
Donna Herbel
SPHR, FPM
MN, USHelping leaders and teams restore energy and ignite performance with confidence and hope.
Donna Herbel is the Founder and Learning Strategist of Blue Phoenix Learning, a professional consultancy dedicated to elevating professional skills and capacity through training, development, and organizational development processes.
Donna believes that education, training and development have the power to transform lives and communities, and her purpose is to help people ignite the greatness within.
She brings over two decades of experience in leading teams, designing learning systems, building developmental pathways, and working strategically with cross-functional teams. As Vice President of Culture and Training for Perkins Restaurants & Bakery, she and her team provided training systems, live instruction and coaching, and development planning guidance to impact the elevation and enrichment of over 3,000 managers ranging from entry level to executive.
Donna is an active member of the National Speakers Association. She has provided leadership keynotes and workshops at several national conferences, including education events for the National Restaurant Association, the CLO Symposium and the Council of Hotel and Restaurant Trainers on the topics of hope-centered leadership and technology in training.
She is a certified Senior Manager of Human Resources, John Maxwell Certified Speaker and Coach, Instructional Designer and Content Developer, and holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration.
Donna Herbel is the Founder and Learning Strategist of Blue Phoenix Learning, a professional consultancy dedicated to elevating professional skills and capacity through training, development, and organizational development processes.
Donna believes that education, training and development have the power to transform lives and communities, and her purpose is to help people ignite the greatness within.
She brings over two decades of experience in leading teams, designing learning systems, building developmental pathways, and working strategically with cross-functional teams. As Vice President of Culture and Training for Perkins Restaurants & Bakery, she and her team provided training systems, live instruction and coaching, and development planning guidance to impact the elevation and enrichment of over 3,000 managers ranging from entry level to executive.
Donna is an active member of the National Speakers Association. She has provided leadership keynotes and workshops at several national conferences, including education events for the National Restaurant Association, the CLO Symposium and the Council of Hotel and Restaurant Trainers on the topics of hope-centered leadership and technology in training.
She is a certified Senior Manager of Human Resources, John Maxwell Certified Speaker and Coach, Instructional Designer and Content Developer, and holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration.
The Gift of Disruption
Format: 45, 60, 75 minute keynote speeches
This program is perfect for:
- Leaders and Managers
- Organizations and teams navigating disruption and adversity in the business environment
The audience will leave with:
- A framework to find the upside in disruption
- Three strategies to maintain a positive mindset during times of...
Hold the Door and Other Life Lessons from the Hospitality Industry
Format: 60 minute keynote
This program is perfect for:
- Groups looking for a back-to-basics approach to improving kindness, civility, and a spirit of service for themselves and others
- Leaders seeking simple strategies to enhance customer service and a culture of care
The audience will leave with:
- Four simple steps for powerful, personal...
Tech for the Rest of Us: Exploring AI and Large Language Models
Format: 75 minute workshop
This program is perfect for:
- Professionals beginning to explore the benefits of AI and Large Language Models
- Individuals who are interested in using AI platforms and tools to transform their work, but don't know where to start
The audience will:
- Gain a comprehensive understanding of AI and its current impact on our daily...
Keepers of Hope: Leveraging Hope-centered Leadership for Engagement and Results
Format: 75 minute keynote
This program is perfect for:
- Business owners and supervisors seeking to restore personal energy and engage their teams
- Managers who are grappling with ways to retain employees and elevate their contributions
The audience will leave with:
- Techniques to apply foundations of Hope Theory to goal-setting and engagement to get...









