About John

“My life didn’t please me so I created my life” – Coco Chanel

The heart of my work today is shaped by a journey that began in a very different place. In my early twenties, I was staring down the real possibility of homelessness—and perhaps even more daunting, the feeling that my future was slipping away. One morning, driven by equal parts courage and desperation, I pulled on a thrift-store suit and started knocking on doors.

Eventually, I walked into a bustling financial services firm, took a breath, and asked for a chance. Against every odd, they gave me one.

The social services agency supporting me helped me sit for the exams required to become an investment banker. Passing those exams was a milestone—yet the moment that truly changed me came in the form of a simple letter from the agency. At the bottom, in one quiet sentence, were five words that brought me to my knees: “We are proud of you.”

That affirmation didn’t just acknowledge my effort—it reshaped my sense of possibility. It remains one of the most powerful reminders of how belief, offered at the right moment, can alter a life.

From there, my career unfolded in ways I could never have predicted. I built successful chapters in investment banking, organization development, training and facilitation, healthcare leadership, and human resources. I eventually served in the C-suite three times—as a CFO, a CHRO, and a CEO.

And along the way, I lived the full spectrum of leadership. I’ve worked for—and embodied—leaders who led from ego, fear, and scarcity. I’ve also worked for—and become—a leader grounded in empathy, clarity, and accountability. Those contrasts have shaped both my calling and my commitment to the leaders I work with today.

Becoming a Leadership Activist

I didn’t start out as a believer in coaching. In fact, I was a skeptic. Anytime someone suggested coaching—for me or for the organization—I brushed it off as something soft, abstract, and unlikely to move the needle. I was convinced results came from strategy, execution, and grit… not from conversations.

What ultimately changed my mind wasn’t research or trends. It was impact.

As part of my own development, I was paired with a coach who completely upended my assumptions. Session by session, he helped me get real results—tangible shifts in how I led, how I communicated, and how I understood myself. My long-held beliefs were challenged. My perspectives were nudged, stretched, and sometimes turned inside out. My motivations were unpacked and rebuilt in ways that made me not just more effective, but more whole.

That experience didn’t just convert me into someone who believed in coaching. It opened the door to the work I now consider my calling.

My clients come to coaching because they want to rise into the leader they know they can be. They’re ready to:

Stretch toward their highest ambitions

Inspire people in ways that elevate everyone around them

Lead with authenticity and presence

Step forward boldly, without hesitation

Commit fully to their own growth

My coaching isn’t for everyone. It’s deep, intensive, and transformative. It asks for honesty, courage, and a willingness to explore the edges of your current capacity. But for those who are ready, the shift is profound.

Giving back is also part of my commitment. I offer my services to military veterans and their spouses transitioning into the civilian workforce—individuals whose resilience and dedication inspire me every time.

When I’m not coaching, I’m home in the Finger Lakes of New York—gardening, playing guitar, riding my Harley, or hiking the forest trails that remind me daily what grounded leadership feels like.

The leaders I work with represent every corner of modern leadership: C-suite executives, physician leaders, entrepreneurs, social media influencers, elected officials, community activists, and more. No matter your history—your wins, your missteps, your hopes—one small shift can unlock everything.

If you are ready for what’s next, please complete this application and I will personally get back to you.