Biography

A spellbinding storyteller and motivational speaker, Steve grabs your attention and never lets go. His highly interactive and deeply researched presentations touch the heart and soul of corporate purpose and individual motivation. Steve’s Epic Conference ThemeWeaver program has transformed meetings around the globe. His high energy presentations feature a perfect blend of humor, inspiration and ideas to turn talented teams into high performing heroes.

As a young man Steve crossed the Sahara Desert overland. Decades later he embarked on  a 3 year, 72,000 mile global odyssey to find a new story and a reason to tell it. These incredible journeys inspire his work to create legendary leadership in epic organizations as a motivational speaker, leadership trainer and consultant. Through storytelling, he reveals how to achieve epic results by energizing culture and careers.

He is a bestselling author and international expert in Narrative Intelligence. Steve’s first book, Shifting Sands: A Guidebook for Crossing the Deserts of Change, has sold over 125,000 copies in half a dozen countries. He has addressed over 1,000 organizations on four continents including many of the Fortune 50, helping them revolutionize change leadership and ignite employee engagement.

Steve lives on Vancouver Island in Victoria, BC with his wife Maureen, a family lawyer.  They have 7 adult children living in Canada, the USA, Europe, Asia and Australia.

 

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Videos

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TELL YOUR EPIC STORY - Heroic Leadership in a World of Disruption

Leaders can transform their results by cracking the code of the most powerful narrative in human history. Drawing on a decade of research, Steve has identified 5 components that build a culture of greatness where people feel and act like Heroes on a Quest. Using brain science, business examples and tales from his desert odyssey, Steve shows how to triumph together in a time of change by telling your very own Epic Story.

SELL YOUR EPIC STORY - Audacious Influence in a Social Universe

Pro sports is a one trillion dollar industry because it sells an Epic Story. Turn your customers into fans and your team into Heroes with the 5 Key Components of The Epic Story System®. Everyone is selling something in the social universe. The crucial transaction is getting others to buy into your story and play a role where everyone wins. This ancient narrative is the newest way to network, sell, persuade and brand.

THE EPIC STORY EFFECT® - Extreme Engagement in an Era of Distraction

Employees are more engaged with their phones than their jobs. Managers from one generation struggle to motivate workers from another. The answer is not an app. It’s a story-based system that has inspired human commitment for over 4,000 years. Harness the power of the same formula that makes blockbuster movies and packs sports stadiums to capacity. Ignite The Epic Story Effect® in your organization and build a culture of extreme engagement.

Booksby Steve Donahue

Follow Your Compass, Not a Map

Shifting Sands: A Guidebook for Crossing the Desert of Change

Blog Posts

How Purpose Transforms Adversity Into Achievement with Tez Steinberg

Get insights on how purpose transforms adversity into achievement with ultra-endurance athlete Tez Steinberg's powerful lessons from rowing solo across oceans.

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8 AI Speakers Who Turn “Cool Demo” Into Event Engagement (2026 Lineup)

The right AI speakers don't just wow audiences—they change what your team does on Monday. Book impact-driven keynotes for 2026.

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Events That Create WOW! Moments Through Audience Connection

Learn ways to best engage audience in your events with personalized experiences that create unforgettable lasting impressions.

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Why Olympic Champions Prioritize Rest and Sleep to Enhance Performance

Sleep performance enhancement strategies from Olympic champion Apolo Ohno reveal why quality rest trumps training for peak results.

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Soul-Centered Leadership Transforms Success Beyond Traditional Metrics

Former Harley-Davidson CMO Shelley Paxton reveals how finding your soul's purpose transforms leadership success and creates thriving workplace cultures.

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Why Fear Is Your Growth Catalyst (And How Leaders Use It)

Growth begins when you step into uncertainty - learn how most successful leaders embrace transformation through fear with insights from these keynote speakers.

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