A native of Potomac, Maryland, Ryan Berman is best known as the founder of Courageous — a consultancy dedicated to helping leaders and companies install courage where they need it most. Over the last 25+ years, Ryan has worked with organizations of all sizes to build braver teams, clearer stories, and cultures capable of taking bold, necessary action. His work has helped brands like Google, Procter & Gamble, Kellogg’s, Kraft Heinz, Bausch & Lomb, Tropicana, the Houston Texans, and Kohl’s not just articulate their purpose, but operationalize it.

 Before launching Courageous, Ryan spent more than a decade inside the creative agency world, developing breakthrough ideas, advising executives, and learning firsthand how fear can freeze even the most talented teams. That work led to his partnership with Jaelin Kauf, after his firm rebranded the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Association. In recent years, Ryan has collaborated closely with Jaelin to help her develop Deliver the Love and turn her story into a movement.

His curiosity for why some leaders act while others retreat sparked a multi-year journey into the science and practice of courage — ultimately leading to his first book, Return On Courage, and later to Headamentals, a guide to mastering the self-talk that shapes leadership.

Ryan also hosts The Courageous Podcast, where he’s sat down with astronauts, CMOs, founders, athletes, and changemakers to explore what it really takes to confront fear and lead with conviction. Off the microphone, he continues to consult, keynote, and build programs that equip individuals and companies with the tools to navigate change.

Ryan lives in San Diego with his family, where he remains deeply involved in community, youth sports, and the ongoing mission of helping people — and the organizations they serve — show up braver than the day before.