Founder

There's a reason why Donna is in demand on 6 continents. She gets results and brings 40+ years of experience in multiple streams of practice to the table.

Donna Karlin has been called a pot-stirrer, thought-shifter, "partner-in-crime" and reality-checker. She's an international speaker, lecturer, author and world-renowned leadership coach (better known as 'The Shadow Coach®'). You will see Donna coach on the run with her clients through the halls of corporate headquarters, government departments and agencies, and political offices in many parts of the world.

Donna works with global leaders to develop the competencies and practices that enable them to meet the challenges of the future. She brings a dynamic, strengths-focused perspective to executive leadership development. Donna is committed to increasing the effectiveness, endurance, and fulfillment of individual leaders and their organizations through work with senior executives, high-potential leaders, and teams.

For high-potentials and leaders alike, she helps clients prepare for high pressure, high stakes, high impact presentations. From keynotes, industrial presentations, presentations to C Suite leaders, a pitch to a buyer or a 5-minute talk on a panel, Donna brings her own personal experience on stage to her work with clients to present as thought leaders, commanding and owning the stage or boardroom.

Donna is a SupporTED Coach, a member of the TED Community who coaches TED Fellows and Senior Fellows, Coach at Uncharted, StartingBloc, The Alliance of Women Directors and the Sundance Institute. She is a member of the Advisory Council of The International Academy of Behavioral Medicine, Counseling and Psychotherapy (IABMCP), and a Founding Fellow of the Harvard Medical School, Institute of Coaching  (ICPA).

Her work has been written up in Fast Company Magazine, The National Post (Financial Post), The Globe and Mail, The New York Times Business Section, The Boston Globe, and Personal Success Magazine. She has authored numerous books

Donna is a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) from the International Coach Federation, is a Certified Executive Coach from the Center for Executive Coaching, is certified in Organizational Psychology with a focus in Executive Coaching by The Professional School of Psychology and has been certified by the International Academy of Behavioral Medicine, Counseling and Psychotherapy as a Diplomate in Professional Coaching. She is a Certified Executive Conflict Coach Practitioner, a Certified Tilt 365 Practitioner and as a Tilt 365 Advanced Coach and is certified in the Core Values Index Assessment.

She has a proven track record in developing sustainable leadership.

Donna Karlin
I AM HONORED TO HAVE been recognized for the second year in a row as one of the Top Leadership Coaches  for 2023 by the Coach Foundation 

Each of us has a distinctive coaching style that sets us apart. We have been acknowledged for helping our clients achieve resilience as well as for what makes our coaching unique,  contributing to our success.

Donna Karlin has been recognized as one of the top 20 Leadership Coach for 2023

Memberships, Boards, Advisory Positions and Affiliations

Memberships and Affiliations

■ Member (by invitation only) of Leaders Excellence at Harvard Square
■ Official Member (by invitation only) Forbes Coaches Council
■ Founding Fellow of the Harvard Medical School, Institute of Coaching Professional Association
■ Member of International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies
■ Member of International Coach Federation
■ Member of Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association (AFCEA)
■ Member of the International Critical Incidence Stress Foundation
■ Member of Faith Popcorn’s TalentBank - an expert panel of visionaries worldwide with experts from every industry and cultural area from media and
   medics to marketers and academics.
■ Member of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS)

Previous Held Positions

■ Head of the Advisory Board for INSPIRIT International Communications, Berlin | Brussels | Luxembourg
■ Dean at the International Consortium for Coaching in Organizations Purpose is to maximize the success and efficacy of coaching solutions in
   organizations, at a global level. This encompasses: the ongoing expansion of knowledge about how and why coaching produces positive results; the
   continuous creation of coaching resources – theoretical and practical – and sharing of best practices.
■ Member of The Board of Advisors for The Foundation for International Leadership Coaching - FILC is the non-profit foundation founded to meet the
   unmet needs for leadership coaching of many government and international non-government organization leaders around the world. We seek to serve
   leaders who are committed to having a positive impact on environmental sustainability, international peace through non-violent means, and quality of
   life for all.
■ President and member of the Board of the International Consortium for Coaching in Organizations.
■ Member of the Board of Governors of the International Association of Coaching (IAC).
■ Participant/ key player in Microsoft™ ‘Vision Team’ - A small team of independent visionaries / experts who provide valuable, contextual insight into
   technology, business and workplace issues and trends.
■ Member of the Board of The Coach Initiative.