Steve Gahagen: Founder and Executive Director

Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach

Steve Gahagen established Play to Your Strengths out of a lifelong passion for developing leaders and creating environments that inspire people to reach their full potential.

Steve earned a doctorate in Strengths-Based Leadership from Bethel University in partnership with the Gallup organization. His training included an intense focus on the Clifton StrengthsFinder Assessment, the Seven Demands of Leadership, the Power of Partnership and employee engagement. He is gifted in creating leadership tools that help participants put principles into practice in a fun and engaging way. Steve has facilitated workshops for businesses, non-profits, schools, and churches. Through his various roles, he has also had the opportunity to coach over one hundred individuals.

Steve’s strengths of Ideation and Strategic enable him to imagine and implement new ways to challenge people to thrive. For example, he created the “Walk4Water," an event in which hundreds of participants raise money for clean water projects in Africa. He has taken the concepts of the Gallup teaching on the Power of Partnership, and created a marriage workshop that helps couples use those same principles to build the “Ultimate Partnership.” His strength of Restorative helps him when encountering problems. And his strengths of Responsibility and Belief empower him to work hard, remain steadfast, and get things done.

Top 5 CliftonStrengths Themes: Ideation, Strategic, Restorative,  Responsibility, Belief

Organizations We’ve Worked With