Don Sandel, the founder of GoPositiv, is a dynamic speaker, facilitator and author linking happiness, optimism and positivity to high performance. After leading talent development efforts for small and large organizations, Don transitioned those skills and experiences into his current work of helping to transform lives and organizations. A self-proclaimed pathological extrovert, Don brings a fun and irreverent brand of humor to all his engagements.
He began studying the brain and its effect on learning about a decade ago and discovered compelling and irrefutable research around positivity. Don says, “I researched how positivity impacted learning and development, literally enabling the brain to learn more effectively. I was immediately hooked!”
Don’s expertise is in the field of leadership development as well as the impact of shifting to a positive mindset. A sought-after speaker on the topic, Don speaks often at national and global conferences, and has been published nationally.
He spent a quarter century leading talent development for such companies as Astellas Pharma, Allscripts, and United Airlines. He has recently consulted for such organizations as McCormick Spice, Vanderbilt University Medical Center and AstraZeneca and has thrilled thousands with his energetic keynotes on shifting to a positive mindset. Don has recently published Positive Mindshift by New Degree Press.
Don has a Master of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees from Western Michigan University. He has also amassed a number of highly specialized certificates in Human Performance Improvement, Leadership Development, Coaching, and Applied Positive Psychology, including additional classwork at Yale and USC Berkeley.
Professional Affiliations: Don is active in ATD, CCATD, and the Executive Learning Exchange. Don is also a volunteer with his church, community, and an avid reader, often found reading books about neuroscience, travel and history.