Ryan Lavarnway

Lead Facilitator @ Spark Brilliance

About

From the World Series dugout to Olympic locker rooms — I don’t just talk about peak performance. I lived it. And now I teach it. I’m not a motivational speaker. I’m a performance catalyst who helps high achievers build the kind of resilience they didn’t know they needed. Because in the real world — talent isn’t enough. Motivation fades. And success is about what you do when things get hard. The short version: -10-year MLB career -Olympian -World Series Champion -Sent down 26 times. Played for 28 teams. -Moved 56 times. Ate way too many sunflower seeds. But what I’m most proud of? The mindset I built. The one I teach now. My keynote — The WHY NOT™ Mindset — helps teams reframe setbacks, lead themselves first, and show up with confidence in tough moments. I also facilitate Spark Brilliance, a Leadership Accelerator for organizations ready to build trust, creativity, and emotional intelligence from the inside out. My clients say I: -Connect deeply with high achievers -Reframe success as a mindset, not a milestone -Deliver tools, not just inspiration -Make meeting planners’ lives easy (and maybe dance a little too) 🗣 “What a home run! I’ve lost count of how many people came up to say how impactful it was. Even our Managing Partner said, ‘It’ll be tough to top this next year.’” — Alaina Kearney, Director of Marketing, BGA&F I live in Denver, drink a lot of coffee, volunteer with Habitat for Humanity, and will dare anyone to a backyard ping-pong match. 🎯 Looking for a keynote that energizes and equips your people? Or a leadership program that actually transforms teams? Let’s talk: ryan@ryanlavarnway.com 🎥 Speaker Reel: https://vimeo.com/1001593848 https://www.sparkbrilliance.com/

Country

United States

City

Denver Metropolitan Area

Industry

Professional Training & Coaching

Skill

Communication, Growth Strategies, Leadership, Training, Coaching, Management, Community Service, Coaching & Mentoring, Public Speaking

Experience

Lead Facilitator

Spark Brilliance

2022-3 - Present · 4 yrs 7 mos

Lead Facilitator

Spark Brilliance

2022-9 - Present · 4 yrs 1 mo

As Lead Facilitator of Spark Brilliance, I guide high-performing leaders and teams through a transformational leadership experience that unlocks deeper trust, clearer communication, and greater performance — by putting emotional intelligence into action. Spark Brilliance isn’t a keynote. It’s not a workshop. It’s a proven, research-backed leadership accelerator designed by Jackie Insinger to ignite human potential across entire organizations. I facilitate cohorts through a 7-month journey that delivers lasting, measurable change in how leaders show up — for themselves, for their teams, and for each other. 🚀 What I Bring as Lead Facilitator: 10+ years of elite performance background (MLB, Olympics) + real-world EQ and coaching experience A relatable, high-energy style that earns trust fast — even in skeptical, high-achiever rooms Storytelling + strategy that gets people to lean in, reflect deeply, and take action ✅ Client Wins: Sparked behavior change and alignment for leadership teams across tech, healthcare, financial services, and education. Guided leaders to improve self-awareness, peer collaboration, and team culture — resulting in higher engagement and reduced turnover. 💡 Why Clients Choose Spark Brilliance: Customized immersion and coaching that meets leaders where they are A safe space to drop the armor and do the work — not just talk about it Actionable tools for real-time feedback, resilience, trust-building, and leading with authenticity If you're ready to create a leadership culture that brings out the best in your people — and sustains it — let's talk.