Journey From Commercial Litigator To Conscious Leader – Exclusive Interview With Danielle Sunberg

Danielle Sunberg is an award-winning author, TEDx speaker, and pioneer in the realm of authentic leadership coaching. Her journey began as a commercial litigator for a Washington D.C. law firm but dramatically pivoted after winning the biggest trial of her career. While Danielle defended her client against a $6 Billion judgment, she was diagnosed with depression.

The realization that her unrelenting pursuit of professional achievement had come at the expense of her personal values prompted Danielle to take a courageous step. Leaving her law firm, she embarked on a global voyage across six continents. Here, she delved deep into the realm of conscious self-development, crafting a new understanding of what success truly meant to her. Her desire to live authentically led her to found a CPG wellness brand that she scaled and sold in 2021. Having the opportunity to build a company anchored in her values showed Danielle the power of personal mastery. Danielle believes that personal development fuels professional success, and she speaks to organizations and coaches individuals to drive transformative change within themselves, their organizations, and society as a whole.

Danielle Sunberg, Authentic Leadership Author, Speaker, & Coach

Please share a bit about your journey leaving your job as a commercial litigator and becoming an authentic leadership expert?

I scaled the corporate ladder as an attorney driven by the belief that wealth, power, and prestige were the ultimate benchmarks of success. When I was diagnosed with depression at the peak of my career, that moment cracked open a deep realization–I'd been trading my passions, my relationships, and my inner peace for a few extra zeros in my bank account.

This sparked a radical shift. I left my law firm to travel six continents to discover who I was when I didn’t feel the weight of expectations of who I “should” be. Ultimately, it led me to redefine success on my terms. Over the last few years as I wrote my book and founded my company, I came across so many incredible high achievers who similarly feel like something was misaligned in their lives. It’s been a natural progression to serve as a guide for them on their path of self-mastery. Watching their eyes light up as they gain clarity and experience deep insights is my greatest joy.

How do you define authentic leadership and its role in today's shifting landscape?

We are experiencing the shift from the conventional command and control leadership towards a new paradigm where authenticity has become the gold standard. Leadership isn’t about who we are leading, but where we are leading from. Authentic leaders lead from within. This means that they embody their values, and when these values echo through their organization, everyone flourishes. Authentic leaders create a ripple effect across everyone in their sphere, sparking trust, accountability, unity, and, of course, bottom-line magic.

Could you provide an illustration of how your work has impacted a client?

Absolutely, I worked with a distinguished VP grappling with workplace disconnection. Through my 6-week Pathfinder Accelerator program, we dove into his foundational values, unlocking an “aha” moment where he realized he needed to take a step back and think about what truly mattered to him. He realized that his values had changed over time, and he hadn’t noticed. This was at the heart of his disconnection to his workplace. It helped him to let go of bitterness towards his company and focus on how he could align with his new values. That’s the beauty of the Pathfinder program–it doesn’t just change work dynamics, it transforms lives.

Your book Atlas of Being has received widespread acclaim as a 1 New Release and winner of the Living Now Book Award. How does the book tie into your coaching?

Atlas of Being is a compass for personal growth. The book underpins my coaching philosophy, which is about making huge transformations in life by increasing our self-awareness. If you want to make small adjustments in your life, work on your behavior. If you want to make significant breakthroughs, we must look at our underlying frameworks and mental models. The book is an adventure around the world, and at the end of every chapter you'll find a reflection guide with questions that ignite those precious "aha" moments we all yearn for. This process compels readers to pause, reflect, and let the insights settle—a practice closely aligned with the principles I use with clients. In a world that's constantly on the move, this deliberate pause paves the way for insights and clarity to blossom.

Tell us about speaking—what do you love about speaking to organizations?

My passion for speaking stems from the ability to transform at scale–an entire room, or in the case of my TEDx, a global audience. I share my experience to model how vulnerability, courage, and wisdom live together. When I speak I’m not just sharing words, I’m inviting the audience to connect with their own story and to dive deeper within themselves than they’ve ever gone. This is where they recognize something that they may not have noticed before and have their own “aha” moment.

Tell us about your coaching services. How can leaders benefit from them?

In today's fast-paced world, we often direct our attention to enhancing our skills so that we can do more and do it better. Yet, scientific research has shown that the highest achievers experience more success by focusing on who they are. By cultivating deeper levels of self-awareness, we have “aha” moments that transform our lives. A single insight has the potential to spark profound change.

My role is to guide clients in tapping into their inner wisdom and use it to craft their biggest vision for their lives. This work is an intellectual, emotional, and spiritual endeavor, and is for those who are courageous and committed to live a life fully expressed.

Can you offer a piece of advice for aspiring leaders looking to embrace authentic leadership?

Invest in knowing yourself. Slow down and reflect on how you are making the important choices that are shaping your life. Know your values, or “non-negotiables.” Notice whether you are taking an opportunity because it inspires you, or because it’s checking a box that you were told you need to check to validate your worth. It doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take the opportunity, just notice what’s driving you. In time, you’ll notice patterns about your behavior that stem from your beliefs. This is a huge shift because you can work with the belief rather than dealing with the pattern each time it shows up in a new context.

How has motherhood influenced your approach to leadership?

I’ve got two amazing kiddos at home, and becoming their mother has turbo-boosted my leadership journey. My children have shown me the transformative power of authenticity, surrender, and presence.

The lessons from my children are beautifully aligned with how I coach entrepreneurs and executives. Their influence has reinforced the value of tapping into the core of human potential, understanding that true leadership transcends titles and is rooted in creating lasting impact. As I guide individuals on their personal growth journeys, I draw upon the parallels of parenthood – nurturing growth, inspiring confidence, and reminding them of their innate capacity to shape their destinies.

Danielle Sunberg's journey from the courtroom to coaching is a testament to the power of authenticity. Her insights remind us that leadership isn't just about position; it's about the impact we make by leading from within. Aspiring leaders can learn from her journey and wisdom as they navigate their own paths to create the lives they want.

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