New York is a city built on ambition.
Founders, executives, and team leaders here are navigating scale, speed, and complexity on a daily basis. The stakes are high, and the pressure is constant.
Great coaching isn’t a luxury in this environment. It’s a competitive edge. The best coaches don’t just help leaders think clearly. They help them lead with purpose, adapt with resilience, and grow teams that thrive under pressure.
This list highlights 24 executive coaches in NYC who are doing precisely that. They may not all be household names, but they’re trusted by the people who make things happen. Their work runs deep. Their impact is lasting.
How We Chose These Coaches in New York
This list isn’t based on follower counts or paid placements. It’s grounded in credibility.
Each coach was selected using publicly available information—no nominations, sponsorships, or submissions. We looked for:
- Demonstrated expertise: via LinkedIn, published content, media features, or thought leadership
- A clear coaching focus: from executive development to founder advising to team dynamics
- Credibility indicators: certifications, consistent client work, or peer recognition
- Professional presence: a clear message, not just a polished brand
This is not an exhaustive list. It’s a curated snapshot of coaches who are actively shaping what leadership looks like in NYC right now—and where it’s heading next.
What Makes a Standout Executive Coach in 2025
Coaching isn’t one-size-fits-all, and the best coaches don’t try to be.
What sets standout coaches apart today isn’t just training or credentials. It’s how well they adapt to the context: the company’s culture, the leader’s style, the team’s dynamics, the moment in the business. It’s not about offering advice—it’s about asking the right questions at the right time.
These are coaches who:
- Help leaders move between strategic decisions and personal growth without losing traction
- Understand the stakes—whether it’s scaling a startup, leading through change, or rebuilding trust in a team
- Bring both emotional intelligence and business acumen to the table
- Know that sustainable growth requires both clarity and accountability
Great coaching doesn’t look the same for everyone. But it does leave a mark.
Get the free guide to close your leadership development gap and build the trust, collaboration, and skills your leaders need to thrive.
The 24 Best Executive Coaches In New York
These coaches bring more than insight—they bring results. Whether they’re guiding founders through scaling pains or helping senior leaders navigate complexity, each of the professionals below has built a coaching practice that blends depth, clarity, and credibility.
Peter Bregman
Focus Areas: Executive coaching, leadership development, organizational change, emotional courage
Certifications / Background: B.A. from Princeton University; M.B.A. from Columbia University; recognized as the #1 executive coach by Leading Global Coaches; ranked as a Top 30 thought leader by Thinkers 50 Radar
Client Types / Industries: CEOs and senior leaders in organizations such as Allianz, Twilio, Electronic Arts, CBS, Mars, Citi, and numerous VC-backed startups
Notable Media / Content: Host of the Bregman Leadership Podcast; regular contributor to Harvard Business Review; author of multiple best-selling books, including Leading with Emotional Courage and 18 Minutes
Nancy Sherr
Focus Areas: Executive and career coaching, mid-career reinvention, leadership development, organizational effectiveness
Certifications / Background: Over 22 years of corporate experience, including significant roles during a company’s growth from 750 to 45,000 employees; extensive experience in hiring and leading top-tier teams
Client Types / Industries: Mid-career professionals, executives, and organizations seeking career advancement and leadership development
Notable Media / Content: Contributor to HuffPost on topics related to mid-career reinvention; developer of the “CareerDNA” coaching program
Michelle Arbid
Focus Areas: Conflict resolution, negotiation strategy, leadership development, organizational change
Certifications / Background: Master of Science in Negotiation and Conflict Resolution from Columbia University; Professional Certified Coach (PCC) accredited by the International Coaching Federation
Client Types or Industries: Government agencies, educational institutions, corporate leaders, nonprofit organizations
Notable Media / Content: Featured in Mediators Beyond Borders International’s Member Spotlight; contributor to Torch’s “Ask a Coach” series
Anna Marie Valerio, Ph.D.
Focus Areas: Executive coaching, leadership development, women in leadership, organizational change
Certifications / Background: Ph.D. in Psychology; former leadership development executive at IBM; author of Executive Coaching: A Guide for the HR Professional and Developing Women Leaders
Client Types or Industries: Senior executives and high-potential leaders across Fortune 500 companies
Notable Media / Content: Featured in Harvard Business Review and Psychology Today; frequent speaker on executive leadership and gender diversity in the workplace
Nancy Polsky
Focus Areas: Executive coaching, leadership development, organizational strategy, talent management
Certifications / Background: Founding partner of JER HR Group; decades of experience in HR consulting and executive leadership; specializes in aligning talent strategy with business growth
Client Types / Industries: Nonprofits, education, corporate and government sectors
Notable Media / Content: Contributor to JER HR Group’s thought leadership on topics such as inclusive leadership, strategic HR, and board governance
Mark Strong
- Focus Areas: Corporate training, executive coaching, team building, strategic facilitation
- Certifications / Background: iPEC, Corporate CoachU, Harvard/McLean Institute of Coaching, DiSC certified
- Client Types / Industries: Creative agencies, tech firms, finance companies
- Notable Media / Content: Offers executive, life, and career coaching; widely recognized for high-energy facilitation
Erin Hilgart
- Focus Areas: Organizational development, leadership strategy, executive coaching
- Certifications / Background: Ed.D. in Adult Learning & Leadership, M.A. in Organizational Psychology (Columbia University)
- Client Types / Industries: Organizations undergoing culture transformation or leadership change
- Notable Media / Content: Published speaker and writer on leadership, learning, and development
James Turk
Focus Areas: Executive coaching, leadership development, custom learning programs
Certifications / Background: Author of The Giving Game; experienced leadership facilitator
Client Types / Industries: Tech, media, finance, healthcare, and energy
Notable Media / Content: Speaker and contributor in learning and development thought leadership
Jody Michael
Focus Areas: Executive coaching, leadership development, career coaching
Certifications / Background: Licensed clinical social worker; over 25 years of coaching experience
Client Types / Industries: Corporate executives, leaders across various industries
Notable Media / Content: Featured in The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, and CNN for expertise in leadership and career coaching
Natalie Loeb
Focus Areas: Leadership development, executive coaching, organizational culture, diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEI&B)
Certifications / Background: Master of Science in Industrial/Organizational Psychology; over 25 years of experience in professional development facilitation and executive coaching
Client Types / Industries: Mid-sized to large law firms, corporate organizations across various industries
Notable Media / Content: Appointed to the Board of the New York State Council for the Society of Human Resources Management (SHRM) in June 2024, focusing on promoting DEI&B within workplaces
Make Your Just In Time Learning More Impactful
Joan Caruso
Focus Areas: Executive coaching, leadership assessment, organizational development
Certifications / Background: Certified executive coach with a background in psychology
Client Types / Industries: Senior executives across various industries
Notable Media / Content: Published articles on leadership effectiveness and organizational culture
Stephen Miles
- Focus Areas: CEO succession, high-performance coaching, C-suite transitions, board dynamics
- Certifications / Background: M.B.A. from Queen’s University; M.A. in Psychology from the University of Victoria; profiled by Bloomberg Businessweek as “The CEO Whisperer”
- Client Types or Industries: Global CEOs, COOs, and board directors across Fortune 500 and multinational organizations
- Notable Media / Content: Featured in Forbes, Harvard Business Review, and Bloomberg; host of the C-Suite Intelligence podcast; co-author of Riding Shotgun: The Role of the COO and Your Career Game (Stanford University Press)
Skyline Group
Focus Areas: Executive coaching, leadership development, team performance enhancement, scalable coaching solutions
Certifications / Background: Founded in 1996, headquartered in Redwood City, California; offers a range of leadership development programs including 1:1 coaching, group coaching, and consulting services
Client Types / Industries: Serves Fortune 500 companies, startups, and organizations committed to developing exceptional leadership
Notable Media / Content: Developed the C4X coaching platform, combining integrated 360 assessments with scalable content and metrics; leadership team includes Thuy Sindell, PhD, Founder and President of the Executive Coaching Division, and Milo Sindell, MS, President of the Coaching Scaled Division
Frank Faeth
Focus Areas: Executive leadership coaching, technologist coaching, abrasive leader transformation
Certifications / Background: Extensive corporate leadership experience; certified executive coach
Client Types / Industries: Technology leaders, corporate executives
Notable Media / Content: Contributor to articles on leadership development and emotional intelligence
Maren Perry
Focus Areas: Leadership development, executive coaching, organizational enhancement
Certifications / Background: Founder and President of Arden Coaching since 2007; extensive experience in leadership strategy
Client Types / Industries: Corporate executives across various industries
Notable Media / Content: Contributor to the Arden Coaching blog on topics like feedback processing and leadership strategies
High Level Executive Coaching
Focus Areas: Executive coaching, personal development, leadership transformation
Certifications / Background: Over 20 years of experience in creating breakthroughs and transforming lives
Client Types / Industries: Individuals seeking personal and professional growth
Notable Media / Content: Affiliations with organizations such as Inspire & Develop Artists, Staten Island Chamber of Commerce, and Covenant House
Starla Sireno
Focus Areas: Executive coaching for individuals, teams, and organizations
Certifications / Background: Founder of NYC Coach Collective; committed to The 10% Commitment initiative
Client Types / Industries: Corporate leaders seeking personal and professional development
Notable Media / Content: Advocates for integrating personal growth with professional success
Dr. Joel Mausner
Focus Areas: Executive coaching, leadership development, organizational consulting, career advancement
Certifications / Background: Ph.D. in Psychology; over 25 years of experience in organizational and leadership consulting
Client Types / Industries: Corporate leaders, healthcare executives, non-profit organizations, small business owners
Notable Media / Content: Active member of professional associations including the American and New York State Psychological Associations, the Society of Consulting Psychology, and the Organization Development Network
Anita Kishore, PhD, ACC
Focus Areas: Executive coaching, leadership development, emotional intelligence, mindfulness
Certifications / Background: Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Georgia; MPA from NYU Wagner School of Public Service; Associate Certified Coach (ACC) with the International Coaching Federation; certified in Hogan Assessment Suites, EQ-i2.0 Emotional Quotient Inventory, Leadership Circle Profile (LCP 360), and MBTI
Client Types / Industries: Senior executives, government leaders, underrepresented leaders across various industries
Notable Media / Content: Instructor in Leadership at NYU, iCoachGlobal, and the National Institutes of Health (NIH); featured panelist at NYU Wagner’s Women in Consulting Panel
Samya Ahmed
Focus Areas: Business management, organizational behavior, leadership development
Certifications / Background: Details about specific certifications or educational background are not provided in the available sources.
Client Types / Industries: Primarily involved in higher education, teaching undergraduate students in business management.
Notable Media / Content: No specific publications or media features are noted in the available information.
Danielle Gibson
Focus Areas: Executive coaching, leadership development, communication strategies, personal growth
Certifications / Background: Extensive experience in coaching individuals and leaders to enhance communication and confrontational skills
Client Types / Industries: Professionals across various sectors seeking to improve assertiveness and leadership capabilities
Notable Media / Content: Author of insightful blogs on confrontation and leadership; offers workshops and individual coaching sessions
Ifoma Pierre
Focus Areas: Real estate coaching, business development, leadership training, social media marketing
Certifications / Background: Licensed Real Estate Associate Broker with over 15 years of experience. Creator of the G.E.M. Coaching Program, specializing in enhancing real estate agents’ marketing skills. EXIT Realty International Corporate Trainer. Holds multiple designations, including ABR, GRI, MCNE, SRS, PSA, e-PRO, CBR, ITI. Certified Speaker, Trainer, and Coach with the John Maxwell Team.
Client Types / Industries: Real estate professionals, entrepreneurs, business executives
Notable Media / Content: Featured speaker at various real estate conferences and events. Developer of training programs focused on sales, marketing, branding, and advanced social media lead generation strategies.
Milica (Mili) Ristic
Focus Areas: Leadership and mindset coaching, personal and professional development, entrepreneurship, women’s empowerment
Certifications / Background: Certified Consultant of the Proctor Gallagher Institute; over two decades of corporate experience; multilingual professional recognized for achievements in the sales industry
Client Types / Industries: Business leaders, entrepreneurs, professionals seeking personal growth, with a focus on empowering women
Notable Media / Content: Contributor to The Daily Drip; creator of the Female Fatal Academy; featured in Bold Journey Magazine
David Leaver
Focus Areas: Sales effectiveness, business growth strategies, organizational development
Certifications / Background: Over 30 years of experience in sales and business development; co-founder of Opus Partners, Inc.
Client Types / Industries: Various industries seeking to enhance sales processes and achieve growth
Notable Media / Content: Contributor to the Opus Partners blog, sharing insights on sales strategies and business growth
The Future of Coaching Is Credible, Contextual, and Human
New York City has always been a proving ground for leaders, and the same is true for coaches.
The individuals on this list aren’t just coaching frameworks. They’re listening closely, challenging thoughtfully, and showing up for the real work of growth. In a space that often gets crowded with surface-level advice, these professionals are setting a new standard—one built on substance, context, and trust.
We’re honored to spotlight them—and to continue learning from their example.
FAQs
Why wasn’t I featured?
This is a curated list, not an exhaustive one. If you or someone you know is doing great work in coaching, reach out—we’re always listening.
How were these coaches selected?
All featured coaches were chosen based on publicly available information, including content, credentials, focus areas, and the clarity of their online presence.
Are these paid placements?
No. This list is not sponsored, paid, or submitted. It’s grounded in independent research and guided by professional credibility, not popularity.
