There are several hurdles that many executives face, but one of my key combination of qualifications as a coach is having been an academic, a practicing attorney, and a business executive. Given the leadership roles that I occupied for thirteen years with Wachovia and after long careers as a senior academic at Duke and elsewhere, I bring a wide variety of experience to help guide and prepare my clients in specific fields, goals and career decisions.

It's important to remember however, that leadership is not always about formal education; it is the moral character and skill of the individual, as well as the experience. We don’t have to stretch our memories that far to know that the effects of poor leadership, and how many individuals with significant education and influence, can lead their organizations into collapse when integrity and sound judgment are absent. 

By learning from my own successes and failures, and avoiding the pitfall of being typecast as a specialist in one area (and not letting this deter my other career choices), I can help emerging leaders avoid mistakes and weather the challenges of career transitions. Its important for today's leaders to understand that constant change can lead to positive outcomes.  Coaching can help build resilient, forward-thinking skills.