David Dorn

Senior Consultant

David is an executive coach and leadership development facilitator. He brings experience from successful careers that vary from entrepreneur to engineer to educator. Since 1996, he has collaboratively supported clients globally as they develop into the leaders they choose to be. David views the coaching relationship as a collaborative partnership that combines the wisdom, skills, and experience of both parties to envision an improved state and define the steps to achieve it.

David meets people where they are. For more than 25 years, in several different countries, he has been teaching experts to listen, learn, and evolve. He firmly believes leaders are not born, they are developed. David equips leaders with the tools and training they need to develop other leaders.

Prior to focusing on human development, David founded and for 18 years directed a suite of vertically integrated corporations that included a design and manufacturing firm, wholesale distribution units, and retail locations. He drove success by creating very fast and lean operational systems while nurturing a highly performing team of people from five continents.

Career Highlights

  • For a Big Three Management Consulting Company: Coached military leaders across spectrum, industry, and rank
  • For a Non-Governmental Organization: Consulted in Egypt, raising leadership to 21st century standards
  • For a Top-Ranked Leadership Development Organization: Designed and facilitated custom programs and served as an executive coach
  • For NASA’s Mission Control Center: Worked as a software engineer and leadership development trainer
    • Designed spacecraft trajectory simulation software, trained flight controllers in planning on-orbit crew activities, and provided live support to Space Shuttle flights.
    • Trained and led engineering teams in collaborative leadership and problem-solving techniques
  • For a Major University: Conceived and instructed a university-based executive coaching course for adult learners
  • For Public Schools and Universities: Designed and delivered for-credit undergraduate courses and taught within public schools

Areas of Specialization

  • Executive Energy
  • Vertical Development
  • Leadership Sustainability — the ongoing mental and physical capacity to lead effectively
  • Teaching Leaders to Listen
  • Train the Trainer coaching
  • Organizational politics and culture
  • Change management
  • Resilience
  • Team effectiveness
  • Coaching culture
  • Engagement
  • Relationships
  • Personal Branding

Unique Attributes

  • Certified in the Hogan Assessment Suite, CPI-260, FIRO-B, FIRO-Business, MBTI, Leadership Versatility Index, Strength Deployment Inventory, Benchmarks, Executive Dimensions, SkillScope, WorkPlace Big Five, Conflict Dynamics Profile, and the simulations PressTime and Paper Planes.
  • Master Coach – Center for Creative Leadership
  • Bilingual in Spanish and English
  • International Experience in 14 countries
  • As a member of the International Leadership Association, David presented at its 2010 global conference on the subject “Coaching and Developing Leaders for the 21st Century” – as well as at the 2016 Regional Conference on “Leadership Across Latin America”
  • Author of the upcoming book, Lessons Learned from the Leaders I Coach
  • B.A. in Physics
  • USA Triathlon Federation member

  • Hobbies

    Going outside to play in nature: hiking, biking, running, kayaking, the occasional triathlon

  • Food

    Yes, please!

  • Band

    Hendrix to Haydn, Sinatra to Santana, Jobim to Jackson Brown, Reggae & Calypso to Rogers & Hammerstein

  • Movie

    Casablanca

  • Super Power

    Gratitude

  • TV Show

    Modern Family

  • Book

    For Whom the Bell Tolls (Ernest Hemingway)

  • Quote

    “We may not control the Universe – but we can guide it as it unfolds” (unknown)

Consultant Insights

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

    Is ready to grow in order to achieve an even greater positive impact.

  • The highlight of my career so far has been:

    Leading international Train-the-Trainer initiatives that helped experts become effective facilitators and coaches in order to enable bottom-up change within societies.

  • My superpower as a coach is:

    Curiosity in service of caring.

  • My philosophy on life is:

    Enjoy life – and leave the world a better place.

  • I hope my legacy is one of:

    Helping people grow in their happiness and ability to have positive impact.

Up Next Demi Gray, Ph.D.