Rick Koonce
Executive Coach
Richard (Rick) Koonce is an accomplished leadership coach who has worked with executives and teams in North America, South America, Europe, Africa, and Asia. The co-author of seven books, including Growing Leaders (ATD, 2001) he has coached executives at all levels in a diverse range of industries including banking, professional services, pharma, healthcare, creative services, publishing, manufacturing, aerospace, and defense. He has also worked extensively with nonprofits, NGOs, academic institutions, and federal government agencies.
Rick’s particular passion is helping executives and managers lead change, build strong teams, enhance their leadership/executive presence and communicate effectively with key internal and external stakeholders. His coaching methodology involves a rigorous process of asking probing questions, generating self-reflection, building trust and rapport, and helping coachees develop clear (and measurable) coaching goals. Clear agreement is struck, early in each coaching engagement, to align coaching goals with business or organizational strategy, and to address existing/emerging skills gaps or professional development priorities. As coaching proceeds, various coaching methods are employed, based on appropriateness, to accelerate and facilitate the coaching process, and to gauge progress. These methods include assessments and self-inquiry exercises, diagnostic interviews, and tools such as 360-degree feedback, the Hogan Leadership Assessment, the Wilson Learning Center’s Social Styles Matrix, and the Burke-Litwin Model of Change Management. Rick holds the credential of Professional Certified Coach (PCC) from the International Coach Federation (ICF).
He received a Masters in Political Science from Georgetown University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology-Sociology from the College of William and Mary. He was awarded a Leadership Coaching Certificate from Georgetown University’s Institute for Transformational Leadership in 2005, and serves as an Executive Coach at the Wharton Business School at the University of Pennsylvania.