About Darren Stehle

Lead with Queer Integrity. Guide with Purpose.

I’m Darren Stehle — philosopher-guide and coach for LGBTQ+ leaders who want to align their voice, vision, and values to make meaningful change.

You’re here because you care about the kind of difference you’re making—and the kind of leader you’re becoming.

Maybe you’ve been trying to do it all, to be everything for everyone. Maybe you’re feeling spread thin, wondering if your leadership is truly aligned with what matters most.

I’ve been there and now I help other queer leaders move from that place of doubt and dispersion… to clarity, conviction, and impact.

How I Got Here (And Why It Matters for You)

Growing up, I tried to live by everyone else’s rules. I knew I wanted to make a difference—but I didn’t know how to do that without burning out, hiding parts of myself, or questioning whether I was “doing it right.”

My turning point wasn’t a single moment. It was the slow, conscious return to myself—my truth, my values, and my creative voice.

Along the way, I developed a leadership philosophy rooted in Taoist self-mastery, neuroscience, and queer theory. I now call this framework Leading with Queer Integrity.

It’s not about becoming someone new. It’s about becoming fully, courageously, and consciously you.

What I Believe

Ethical leadership starts with self-awareness, not performance.
Queerness is a gift—not a limitation—in how we lead.
When we align our actions with our values, our voice becomes a force for good.
Self-mastery isn’t about control—it’s about integrity.

Who I Work With

I coach LGBTQ+ change leaders, advocates, and social entrepreneurs who want to:

Focus their energy on the one thing that matters most.
Share their voice with greater impact and confidence.
Create a method or message rooted in personal conviction.
Lead in ways that reflect their humanity—not just their hustle.

What’s Next?

Ready to explore what it means to lead with queer integrity?

Explore my coaching approach
Get my free guide — 6 Steps to Leading with Queer Integrity
Join the leadership conversation inside my private group on LinkedIn or Facebook.

The Path That Led Me to Coaching Queer Leaders

I’ve always been driven by questions of equity, ethics, and what it means to live a life of purpose — especially as a queer person.

Over the years, I’ve worked with LGBTQ+ leaders and ethical change-makers who want to lead with conviction, clarity, and integrity. Many of them struggle to focus their energy, define what truly matters, or develop a method of leadership that aligns with their values and strengths.

My coaching philosophy integrates behavioral change neuroscience, Taoist self-mastery principles, and queer theory. I call this the 6 Principles Coaching Project — a system that helps leaders align their well-being, values, thinking, voice, vision, and embodiment in service of ethical leadership and meaningful impact.

I write regularly about queer leadership, self-mastery, and integrity-driven change. I’m also the creator of the Lead with Queer Integrity framework and the 7-day program of the same name inside my private community. My work is grounded in the belief that every courageous act of queer leadership advances dignity, equity, and our collective humanity.

My Story of Queer Integrity

I was diagnosed with dyslexia and ADHD at a young age — early experiences that shaped how I saw myself and the world around me. As a gay teenager in the 1980s, I struggled with self-acceptance, internalizing society’s expectations to "act normal." Like many, I hid parts of myself to stay safe and unseen.

That quiet shame followed me into adulthood. I didn’t fear failure — I feared success. I feared being visible.

In response, I poured myself into proving my worth. I began with a year in Chef School, then university, where I maintained an A- average and pursued a Master's in German Language and Linguistics, including extended study in Germany.

After graduating in 1993, I joined Pink Triangle Press, a leading Canadian LGBTQ+ media non-profit, where I quickly rose into senior leadership. Later, from 2004 to 2020, I ran a private fitness and nutrition coaching practice.

In 2019, I began studying life coaching and, in 2022, became a certified MindMap Mastery Neuro-Coach — a program grounded in behavioral neuroscience and transformational coaching, created by internationally recognized coach Dax Moy.

Today, my work integrates these decades of experience with my deepest passion: helping LGBTQ+ leaders develop clarity, confidence, and integrity so they can make meaningful change without compromising who they are.

I’ve spent more than 25 years investing in my growth — attending conferences, enrolling in courses, and learning how to live, lead, and create with conviction and purpose. It’s a journey I now guide others through, rooted in everything I’ve lived and learned.

Beach? Yes, please! My partner and I in Mexico.

Fun fact: My last name, "Stehle" is pronounced, "steel". When grandparents immigrated to Canada from Germany in 1956, they were advised to "Anglicize" the pronunciation of the family name.

Be well 🙏

Darren