Executive Coach · Speaker · Leadership Trainer

Leading well is harder than anyone tells you.

Most leaders were promoted because they were great at their jobs — not because they were trained to lead people. That gap is real, and it's closeable. Let's close it.

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The challenges are universal.
The struggle is real.

I've coached leaders across eight countries and five continents, in industries from pharmaceuticals and finance to tech, real estate, and industrial manufacturing. The settings differ. The patterns don't.

Strategy & Priorities

Too many initiatives, too little clarity on what actually matters. Motion gets mistaken for progress.

Team Dynamics

Talented people who aren't performing as a unit. Accountability that feels like either micromanagement or abdication.

Career & Purpose

A nagging sense that success and satisfaction don't have to be at odds — but not knowing how to get them aligned.

Challenging Relationships

Difficult stakeholders, peers who don't collaborate, and direct reports who require more than your current toolkit offers.

The approaches that help leaders move forward are far more universal than most people expect — and far more learnable than most people believe.

Michael J. Negrete
PharmD

MIT · UC San Francisco
Co-Active Training Institute
8 Countries · 5 Continents

You need a guide
who has been there.

A few years ago, I asked myself whether the lessons I'd learned over two decades of leading teams in complex corporate environments could help others grow, lead, and succeed. That question changed everything.

I've since built a coaching practice grounded in real-world organizational experience, a doctorate from UCSF, a bachelor's degree from MIT, and a coaching core curriculum certificate from the Co-Active Training Institute.

I'm not here to hand you a framework and wish you luck. I work alongside you — with the kind of direct, honest engagement that actually moves the needle.

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A simple path forward.

You don't need another book or a weekend workshop. You need a structured, honest conversation — and a partner who will stay accountable with you.

Assess

Start with clarity. The free VISN Check gives you an immediate read on how well your Values, Interests, Strengths, and Needs are being served. Or begin with a direct conversation.

Align

We build a clear picture together — where you are, where you want to go, and what's actually standing in the way. No vague goals. No generic action plans.

Advance

We work the real challenges: the difficult conversation, the team that isn't gelling, the career move you've been circling. Real progress, measured in outcomes.

Tools built for leaders.

Free resources to help you start — wherever you are right now.

Free Assessment

VISN Check

Answer 16 questions to see how well your Values, Interests, Strengths, and Needs are being served — and get a clear picture of where to focus for greater purpose, joy, impact, and well-being.

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Intelligence Tool

Venture Intelligence

Thirty years of ventures — some successful, many not — distilled into a structured diagnostic. Before you commit time and capital, walk through a seven-step framework that maps your founder alignment, scores your venture across six viability dimensions, and surfaces the trade-offs and uncertainties most entrepreneurs don't see until it's too late. You leave with an AI Insight Report and access to an AI Venture Coach.

Explore the Tool →

Ready to get started?

Whether you're looking for coaching, a speaker for your next event, or a trainer for your leadership team — the first step is a conversation.

Coaching Inquiry

For leaders who want to work one-on-one to accelerate their growth, navigate a transition, or build the team performance they know is possible.

Prospective Client Questionnaire

Speaking & Training

For organizations looking to bring focused leadership development to their teams — through keynote speaking, workshops, or multi-session training programs.

Speaker / Trainer Info Request