Educational Credentials Dr. Stephen Rue, DBA, JD, MBA

Research, Education & Professional Credentials

Dr. Stephen Rue, DBA, JD, MBA

Attorney | Award-Winning Author | Researcher | Speaker | Personal Development Scholar

A Distinguished Foundation in Law, Leadership, and Human Development

Dr. Stephen Rue is an attorney, award-winning author, researcher, speaker, and personal development scholar whose work explores the intersection of professional excellence, happiness, well-being, leadership, personal development, and human flourishing.

Drawing upon nearly four decades of legal experience, advanced academic education, executive education at Harvard Medical School and Harvard Law School, and professional certification in life coaching through Louisiana State University at Alexandria, Dr. Rue brings an interdisciplinary perspective to personal and professional development.

His work reflects a lifelong commitment to understanding how individuals can pursue professional excellence while cultivating meaningful relationships, personal well-being, purpose, and fulfilling lives.

Academic Degrees

Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)
Organizational Leadership

Juris Doctor (JD)
Law

Master of Business Administration (MBA)
Business Administration

Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA)
Business Administration

Harvard Executive Education

Harvard Medical School

Executive Education in Wellness, Happiness, and Healthspan

Building a Life of Wellness: The Science of Fostering Happiness and Health Span

Dr. Rue completed executive education at Harvard Medical School focused on the science of wellness, happiness, healthspan, and human well-being.

This educational experience complements his longstanding scholarly interests in personal development, positive well-being, meaningful relationships, and human flourishing.

Harvard Law School

Executive Education in Negotiation and Leadership

Dr. Rue completed executive education in Negotiation and Leadership at Harvard Law School.

This education complements his extensive experience as a practicing attorney and his doctoral studies in organizational leadership, further informing his perspectives on negotiation, professional relationships, decision-making, conflict resolution, and effective leadership.

Professional Certification

Louisiana State University at Alexandria

Certified Professional Life Coach

Dr. Rue holds a Professional Life Coach certification through Louisiana State University at Alexandria.

His professional coaching education complements his academic and legal background, supporting his work in personal development, identity, purpose, goal setting, resilience, and meaningful life transitions.

Nearly Four Decades of Legal Experience

Dr. Rue has devoted nearly four decades to the practice of law, with extensive experience representing individuals navigating complex legal disputes and significant personal transitions.

Throughout his career, he has worked closely with individuals and families confronting consequential legal, financial, emotional, and relational challenges.

His professional experience provides firsthand understanding of the responsibilities, pressures, and expectations facing practicing attorneys, including demanding workloads, professional obligations, difficult decisions, and the challenge of maintaining personal well-being while pursuing professional success.

Combined with his academic education and research interests, this experience informs his belief that professional achievement and personal well-being should be understood as complementary dimensions of a meaningful and successful life.

Research, Well-Being & Professional Flourishing

Dr. Rue’s scholarly work explores the intersection of organizational leadership, human behavior, professional performance, personal development, happiness, relationships, resilience, and well-being.

His areas of academic and professional interest include:

• Happiness, well-being, and human flourishing
• Organizational leadership and professional performance
• Personal identity, purpose, and meaning
• Resilience and adaptation to adversity
• Habits, goal setting, and intentional personal development
• Relationships, social connection, and life satisfaction
• Sustainable professional achievement
• Leadership, negotiation, and decision-making
• Personal transformation and lifelong development

His research-informed approach seeks to bridge academic knowledge and practical application, making concepts from personal development, organizational leadership, and well-being accessible and relevant to everyday professional life.

Rather than viewing lawyers solely through the lens of professional productivity, his work recognizes the importance of the whole person and the many dimensions of a meaningful life.

Speaking & Thought Leadership

Inspiring Professional Excellence and Personal Flourishing

As an author, researcher, and speaker, Dr. Rue is committed to advancing conversations about professional achievement, personal well-being, purpose, resilience, leadership, and human flourishing.

His speaking interests encompass lawyer well-being, sustainable high performance, organizational leadership, personal development, overcoming adversity, meaningful relationships, and creating fulfilling lives beyond professional achievement.

Through his writing and speaking, Dr. Rue encourages individuals and organizations to reconsider conventional definitions of success and embrace a more comprehensive approach that recognizes both professional excellence and personal flourishing.

His message is especially relevant to attorneys, law firms, legal associations, business leaders, professional organizations, and audiences interested in personal growth, leadership, and purposeful achievement.

Speaking Engagements & Inquiries

DrStephenRue.com

The Happy High-Performing Lawyer

Professional Excellence. Personal Well-Being. Human Flourishing.

The Happy High-Performing Lawyer brings together Dr. Rue’s extensive legal experience, interdisciplinary academic education, research interests, and commitment to understanding the foundations of personal and professional well-being.

Written for attorneys, law firm leaders, and legal professionals, the book explores how lawyers can pursue meaningful professional success while cultivating happiness, purpose, healthy relationships, resilience, and fulfilling lives.

The book presents a broader vision of success in the legal profession—one that recognizes professional achievement as important while also honoring the fundamental human need for meaning, connection, happiness, and well-being.

Scheduled Publication: January 12, 2027

Learn More: HappyHighPerforming.com

About Dr. Stephen Rue

Dr. Stephen Rue is an attorney, award-winning author, researcher, speaker, and personal development scholar with nearly four decades of legal experience.

He holds a Doctor of Business Administration in Organizational Leadership, a Juris Doctor, a Master of Business Administration, and a Bachelor of Business Administration.

His additional professional education includes executive education at Harvard Medical School in wellness, happiness, and healthspan; executive education at Harvard Law School in negotiation and leadership; and certification as a Professional Life Coach through Louisiana State University at Alexandria.

He is the author of MUST: Becoming the Person You Are Meant to Be and The Happy High-Performing Lawyer.

Through his writing, research, speaking, and educational initiatives, Dr. Rue advocates a comprehensive understanding of success that integrates professional achievement with happiness, well-being, meaningful relationships, purpose, and human flourishing.

DrStephenRue.com | HappyHighPerforming.com