When people ask me what I do, I describe myself as a “serial entrepreneur” turned leadership coach, consultant and speaker.”

To give that statement some context, here’s a brief history of my business leadership career:

My first job, post MBA, was with Philip Morris USA. There I received world class business leadership training. They also taught me how to toughen up. Those old school, hard core tobacco guys cut me no slack. Fortune 500 was an amazing experience but I realized that a corporate career was not a good fit for my risk taking, out of the box, independent nature.

From there I struck out on my own and never looked back.

Over the years I started and led seven companies, mostly in high end resort real estate, aviation and now in consulting. High points have been:

• Standing on the floor on the New York Stock Exchange and watching my company go public, trading as RZT (now a part of Wyndham Worldwide).
• Soloing an airplane and obtaining my Commercial and ATP ratings
• Speaking to over 2000 attendees at a conference at The New Orleans Convention Center.
• Writing and publishing a book

Above all else, my career as a leader has given me the opportunity and honor of working with some of the smartest, caring, hardworking, fun, interesting and diverse staff members and customers in the world. It is from these people that I have learned the most.

For more specifics on my experience and schooling (I am a rambunctiously proud University of Virginia alumna), here is where to look: www.linkedin.com/in/liftoffleadership/

Today I am committed to guiding, supporting and inspiring leaders who are “up to something” …leaders who want to elevate their perspectives, increase their potential and make a positive difference.

I am committed to conscious leadership, a theory that says that leaders have a responsibility to the human side of the equation while being adept and accountable to the numbers.

I am committed to supporting and inspiring young professionals and leaders as they step out of academics and begin to take on the challenges of sculpting their careers.

I believe in the power of difficulty, adversity, failure and hard challenges in the shaping of character and courage.

I believe that most of us operate well below 50% of our potential and that if we are willing to tap into our potential, our businesses, communities and the world would thrive.

I believe that leaders have an opportunity and responsibility to improve the human condition.