Best Executive Coaches in Orange County

Orange County Area Executive Coaching Services

Orange County’s leadership scene is as dynamic as its coastline, a blend of entrepreneurial grit, family-business tradition, and innovation-driven culture. Here, leadership is defined by both ambition and authenticity. From Irvine’s tech and healthcare hubs to the creative corridors of Costa Mesa and the community-minded enterprises of Fullerton, executives in Orange County are redefining what it means to lead with clarity and purpose.

In this environment, executive coaching has become a strategic advantage. Whether it’s scaling startups, navigating succession in family-owned companies, or elevating emotional intelligence in fast-growing organizations, coaching helps leaders stay grounded while growing forward.

At Digital Reference, our mission is to make leadership growth more transparent and accessible, connecting professionals with coaches who can help them lead, adapt, and thrive. You can explore more leadership insights in our Leadership Coaching Guide to see how coaching impacts performance and culture.

Our Methodology: How We Chose These Coaches

Our approach to curating this list is simple but rigorous. Every professional featured here is based in or closely connected to the Orange County region and has demonstrated real-world impact through verified client results, accreditations, or thought leadership in HR and executive development.

We reviewed credentials, client feedback, methodology, and community involvement. Some are independent consultants; others are senior coaches in established firms, but all share one thing: a proven ability to help leaders align vision with action.

This list isn’t ranked. Instead, it’s a celebration of Orange County’s vibrant coaching community, each professional offering their own distinct style and approach to personal and organizational growth.

🌟 Meet the Coaches: Orange County’s Trusted Leadership Partners

🟠 Brad Axelrad

Consultant, Executive Coaching, Business Development at Face Your Dragon
🔗 LinkedIn

Brad Axelrad brings energy, authenticity, and fearless leadership to his coaching work. A transformational coach and event producer, Brad empowers leaders to overcome fear-based patterns and tap into purpose-driven success. He’s also known as the founder of Make More Marbles and for co-producing leadership and wellness events that inspire conscious entrepreneurship.

Brad’s coaching philosophy is rooted in the belief that “fear is the gateway to freedom.” Through his work, he guides professionals to transform their mindset, rewrite old narratives, and step confidently into visibility and impact.

💡 Key strengths:
🌟 Transformational mindset coaching for high-achievers.
🧭 Expertise in conscious leadership and life design.
🔹 Inspires courageous storytelling and personal branding.
✳️ Connects entrepreneurial growth with emotional clarity.

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🟠 Juliet Murphy

Executive Coach and Founder, Juliet Murphy Career Development
🔗 LinkedIn

Juliet Murphy blends corporate strategy with compassion. With over two decades of experience helping professionals navigate career transitions and executive challenges, she’s known for her personalized, human-first approach. Her work focuses on leadership confidence, career acceleration, and strategic clarity — particularly for leaders in transition or high-visibility roles.

Juliet’s background in corporate HR and talent development gives her an insider’s understanding of what executives truly need to thrive. Her sessions balance introspection with practical skill-building, helping clients become intentional, visible, and effective leaders.

💡 Key strengths:
🧭 Career transition and executive readiness coaching.
🌟 Expertise in leadership branding and communication.
🔹 Deep understanding of organizational dynamics.
✳️ Empowers professionals to navigate change with confidence.

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🟠 Steve Smith

Founder and Executive Coach, GrowthSource Coaching
🔗 LinkedIn

Steve Smith is widely respected for his direct yet encouraging coaching style that helps leaders unlock measurable business performance. As the founder of GrowthSource Coaching, he focuses on business clarity, performance systems, and leadership effectiveness — especially for small-business owners and mid-level executives seeking tangible ROI.

With decades of experience in corporate management, Steve’s approach blends operational insight with human motivation. His clients often cite his ability to “cut through the noise” and bring focus, structure, and accountability to their leadership journey.

💡 Key strengths:
🌟 Business and performance optimization.
🧭 Strategic clarity and growth systems.
🔹 Skilled at aligning leadership behavior with business goals.
✳️ Results-oriented, structured, and highly actionable coaching.

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🟠 Mark Prowten

Executive Coach and Business Advisor at OC Business Leaders LLC
🔗 LinkedIn

With a strong background in leadership consulting and organizational development, Mark Prowten is known for his analytical mind and compassionate approach. His work focuses on helping leaders strengthen self-awareness, team collaboration, and long-term strategic thinking.

Mark has worked with a range of industries across Orange County, from financial services to healthcare, helping executives balance performance pressure with emotional intelligence. He brings both strategic perspective and a calm presence to his coaching engagements.

💡 Key strengths:
🔹 Expert in leadership mindset and team alignment.
🧭 Focus on emotional intelligence in executive roles.
🌟 Supports leaders through complex organizational transitions.
✳️ Encourages thoughtful, values-driven leadership.

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🟠 Dr. Gilbert Fugitt

Growth Coach/Leadership Consultant at GrowthSkills Foundation
 🔗 LinkedIn / Website‍

Dr. Gilbert Fugitt offers a unique blend of academic rigor and real-world leadership experience. With a doctorate in leadership studies, he provides structured and evidence-based coaching tailored to organizational executives and emerging leaders.

Dr. Fugitt helps clients refine decision-making, enhance leadership presence, and align professional goals with organizational strategy. His philosophy emphasizes authenticity, accountability, and continuous improvement, qualities that resonate deeply in Orange County’s results-driven culture.

💡 Key strengths:
🌟 Research-informed leadership frameworks.
🧭 Strength in decision-making and personal growth.
🔹 Supports professionals through major career transitions.
✳️ Builds leadership integrity and confidence.

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🟠 Sid Partow

Executive Coach and Business Consultant at Possibilities Unlimited Inc.
🔗 LinkedIn

Sid Partow is known for his ability to bridge business acumen and human insight. With extensive experience as both a corporate leader and executive coach, Sid works with senior professionals who want to sharpen their performance while leading with empathy and focus.

His approach blends traditional executive coaching with modern neuroscience and communication tools. Sid’s clients often describe his work as “transformational through practicality”, structured yet deeply relational, always moving from awareness to action.

💡 Key strengths:
🧭 Integrates business strategy with emotional intelligence.
🌟 Helps executives communicate with clarity and impact.
🔹 Focused on performance sustainability and resilience.
✳️ Builds executive presence through authentic connection.

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🟠 Allison (Pinsky) Alvarez

Executive Coach at Executive Coaches of Orange County (ECofOC)
🔗 LinkedIn

Allison Alvarez brings together two essential lenses — human resources strategy and leadership development. With extensive experience in organizational design, HR partnerships, and people-first transformation, she helps executives create work environments that inspire trust, performance, and engagement.

Her work often centers on aligning leadership behaviors with company culture, helping teams move from conflict to collaboration. Allison’s clients appreciate her calm presence, structured approach, and deep understanding of team dynamics.

💡 Key strengths:
🌟 HR transformation and culture alignment.
🧭 Leadership development through psychological safety.
🔹 Expert in team communication and conflict resolution.
✳️ Passionate about building high-trust workplace cultures.

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🟠 Jessica McNicholas

Executive Coach at Refraction Inc.
🔗 LinkedIn

Jessica McNicholas blends corporate coaching expertise with a strong grounding in emotional intelligence and behavioral psychology. She helps leaders understand their patterns, navigate interpersonal dynamics, and enhance decision-making under pressure.

Her background includes years of work in corporate HR and organizational development, giving her a holistic understanding of both people and performance systems. Jessica is particularly skilled in helping emerging leaders transition into senior executive roles with confidence.

💡 Key strengths:
🧭 Leadership transitions and performance coaching.
🌟 Behavioral awareness and emotional regulation.
🔹 Skilled facilitator for leadership teams.
✳️ Focused on practical, high-impact coaching conversations.

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🟠 Dr. Cristina Gomez

High Performance Executive Coach and Consultant at Cristinayourcoach, LLC
🔗 LinkedIn

Dr. Cristina Gomez integrates psychology and leadership science to help executives lead with both empathy and edge. As a leadership psychologist, she provides in-depth coaching on emotional intelligence, executive presence, and team communication.

Her work is deeply data-informed, drawing from validated psychometric tools and neuroscience insights. Clients often describe her approach as both analytical and deeply human — guiding leaders through moments of reflection that spark lasting growth.

💡 Key strengths:
🌟 Emotional intelligence and leadership psychology.
🧭 Integrative approach grounded in behavioral science.
🔹 Expert in communication and executive presence.
✳️ Focused on long-term personal and organizational resilience.

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🟠 Greg Johnson

Founder and Executive Coach, Above the Rim Executive Coaching
🔗 LinkedIn

Greg Johnson’s coaching blends strategic clarity, motivational psychology, and sports-based performance principles. As founder of Above the Rim Executive Coaching, he helps leaders elevate their “mental game”, building mindset resilience, focus, and accountability that mirror elite athletic training.

Greg’s clients span industries from healthcare to finance, all seeking his distinctive ability to connect leadership to peak performance frameworks. His sessions are practical, empowering, and results-focused.

💡 Key strengths:
🧭 Performance psychology and mindset optimization.
🌟 Strategic leadership development.
🔹 Effective accountability and results tracking.
✳️ Empowers leaders to achieve “above the rim” growth.

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🟠 Lydia Schimmelpfenig

Brand Strategy & Executive Coaching / Founder, CloutLab
🔗 LinkedIn

Lydia Schimmelpfenig is both a brand strategist and executive coach, helping leaders communicate their value with clarity and confidence. As founder of CloutLab, she merges marketing strategy with leadership development, enabling professionals to position themselves powerfully in their industries.

Her work sits at the intersection of leadership, branding, and influence. Lydia’s clients, often senior executives and entrepreneurs, come away with a stronger sense of voice, visibility, and strategic impact.

💡 Key strengths:
🌟 Leadership branding and visibility coaching.
🧭 Personal brand strategy for executives.
🔹 Expertise in messaging and audience positioning.
✳️ Empowers leaders to communicate with authenticity and impact.

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🟠 Dr. Suzy Aronson

Leadership Coach and Psychologist
🔗 LinkedIn

Dr. Suzy Aronson brings the heart of psychology into the art of leadership. With a doctorate in psychology and decades of experience in coaching and counseling, she supports leaders navigating high-stress environments and major life transitions.

Her coaching philosophy blends clinical insight, compassion, and goal-oriented structure, guiding executives to lead more mindfully and sustainably. Dr. Aronson’s clients often highlight her empathy and ability to turn emotional awareness into leadership strength.

💡 Key strengths:
🧭 Integrating psychology with executive coaching.
🌟 Emotional resilience and stress management.
🔹 Career transitions and work-life integration.
✳️ Promotes mindful, balanced leadership.

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🟠 Victor Bullara

E3/Blindspotting Coach at Behavioral Essentials
🔗 LinkedIn

Victor Bullara is a seasoned leadership consultant with a rich history in organizational strategy, human capital development, and C-suite advisory work. Known for his pragmatic, strategic guidance, Victor helps executives align leadership practices with measurable business outcomes.

His work often focuses on helping organizations build cohesive executive teams and streamline leadership communication. His career includes senior HR and advisory roles, giving him a wide-angle perspective on leadership and culture.

💡 Key strengths:
🌟 Organizational alignment and performance strategy.
🧭 Executive communication and decision-making.
🔹 Trusted advisor for HR and leadership boards.
✳️ Focused on measurable, sustainable leadership results.

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🟠 Linda Watkins

Executive Coach, Leadership Thinking Partner, Guide for Change-Makers at Leadership for Today 
🔗 LinkedIn

Linda Watkins blends academic expertise with real-world consulting experience to help leaders cultivate clarity and direction. Her approach focuses on evidence-based coaching models that foster resilience, confidence, and leadership maturity.

She has a reputation for helping executives break through plateaus — balancing strategic planning with emotional awareness. Linda’s clients often describe her coaching as structured, supportive, and powerfully effective.

💡 Key strengths:
🧭 Structured and research-based coaching.
🌟 Focus on resilience and growth mindset.
🔹 Helps leaders identify and remove performance blockers.
✳️ Encourages self-awareness and sustainable success.

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🟠Shelby Dee

Executive and Performance Coach at Empowered Executive Coaching
🔗 LinkedIn

Shelby Dee works at the intersection of leadership, creativity, and emotional intelligence. Her background includes corporate management and organizational psychology, making her especially skilled at helping creative professionals and business leaders find alignment between ambition and authenticity.

Her clients appreciate her warm yet challenging style, which fosters both accountability and compassion. Shelby’s sessions are known for producing clarity, confidence, and action — all rooted in real-world application.

💡 Key strengths:
🌟 Emotional intelligence and self-leadership.
🧭 Executive presence and communication coaching.
🔹 Deep insight into creative and high-stress professions.
✳️ Promotes clarity, focus, and inner balance.

Orange County’s Coaching Scene: Where Leadership Meets Lifestyle

Orange County’s professional energy mirrors its landscape: open, diverse, and constantly evolving. Leaders here value not just performance, but presence, authenticity, and impact. These executive coaches exemplify that blend, helping businesses and individuals thrive across every industry, from tech and healthcare to real estate and creative services.

At Digital Reference, we see executive coaching as part of a larger leadership ecosystem, one where HR professionals, organizational psychologists, and strategy consultants work together to strengthen culture and capacity.

Digital Reference was founded to help professionals move beyond traditional resumes and references and build reputations rooted in authenticity, transparency, and verified impact. 

We believe that talent ecosystems are too opaque,  hiring, networking, and reputation processes are often inefficient or subjective. 

To change that, we provide tools and structured data (including video verification and proprietary data checks) that allow professionals to present their real accomplishments in a holistic, credible way.

🔥If you found this list helpful, you can also explore:

👉 Best HR Strategy Consulting Services in the USA
👉 The Ultimate Guide to Video Resumes
👉 How to Hire a Human Resource Consultant: A Complete Guide for Growing Businesses‍

Step into growth with actionable insights. Explore more from Digital Reference: your partner in connecting with the experts who help organizations lead, learn, and last.