Dawn Ziegerer
MA
PA, USWhether she was co-hosting "The Morning Splash" as a high-energy radio personality, working as an international model, or interning at MTV in the 80s, Dawn Ziegerer has always known how to capture and keep an audience's attention.
This lifelong go-getter has spent her career at the intersection of media and influence, mastering the art of the human connection in every high-stakes environment imaginable.
Today, as the founder of The Great Story Workshop, Dawn brings that same electric energy to the world’s most prestigious organizations. A lead facilitator for Harvard Executive Education and a trusted advisor to leaders at P&G, Northrop Grumman, and MathWorks, she specializes in helping executives bridge the gap between having a message and having influence.
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A Note to the Event Planner: I’ve Been Where You Are.
If you're reading this, you may be feeling that familiar knot of speaker anxiety. You think you have to choose between a dry expert who bores the room or a fun speaker who lacks depth. I get it. Having worked everywhere from the academic halls of Harvard to the chaotic sets of 80s MTV, I’ve felt that tension myself. You shouldn’t have to compromise on rigor to get resonance. My mission is to be the bridge between the two, ensuring your audience leaves both deeply informed and genuinely inspired, making you look like a hero for booking the right fit.
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Dawn's unique methodology is rooted in the Heroine’s Journey, a framework she doesn't just teach, but has lived. As a trauma survivor and the long-time leader of a divorce support group, Dawn has spent years in the ultimate real-world laboratory for communication: helping people navigate their darkest chapters. This experience birthed the narrative bridge technique that teaches leaders how to meet an audience exactly where they are to build deep trust, before using subtle storytelling tweaks to move them toward a new vision.
With an M.A. in Media Studies and years spent as a beloved on-air personality and Penn State instructor, Dawn combines academic expertise with the raw grit of a media veteran and community leader. She doesn’t just teach communication; she empowers leaders to step into their own story with the empathy and courage required to lead a movement.
Whether she was co-hosting "The Morning Splash" as a high-energy radio personality, working as an international model, or interning at MTV in the 80s, Dawn Ziegerer has always known how to capture and keep an audience's attention.
This lifelong go-getter has spent her career at the intersection of media and influence, mastering the art of the human connection in every high-stakes environment imaginable.
Today, as the founder of The Great Story Workshop, Dawn brings that same electric energy to the world’s most prestigious organizations. A lead facilitator for Harvard Executive Education and a trusted advisor to leaders at P&G, Northrop Grumman, and MathWorks, she specializes in helping executives bridge the gap between having a message and having influence.
_______________________________________________________
A Note to the Event Planner: I’ve Been Where You Are.
If you're reading this, you may be feeling that familiar knot of speaker anxiety. You think you have to choose between a dry expert who bores the room or a fun speaker who lacks depth. I get it. Having worked everywhere from the academic halls of Harvard to the chaotic sets of 80s MTV, I’ve felt that tension myself. You shouldn’t have to compromise on rigor to get resonance. My mission is to be the bridge between the two, ensuring your audience leaves both deeply informed and genuinely inspired, making you look like a hero for booking the right fit.
________________________________________________________
Dawn's unique methodology is rooted in the Heroine’s Journey, a framework she doesn't just teach, but has lived. As a trauma survivor and the long-time leader of a divorce support group, Dawn has spent years in the ultimate real-world laboratory for communication: helping people navigate their darkest chapters. This experience birthed the narrative bridge technique that teaches leaders how to meet an audience exactly where they are to build deep trust, before using subtle storytelling tweaks to move them toward a new vision.
With an M.A. in Media Studies and years spent as a beloved on-air personality and Penn State instructor, Dawn combines academic expertise with the raw grit of a media veteran and community leader. She doesn’t just teach communication; she empowers leaders to step into their own story with the empathy and courage required to lead a movement.
Meet Them, Then Move Them: The Hero & Heroine Bridge to Influence
Format: 45-60 minute Keynote, Half or Full-Day Workshop, 2-4 hour Breakout
This program is perfect for:
- Senior Leaders and Executives who need to navigate their teams through organizational change, crisis, or complex transformations.
- Sales and Client-Facing Professionals who need to build deep trust and psychological safety before asking for the...
Lead Like a Woman: The Heroine’s Path to Influence
Format: 45-60 minute Keynote, Half or Full-Day Workshop, or 2 - 4 hour Breakout
This program is perfect for:
- Female Executives and Managers who want to stop mimicking masculine communication styles and start leading with their natural strengths.
- Women in Male-Dominated Industries who feel their empathy or honesty is perceived as a weakness rather than the strategic asset it is.
Command the Room: The High-Stakes Art of Narrative Presence
Format: 90 minute - 3 hour Breakout or Half-Day Intensive
This program is perfect for:
- Executives and Rising Leaders who have the data but struggle to project the authority and presence required to lead large-scale initiatives.
- Subject Matter Experts who need to translate complex technical information into high-impact stories for boards or...
