Steve's goal is to inspire others to embrace a more playful mindset — one that elevates joy, connection, engagement, and empowerment in the workplace. He reminds leaders that these are not only the four key ingredients of play, but also the four most powerful levers for building stronger, healthier organizations, especially in times of uncertainty and challenge.

Steve Gross applies the lessons learned during his 30+ years of international trauma-response work to help organizations strengthen resilience and cultivate thriving teams and cultures. A clinical social worker by training, Steve has dedicated his career to teaching others how to build healing, transformative relationships with children facing overwhelming adversity. 

Steve has earned global recognition for pioneering innovative, play-based trauma interventions in countries such as Haiti, Ukraine, Rwanda, Turkey, Denmark, Japan, the United States, and more. His work is featured as an example of how play can help children heal from trauma in the longtime #1 New York Times bestseller The Body Keeps the Score.

100% of Steve's speaking fees are tax deductible and donated directly to The Life is Good Playmaker Project.

The Playmaker Project provides training and support for thousands of childcare professionals, helping them build healing, transformational relationships with the children and families in their care - and making a positive impact in the lives of over 1.8 million children every year.

Play isn’t just fun and games — it’s a mindset. It’s the spirit, curiosity, and energy people bring to every aspect of their lives and work.

Steve helps leaders and teams adopt a more playful, opportunity-focused mindset that unlocks creativity, strengthens collaboration, increases engagement, and brings deeper joy and meaning to their work. Through dynamic, energizing, and research-informed keynotes and workshops, Steve helps others shift their mindset in ways that:

• Reduce stress and lower burnout
• Improve organizational culture
• Accelerate innovation and problem-solving
• Increase productivity
• Build a workplace where people “come to play” every day.