Stephen Seidel – Shift the Script to Write your Own Story

Stephen Seidel is a TEDx keynote speaker, media expert, and brand strategist who helps entrepreneurs, startups, and HR leaders drive cultural alignment and authentic leadership. As founder of the award-winning Seidel Agency and coach to changemakers, he draws on 25 years in PR, media, and marketing to help leaders rewrite their stories, leveraging connection as currency. A best-selling author, podcast creator, and co-founder of the men’s collective Gents Journey, Stephen blends humor, heart, and actionable tools to inspire resilient teams and lasting change. Steve Seidel Vroom Vroom Veer Summary Journey of Growth and Legacy Stephen discussed his multifaceted career, including his work with the Seidel Agency, which has collaborated with Coca-Cola, and his creation of Gents Journey, a platform aimed at fostering vulnerability and connection among men through a card deck called the Journey Deck. He shared his personal journey, including a TEDx talk on using grief as a tool for growth and his involvement in a fatherhood initiative where he witnessed a transformative moment of forgiveness. Stephen emphasized the importance of a morning routine and leaving a legacy, while Jeffery highlighted the value of consistent growth and prioritizing tasks. Journey of Connection and Resilience Stephen shared his personal journey, highlighting his upbringing in Utica, New York, and later Philadelphia, where he grew up in a divorced family environment. He described his role as a mediator between his parents, which shaped his identity as a connector. Stephen discussed his struggles with people-pleasing and the importance of self-love and boundary-setting. He emphasized the values instilled in him by his upbringing, including hard work, community, and resilience, and how these influenced his professional life and approach to fatherhood. Journey to Storytelling Agency Stephen shared his personal journey, explaining how his engineering background and people-pleasing nature led him to create an agency that connects individuals with their stories and partners. He discussed his experiences at CB West High School, Penn State, and his career at Motorola, while also touching on personal challenges such as hearing issues and a difficult childhood. Despite these obstacles, Stephen found confidence through his fraternity experiences and continued to pursue his passion for creative expression. Career Transition to Entertainment Stephen shared his career journey, which included acting in a Saturday Night Live sketch that was cut from the show, working as an industrial engineer at a semiconductor fab, and eventually transitioning to entertainment and creating his own YouTube agency. He discussed his experiences with emerging technologies and his involvement in various projects, including a YouTube show and a foundation created in memory of a 9/11 victim. Journey Through Pandemic Challenges Stephen shared his personal journey, including relocating to Lexington, Kentucky, during the COVID-19 pandemic while caring for his mother who had stage 4 cancer and a one-month-old baby. He described how he ran his virtual agency from a laundry room, using a makeshift setup with a logo on his shoulder. Through this challenging period, Stephen discovered the importance of self-love and the need to connect with others, leading him to join a meditation group called Meditation Hillsanga. Journey to Authentic Connection Stephen shared his personal journey of finding happiness by reconnecting with his true self and building a supportive community of entrepreneurs and fathers. He discussed the creation of a card deck with conversation starters to help men connect on a deeper level and address mental health issues. The discussion included examples of questions from the deck, such as "How do you show appreciation?" and explored various ways to express gratitude, including handwritten notes and voice messages.