Darren Jones, Ed.D., PCC

Senior Consultant

Darren Jones comes to TLG with an extensive career in higher education and education technology. In his roles, he designed learning programs and leadership curricula, facilitated leadership training, and provided leadership, personal, and academic coaching to college students. Currently he facilitates cohort-based leadership development programs, Gallup Strengthfinders workshops, and Positive Intelligence (Saboteurs) workshops. Additionally, he provides executive coaching sessions for individual contributors, emerging leaders, diverse leaders, and frontline and mid/senior-level leaders at organizations in the public and private sectors.

As a coach/facilitator, Darren guarantees a dynamic and transformational learning experience while building confidence in yourself and others to take on the challenges in the workplace and beyond. He infuses energy into sessions that pull the participant into the experience. He creates a space where other feel safe to be vulnerable and open to challenging paradigms, leading to lasting change. Darren strives to help others understand that transformation is not about becoming someone new but allowing them to gain a deeper understanding of who they are and how their natural talents manifest into increased individual/team productivity.

Career Highlights

  • For a Liberal Arts College: Created a strength-based framework for student retention and success.
  • For a Hypergrowth Start-up: Facilitated leadership development journeys and 360 coaching for 90+ new managers.
  • For a Utility Company: Facilitated Unconscious Bias training sessions for 100+ employees.
  • For an Education Technology Company: Supported the development of DEI simulations that trained learners to have difficult conversations.
  • For a Fintech Company: Served as an executive coach to the African Ancestry employee resource group.

Areas of Specialization

  • Executive & Leadership Coaching
  • CliftonStrengths
  • Positive Intelligence
  • Change Management
  • Coaching Skills
  • Building Trust
  • Unconscious Bias
  • Supervision & Performance Management
  • Effective Feedback
  • Difficult Conversations
  • Supporting BIPOC & LGBTQ+ identified leaders

Unique Attributes

  • Doctor of Education from the University of Georgia
  • Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach
  • Professional Certified Coach (PCC) from International Coaching Federation
  • Certified Professional CoActive Coach (CPCC) from the CoActive Training Institute
  • Board Certified Coach through the Center for Credentialing & Education and the College of Executive Coaching
  • Trained in Positive Intelligence Coaching helping others examine saboteurs and sage perspectives to address personal and professional challenges
  • Hobbies

    Dancing, Video Games

  • Food

    Thai, Mexican, Soul Food

  • Band

    Beyoncé, Jill Scott, Rihanna

  • Movie

    Encanto, Nightmare Before Christmas, Devil Wears Prada

  • Super Power

    Creating disarming spaces that allows other to be vulnerable and feel supported

  • TV Show

    RuPaul’s Drag Race, Aggretsuko, Loot

  • Book

    The Speed of Trust, Multipliers, The End of Average

  • Quote

    “I am here to create space not take up space” – Ayanna Pressley

Consultant Insights

  • My ideal client is someone [an organization] that:

    is open to challenging their own paradigms and having a growth mindset.

  • The highlight of my career so far has been:

    Working with 100+ new managers at a hyper-growth startup to develop leadership skills.

  • My superpower as a coach is:

    Creating disarming spaces that allows other to be vulnerable and feel supported.

  • My philosophy on life is:

    to choose the perspective that will best serve the outcome you are seeking.

  • I hope my legacy is one of:

    immense impact on the hearts, minds, and souls of others.