With candor and humor, Steve will speak to the topic of his forthcoming book, about becoming Promotable and Fireproof. Steve will base his talk on the thousands of interactions he had as a Chief HR Officer of a $13 Billion business, with 10,000 plus employees. Steve will share stories of success and failure, wins and losses, with lessons for individual contributors, high potentials on their way up and senior leaders. Regardless of the industry or function, Steve will taylor his talk and focus on the most salient ways your audience can maximize their human impact in this age of AI, robotics and automation. Check out Steve’s various social media channels (links posted on this site) that feature his “short takes” on a wide variety of subjects, from serious to silly, to get a sense of his style and tone.
Having spoken to large audiences throughout this career, Steve is comfortable adjusting to whatever the context or industry might be; he will impart a positive constructive tone along with some self deprecating humor.
Steve’s consulting specializes in agile re-engineering of businesses or business units, working directly with leadership teams. Steve witnessed numerous attempts at transforming businesses in his career and knows how to help your team get after the essential questions and decisions, without the long term embedded consulting arrangements that so often accompany such efforts. The leaders listed in the endorsement section of this site have worked directly with Steve on such efforts. We look forward to hearing from you.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
WHAT OTHER'S SAY
Steve Degnan is what you get when you combine a perpetual US Army lieutenant with a seasoned Chief Executive. Passionate, irreverent, and hilarious, Steve's ability to influence, shape, and transform the entire enterprise, from CEO to the director level, is his unique gift. How he wound up running HR, I'll never know, but his force of nature and drive in that role allowed him to transform the Purina team from a hierarchical, big-box store focused organization to a faster, more resilient e-commerce business where decision-making was encouraged at the lowest level. Working with Steve and the executive team on Project Agility was a privilege, and I am proud to call him a trusted friend.
Steve Degnan is a model of resilience, adaptability, and unwavering commitment to excellence in the corporate world. During my time as CEO of Guardian Angel Settlement Association in St. Louis, MO, I had the privilege of working closely with Steve, who served as a board member, leader, advisor, and champion of our mission. Steve's strategic thinking, exceptional leadership, and deep passion for service were instrumental in driving our organization forward. His wisdom and practical advice have guided countless professionals to success, and his legacy of dedication and service continues to inspire everyone he connects with. Steve Degnan—a true leader and visionary whose impact extends far beyond the boardroom.
Steve’s experience and knowledge are hard won, unique and authentic. During my time as CEO, I relied on Steve to plan and execute the largest transformation of our approach to people and culture in the 125+ year history of Purina. It’s never about Steve. It’s about what is right for the business and culture. That’s one of the best parts of working with him. If you hire Steve as speaker or consultant, you won’t get an HR person. You will get a savvy and strategic business competitor who possesses a truly unique skillset when it come to people and culture with a willingness to help you get to the next level and have fun while doing so.
Joe Sivewright
CEO, Nestle Purina Americas, Retired
Steve Degnan is a rare breed—that guy who drives large scale change while somehow making everyone involved feel seen and respected. I've relied on his insight more times than I can remember as we've planned, pitched, and performed against ambitious new goals for the cause we serve. Steve's a big picture, strategic thinker, a natural connector, deeply caring, and consummately conscientious—exactly what a CEO needs from Board leadership. Above all, Steve's a delightful human being. His warmth, wry wit, and lively mind make time spent with Steve a treat.
I enjoyed watching Steve lead the people efforts for Nestle Purina business in the US and in many ways he established trends for the rest of the Nestle Group to study and imitate where possible. Steve’s knows talent management as well as any HR professional I have come across and his leadership was critical during the pandemic in particular, when I took advantage of his advice. And yes, Steve is also fun and engaging to work with for anyone considering his services.
- VIEW ALL
