Steve Fredlund
Steve “Safari Dude” Fredlund is a Breakthrough Expert and keynote speaker whose passion for helping individuals and organizations achieve extraordinary outcomes has captivated audiences worldwide. With over 30 years of experience as a corporate actuary, nonprofit executive, entrepreneur, and safari guide in East Africa, Steve blends cutting-edge research with powerful personal stories and safari-inspired insights. He helps clients move beyond the ordinary by achieving their extraordinary, using his proprietary Mist-to-Mountaintop Breakthrough Framework to navigate the journey from uncertainty to extraordinary results.
Steve’s talks focus on leadership development, team breakthroughs, and personal fulfillment, offering a mix of humor, adventure, and actionable strategies. He is a best-selling author of Do the Unright Thing: Memoir of a People Pleaser and a two-time TEDx speaker. Whether it’s training, breakouts, or headlining events, Steve’s authentic and adventurous approach resonates across industries.
When not on stage or leading safaris, you’ll find him disc golfing, fine-tuning his poker strategy, or suffering through another season of Minnesota sports.
Most Requested Programs
"The Safari Way to Extraordinary Fulfillment"
When applying his proprietary Mist-to-Mountaintop Breakthrough Model to the challenges of personal fulfillment, Steve “Safari Dude” Fredlund discovered that the same principles making an African safari epic can reignite our passion for life and work. In “The Safari Way to Extraordinary Fulfillment”, Steve introduces a fresh lens on how external pressures—defaults, expectations, and ‘shoulds’—limit our potential. Through research, personal experience, and vivid safari stories, Steve reveals his “Big 5” Drivers of Extraordinary Fulfillment that anyone can apply to beat burnout and embrace a more meaningful journey in life and work. “
Expect the Extraordinary: Leading Through the Mist to the Mountaintop”
“Expect the Extraordinary” applies Steve Fredlund’s Mist-to-Mountaintop Breakthrough Model, to organizational leadership, revealing how to design bold solutions when the path forward seems obscured. Drawing on safari stories, strategy sessions, and personal anecdotes, Steve demonstrates how the extraordinary often emerges from discomfort and disruption, rather than from the realm of the “comfortable.”
Testimonials
“Steve’s message of the “Safari Way” fit so well for our event. He was attentive to our content and incorporated an excellent session that resonated with our audience. His stories and message were a home run!” - RBC Wealth Management
“Steve was amazing. His down to earth message held the attention of all 300 employees. From new hire hourly employees to 35+ year salary managers. I received several compliments and was thanked several times for hiring Steve. We will hire again for future corporate events.” - Costco
"Everything about working with Steve was absolutely wonderful. He was fun, timely and wanted to meet the needs of our organization. I'd highly recommend working with Steve!" - KENT Corporation
“As an event planner, Steve was a pleasure to work from beginning to end. He gives you access to plenty of promotional materials to use to promote his presentation at your event and excellent communication from start to finish. He kept our crowd laughing and entertained the whole presentation. I recommend him to all groups who need to get the right people on board.” - Iowa Grocery Industry Association
"Steve nailed it! He has a comfortable, compelling storytelling approach that pulls attendees into his 'jungle' and keeps them wanting more! His ability to connect with diverse attendees was truly remarkable. The feedback we received from participants was overwhelmingly positive, with many highlighting how inspired and motivated they felt after the session. I wholeheartedly recommend Steve as a keynote speaker for any event. His expertise, passion, and dedication to delivering value make him an outstanding choice for any audience." - Iowa Employment Conference & Missouri Employment Conference