Stephen Drum
Transform leadership performance with Stephen Drum, speaker and retired Navy SEAL Master Chief. Stephen works with organizations to build resilience, enhance decision-making under pressure, and develop high-performing teams, delivering combat-tested insights from his bestselling book "Life on the X."
Chicago, United States
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Stephen’s insights come from a career built in some of the most demanding environments imaginable, where mental strength, calm decision-making and team cohesion are critical. During his service, he helped shape the capabilities of thousands of elite soldiers and SEAL candidates, preparing them for the physical and psychological intensity of military operations.
One of his most enduring contributions to the U.S. Navy was co-developing and delivering the Warrior Toughness training programme. This initiative transformed how the Navy equips sailors and officers to face operational stress, and has had a lasting impact on its culture and approach to readiness.
Since retiring from military service in 2019, Stephen has translated his knowledge into practical frameworks for business leaders and organisations. His work focuses on helping people navigate high-pressure environments with clarity and composure, building resilience and high performance in both personal and professional settings.
He is the author of Life on the X, a guide to confronting challenges with courage and readiness, published in 2023. In it, he explores the mindset and habits needed to perform when it matters most, grounded in his own experiences and the lessons learned from years of elite training.
Stephen’s approach resonates with those seeking to lead with greater intent, build stronger teams and manage stress more effectively, whether in the boardroom, on the front lines, or at home.
Topics, Sessions And Talks
Stephen Drum draws on his experience as a Navy SEAL Master Chief to explore how we can operate effectively in life’s most high-pressure moments - the X - when everything is on the line. Sharing tools from elite military training, professional sport and high-stakes business, Stephen shows how to cultivate resilience, emotional control and precision under pressure. With a direct, no-nonsense delivery, he reveals a clear and practical process for performing with focus, agility and confidence when it matters most.
Looking for a custom keynote or workshop designed around your company’s goals and culture? The expert will create a tailored, interactive session that aligns with your objectives, values, and strategic priorities. From leadership and innovation to wellbeing and collaboration, each experience is built from the ground up to deliver measurable impact and lasting change.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about booking an expert speaker, facilitator, host or entertainment for your event.
- If you'd like to book one of our expert speakers, email us at hello@peptalk.com, send us a chat message or give us a call, and we’ll help you out.
- We’ll take your event details — topic, audience, budget, date, and location — and create a custom speaker proposal for you within 48 hours.
- If you already have someone in mind, that’s okay too; just let us know their name! Even if they aren't listed publicly on our website, we have a huge network and work with almost everyone.
- Once you've reviewed our speaker propsal and have selected and expert shortlist, we'll double check availability and fees with your chosen expert.
- You're welcome to have a chemistry call with the speaker before making the final decision, too.
- Next, we'll send out contracts to confirm the booking. One of our experienced event producers will liase with both you and the talent on the finer details, and arrange travel if necessary, taking the stress off your plate.
Not necessarily. While the speakers listed on our website may not have worked with PepTalk in the past, they are recognized professionals in the industry and known to engage in similar events and engagements. We work with a wide variety of speaker agents and talent agencies to ensure we have the best selection of speakers, hosts, comedians and entertainers available.
We do not accommodate requests for birthday messages or any other personal, non-commercial contact with the speakers, comedians or entertainers.
We work with speakers across a variety of fee ranges, giving you the flexibility to choose someone who fits your event's needs. Virtual keynote fees in the UK and Europe typically start at £2,000, while in-person top-tier speakers can reach £25,000. In the US, virtual in-person fees range from $5,000 to over $100,000, depending on the speaker and format, such as after-dinner talks, conference keynotes, Q&As, or podcasts. Comedians generally start at £1,500 or $2,000 for a 20-minute set.
Our goal is to help you find the speaker who best matches your event’s goals and budget. We take the time to understand your event, objectives, and audience to recommend the right fit. The most expensive option isn’t always the best one, and our priority is finding the ideal speaker or expert for your needs; not the highest-priced one.
Reach out for personalised recommendations and detailed information on specific speaker fees. We’re here to offer a tailored service and are always happy to discuss your unique requirements!
There’s no additional cost for our services beyond the speaker fee — simply contact us to find the right speaker for your next business or team event. We can also work with your corporate procurement team to negotiate favourable long-term rates, simply email hello@getapeptalk.com for more information.
Partnering with PepTalk means elevating your events with our curated roster of top motivational speakers, industry experts, delivering punchy keynotes that leave a lasting impact. From talent selection, to contracts and logistics, we handle it all. We have global expert network, with over 3000 speakers from over 33 countries on our line-up.
We also provide a full range of talent, from event hosts and moderators to interviewers and corporate entertainment, ensuring your event’s success from start to finish.
PepTalk workshops are interactive learning experiences for leaders at all levels, blending theory with practical insights from industry experts. These programs, led by experienced facilitators, are designed to drive real mindset changes and equip participants with actionable skills. Workshops can be customised to meet your organisation's specific needs. Explore our workshop examples and contact us today to learn how your team can benefit.
If you notice something that needs attention or have any queries regarding an expert speaker profile, feel free to email us at experts@getapeptalk.com, and we’ll be happy to assist.