Positive Psychology & Happiness Expert, Co-Founded 21C Media Group, Created ‘The Science of Happiness‘ Undergraduate Course at NYU & Co-Authored ‘U Thrive How to Succeed in College & Life’
Daniel Lerner’s Biography:
Daniel Lerner is an expert in positive psychology, performance science and student wellbeing who is widely recognised for transforming academic research into practical strategies for success. Best known for creating New York University’s hugely popular undergraduate elective course, ‘The Science of Happiness’, Daniel has built a reputation for helping individuals and organisations improve resilience, fulfilment and performance in demanding environments. His work combines evidence-based psychology with real-world coaching experience, allowing him to connect equally well with students, executives and leadership teams. Through his teaching, consulting and speaking engagements, Daniel has become a trusted authority on human flourishing and peak performance, making him a highly sought-after keynote speaker for universities, conferences and global businesses.
Daniel’s professional journey began in the entertainment and artist management industry. He worked with global performing artists at International Creative Management before co-founding the classical music marketing and artist representation company 21C Media Group, where he served as Director of Artist Development. His early career gave him first-hand insight into the pressures faced by elite performers and high achievers. Seeking a deeper understanding of performance psychology, Daniel later studied athletic performance enhancement and coaching models under Dr Nathaniel Zinsser, Director of the West Point Center for Enhanced Performance. He subsequently shifted careers and earned a Master of Applied Positive Psychology degree from the University of Pennsylvania. Following graduation, Daniel joined the instructional teaching staff for the university’s Master of Applied Positive Psychology programme, where he began shaping the next generation of wellbeing practitioners and researchers.
Daniel’s expertise has earned him widespread recognition in both academic and corporate circles. His undergraduate course, ‘The Science of Happiness, ’ quickly became the largest and most popular non-required class at New York University, reflecting the growing demand for practical wellbeing education. Beyond academia, he scaled his independent coaching practice, Strata Performance, into a consultancy serving major financial and corporate institutions, including Deutsche Bank, UBS and OppenheimerFunds. Daniel also collaborated with renowned psychologist Jonathan Haidt to design and launch the tailored Thrive at Stern curriculum for New York University business school students, further cementing his reputation as a leading voice in wellbeing and performance education.
Why Hire Daniel Lerner?
In addition to his teaching and consulting work, Daniel co-authored the acclaimed student mental health guide ‘U Thrive: How to Succeed in College and Life’ alongside Dr Alan Schlechter. The book provided evidence-based guidance for navigating academic pressure, mental health and personal development, reinforcing Daniel’s ability to translate complex psychological concepts into engaging and actionable insights. His combination of academic credibility, corporate experience and compelling storytelling makes him an exceptional keynote speaker. Daniel delivers talks that are informative, relatable and immediately practical, equipping audiences with strategies to improve resilience, happiness and sustained performance in both professional and personal life.
Daniel Lerner’s Career Highlights:
Here are some of the key milestones that define Daniel Lerner’s remarkable career:
- 2023 – Collaborated with psychologist Jonathan Haidt to design and launch the tailored Thrive at Stern curriculum for New York University business school students
- 2017 – Co-authored and published the comprehensive student mental health guide U Thrive How to Succeed in College and Life alongside Dr Alan Schlechter
- 2015 – Scaled his independent performance coaching practice Strata Performance to consult for major financial and corporate firms including Deutsche Bank, UBS, and OppenheimerFunds
- 2014 – Created the Science of Happiness undergraduate elective course at New York University which grew into the university largest and most popular non-required class
- 2012 – Appointed to the instructional teaching staff for the Master of Applied Positive Psychology graduate program at the University of Pennsylvania
- 2011 – Graduated with a Master of Applied Positive Psychology degree from the University of Pennsylvania after shifting careers away from talent management
- 2010 – Studied athletic performance enhancement and coaching models under West Point Center for Enhanced Performance director Dr Nathaniel Zinsser
- 2001 – Co-founded the classical music marketing and artist representation firm 21C Media Group where he served as director of artist development
- 1995 – Global performing artists for International Creative Management
Videos
Daniel Lerner’s Official Keynote Speaking Videos & Showreel:
Testimonials
“Dan is electric! When he speaks, people tune in like the world is on pause. In the 10 years that I have known Dan he has done speaking engagements for my wealth management practice, to clients and referral sources, and for my alumni association (University of Maryland). The responses that I receive after each and every event are beyond positive … they are uniquely exceptional”- Oppenheimer Funds
“Outstanding. Wonderful. One of my former board members was in tears, came up to me, took my hands, and said ‘Les, he changed my life'”- ACC New Jersey
“Daniel takes the stage with an optimism and passion that is evident in both his subject area and personality. His presentation was ranked the highest by far from our participants, and the rave reviews I received afterwards about him were endless. By not only explaining the psychology, but also posing thought-provoking questions, Daniel made sure the speech was interactive and reflective rather than simply passive. We have asked Daniel to come back to our next retreat as a featured speaker, and I hope we can continue to welcome him there!”- Wharton MBA Lead-In Retreat
“He has a rich background on so many topics, but what I love about Dan is how he delivers his sessions. They are full of real life scenarios, current research and funny stories. I am not surprised his class at NYU, ‘The Science of Happiness’ is one of the most popular on campus! When you see Dan teach, you immediately sense his intelligence, intellectually AND emotionally. He has worked with corporate executives, elite musicians, and athletes on how to enhance their performance and use positive psychology to build and sustain success. Dan knows how to help people move toward excellence”- True North Sports
Speaking Topics
Daniel Lerner’s Official Keynote Topics:
- Bringing your work to life – do what you love, and love what you do
- Passionately successful – making the most of ambition and happiness
- Beyond words – how great achievers realise their unique potential
- Thriving in college – achieving success in school and beyond
- The new era of wellbeing – how COVID-19 is changing our perspective on health, happiness and opportunity
- Greatness, goodness and grit – how to realise your potential and succeed at work and in life
How Much Does Daniel Lerner Cost to Hire?
How Much Does it Cost to Hire Daniel Lerner?
Daniel Lerner’s speaking fees vary depending on the event format, location, duration and level of preparation required. For an accurate quote, please share your event date, location and brief with an official booking agent.