Bald, middle-aged man with a warm smile ready to coach your leadership.

Leadership got complicated. Let’s make it clear again.

Coaching for people who accidentally became bosses—and now carry the weight of it all.

I help you lead with clarity and impact, without burning out.

Are you navigating complex public systems, juggling priorities, and trying not to lose yourself in the process?

You lead in a mission-driven world— crown corporations, public agencies, not-for-profits. You don’t need more theory. You need clarity, courage, and practical support that matches the complexity you face.

Benefits of Coaching

No pressure. This is your chance to sample coaching.
Get curious. Explore your leadership. See if it fits.

I’ll listen, reflect, and offer insight—no strings attached.

My coaching follows the CLEAR model—a path through complexity.

Working With a Coach should be easy. Maybe even fun.

We talk for 60 minutes.
I’m curious, not salesy.

Discovery call

Custom Plan

You get a coaching blueprint.

Six months later,
your leadership looks and feels different.

It’ll contain zero pie charts. Just a map and maybe a mildly painful truth. Or two.

Mmm…pie.

What People Are Saying

“John’s the best. He’s such a good listener.”

John’s Grandma

I’ve led systems.

Now I coach leaders inside them.

I spent 25+ years navigating the tension between purpose and politics, values and bureaucracy.

I’ve worked in the arts, the church, and government. I’ve also been the person trying to do the right thing—without burning out.

I coach people like you because you don’t need fixing. You need space, challenge, and clarity.

20 Questions to
Transform Your Impact

This self-assessment helps leaders like you get clear about what’s in the way—and what’s worth leaning into. It’s short. It’s powerful. And it might change your week.

Smiling woman in glasses and blue dress sitting on chair with hands clasped; wearing heart-shaped necklace. Glass office background.

Services

  • Top leaders know: great strategy means nothing without great people. But tight talent markets, burnout, and shifting expectations make it harder than ever to build and maintain strong teams. Whether you’re trying to recruit top talent, create an inclusive culture, or evolve how your organization shows up, you’re likely navigating complex decisions with long-term consequences. Together, we clarify your vision for talent and culture—and help you lead with confidence through change.

  • Your success depends on your team’s success. That’s why many of the leaders I coach are focused on how to enable, develop, and retain the people around them. From building leadership capacity to supporting staff through uncertainty, you’re likely asking, Does my team have what it needs to thrive? We’ll work together to ensure your leadership enables—not just directs—your people.

  • In complex systems, it’s easy to lose sight of your deeper purpose. But the best leaders don’t just manage—they lead with integrity. Whether you’re navigating ethical dilemmas, trying to align your organization’s actions with its mission, or simply feeling out of sync with what brought you here, I’ll help you reconnect to what matters—and lead from that place with clarity and conviction.

  • For many leaders, the workload is crushing. You’re managing large spans of control, constant change, and increasing expectations—often without enough people or resources. Add to that a competitive talent market and rising burnout, and it’s no surprise many executives consider stepping away. Coaching helps you triage with wisdom, build systems that support sustainability, and take care of yourself in the process.

  • Whether you’re in government, nonprofit, or the corporate world, the stakes are high—and so is the oversight. You’re accountable to boards, funders, media, or the public, and the consequences of missteps are real. Coaching gives you space to think clearly, manage risk thoughtfully, and stay steady under pressure.

  • Leadership isn’t just about getting things done—it’s about navigating relationships, expectations, and competing interests. Many of my clients wrestle with the politics of leadership: balancing donor expectations with organizational needs, managing political cycles, or navigating complex internal dynamics. Coaching helps you clarify your priorities, build coalitions, and move forward—even when the path isn’t straightforward.

You don’t have to lead through complexity alone.

Book a discovery call. We’ll talk. You’ll leave with more clarity—even if we don’t work together.

There may be metaphors. Probably about my dog.