led to the launch of Shoulder to Shoulder, beginning with its first public walk and coffee event in Hyde Park to combat adult male loneliness. Their approach focuses on creating genuine community rather than simply raising awareness, helping thousands of men build lasting friendships through regular events and open conversations. Within its first year, the community expanded to more than 1,700 highly engaged members, demonstrating the demand for a modern, inclusive approach to friendship and wellbeing.
Their work has quickly gained national recognition. They collaborated with the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, on a prominent anti-mansphere public support campaign and co-delivered an emotional keynote on social connection alongside the mental health agency Good Chat. Shoulder to Shoulder has been featured in The Times, The Independent, Cosmopolitan and on BBC Radio 4, while its content has generated millions of social media views. ‘The Independent’ described Shoulder to Shoulder as “the modern men’s club fighting loneliness”, while ‘The Times’ recognised it as an “anti-mansplainer community”. They have also secured a premier community partnership with B Corp healthcare company Sons to raise awareness of male hair loss and were accepted to officially march as a community at Pride in London, celebrating inclusive male allyship.
Why Hire Tom Stroud & Dan Shrigley?
Tom and Dan continue to shape the national conversation around friendship, belonging and wellbeing through their growing community and influential public speaking. Their experience of building an award-worthy movement from the ground up, combined with authentic storytelling, practical insights and evidence-based approaches to connection, enables them to engage audiences across corporate, public sector and conference settings. Their keynotes leave audiences with actionable strategies for improving workplace culture, strengthening relationships and supporting long-term happiness, making them exceptional keynote speakers for any organisation.
Tom Stroud & Dan Shrigley’s Career Highlights:
Here are some of the key milestones that define Tom Stroud & Dan Shrigley’s remarkable career:
- 2026 – Officially marched at Pride in London to champion inclusive male allyship
- 2026 – Secured a flagship community partnership with B Corp healthcare company Sons
- 2026 – Featured in The Times as a solution to the UK’s friendship recession
- 2026 – Grew the community to 1,700+ engaged members in its first year
- 2025 – Collaborated with Mayor of London Sadiq Khan on an anti-manosphere campaign
- 2025 – Delivered a keynote on social connection with mental health agency Good Chat
- 2025 – Co-founded Shoulder to Shoulder, launching its first walk and coffee event in Hyde Park
Testimonials
“We worked with Dan and Tom to host a men’s mental health panel as part of the UK launch of an internationally-recognised journal brand. They were incredibly collaborative, allowing us to shape topics which were relevant to men across the country, hosted with authority and sensitivity, and gave all attendees incredible insights into their work with Shoulder to Shoulder and the broader challenges facing men today.” – Sophie Coughlan, Founder, Coconut PR
“Thanks to Tom and Dan for their brilliant and inspiring talk. It clearly hit home for many of the team, I had so many people reach out to me who wanted to feedback how well thought out the talk was, and how inspired they felt following. The work they’re doing is clearly incredibly impactful to so many people. I shouldn’t have favourites – but it was the best one yet.”- Lucy Peek, Operations Manager, Uncovered
“We had the pleasure of Dan and Tom speaking at a business event with several hundred clients and partners in attendance. In my opinion, Shoulder to Shoulder was the highlight of the speaking sessions, with loads of positive feedback. We’re already looking for future sessions where they could play a role. Big thanks to Dan and Tom for their professionalism, authenticity, and ability to connect with a wide audience.” – Matthew Eschert, Head of Sector, Reddit
Speaking Topics
Tom Stroud & Dan Shrigley’s Official Keynote Topics:
- From Coffee to Community: An Entrepreneurial Journey Built on Purpose – The founder story – how two strangers, a coffee and a shared ‘why’ grew into a nationally recognised community in 18 months. A talk on purpose-led entrepreneurship, resilience and building culture from scratch.
- The Cost of Silence: Male Loneliness, Mental Health and Modern Masculinity – A media and panel-friendly talk on the male loneliness epidemic, the risks of the ‘manosphere’, and what a healthier, more connected model of masculinity actually looks like.
- Building Belonging: What a 1,700-Man Community Taught Us About Connection at Work – A corporate-facing version focused on wellbeing, retention and culture – what makes people feel like they belong at work, and how leaders can create the conditions for real connection in their teams.
- Shoulder to Shoulder: Why Connection Is the Most Important Predictor of Long-Term Health and Happiness – The core S2S talk. Using their own family stories and the lessons learned building a 1,700-member community from scratch, Tom and Dan unpack why connection and purpose matter more than diet, exercise, or income – and give audiences practical ways to build both.
How Much Does Tom Stroud & Dan Shrigley Cost to Hire?
How Much Does it Cost to Hire Tom Stroud & Dan Shrigley?
Tom Stroud & Dan Shrigley’s speaking fee will vary depending on factors such as the event location, format, duration, and audience size. Contact The London Keynote Speakers Agency to check their latest availability and receive a bespoke quotation tailored to your event’s requirements.
