I hold helping conversations that empower professionals to succeed.

I work within organizations to maximize the leadership potential of individuals as well as entire leadership teams. I am particularly passionate about working with next-generation leaders; those professionals who aspire to leadership roles or are new to leadership positions but have had little (or no) leadership training.

My leadership development approach includes coaching, training and assessments of personal ability and performance.

In addition to my leadership coaching practice, I am also the founder and lead coach of CareerPQ, an on-line platform for professionals who are making career transitions.

#CoachingforSuccess

Drawing from over 30 years of leadership experience, I offer a variety of coaching and consulting services designed to help organizations succeed. Available services include:

One-on-One, Small Group and Team Coaching
Leadership Training
Team Building
Public Speaking Training

Strategic Planning
Retreat and Meeting Facilitation
Program Development and Assessment
Keynotes, Workshops and Signature Talks

How can coaching help you succeed?

As a coach, I ask the powerful questions that help you succeed. I use the International Coach Federation definition of coaching, Core Competencies and Code of Ethics as the foundation of my practice. The ICF defines coaching as:

Partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential, which is particularly important in today's uncertain and complex environment. Coaches honor the client as the expert in his or her life and work and believe every client is creative, resourceful and whole. Standing on this foundation, the coach's responsibility is to: discover, clarify, and align with what the client wants to achieve; encourage client self-discovery; elicit client-generated solutions and strategies; and hold the client responsible and accountable.

This process helps clients dramatically improve their outlook on work and life, while improving their leadership skills and unlocking their potential.

watch the ICF explain how coaching works, the coaching process, and the benefits of coaching

My preferred method for helping people who have lost their professional direction was developed by researchers at the Stanford University Life Design Lab. We partner together to explore the mind-set of Life Design, which includes:

Embracing curiosity to make everything new and invite exploration of new ideas into your life.

Reframing of your ideas allows you to step back, examine biases and move toward a solution.

While collaborating together, I know the right questions to ask and help keep you motivated and accountable through the Life Design process.

Many clients benefit from assessments of their strengths and performance and I am expert at conducting 360 Reviews and helping clients process the Clifton Strengthfinder, Emotional Intelligence and other assessments.

Interested in leadership coaching or training?
Schedule a FREE one half hour consultation

SCHEDULE YOUR CALL

#CoachingforSuccess

Other Coaching and Training Services

Looking for a new job or considering changing the direction of your career?

#PowerfulQuestions

In addition to my leadership coaching practice, I am also the founder and lead coach of CareerPQ, an on-line platform for professionals who are making career transitions. Visit CareerPQ to learn more about how coaching combined with on-line learning can help you tell your unique story and stand-out in today's highly competitive job market.

About Scott

Who I am, How I got here, What I do, How I do it and Why

Who I am

I'm a Leadership Coach and an Adjunct Professor at the University of Southern California. I've spent the past three decades studying, teaching and practicing leadership and organizational change. I'm an introvert and a strategist. In a world filled with half-empty glasses, I try to be courageous, courteous and grateful every day.

How I got here

Coaching is the third act of my career. Prior to forming my coaching practice, I worked for 30 years in the community development field and am deeply proud of the impact that I made: I played a leadership role in forming two nonprofit organizations and was involved in developing and managing 1,000s of homes for low-income (and in many cases formerly homeless) working families, seniors, veterans and persons living with special needs.

Like many ambitious young professionals in small organizations, I quickly rose to my level of incompetence; I was promoted to people-leader roles with no training (and very little guidance). I was a good manager, but a failure as a leader. My response was to learn everything that I could about leadership. I spent my 30s consuming every book, article and training that I could find, begging great leaders to mentor me, and volunteering for every leadership role that was in my sight.

My learnings (and growing reputation as an emerging leader) led to opportunities to train other professionals which in turn led to an invitation to guest lecture at the University of Southern California. I soon realized that I loved teaching and training and set out to incorporate a part-time teaching role as the second act of my career.

As I approached the end of my 40s, I knew that I wanted something different for my career and life. I worked with a coach to explore my options. I discovered that after a career of developing organizations for others that I wanted to build something of my own, so I decided to invert my life: I moved teaching, training (and soon leadership coaching) to the focus on my work and reduced my community development work to volunteer roles.

I help leaders who care deeply about their people create the conditions needed for shared success.

What I do

How I do it

I blend ancient wisdom (Socratic questioning and active listening) with modern science (evidenced-based practices and technology) with a lot of caring and humor. My thought-provoking, challenging, and fun coaching style helps people become inspiring and impactful leaders.

Why I do it

Everyone can be an impactful leader.
The soft skills of leadership are serious skills and they can be learned.
People want to work in human (and humane!) environments.

People work hard (and will be more loyal, creative and joyful) in an organization that empowers them and treats them with respect.
People matter. Ideas matter. Place matters. Impact matters.

Insight without action is, well, just a bunch of cool thoughts. Change occurs through action, so let’s get busy making big impact.

My educational and professional certifications include:

a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) designation from the International Coach Federation;
a Graduate Certificate in Executive and Professional Coaching from the Jindal School of Management at the University of Texas at Dallas;
a Master of Community Planning degree from the University of Maryland at Baltimore School of Social Work and Community Planning; and
a Bachelor of Arts degree in Urban Studies from the University of Maryland, College Park.