Contacts
MICHAEL F. STEGER
Leading voice in mening and purpose
About Michael
Michael F. Steger, Ph.D. is Professor of Psychology and the Founding Director of the Center for Meaning and Purpose at Colorado State University. He also holds honorary positions at the University of Melbourne, the Stockholm School of Economics, and North-West University in South Africa. His research focuses on how people flourish through building meaning and purpose in their lives and in their work. His recent work focuses on aligning human well-being interests with the well-being of natural and societal life-sustaining systems. He has published more than 150 scholarly articles and book chapters, and his published works include the two most widely-used measures of meaning and meaningful work, the Meaning in Life Questionnaire and the Work and Meaning Inventory. He has published three co-edited books. He provides keynotes the world on the topics of meaning, purpose, psychological strengths, positive education, meaningful work, and creating a happy workplace.
  • SciEntist
    Author of 150+ articles, including MLQ (Meaning in Life Questionnaire) and WMA (Work and Meaning Inventory).
  • Leader
    Director of the Center for Meaning and Purpose. Leading voice in well-being science.
  • Teacher
    Psychology Professor at Colorado State University. Workshops, lectures, keynotes, and sharing science.
Speaking
Dr. Michael Steger is a globally sought-after keynote speaker, delivering 200+ talks across six continents for Fortune 500 firms, industry conferences, universities, and retreats.

His research on how people flourish through building meaning, purpose, and integrating wellbeing across human and organizational systems has generated over 150 scholarly articles and book chapters, making him a leading global authority.
Signature keynotes
1. Leading with Purpose: The Strategic Edge
Harness Dr. Steger’s CARMA© framework to embed clarity, authenticity, respect, mattering, and autonomy into leadership practices—driving engagement, innovation, and retention.

2. Regenerative Wellbeing: Cultivating Sustainable Organizational Health
Move beyond wellness programs to a regenerative model that integrates personal, organizational, and societal well-being for long‑term adaptability.

3. The Science of Meaningful Work: Igniting Purpose to Power Performance
Deploy evidence‑based tools from two decades of research (MLQ©, WAMI©) to transform roles into purpose‑rich experiences that boost productivity and loyalty.
Book Michael for your event
Transform your conference or company event with a keynote from one of the world’s leading experts on meaning and purpose.
Type of the event
BOOKS
The Wiley Blackwell Handbook of the Psychology of Positivity and Strengths-Based Approaches at Work
This handbook makes a unique contribution to organizational psychology and HRM by providing comprehensive international coverage of the contemporary field of positivity and strengths-based approaches at work. It provides critical reviews of key topics such as resilience, wellbeing, hope, motivation, flow, authenticity, positive leadership and engagement, drawing on the work of leading thinkers.
Meaning 360: Meaning Through the Seasons A Guided Reflection Journal
This book was created to help you avoid these traps by providing peaceful space and gentle invitations to simply begin. Instead of intimidating jargon or out-of-reach examples, we invite you on a personal journey. Each of the twelve chapters unfolds across a year of seasons, providing you with ideas, quotes, artwork, and exercises, as well as ample room to write your own reflections and make this book truly yours. In the end, this book becomes your own travel journal, marking your steps as you journey along a path of meaning.
Purpose and Meaning in the Workplace
In this groundbreaking book, editors Bryan J. Dik, Zinta S. Byrne, and Michael F. Steger have brought together experts in counseling and vocational psychology, industrial and organizational psychology, and the fields of executive coaching and management to investigate how meaningful work can be fostered and sustained throughout a wide range of work environments.
Designing Positive Psychology: Taking Stock and Moving Forward
Positive psychology exploded into public consciousness 10 years ago and has continued to capture attention around the world ever since. The movement promised to study positive human nature, using only the most rigorous scientific tools and theories. How well has this promise been fulfilled? This book evaluates the first decade of this fledgling field of study from the perspective of nearly every leading researcher in the field.
A new book on meaning and purpose is coming
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programs and tools
CERTIFICATE IN APPLIED
MEANING AND PURPOSE

An International Live&Online program by Michael F.Steger & Kiko Kislansky
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The Meaning & Purpose Life Trainer Certificate is a global, live, and online program powered by
Global Purpose School is designed to train professionals to apply the science of meaning and purpose to real life, helping people live and lead with greater clarity, fulfillment, and impact.

Grounded in 20 years of research and lived experience, this certification bridges science and practical tools to empower participants to become Certified Life Trainers - professionals capable of guiding others to discover, activate, and sustain meaning and purpose in their lives.
THE MEANING IN LIFE QUESTIONNAIRE

The Meaning in Life Questionnaire (MLQ) is a 10-item measure of the Presence of Meaning in Life, and the Search for Meaning in Life. It is free to use for educational, therapeutic, and research purposes. Commercial use is prohibited without permission.
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The MLQ has been used to help people understand and track their perceptions about their lives. It has been included in numerous studies around the world and in several internet-based resources concerning happiness and fulfillment. It has been translated into over two dozen languages and shows robust psychometric properties across gender, age, racial, and national groups. It is currently being used internationally in public health and population surveying by the United States’ Centers for Disease Control, the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Institute, and the International Wellbeing Study.
Research
  • Meaning and Purpose
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  • Meaningful work
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  • Popular papers
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Contacts

mike@michaelfsteger.com
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