Speaking & Engagements
Learn about speaking engagements
with Steven Haden.
Featured Speaker: Steven Haden
Steven Haden is a leader at the intersection of social impact, public health, and business strategy.
Steven founded Ripple Effect Partners, a consulting firm that helps organizations design data-informed strategies for transformative impact and growth. Steven previously founded and led the mental health nonprofit Envision:You and launched the public benefit corporation You:Flourish. His career blends corporate and clinical experience, including senior roles with Hill and Knowlton Strategies and work as a mental health therapist and counselor.
Steven holds an MBA from New York University Stern School of Business and a Master of Social Work from Simmons University, and he is pursuing a Doctor of Public Health at George Washington University. Steven is a Certified Psychiatric Rehabilitation Provider and a Mental Health First Aid Instructor. A sought-after speaker on inclusive leadership, recovery-friendly workplaces, and employee mental well-being, he lives in Denver with his husband and their two Labrador retrievers.
Philosophical Approach to Speaking
Steven’s speaking philosophy centers on authenticity, empathy, and active audience engagement. He treats every talk as a conversation rather than a one-way presentation, inviting participants to reflect, contribute, and apply insights in real time. Through clear storytelling that blends lived experience with evidence-based practice, he builds an emotional connection that turns awareness into action. His sessions are designed to leave audiences with practical tools, values-based decision frameworks, and renewed confidence to create affirming cultures, support mental well-being, and lead change with compassion and accountability.
Featured Speaking Topics
Steven Haden’s talks center on leadership, belonging, recovery, and workplace well-being, blending research, lived experience, and practical tools to inspire personal and organizational transformation. His presentations are grounded in empathy, evidence, and action, offering audiences a roadmap to thrive—individually and collectively.
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Keynote, Workshop, or Consulting Series
ALIGN is a structured yet flexible framework that unites business strategy with human insight to help people and organizations move from stuck to thriving. Guided by the principles that human insight is foundational to change and the things we do today matter tomorrow, ALIGN leads transformation through five steps—Assess, Learn, Identify, Grow, and Navigate—centering measurable impact, integrity, and self-awareness while honoring both data and emotion. This talk empowers leaders and teams to make clear, values-based decisions, navigate uncertainty, and build trust and momentum. -
Keynote or Fireside Conversation
From childhood to adulthood, our need to feel accepted and connected shapes our mental health, resilience, and success. Drawing from research and his own journey through substance use and recovery, Steven shares how belonging can bridge divides, combat stigma, and reduce isolation in personal, professional, and community settings. Audiences will leave with a renewed understanding of how fostering belonging can transform lives and workplaces alike. -
Keynote or Inspirational Talk
Inspired by his grandfather’s simple words—“Why not?”—Steven shares a story of transformation from addiction, depression, and suicide survivorship to leadership, service, and purpose. Through this deeply personal and motivating session, he explores how reframing fear and failure as opportunities can open new paths to growth. Audiences gain perspective on resilience, recovery, and the human capacity for change. -
Keynote or Training Session
Psychological safety is essential for high-performing, inclusive, and innovative teams. Drawing on the work of Amy Edmondson and other thought leaders, Steven explores how environments that prioritize trust and openness support both well-being and effectiveness. This session equips leaders with tools to create cultures where people feel safe to speak up, take risks, and bring their full selves to work. -
Workshop or Consulting Series
Culturally relevant and affirming healthcare is vital to reducing disparities and improving outcomes for LGBTQ+ individuals. In this session, Steven draws upon his experience in public health, behavioral health, and LGBTQ+ advocacy to explore practical frameworks for inclusive service delivery. Participants will learn strategies to integrate cultural humility, affirming language, and trauma-informed approaches into clinical and organizational practices. The session provides actionable guidance for healthcare leaders, providers, and teams to create environments where every person feels seen, respected, and supported in their care journey.
COMMON THEMES ACROSS TALKS
Developing inclusive and emotionally intelligent leaders
Creating recovery-friendly and affirming workplaces
Supporting employee mental health and well-being
Building cultures grounded in compassion, trust, and connection
Each talk can be tailored for conferences, corporate trainings, nonprofit events, or community leadership programs, offering participants both inspiration and practical strategies for lasting impact.
To learn more and book Steven, contact Ignomu Speakers at Speakers@IngomuCoach.com.
Media Highlights
Steven Haden is a trusted national voice on mental health and well-being, with frequent television, radio, and print features that amplify his expertise to broad audiences across the United States and Colorado.
HIS SPEAKING PORTFOLIO SPANS PREMIER NATIONAL STAGES
AND KEY REGIONAL FORUMS, INCLUDING:
National platforms:
Active Minds 2023 (Washington, DC)
Mental Health America 2023 (Washington, DC)
National Association of Social Workers 2022 (Washington, DC) and 2025 (Chicago)
National Alliance on Mental Illness Convention 2022 (Virtual)
National Council for Mental Wellbeing 2024 (St. Louis)
Triad Mental Health Summit 2023 (Virtual)
Colorado leadership:
Colorado Behavioral Healthcare Conference 2021, 2022, 2023, 2025 (Breckenridge)
Winter Symposium on Addiction and Mental Illness 2022, 2023 (Colorado Springs)
Shared Risk and Protective Factors Conference 2022
2023 (Keystone)
Colorado School Counselors Conference 2024 (Loveland)
Through these engagements, and through extensive local and national media appearances, Steven consistently advances inclusive, recovery friendly approaches and practical strategies that help leaders, organizations, and communities thrive.
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