Michelle Friedman

Executive Coach

Michelle Friedman is a certified executive coach, organizational consultant, facilitator and speaker with an expertise in women’s career paths. She is the Founder of Advancing Women’s Careers, LLC, a coaching and consulting firm dedicated to strengthening the pipeline of female leaders in demanding industries. Michelle helps professional women successfully navigate complex modern careers, and advises progressive employers in attracting, retaining and advancing their female talent. Her clients are located throughout the U.S., Canada and Asia.

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Coaching Style

Michelle’s clients describe her as someone who is warm, direct, insightful and results-oriented. Michelle believes the best coaching engagements provide a motivating and supportive structure to keep clients constantly learning and in productive forward action. Her approach to coaching is a combination of thought-partner, mentor, and accountability source. Michelle helps her clients self-assess current strengths, interests, opportunities and potential derailers. Together with the client, she helps guide the creation of both short and long-term goals and the development plan needed for the desired results. Since her clients are high-performing professionals in demanding roles, Michelle also addresses how their work can sustainably fit into the context of rich and full lives outside of the office.

Typical focus areas of coaching engagements include: Self-assessment & 360° Feedback, Leadership Development, Role Transition, Goal Setting and Execution, Effective Decision-making, Delegation & Staff Development, Team Dynamics & Effectiveness, Executive Presence, Relationship & Communication Skills, Time Management & Work/Life Integration.

Special Interests

Michelle’s work focuses on the various career stages women pass through on their way to leadership roles. In addition to women’s leadership development, Michelle has a particular focus on the retention and advancement of new parents returning from leave, and the re-integration of women back into the workforce after a career break. Michelle has consulted to, and coached cohorts within, the corporate ReEntry programs at JP Morgan, Morgan Stanley & Goldman Sachs.

Background

Before founding Advancing Women’s Careers, Michelle spent 12 years in the corporate banking and financial software industries in key relationship management and marketing roles. Her corporate experience allows her to relate to the challenges her clients face in fast-paced, demanding work environments. Her work has been covered in The New York Times, Harvard Business Review, Fortune, and CNN/Money.

Clients

Michelle’s clients span diverse industries, and she has developed a particular expertise in financial services. Michelle has worked with clients employed by (partial list): Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, David Yurman, JP Morgan, Panasonic North America, Canadian Department of Justice, various Private Equity Firms, Canada’s National Center for the Arts, The Wharton School, Citigroup, Credit Suisse, GE Finance, Lloyds Banking Group, Katten Muchin, Allen & Overy and The Achievement Network.

Training & Qualifications

Columbia University: Masters in Social-Organizational Psychology, emphasis on Change Leadership
Coaches Training Institute: Certified Professional Co-Active Coach credential
International Coach Federation: Professional Certified Coach credential
Certified in Hogan Assessments, Meyers-Briggs Type Indicator®, and Strong Interest Inventory®

Testimonials

“The six sessions I had with my ECC Coach changed my perspective of coaching. I was initially uncertain (and possibly sceptical) about the benefits of coaching but my coach read me very well and knew when to coax a response out from me by being encouraging and when to firmly push me to see the benefits of reframing some of my previously held positions.”

Head of Legal, International Property Group

“Both from my personal experience of ECC’s approach, and from seeing the impact on our company I can particularly recommend their pragmatic approach and their insight into our collective and individual needs.”

Senior Leader, Commercial Property Management and Investment Company

“The team is a pleasure to work with, consistently bringing expert advice and guidance, energy and professionalism to the partnership.”

Diversity and Inclusion Executive, Multinational Investment Bank

"The coaches at ECC are commercial, pragmatic and highly focused. The coaching they provide on an individual basis has given valuable insight and helped our senior executives to gain greater perspective in terms of managing relationships, prioritising, strategic thinking, influencing and confidence."

Senior Leader, Multinational Retailing Company

"I found my ECC coaching sessions incredibly valuable - for the unique and necessary space I was seeking as a sole proprietor to feel heard, understood and connected to a peer in business. My coaching experience provided a safe space where I could be the real me, and provided a relationship I could truly trust. Thank you ECC."

Manager, Creative Retail Agency