Stories shape our identities, our imagination, each other
and how we know the world around us.
Dr. Jeff Leinaweaver is an internationally-known storyteller, sustainability strategist, author, and educator who blends the power of storytelling and the practice of narrative leadership into the fields of corporate social responsibility, organizational development, sustainability reporting, and permaculture design. He works with nonprofit organizations, business leaders, and educators crafting authentic narratives that best showcase their emergent sustainability story.
As a performing storyteller, Jeff shares in the telling of the old stories – myths, folk tales and fairy tales from many cultures around the world. His unique presentation style makes him a compelling and popular keynote speaker and workshop leader who engages audiences around themes of sustainability, the human condition, living myth and deep ecology.
Jeff has wide-ranging sustainability expertise in management consulting, intercultural communication, strategic leadership development, social performance, organizational storytelling, sustainability/CSR reporting, and training. He is the founder and principal of Global Zen Sustainability and host of Gaialogue, a podcast project and work in progress. When he is not traveling the world over, teaching sustainable-based solutions and applications and the importance of storytelling, he lives on Bainbridge Island, WA with his two daughters who are, by far, his most beloved audience.
As a performing storyteller, Jeff shares in the telling of the old stories – myths, folk tales and fairy tales from many cultures around the world. His unique presentation style makes him a compelling and popular keynote speaker and workshop leader who engages audiences around themes of sustainability, the human condition, living myth and deep ecology.
Jeff has wide-ranging sustainability expertise in management consulting, intercultural communication, strategic leadership development, social performance, organizational storytelling, sustainability/CSR reporting, and training. He is the founder and principal of Global Zen Sustainability and host of Gaialogue, a podcast project and work in progress. When he is not traveling the world over, teaching sustainable-based solutions and applications and the importance of storytelling, he lives on Bainbridge Island, WA with his two daughters who are, by far, his most beloved audience.
The Storyteller
As a performing storyteller, Jeff has been a featured teller at the National Storytelling Network Conference, the Northwest Folklife Festival and throughout the United States, and Canada. Jeff tells stories in the mythsinging tradition of Danny Deardorff, Michael Meade, Martin Shaw, Robert Bly and others where a drum or other instrument is played as part of the storytelling ritual. Jeff believes the old stories inform us on how to deepen our connection with each other, nature, place and our own mythic journey.
The Sustainability Strategist
Jeff is a leading GRI-certified trainer consultant for ISOS CSR and associate for The Natural Step US. Additionally, Jeff holds a Permaculture Design Certification with advanced teaching work in Social Permaculture design. Jeff is a Global Professional in Human Resources (GPHR) and an associate with The Natural Step organization. He is also a certified social auditor for the SA 8000 standard, and holds certification with the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) standard.
The Educator
Jeff is a graduate faculty member in the sustainability and MBA program at the Bainbridge Graduate Institute at Pinchot, the University of Washington, Antioch University and Capella University. He has been a communication scholar at the CMM Institute for Social and Personal Evolution and Fielding Graduate University’s Institute for Social Innovation.
The Author
Jeff is the author of "Storytelling for Sustainability" published by Dō Sustainability, as well contributing editor for several other books. He has published widely, including in academic journals, The Associated Press, the Guardian’s Sustainability Business Column and others.
Voiceover & Narration
As a storytelling artist and vocalist, Jeff has over twenty years of voiceover experience. Jeff has lent his vocal talents to a wide variety of projects in all types of media: radio, corporate, documentary, narration and video games. He is a member of the Screen Actors Guild, the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), and the American Guild of Musical and Theatrical Artists (AGMA). He is also a member of the National Storytelling Network.
EducationJeff holds a PhD in Human Development and Organizational Systems with a specialization in narrative leadership, the psychology of story and communication. He has been a Post-Doctoral Fellow in communication at the CMM Institute for Personal and Social Evolution, the Waterhouse School of Communication, Vanderbilt Univeristy and Fielding Graduate University’s Institute for Social Innovation.
Specializations and Certifications
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ClientsJeff has done work with a variety of companies and organizations, including:
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