Jenn was extremely professional and a pleasure to meet. She engaged our audience prior to her presentation to ensure inclusion on the day of our event. She was fun, energetic, and presented ideas that can be applied in work or our everyday life. Highly recommend Jenn as a speaker/presenter.
Jenn Donahue
Building warriors. Bridging fear to greatness.
Featured Topics
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Bend, OR
Jenn Donahue
Biography
Jenn Donahue, PhD, is an internationally recognized keynote speaker, accomplished author, and 27-year military combat veteran. Known for her commanding presence and relatable storytelling, Jenn helps people who feel discontent or unfulfilled chart a new path forward—with clarity, courage, and a renewed sense of self-worth.
A retired US Navy Captain, Jenn brings battlefield-tested leadership and engineering precision to every keynote. Whether she’s recounting the time she built a bridge across the Euphrates under enemy fire, or drilling and blasting in Alaska (in the winter), she delivers insights with candor, grit, and just enough wit to make the hard lessons stick. Drawing from decades of experience in high-stakes environments—from combat zones to complex engineering projects—Jenn delivers neuroscience-backed strategies that spark life-changing transformation—or at the very least, help you survive your next staff meeting.
Jenn is not just a speaker—she’s a storyteller and author who helps people rewrite their inner narrative. Her book, Becoming the Warrior, is a powerful guide for anyone grappling with fear, insecurity, or the feeling that they’re not living up to their potential. Drawing from her own journey through war zones, engineering labs, and leadership challenges, Jenn offers readers a blueprint for turning your inner turmoil into strength. Her writing is both deeply personal and universally relatable, blending hard-earned wisdom with actionable strategies. Her widely read newsletters continue to reach thousands with messages that challenge, uplift, and empower. Whether on the page or the stage, Jenn’s voice is one of insight, strength, and confidence.
Jenn’s military and engineering careers are a testament to her resilience and innovation. She commanded thousands of troops across multiple deployments, including leading an 800-person battalion in Afghanistan. She’s also the founder of JL Donahue Engineering and Dare to Rise, and was recognized by the National Academy of Engineering’s “Frontiers of Engineering” for her contributions to the field.
Jenn’s clients walk away not only informed with the “how to” but transformed by a renewed understating of “how to think and grow”. Whether she’s guiding C-suite executives, mentoring rising professionals, or coaching frontline managers, Jenn helps her audiences step into their own power—arming them with practical tools, habits, and battle-tested frameworks so they can face challenges head-on and move forward with conviction. Her mission is to help people unlock their potential, thrive under pressure, and lead lives defined by purpose, resilience, and momentum.
Jenn Donahue
Featured Keynote Programs
The Unity Paradox
Creating Teams with Unparalleled Success
Success results from a high level of unity within the organization. Yet in a society where individualism is sought after and highly valued, the two concepts appear to be at odds with each other. As leaders, many of us are struggling with retention, recruitment, managing change, and employee engagement. The world has evolved, and many leaders are battling to create coherent teams with a common objective.
In this transformative keynote, Jenn Donahue reveals the essential components of leadership that create true unity of purpose—beginning with getting to know your people and building trust at every level. With 27 years of leading teams from 4 to 1800, in the office, in the boardroom, and even on the battlefield, she shares how trust forms the foundation that allows teams to act swiftly and effectively when crisis or disruption strikes.
With her three-component approach, she explores the evolving nature of leadership—how to foster connection, strengthen resilience, and prepare your people to act with clarity under pressure. Whether you're a seasoned leader or an emerging one, this keynote promises to equip you with the tools to cultivate trust, inspire unity, and lead with confidence in even the most turbulent times.
Key Take-aways
1. Examine how a unity of purpose drives organizational success and individual contributions.
2. Analyze how trusting and knowing your team builds a strong, cohesive unit.
3. Prepare for adapting quickly to changing conditions with a flexible and innovative mindset.
Becoming the Warrior
Harnessing you Inner Strength to Silence Self-Doubt
You’re stuck. We all have passion-fueled dreams that may seem too bold or too risky. We are continually challenged to meet goals, either for our organization, or in our personal life.
However, we often feel that our goals and dreams are out of reach, that we are not ready, we don’t have the time, or maybe we’re just not good enough.
In the transformative 45-minute keynote, Jenn Donahue exposes the reasons you and your team are not moving forward. Many of us struggle with imposter syndrome, self-doubt, the fear of failing, and roadblocks. Jenn has too, many times while leading on the battlefield and in the boardroom.
With her five-step method, developed through scientific research and personal experiences, she provides the audience with the keys to moving forward into their potential. Her story-driven approach underscores the importance of believing in yourself and your team, and what’s needed to reach those unattainable dreams.
Take-aways:
1) Identify the key factors that are holding you and your team back from achieving goals and dreams
2) Analyze the steps to overcome fear, indecision, or disorientation to plan a path for success
3) Assess the benefits of pushing through the obstacles that stand in your team’s way
A Bridge Too Far? Leadership to Build Upon in a Dynamic Market
Technological breakthroughs, shifting economies, global disruptions, and evolving workforce expectations have redefined what it means to lead. The challenge for today’s leaders isn’t just about keeping up—it’s about staying grounded in who you are, deeply connected to those you lead, and capable of inspiring trust when it matters most.
In this keynote, Jenn Donahue shares a three-component approach to leadership that equips you to thrive in turbulent times. First, she guides leaders to understand themselves—their values, strengths, and blind spots. Then she moves to the heart of leadership: truly knowing your people, what drives them, and what they need to succeed. Finally, she reveals how trust becomes the bridge that unites teams and allows them to act with speed and confidence when crisis or disruption strikes.
Drawing on 27 years of leadership experience spanning combat zones, corporate boardrooms, and complex engineering projects, Jenn blends research with real-world stories to show how unity of purpose is built. Her practical, story-driven insights will help you strengthen resilience, inspire loyalty, and prepare your teams to navigate disruption with clarity and resolve.
Key Takeaways
• Explore how self-awareness creates the foundation for effective leadership.
• Learn strategies to better understand your people and tap into their motivations.
• Discover how to create trust that transforms groups into cohesive, high-performing teams.
• Gain tools to lead decisively and confidently in times of disruption and change.
Jenn Donahue
Featured Reviews
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