Most leaders have heard strong messages before. Too often, they leave inspired but unsure what to do next.
My keynotes are designed to respect the experience in the room, hold attention, and offer practical insight leaders can actually use.
Everything I share comes from experience: building and scaling businesses including in the mental health field, leading teams, and carrying responsibility when decisions matter. I don’t speak from theory. I speak from what I’ve lived and learned.
I work closely with organizers to ensure each talk fits the audience, the goals of the event, and the moment it’s delivered in.
Leadership and business growth keynote speaker
Signature keynotes designed for senior executives, founders, and leadership teams, and tailored to fit the goals of your event.
Signature Topics
Up to 80% of leaders have never received formal leadership training. They perform well, get promoted, and then are expected to figure out leadership on their own.
Steve calls them accidental leaders.
The problem is the skills that got them promoted aren't necessarily the skills they need to lead. The result can be frustrated employees, overwhelmed leaders, and organizations that aren't getting the best from either.
In this practical and candid keynote, Steve shares lessons from his own experience as an accidental leader and a framework for learning the skills nobody taught you.
Leaders will leave with:
- Insight into why leadership often feels harder than expected
- A practical way to learn from everyday leadership challenges.
- The Greater Leadership Framework™ for developing an authentic and effective leadership style.
THE NO-NONSENSE FRAMEWORK FOR LEARNING THE SKILLS NOBODY TAUGHT YOU
CONFESSIONS OF AN ACCIDENTAL LEADER:
Keynote 01.
Leadership is demanding, and many leaders are quietly running on empty. More than 60% of managers report feeling mentally overwhelmed, yet few are given practical tools to address it.
In this keynote, Steve helps leaders understand burnout without clinical language and shows them how to improve and protect their mental health while maintaining their leadership edge.
Leaders walk away with:
- A clear understanding of burnout and why leaders are particularly vulnerable to it.
- An understanding of their four “batteries” and practical ways to reduce stress and restore capacity.
- Simple, memorable habits they can put to work immediately.
The FouR Ways to Conquer Burnout
a Mentally Healthy Leader
Keynote 02.
A Talk That Lasts Beyond the Event
Abby Brezinski, Chief Executive Officer, Jackie Nitschke Center
“Wow, Steve!! I just caught your latest keynote, and I’m absolutely blown away! You have this amazing gift of being authentic, hilarious, and educational all at once. It’s seriously something special. As I looked around, it was obvious how completely engaged the audience was. You had everyone captivated from start to finish, and those 45 minutes felt like they flew by in five!”
A glimpse into how I connect with leaders and keep the conversation useful.
Watch Steve in action.
This isn’t about feel-good inspiration. It’s work leaders carry with them.
- A steady, professional presence without hype
- Clear frameworks leaders return to after the event
- Practical insight that influences real decisions
- Aptly placed humor that keeps things light, but real
- Language leaders continue to use back at work
Most leadership talks are engaging in the moment but quickly forgotten.
I take a different approach. I don’t come on stage to perform. I come prepared to offer practical insight that respects the experience of the leaders in the room and reflects well on the event itself.
From an organizer’s perspective, this means a keynote that is thoughtful, grounded, and aligned with your audience.
When I speak, you can expect:
