Public-Sector Executive & People-First Leadership Coach
Talk Title: Small Fights, Big Life: The Power of a Courageous Ask
Description: This talk reveals how our genetic instinct to avoid conflict, once essential for survival, is now the hidden barrier to our careers, relationships, and growth. By redefining conflict as a Courageous Ask, Ted shows how tiny, daily micro-negotiations create massive momentum. Blending research, storytelling, and practical examples, he demonstrates why we underestimate our influence and how to reclaim it. Audiences leave with a simple, yet transformative call to action: to choose courage over comfort.
Ted Stephany is a negotiation strategist, procurement leader, and storyteller who believes the fastest path to personal growth begins with the conversations most people avoid.
Drawing from research in psychology, leadership, and decision-making, Ted breaks conflict down into something far more human and accessible: the Courageous Ask. He teaches audiences how to practice “micro-negotiations”; small, daily acts of clarity and courage that build confidence, credibility, and momentum over time.
Known for his energetic, practical style, Ted bridges the worlds of boardroom negotiation and everyday life, helping people speak up for their ideas, advocate for their worth, and initiate the tension that leads to better outcomes.
Ted lives in Minnesota with his wife and two daughters, who regularly remind him that the toughest negotiations happen at home.
Favorite Quote: “Hang on to your youthful enthusiasms, you’ll be able to use them better when you’re older.” – Seneca
A Key Life Achievement: Somehow, I fooled an amazingly smart and beautiful woman into marrying me and starting a family together.
Fun Fact: I lost all of my hair BEFORE having children.
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