Much of Derek’s day is spent as a Leadership Facilitator & Coach at Living as a Leader (LAAL). He defines a leader as someone who engages others to deliver desired results. LAAL exists to support the development of leaders at all levels, from the high performer who has just been promoted, to middle managers, senior leaders and members of the executive team.
HEAD OF EMPLOYEE SUCCESS
Before joining Living as a Leader, Derek spent 3 years as the Head of Employee Success and Director of Leadership Development for ETE REMAN, which is the nation’s largest remanufacturer of transmissions and a USA Top Workplace. At ETE, he taught over 100 managers the core principles of leadership, management, and personal development.
WAC LIFE & THE JOHN MAXWELL TEAM
Prior to ETE, Derek spent 12 years at the Wisconsin Athletic Club (WAC) as the Director of People & Service, Director of Training & Development, and General Manager. During his tenure, he became a certified speaker & coach with the John Maxwell Team.
STARTING FIT TO LEAD
Shortly after joining the WAC, Derek couldn’t get enough of what he was studying, learning, and applying, so much so that he created his own business, Fit to Lead. Through keynotes, workshops, and coaching, Fit to Lead gives your people-leaders a roadmap with the tools needed to create or refresh their leadership skills.
WRITING BOOKS & PROFESSOR DEPREY
In 2017, Derek published the book SHIFT: Move from Frustrated to Fulfilled. In 2024, he published the book Everyday Leaders: Small Actions, Big Results. While writing, he spent 8 years as an Adjunct Professor of Leadership at Wisconsin Lutheran College, a top ranked college by Forbes, Money Magazine, and the Wall Street Journal.
NCAA & NBA LIFE
His diverse career endeavors also included four years as a Video Scout in the NBA with the Milwaukee Bucks, two years as the Coordinator of Basketball Operations in the NCAA with Marquette University, and one year as the Director of Player Development with the University of Utah.
FAMILY LIFE
Derek's world revolves around family, where love, learning, and laughter reign supreme. He is a husband and girl-dad who's been blessed with two social and active kids. When Derek's not geeking out on leadership, he’s walking with Rachel, coaching youth basketball or carting his daughters all over like an Uber driver. Family is not just a part of his life; it's the very heartbeat that fuels his drive and passion.
NOW IS THE TIME
If there’s anything Derek’s learned, it’s that now is the time to build your career, shape your life, and strategically work on laying the foundation for accomplishing your dreams and prospering to your true potential. While there are many people who try to accomplish this, very few of them are given a roadmap of where to start; thus, he hopes you will find him as your resource for getting your compass pointed in the right direction.
THE SELF LEADER + THE PEOPLE LEADER =
THE LEADER YOU’D FOLLOW
THE SELF LEADER
The first step in leading others
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You cannot lead others if you cannot lead yourself. Great leadership starts with intentional self-leadership. Unfortunately, the toughest person to lead is yourself because you are constantly giving your time and energy to others.
Self-leadership is honestly and authentically working to become the best version of yourself. It is about discovering who you are, deciding where you are going, and designing how you will get there.
Self-leadership is necessary to help you accomplish your goals and become a leader worth following…one who leads by example from the inside-out and influences others to take action.
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SHIFT: Move from Frustrated to Fulfilled
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Work & Life Happen:
Build an Aligned Life for Personal & Professional SuccessExecute:
10 Habits That Will Transform Your Work & LifeLive Well, Lead Well:
5 Practices to Feel Better in Work & LifeBecoming a Person of Influence:
How to Positively Impact the Lives of Others
THE PEOPLE LEADER
Leaders who create leaders
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People are THE difference. The success of your organization hinges on the ability of your managers to create more leaders. Unfortunately, managers are expected to continually do more with less. Because of the increased pressure placed on them, they get sucked into the weeds, end up task-focused, and do not take the time to develop others.
Leadership is helping people to become the best version of themselves. The best way to positively impact an organization is through leadership development.
Great leadership enables organizations to improve financial performance, attract talent, retain high performers, and drive strategy execution. People can learn to become influential leaders over time with the right instruction.
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Everyday Leaders: Small Actions, Big Results
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The 5 Levels of Leadership:
Proven Steps to Maximize Your PotentialBecoming a Person of Influence:
How to Positively Impact the Lives of OthersEveryone Communicates, but Few Connect:
What the Most Effective People Do DifferentlyThe Miracle of Teamwork:
Together We Can Do the Impossible
Learn More:
WORK WITH DEREK!
Derek would love to hear from you.