BUILT FROM NOTHING. TESTED EVERYWHERE.
Patrick R. Dunn speaker, author, and founder of Vianarra. He is the author of Stop Leading on Empty (Archway Publishing, April 2026, ISBN-13: 978-1665792165), the first book in the Lead with Soul series. Patrick spent 30 years leading global crisis management and operational resilience at Gilead Sciences, SunGard, Capgemini, and Broadridge — leading through 9/11, Hurricane Katrina, and Hurricane Sandy. He is a three-time NCAA Division I All-American at the University of Maine, where he studied narrative craft under Stephen King and folklorist Sandy Ives. Before his corporate career, he served as an interpretive ranger at six National Park Service sites. Six Sigma Green Belt. WSET Level 2 certified. Lifetime Rotarian and Paul Harris Fellow. Based in Sparks, Nevada.
30 Years of Global Crisis Leadership
Patrick spent 30 years leading global Disaster Recovery, Business Continuity, and Crisis Management programs at Fortune 200 organizations including Gilead Sciences, SunGard, Capgemini, and Broadridge. As a Disaster Recovery Architect at Gilead Sciences, he was responsible for global DR testing in one of the world's largest pharmaceutical companies — where operational continuity directly impacts patient care.
His work spans four continents and includes operational leadership through 9/11, Hurricane Katrina, and Hurricane Sandy. Patrick is a Six Sigma Green Belt and a confirmed main stage presenter at DRJ Fall 2026 (Disaster Recovery Journal), the leading industry conference for business continuity and operational resilience.
First-Generation College Graduate
Grew up in a small, poor town in Maine. Nobody in his family had done it before. He built himself into a global leader one credential, one crisis, and one hard season at a time.
Son of a WWII Veteran and POW
His father survived the Battle of the Bulge as a prisoner of war. Service, sacrifice, and resilience were not concepts Patrick learned in a leadership book. They were the air he grew up breathing.
Former Interpretive National Park Service Ranger
Served as an interpretive ranger at six National Park Service sites. Learned to read terrain, lead under pressure, and connect people to something larger than themselves — long before he ever set foot in a boardroom. The work shaped how he thinks about storytelling, place, and what it means to make a guest belong somewhere — and became part of the foundation for Vianarra decades later.
NCAA Division I All-American
Competed at the highest level of collegiate athletics. Knows what elite performance demands — and what it costs when athletes and leaders confuse toughness with sustainability.
A Lifetime of Community Service
Patrick's service began at age 14 as a volunteer at a VA hospital — sitting with veterans, listening to their stories, learning what service actually looks like when it costs you something. From those corridors to global humanitarian work through Rotary International and the Paul Harris Fellow distinction, service has been the through-line of his entire life. (Personal involvement only — not an endorsement by Rotary International.)
Trained in Narrative Craft
At the University of Maine, Patrick studied narrative craft under Stephen King and folklorist Sandy Ives — training that shaped how he reads a room, holds attention, and builds a story that lands. The skills first sharpened in classrooms with King and Ives now show up on keynote stages, in Stop Leading on Empty, and in the storytelling craft at the heart of Vianarra.
WSET Level 2 Certified
A sophisticated understanding of wine, terroir, and the hospitality world that informs his work with winery, hotel, and guest-experience audiences.
Founder, Vianarra
Patrick founded Vianarra — a hospitality storytelling practice for wineries, boutique hotels, restaurants, and operators ready to find their story and tell it the way it deserves to be told. The name is coined from the Latin via (journey) and narra (to tell): the story found along the way. Vianarra works with hospitality operators on guest experience audits, staff storytelling training, and the narrative architecture that drives wine club conversion, guest loyalty, and word of mouth. Patrick is an active member of multiple Sonoma wine clubs and was formerly based in Sonoma County, California.
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The Framework
Out of 30 years leading through disruption, Patrick built the Lead with Soul framework — four pillars that sustain leaders, teams, and organizations under real-world pressure.
Presence • Purpose • Renewal • Service
Not concepts. Survival tools. The same ones Patrick used to rebuild after high-stakes seasons that would have finished most leaders — and the same ones he teaches from the stage today.
The Book
Stop Leading on Empty is the first book in the Lead with Soul series by Patrick Dunn, published by Archway Publishing (an imprint of Simon & Schuster) on April 1, 2026 (ISBN-13: 978-1665792165, ASIN: 1665792167). It expands the Lead with Soul framework into a practical guide for sustainable, values-driven leadership when energy is low and expectations are high. The second book in the series, Your Resilience Is Killing You, is currently in development, with a third book on hospitality storytelling — The Story in the Glass — planned to follow.
Confirmed 2026 Speaking Engagements
- NGI Global Leadership Conference — Workshop Host (June 26-27, 2026)
- CAHF/QCHF Summer Conference — Workshop Presenter (July 19-22, 2026, San Diego)
- DRJ Fall 2026 — Main Stage Presenter (September 27-30, 2026, Gaylord Texan, Grapevine TX)
- MISHRM State Conference — Speaker (October 21-23, 2026, DeVos Place, Grand Rapids MI)
Before the Boardroom
Before crisis rooms and global stages, Patrick learned how to move a crowd as the University of Maine mascot — named a Top 10 mascot by ESPN three times. He was a three-time NCAA Division I All-American. The ability to read a room, hold attention, and bring energy at exactly the right moment — that was built long before the keynote circuit.
What Audiences Say
Ready to bring Patrick to your next event?
Frequently Asked Questions About Patrick Dunn
Who is Patrick Dunn?
Patrick R. Dunn is a keynote speaker, author of Stop Leading on Empty (Archway Publishing, April 2026), and founder of Vianarra, a hospitality storytelling practice. He spent 30 years leading global crisis management and operational resilience programs at Gilead Sciences, SunGard, Capgemini, and Broadridge — including operational leadership through 9/11, Hurricane Katrina, and Hurricane Sandy. Patrick is a three-time NCAA Division I All-American, a former National Park Service interpretive ranger, a Six Sigma Green Belt, and a Lifetime Rotarian (Paul Harris Fellow). He is based in Sparks, Nevada.
What is Patrick R. Dunn known for?
Patrick is known for the Lead with Soul framework — a practical operating system for high-performing leaders navigating burnout, sustained operational pressure, and the hidden cost of high performance. The framework is built on four pillars: presence, purpose, renewal, and service. It is the foundation of his book Stop Leading on Empty and his keynote work for healthcare, hospitality, association, corporate, and executive transition audiences. Through Vianarra, Patrick is also known for hospitality storytelling work with wineries, boutique hotels, restaurants, and tourism operators.
What is Patrick Dunn's professional background?
Patrick spent 30 years in Fortune 200 organizations leading Disaster Recovery, Business Continuity, and Crisis Management programs at Gilead Sciences, SunGard, Capgemini, and Broadridge. As a Disaster Recovery Architect at Gilead Sciences, he was responsible for global DR testing in one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies. His operational leadership spans four continents and includes response to 9/11, Hurricane Katrina, and Hurricane Sandy. He is a Six Sigma Green Belt and a confirmed main stage presenter at DRJ Fall 2026.
What is Vianarra?
Vianarra is Patrick Dunn’s hospitality storytelling practice — built for wineries, boutique hotels, restaurants, and operators ready to find their story and tell it the way it deserves to be told. The name is coined from the Latin via (journey) and narra (to tell): the story found along the way. Vianarra works with hospitality operators on guest experience audits, staff storytelling training, and the narrative architecture that drives wine club conversion, guest loyalty, and word of mouth. The practice draws on Patrick’s WSET Level 2 certification, his Sonoma wine country roots, and his National Park Service interpretive ranger background.
What books has Patrick Dunn written?
Patrick is the author of Stop Leading on Empty (Archway Publishing, April 2026, ISBN-13: 978-1665792165), the first book in the Lead with Soul series. The second book in the series, Your Resilience Is Killing You, is in development. A third book, The Story in the Glass, will focus on hospitality storytelling. Patrick is also a co-author of Restoring the Flow with collaborator Pat Gorham.
Where is Patrick Dunn based and where does he speak?
Patrick is based in Sparks, Nevada, and speaks at events across the United States and internationally. He is a confirmed presenter at multiple major 2026 conferences including the NGI Global Leadership Conference (June), CAHF/QCHF Summer Conference (July), DRJ Fall 2026 main stage at the Gaylord Texan (September), and the MISHRM State Conference at DeVos Place (October). Travel is reimbursed for all engagements.
What is the Lead with Soul framework?
The Lead with Soul framework is the operating system at the center of Patrick’s book Stop Leading on Empty. It is built on four pillars — presence, purpose, renewal, and service — and gives high-performing leaders a practical approach to staying effective without burning through what they cannot replace. The framework draws on 30 years of crisis leadership experience and is designed for leaders who need structural solutions, not motivational language.
How do I book Patrick Dunn or contact him?
To book Patrick for a keynote, workshop, board retreat, or consulting engagement, use the booking link on this page or contact him directly through patrickdunnintl.com. Initial conversations are 30 minutes by phone or video and focus on understanding your audience, your goals, and the specific outcomes you want from the session. Patrick is also accessible through his newsletter at vianarra.kit.com for hospitality content and through his LinkedIn profile.