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Jenn Donahue

US Navy Captain | Author | Entrepreneur | Engineer

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Book Jenn Donahue

Jenn Donahue, PhD, is a USA TODAY bestselling author, retired U.S. Navy Captain, and civil engineer whose career spans combat zones and large-scale engineering projects. During her 27 years of military service, she built a bridge across the Euphrates River during the Iraq War, commanded an 800-person battalion in Afghanistan, and served as Commodore of a 1,800-person regiment.

 

An international keynote speaker, Jenn draws on that experience to help leaders prepare for pressure, navigate change, and build trust before it is tested. Her talks bring together lessons from military service, engineering, and her own journey of growth and leadership to give audiences practical tools they can put to work immediately in their careers and everyday lives.

 

Jenn is the founder of JL Donahue Engineering, Inc. and Dare to Rise. She also lectures at UC Berkeley, UCLA, and Cal Poly.

 

Speaking Topics

Unshakable: Navigating Change, Crisis, And Chaos

Your leaders are exhausted from constant change they didn't choose. Every decision feels higher stakes than it used to, priorities shift before anyone can lock them in, and the uncertainty is quietly eroding confidence, focus, and morale across the team.

In this engaging and story-driven keynote, Jenn Donahue draws on 27 years of military leadership, engineering, and executive experience to show leaders how to create stability when circumstances are anything but stable. From commanding teams in combat to leading complex engineering programs, Jenn learned that while instability is inevitable, disruption is often self-created through fear, uncertainty, and reactive decision-making.

Using practical frameworks from her Unshakable Method, grounded in her background in seismology and engineering, Jenn equips leaders with tools to strengthen perception, improve decision-making, build trust, and lead with confidence during periods of rapid change. Through compelling stories, research-backed insights, and actionable strategies, attendees will leave with a renewed sense of control and practical techniques they can apply immediately with their teams.

Leaders will discover that the greatest competitive advantage isn't eliminating uncertainty, it's becoming unshakable within it.

Key Takeaways:

●      Identify key triggers and patterns that cause stress or indecision during times of change.

●      Apply the frameworks to make disciplined, confident decisions, fast, when facing uncertainty.

●      Apply the Five R's of Trust, Rapport, Responsible, Respect, Reliable, Recognize, to build the kind of trust that holds steady through change.

The Unity Paradox: Creating Teams With Unparalleled Success

As leaders, many of us struggle with employee recruitment, retention, engagement and managing change. The world at large is in a constant state of change, making it difficult for leaders to create coherent teams with a common objective.

Whether in the office, boardroom or on the battlefield, Jenn Donahue, with 27 years leading teams of all sizes, has learnt to promote flexibility, build resilience and develop a forward-thinking approach. 

Utilizing these specific components, Jenn explores the core elements of modern leadership to discover how they contribute to a team's future success. 

Whether you are a seasoned leader or an emerging leader, this keynote will equip you with the tools needed to navigate with confidence and effectiveness.

Takeaways include:
  • How a shared vision fuels collective achievement and personal impact
  • How trust and understanding build resilience and unity 
  • How a forward-thinking approach enables quick adaption to changing conditions

Becoming The Warrior: Strategies For Achieving Your Goals And Dreams

We all have passion-fueled dreams that seem too bold or risky. At the same time, we are challenged to meet specific goals in both our organizations and personal lives. Our dreams and goals may, at times be out of reach, we are not ready, there is not enough time or perhaps we don't feel worthy.

In this transformative keynote, Jenn Donahue highlights the specific reasons preventing you and your team from moving forward as many grapple, with: imposter syndrome; self-doubt; fear; don't feel good enough or worthy. Many times, while leading others on the battlefield and in the boardroom, Jenn experienced the same fears and doubts.

Now with a five-step proven method developed through scientific research and per own personal experiences, Jenn provides audience members with the missing keys they need to move forward into their full potential. Her story-driven approach underscores the importance of believing in yourself and your team; and what you need to reach what you thought were unattainable dreams.

After this keynote you will be able to:
  • Identify the key factors holding you and your team back from achieving goals and dreams
  • Analyze the steps to overcoming fear, indecision and disorientation
  • Recognize the benefits of pushing through obstacles that stand in your way
  • Develop a plan to succeed.

A Bridge Too Far?: The Impact Of Trust On Corporate Culture And Retention

Today's workforce is not just seeking better working conditions, they're seeking better leadership. People want to work in environments that inspire purpose, foster connection, and prioritize well-being. Trust is the cornerstone of all three, and without it, even the most proficient leaders will struggle to retain talent.


Drawing on over two decades of experience leading high-performing teams Jenn Donahue blends compelling storytelling with actionable leadership strategies to demonstrate how trust is not a soft skill—it’s a strategic imperative.


Keynote Takeaways:

  • Discover the reasons why employees are leaving the workplace in massive numbers. 
  • Learn how small shifts in leadership style can ripple across teams and improve retention.
  • Uncover how consistent, transparent leadership fosters environments where employees feel seen, heard, and valued.
  • Learn the difference between earned trust and assumed authority.
  • Implement a three-part process to uncover your authentic leadership style and become the leader others want to follow.

Take the Next Step with Jenn Donahue

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Testimonials

“Practical & actionable. Jenn's experience provides a unique perspective on managing hyper-growth teams.”

Personable and engaging. Jenn provides tangible examples and insights that have directly resulted in more effective teams within our organization. A MUST-HAVE speaker for developing your company’s leaders!

Jenn doesn't just motivate you to get out there and do great things. She leaves you with a toolkit to help you achieve your goals and a plan to keep you accountable for your success.

I wanted to reach out to thank you and celebrate the stunning presentation you gave for the Procore Groundbreaking. You truly have an art for communicating complex subjects in a simple to understand manner while retaining the elegance of the complexities within. So much value and structure was put into that presentation that leaves a very lasting impression.

Thank you so much for presenting such an impactful session at the Sales 3.0 Conference today! Your session on the qualities that make a great leader was eye-opening and engaging; and the message really resonated with our audience. Your authenticity and honesty are inspiring. It was a pleasure working with you.

Jenn's keynote was very insightful and impactful. The talk really resonated with me.

Jenn shared her wisdom in a confident and relatable style to our more than 200 attendees at our recent Leadership Summit. Having her as part of this weekend of dynamic events was one of the best decisions made. Jenn is a benefit any planning an organization has in place…you will not be disappointed

Thank you Jenn Donahue for making the 2023 Southwest Safety Conference such a success! Your keynote on safety leadership was inspiring and spot on!

I just wanted to let you know that I honestly felt that it was the absolute best session of the day, and to say “thank you” for delivering such a phenomenal message that I personally needed to hear!

I wanted to reach out and express my gratitude for the opportunity to watch your speech, "Becoming the Warrior: Strategies to Break Through and Achieve," at the PMI event. Your speech left a profound impact on me. It was emotional, powerful, and inspiring, but it also ignited a newfound belief in myself as a “WARRIOR”. Once again, thank you for your remarkable speech. It has made a lasting impression on me, and I look forward to continuing my journey as a “warrior”, armed with the tools and inspiration you have provided

“Thank you so much for presenting such an impactful session at the Sales 3.0 Conference today! The message really resonated with our audience. Your authenticity and honesty are inspiring. It was a pleasure working with you.”

“Jenn shared her wisdom in a confident and relatable style to our more than 200 attendees at our recent Leadership Summit. Having her as part of this weekend of dynamic events was one of the best decisions made. Jenn is a benefit any planning an organization has in place…you will not be disappointed!”

We were delighted to have Dr. Jenn Donahue as our keynote speaker at the Women in Nuclear Medicine Breakfast event during the SNMMI Annual Meeting. Her early arrival not only demonstrated her professionalism but also helped the AV tech team make sure her slide deck was loaded and got her connected to her microphone seamlessly. This early preparation ensured that her presentation went off without a hitch. The preparatory call we had months prior was certainly helpful. She was proactive in asking questions to best prepare for her talk, showing her commitment to delivering a presentation that would resonate with our audience. The sponsoring company was thrilled with Dr. Donahue's talk, and it was evident from the audience's engagement that her insights resonated deeply. The energy in the room was palpable, with attendees fully immersed in her presentation and eager to participate in the Q&A portion. During the event, we did encounter a brief technical difficulty with the microphone. However, Dr. Donahue's adaptability shone through as she smoothly adjusted to the situation, ensuring her message was delivered without disruption. We had a record turnout this year, and Dr. Donahue’s compelling presentation undoubtedly contributed to this success. The promo video she filmed prior to the event was a fantastic addition to our event marketing, capturing her passion perfectly. We've received a wealth of positive feedback from attendees who were inspired and motivated by her words. On a personal note, working with Dr. Donahue was an absolute pleasure. Her preparedness and attention to detail made the entire process smooth and stress-free. Overall, Dr. Jenn Donahue’s participation made our event not only successful but truly memorable.

  • What is your favorite quote? Fate says to the Warrior: "You can not weather the storm." The Warrior whispers back: "I am the storm."

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