Dr. Steve Yacovelli
Everything is Intentional with Steve Yacovelli
In this episode, we talk with Dr. Steve Yacovelli—author, educator, and founder of Top Dog Learning Group—about what it takes to lead with authenticity and courage, especially as a queer professional navigating today's shifting cultural and political climate. Steve shares stories from his leadership journey, from being “the invisible other” to proudly claiming his space as the “Gay Leadership Dude.” We dig into how identity shapes leadership, how resilience is built through hard-earned experience, and why now is the time to lean into inclusion—not away from it.
In this episode, we talk with Dr. Steve Yacovelli—author, educator, and founder of Top Dog Learning Group—about what it takes to lead with authenticity and courage, especially as a queer professional navigating today's shifting cultural and political climate. Steve shares stories from his leadership journey, from being “the invisible other” to proudly claiming his space as the “Gay Leadership Dude.” We dig into how identity shapes leadership, how resilience is built through hard-earned experience, and why now is the time to lean into inclusion—not away from it.
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Highlights
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Guest Biography
Dr. Steve Yacovelli graduated from Millersville University of Pennsylvania with a degree in Speech Communications – Public Relations. He tried a few jobs — a short stint working for Walt Disney World, marketing and PR, and education for a small software company — before pursuing a Master’s at The Ohio State University in Leadership. After several years working for companies as an internal consultant, Steve formed a part-time consulting firm in 2001, TopDog Learning Group, which became a full-time career in 2008. Steve now helps organizations improve performance and learning in the workplace. An academic at heart — Steve earned his doctorate of education in instructional technology and distance education in 2005. He’s the author of Pride Leadership: Strategies for the LGBTQ+ Leader To Be the King or Queen of Their Jungle and Your Queer Career: Leadership Advice from the Gay Leadership Dude. Steve has also written on how adults adopt and learn using technology and employee and organizational perceptions and readiness for technology-enabled learning solutions. He’s passionate about unconscious bias in the workplace, and how it impacts employee engagement and effectiveness. Steve lives in Orlando with his husband, Richard, and their “top dogs” Ella and Russel. |
Show Notes
Season 3, Episode 7 Credits
Guest: Dr. Steve Yacovelli Host: Liz Cavallaro Host: Bree Fram Audio: Frieda Garcia Show Notes: Alexa Goodrich-Houska |