About Doug
The thread that goes through my work as a coach, writer, teacher, trainer, consultant, and business owner is a deep desire to learn so that I can help people pursue lives of clarity, purpose and passion.
I’ve started and run three businesses from teaching creative writing (Beyond Words) to mediating people through conflict (Conflict Matters) and now to help others be the change they want to be in the world.
My work continually reinforces the value of slowing down and leading with curiosity and care—so I can empathize with how people see their world. I am a direct communicator who enjoys a good laugh and is willing and able to respectfully discuss challenging issues as needed.
I’ve been coaching for 20 years. I got my start at Microsoft teaching managers how to coach their employees around career development. That led to coaching high potential employees and executives within Microsoft to accelerate their growth and business results.
I’ve had the good fortune of working with executives and leadership teams in global high-tech and business organizations as well as government and public education. I love learning about organizations, sussing out the unique strengths and challenges of their cultures, and then supporting leaders to tap into resources beyond their current thinking.
I bring a strengths-based, whole-systems approach to my coaching and consulting. I don’t just focus on the individual—we look at connections between people, systems and structures within an organization to understand why people do what they do. I partner with you using evidence-based practices to inspire creative, systemic approaches that enhance individual performance, team dynamics and inclusive workplace culture.
In my free time, I scuba dive, kayak, sail, bicycle and enjoy the wonderful chaos of life with my family on Bainbridge Island, Washington.
Special areas of interest
Inclusive Leadership
Manager as Coach
Leading With Your Strengths
Navigating Change
Resilient Leadership
Credentials & Certifications
- Professional Coach Certification (PCC), International Coach Federation (ICF)
- ICF Mentor Coach
- Certified Conscious Business Coach
- Certified Results Coach, NeuroLeadership Institute (NLI)
- Certified Leadership Circle Profile™ (LCP) 360
- Certified Collective Leader Assessment (CLA)
- Certified mediator affiliated with the following organizations:
- King County Alternative Dispute Resolution Inter-local Conflict Resolution Group
- Federal Executive Board
- Kitsap County Dispute Resolution Center
- Certified CliftonStrengths Coach
- Everything DiSC Certified Coach
- The Leadership Challenge Leadership Practices Inventory (LPI360)
- Crucial Conversations Instructor—VitalSmarts
- Influencer: The New Science of Leadership Trainer—VitalSmarts
- Tilt 365 Personality Profile
- Certified trainer for Anti-Defamation League’s A Classroom of Difference anti-bias and diversity training
- Certified Learning Architect trainer
- Master of Arts in Whole Systems Design
Some of my clients
Avalara | Microsoft | Intellectual Ventures | CBRE Group, Inc
Washington Banking Association | Washington State Department of Social and Health Services
University of Washington | University of Washington-Tacoma | Army Corp of Engineers
Department of The Navy–Office of Civilian Human Resources
Some of my clients
Avalara | Microsoft | Intellectual Ventures | CBRE Group, Inc
Washington Banking Association | University of Washington
Washington State Department of Social and Health Services
University of Washington-Tacoma | Army Corp of Engineers
Department of The Navy–Office of Civilian Human Resources
Some of my clients
Avalara
Microsoft
Intellectual Ventures
CBRE Group, Inc
Washington Banking Association
Washington State Department of Social and Health Services
University of Washington
University of Washington-Tacoma
Army Corp of Engineers
Department of The Navy–Office of Civilian Human Resources
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