Meet Your Coach - Sandy Geiselman

Because Change is Hard, My Experience Matters

There are thousands of certified executive coaches from whom you can choose. A coaching certification is important, but selecting a certified executive coach who has an uncommon depth and breadth of leadership experience and business acumen can be game-changing.

My extensive experience includes commanding three Navy Reserve units, serving in executive roles in the private sector, and being a member of the Federal Senior Executive Service (SES). But how did my leadership experience impact the coach I am today?

Throughout my Navy career, starting in Officers’ Candidate School through my rank as Captain, I recognized that leaders could either inspire and develop their people, or demoralize and diminish them. After personally experiencing both environments, I recognized the positive impact of strong leadership and committed my entire career to the ongoing development of my leadership skills as well as the skills of those I led. I bring that same commitment to the development of my clients.

In the private sector, organizational leaders are expected to deliver results for their companies. During my corporate career, I developed a logistics capability for our company, and revamped our customer engagement strategy which drove 100% growth in company revenue over three years. That incredible growth was a result of my willingness to listen to what our customers needed, and why, and then work cross-functionally in our company to drive dramatic changes to a business model that had been clung to for decades. As a result I know what’s required for an executive team to drive positive organizational change.

After I was hired by a Federal Agency specifically to drive organizational change, I developed a reputation for never accepting the status quo and rising above the day-to-day crises to focus on the big picture. Having stepped into the chaos and apprehension associated with a major merger of disparate organizations, my success was a result of pulling senior managers up out of their silos to focus jointly on overall strategy and coming to agreement on where to focus our resources.  Ultimately, I was selected to be a member of the Senior Executive Service where my role was expanded to include cross-Agency challenges. 

These highlights of my career are the hallmarks of my coaching business. They speak to my commitment to continuing personal development, and a desire to work with clients who are committed to theirs; a willingness and a capacity to listen to clients, in order to pick up on details to understand what’s really needed to drive change; and a capability to identify the big picture, and to stay focused on what’s really important to them.

Why does my experience matter in coaching you? Consider these three reasons:

Understanding and Connection

With experience comes empathy and relatedness. Being in leadership can be lonely and isolating, and I can put myself in those shoes because I’ve worn them. I understand the many challenges that you’re facing because I’ve commanded reserve units, headed divisions, and led teams. I’ve seen the approaches and solutions that work, and the ones that don’t. My first task will be gaining your trust so that you can let your guard down and reveal what’s keeping you up at night.

Support with Backbone

My experience provides me the credibility to quickly form the connection that is required to have tough conversations with you. I take seriously my role as your biggest advocate, but will not shy away from challenging you to look at your blind spots. It’s about shifting your focus from a problem-solving “fix it” mentality, to one of identifying your strengths, exploring growth opportunities, and designing new more effective approaches.

Insights and Possibilities

As an experienced executive coach, I draw inspiration from everywhere. Endless curiosity is at the core of who I am, and my powerful solutions are a synthesis of everything: the things I’ve accomplished; the people with whom I’ve worked; and the challenges I’ve overcome. I invite you to join me in exploring your own capacity for being curious and creating insights you hadn’t considered.

Why the Geiselman Group?

I bring in like-minded and highly experienced partners to work with me on engagements that would best be served by a team approach. We all subscribe to the same foundational beliefs and approaches to coaching and consulting.

If my background and experience are a fit for you, please contact me. I live in Charlottesville, Virginia and am available to coach all over the world in person, via phone and videoconference.

I look forward to speaking with you.