Derek’s passion in life is to help you become the leader you’d want to follow. Much of his day is spent turning people into leaders as an author, keynote speaker, and leadership coach.
HEAD OF EMPLOYEE SUCCESS
Derek spent three years as the head of employee success and director of leadership development for ETE REMAN, the nation’s largest remanufacturer of transmissions and a USA Top Workplace. At ETE, he taught over one hundred managers the core principles of leadership, management, and personal development.
Before ETE, Derek spent twelve years at the Wisconsin Athletic Club (WAC) as the director of people and service, director of training and development, and general manager. He became a certified speaker and coach with the John Maxwell Team during his tenure.
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 business, Fit to Lead. Through keynotes, workshops, and coaching, Fit to Lead gives your people-leaders a roadmap with the tools 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 Everyday Leaders: Small Actions, Big Results. While writing, he spent eight 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 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 many people 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.
Keynotes
“SHIFT: Move from Frustrated to Fulfilled”
Every day, we move in one direction or another. We’re free to choose from endless possibilities. Only you can choose the direction for the rest of your life. Whether you are a seasoned executive, emerging leader, stay-at-home parent, or college student, frustration is inevitable. Now is the time for you to SHIFT from, “I’m so busy and stressed,” to, “I’m living my ideal life right now.” In this presentation, Derek will teach you a 5-gear process that you can apply in your personal and professional lives. Each gear will uniquely move you from frustrated to fulfilled. Through powerful questions and compelling exercises, you’ll discover how to make today the day you are inspired to change. It’s your next move!
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
- Discover Who You Are – Confront your fears & form your core values
- Decide Where You Are Going – Pursue personal growth & visualize your preferred future
- Design How You Will Get There – Adopt a positive mindset, personalize your ambitions & exercise meaningful action
- Fulfill Your Ideal Life – Build an aligned life for personal & professional success
- Inspire Fellow Travelers – Become a leader worth following
“EVERYDAY LEADERS: Small Actions, Big Results”
For too long, our recognition of leadership has been narrowly defined to a select few –– presidents, CEOs or historical icons. We have been captivated by charismatic figures on the cover of Forbes or viral sensations on social media. But what about the everyday leaders who have shaped us on a personal level? The parents, mentors, teammates and family members who have left an indelible mark on our lives? It’s time to reimagine leadership, to celebrate the silent influencers and to recognize that each one of us possesses the power to lead. Are you ready to step into your role as an everyday leader?
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
- Understand the difference between micromanagement and everyday leadership as well as the importance of empowering and nurturing others.
- Recognize the value of stepping outside one’s comfort zone to facilitate personal and professional growth.
- Seek discomfort to lead to greater growth over time — with strategies for gradually expanding one’s comfort zone through small, everyday actions.
- Appreciate how individuals can have a profound impact on those around them, regardless of their position or title — and show appreciation for those people in your life.
- Discover the importance of finding one’s “why” or purpose as a leader, beyond just pursuing victories or accolades.
- Understand how prioritizing the needs, growth and happiness of others is a key aspect of effective everyday leadership. (It’s not about you)
“EXECUTE: 6 Habits That Will Transform Your Work & Life”
Carefully look over your “to-do” list. Will you commit to action? Reality check: wherever you are in your life and career is a result of your habits, good or bad. Great news! No matter where you are right now, you can transform your life by transforming your habits. The best way to get started is to bridge the gap between being busy and being productive. In this workshop, you’ll learn that the problem isn’t you. The problem is your system. Derek will help you design every minute of your activities with 6 gap-closing behaviors. You’ll go from, “I’m overwhelmed, stuck, and unfulfilled” to, “I’m laser-focused, making progress, and fulfilled.”
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
- Set an inspiring goal
- Create a deadline
- Block off alone time
- Commit to deep work
- Say no
- Do it afraid
Workshops
WORKSHOPS FOR ALL EMPLOYEES:
- SHIFT: Move from Frustrated to Fulfilled
- Everyday Leaders: Small Actions, Big Results
- Execute: 6 Habits That Will Transform Your Work & Life
- Live Well, Lead Well: 5 Practices to Feel Better in Work & Life
- Everyone Communicates, but Few Connect: What the Most Effective People Do Differently
- The Miracle of Teamwork: Together We Can Do the Impossible
FOR MANAGERS & EMERGING LEADERS:
- The 5 Levels of Leadership: Proven Steps to Maximize Your Potential
- Giving Feedback & Having Difficult Conversations
- Nail the Handoff: Assign Work and Set Expectations Like a Pro
- Driving Accountability: Build a Team That Owns the Outcome
- Beyond the Annual Review: Performance Management That Actually Motivates
- Coaching Employees & Leading Professional Development Plans
- Own Your Priorities at Work: How to Focus on What Matters Most
- Increasing Emotional Intelligence & Deescalating Situations
- Think It Through: Mastering Problem-Solving and Decision-Making
- Safe Spaces, Strong Teams: Fostering Psychological Safety for High Performance
- Blueprint for Change: Shaping a Culture Ready for the Future
- Make Meetings Matter: Move from Endless Discussion to Meaningful Progress
- Onboarding Never Ends: From Day One Training to Everyday Success
“Everyday Leaders: Small Actions, Big Results” Buy Here
For too long, our recognition of leadership has been reserved for a select few—presidents, CEOs, or historical icons. We have been captivated by charismatic figures on the cover of Forbes or viral sensations on social media.
But what about the everyday leaders who have shaped us on a personal level, the parents, mentors, teammates, and family members who have left an indelible mark on our lives? Let’s reimagine leadership to celebrate the silent influencers and recognize that each one of us possesses the power to lead.
Are you ready to step into your role as an everyday leader?
What You’ll Learn in This Book
- Understand the difference between micromanagement and everyday leadership and the importance of empowering and nurturing others.
- Recognize the value of stepping outside one’s comfort zone to facilitate personal and professional growth.
- Seek discomfort to lead to greater growth over time with strategies for gradually expanding one’s comfort zone through small, everyday actions.
- Appreciate how individuals can have a profound impact on those around them regardless of their position or title, and show appreciation for those people in your life.
- Discover the importance of finding one’s “why” or purpose as a leader beyond pursuing victories or accolades.
- Understand how prioritizing the needs, growth, and happiness of others is a key aspect of effective everyday leadership. (It’s not about you.)
“SHIFT: Move from Frustrated to Fulfilled” Buy Here
Every day, we move in one direction or another. We’re free to choose from endless possibilities. Only you can choose the direction for the rest of your life. Whether you are a seasoned executive, emerging leader, stay-at-home parent, or college student, frustration is inevitable. Now is the time for you to SHIFT from, “I’m so busy and stressed,” to, “I’m living my ideal life right now.” And it doesn’t even have to be complicated.
In SHIFT, author Derek Deprey teaches you a 5-gear process. Each gear uniquely moves you from frustrated to fulfilled. Within each interactive chapter, you’ll drive up to powerful questions and practical exercises—calls to make today the day you are inspired to change.
Through captivating storytelling and compelling exercises, you’ll discover how to:
- Confront your fears
- Form your core values
- Pursue personal growth
- Visualize your preferred future
- Adopt a positive mindset
- Personalize your ambitions
- Exercise meaningful action
- Fulfill your ideal life
- Inspire fellow travelers
Now is the time to reach your true potential. The right move, at the right moment, can make all the difference. If something stands between you and your ideal life, SHIFT. If you’re looking for someone to help you maneuver the challenging territory, Derek is your fellow traveler as you point your compass in the right direction.
“Thanks for a great session. The feedback from the team has been overwhelmingly positive. I just connected with our Chief Marketing Officer, and she said you’re among—if not the best—she’s ever seen. We truly appreciate your ability to turn ideas into clear, practical takeaways.”
Stephanie Jarstad, Vice President & Chief of Staff, Northwestern Mutual
“The icing on the cake was Derek sharing his personal experience with U.S. Bank—he knew our tellers by name and celebrated his positive feelings walking into our branches. That totally surprised and uplifted everyone in the room.”
Nina Johnson, Vice President, U.S. Bank
“Derek created the perfect flow and delivered valuable insights our leaders could immediately use. With a room full of both new and seasoned leaders, I especially appreciated how he tailored the content to speak to everyone.”
Wendy Bushell, Chief People Officer, Palermo’s Pizza
“I prayed it would be worth my team getting up early on their day off to hear this speaker—and it absolutely was. Derek captured the room’s attention from the start and truly knew his audience.”
Kathy Collins, Managing Director, Club Management Association of America
“One of our support staff members came up to me and said Derek’s message was exactly what she needed to hear at this point in her life. That kind of impact is rare—and meaningful.”
Ron Travers, Chief, U.S. Probation Office
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
