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Unlock the power of negative capabilities for leadership transformation

Don’t fear the dark.
Use it as your superpower.

Every transformation begins in the dark: in the shadows, the unseen, and the unknown.

For leaders, darkness is the space where real growth and possibility begins. It’s where they can sit quietly when everything is noisy, become vulnerable when everyone asks for performance, and confront doubts when all demand certainty.

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Leading from the Dark means to embrace not knowing, not doing, not being, and the shadows in and around us. It’s a practice to develop negative capabilities–the unseen, immeasurable and often paradoxical superpowers of leadership transformation – and turn them into your greatest advantage.

“We are not living in ordinary times. We are in the Long Dark – a time of collapse, of unraveling, of uncertainty. It may take decades, even generations, to move through this. Many of us 
will not see what happens on the other side.

And yet, even in darkness, seeds grow.”

Francis Weller

Steven D’Souza

Not your typical

Leadership Guru

Not your typical

Executive Coach

Not your typical

Keynote Speaker

Steven is an executive educator, award-winning author and trusted guide. With tenderness, thoughtfulness, and an appreciation for the spiritual and philosophical aspects of business, he promotes a contemplative, wisdom-based model of leadership that harnesses “negative capability” to help leaders unlock their hidden potential, thrive with purpose and authenticity, and drive positive change for their organizations and the world at large.

In his career, Steven held senior leadership positions with leading organizations in the financial sector, the consumer goods industry, and the consulting world. He has worked globally with numerous clients, including the United Nations ILO, Eurostar, Nestle, The Gates Foundation, Meta, Financial Times, Goldman Sachs, and TikTok as well as social enterprises and government organizations.

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Unlock your negative capabilities to foster inner clarity, organizational edge, and positive change

The benefits of leading from the dark

Radical Acceptance of Uncertainty

Turn uncertainty from a threat into a resource, solving for overwhelm, burnout, and inflexibility.

Vulnerability & Authenticity

Build cultures of psychological safety that counter fear, boost engagement, and drive innovation.

Relational & Ecosystem Awareness

Break down silos and strengthen collaboration, trust, and resilience across your organization.

Tackle stagnation and resistance by combining reflection with play, sparking energy, agility, and renewal.

Playful Contemplation

Reflective Inquiry & Presence

Move beyond knee-jerk reactions and make wiser strategic decisions.

Purpose-Driven & Service-Oriented Leadership

Shift beyond ego and short-term wins to foster humility, resilience, and a sense of meaning that drives lasting impact and employee commitment.

Who can benefit from working with Steven?

Organizations that

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Are ready to move beyond transactional leadership programs toward deep, lasting transformation.


Understand that true change requires both personal and systemic shifts.


Want to unlock the untapped potential and innate wisdom already present within their leaders.

Individuals who

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Are committed to personal growth and seek deeper meaning in their work.


Are open-minded, heart-centered, curious, and eager to explore new ways of thinking and leading.


Aspire to achieve not just more, but from a place of greater wholeness, clarity, and lightness, in service of a better world.

Working together

Down-to-earth and evidence-based

Philosophical and practical

Spiritual and strategic

Through inspiring keynotes and workshops, coaching, retreats, and media, Steven enables individuals, teams, and organizations to unlock their hidden potential—not fearing the dark, but leading from it.

Keynotes

Steven’s keynotes introduce leaders from all sectors and disciplines to the concept of Leading from the Dark, inspiring and guiding them to use Negative Capabilities as a vital leadership superpower in today’s age of uncertainty and overwhelm. Through practical pathways, he shows leaders how to turn complexity into opportunity, foster belonging, and act with resilience and purpose.

Coaching

Through one-to-one and intimate small-group coaching, Steven helps leaders uncover their blind spots, face difficult challenges, and unlock their full potential. His coaching creates a trusted space for honest reflection, courageous conversation, and the development of capacities to lead more effectively in times of uncertainty and change.

Leading from the Dark Newsletter

Through curated media, Steven explores Negative Capabilities and their practical application for leaders in a fresh and thought-provoking way. With his regular publications and livecasts to which he invites guest contributors, Steven offers an inclusive community for those who want to lead from the dark. Subscribe here.

Workshops

In Steven’s highly experiential workshops, leaders explore how Negative Capabilities can be applied to the specific challenges they face. Themes include thriving in uncertainty, resilience and adaptability, mastering change and transformation. The result: greater agility, healthier cultures, and leaders equipped to navigate complexity with confidence.

Retreats

Steven designs immersive retreats that take leaders beyond the noise of daily pressures into a space of reflection, renewal, and discovery. Over a long weekend, participants slow down, reconnect with themselves and others, and explore new ways of leading with presence, humility, and creativity. Leaders return with fresh energy, deeper clarity, and renewed capacity and confidence in their own inner wisdom.

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  • “Steven D’Souza is a master practitioner in Leadership & Team Development and an exceptional facilitator. I’ve partnered with him at Facebook and TikTok, where he delivered impactful sessions on networking, social capital, and managing ambiguity. He distills complex ideas into clear, practical guidance and consistently inspires his audiences. I highly recommend him to anyone looking to strengthen leadership across their organisation.”

    Harsh Vekaria, Talent & Development Manager EMEA, TikTok

  • “Steven’s presentation was thought-provoking, inspiring, based on sound academic research, perfectly positioned for our audience and his style was exceptionally engaging.”

    Sue Palfrey, National Trust

  • “It was a very interesting session, which busted some myths and opened my eyes – I know I will benefit from it.”

    Vice President, Goldman Sachs

  • “Destined to become a reference book for managers who aim to improve their strategic vision, Not Knowing offers valuable insights and advice on how to find equilibrium in a constantly changing and uncertain world.”

    Santiago Iniguez de Onzono, Dean of IE Business School

  • “A truly inspirational insight into the art of Not Doing, this book is a genuine must-read for all who want to be the best version of themselves, are striving to achieve real success or looking to achieve true life balance and lasting happiness.”

    Sue Henley, EMEA Head of Talent Development, Education and Diversity, CA Technologies

  • “Steven balanced what was an informative and constructive seminar with an openness that allowed all of us to find our own way to deal with not knowing.”

    Joel Balkwill, CEO Spiral Skills CIC

  • “If you care about where you are going, where you are taking people, and how, you should read Not Doing before setting out.”

    Gianpiero Petriglieri, Associate Professor of Organisational Behaviour, INSEAD

  • “There are two aspects that particularly impressed me about Steven. The first relates to the power in his communication, aided by an ability to deliver interactive and meaningful workshops with conviction, respect and humility. The second relates to his transformational abilities as a coach, namely his capacity to engage as a highly effective and values-based facilitator for rapid personal and professional growth.”

    Andrew Jacob, Marketing, Sales and Sustainability, BHP

  • “Not Being is a go-to book for leaders driving a connected and sustainable world.”

    Sarah Barron, SVP, Global Talent Management, Vestas Wind Systems A/S

Leading from the Dark book collection

The essential book for leaders seeking self-awareness, organizations fostering inclusive cultures, and anyone on a path of personal growth

Shadows at Work

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Learn how to embrace Not Knowing and respond to the unknown not as a place of uncertainty but as a place of exciting opportunity

Not Knowing

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Discover the power of Not Doing–neither pushing nor pulling but adopting the art of effortless action in leadership

Not Doing

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Explore the state of Not Being–using change to re-invent yourself and chart a new course of clarity, purpose, and contentment

Not Being

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