Luis helps leaders better understand what their organization defines as a success profile and how others perceive them relative to that profile. By integrating these two components, he can help them achieve positive, sustainable, and measurable results at a personal, interpersonal, and organizational level.
Luis served as an executive for a boutique management consulting company. In this capacity, he did extensive global work in leadership development, employee engagement, individual and organizational assessments, business development, and executive coaching across many geographies and industries, Luis has lived, worked, or visited 36 countries.
As an entrepreneur and fitness enthusiast, he co-founded Peninsula Fitness Ventures, currently a leading CrossFit Gym in San Carlos, CA. A recovering scientist; he was a visiting Professor of Fungal Genetics at Michigan State University and a post-doctoral fellow in plant genomics at Rice University.
Born and raised in Guatemala Central America; Luis is a brain tumor survivor and an avid endurance athlete. He has completed over 100 marathons and ultramarathons, some at the 100-mile range and 9 Ironman Triathlons. He is currently writing a book “Ordinary Resilience” which is a blend of autobiography, research, and how-to guide for overcoming fear, finding strength, undergoing change, finding passion, and building relationships.
He, his wife Rujeko, and their children Alexis and Nathan live and play in Redwood City. When not coaching or spending time with his family, you can find him trail running or facilitating one of the most iconic classes at the Stanford University Graduate School of Business, Interpersonal Dynamics also known as “Touchy-feely”. He is also a contributor for HBR Ascent, Chief Learning Officer Magazine.
Coaching Experience
Coaching Approach
The mantra, “You cannot control the rain, but you can control if you get wet or not,” has been central to both my personal and professional life. As someone who values lifelong learning, I am passionate about personal development and helping my coaching clients achieve their goals. To accelerate change, I strive to understand how my clients learn and tailor my coaching accordingly.
My coaching approach involves two key elements. First, I help leaders develop a deep sense of self-awareness about themselves, their stakeholders, and their environment. Second, I involve stakeholders in the change process, ensuring that leaders not only improve but that their progress is recognized by those they work with. By addressing both behavior and perception, we can make lasting changes.
I firmly believe that every challenge presents an opportunity for growth, and I encourage a growth mindset in my clients. Additionally, I take a holistic approach to coaching, recognizing that work-related changes can affect personal relationships and family dynamics. In every coaching engagement, I bring resilience, diversity, integrity, and trust, as well as a global perspective.
Education & Credentials
- PhD, Michigan State University (Botany and Molecular Plant Pathology)
- MBA, Organizational Leadership. Forbes School of Business, Ashford University.
- Coaching certification – Marshall Goldsmith SCC
- Korn Ferry 360: Leadership Architect
- Certified SCRUM Master (CSM)
- Experiential Facilitator for Interpersonal Dynamics Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business
- CCL 360 Assessments
- Workplace Big 5 Self Profile
- ACE (Accelerate Coaching Excellence) certified (Virtuoso level)
- Languages – English, Spanish.
Areas of Expertise
- Executive Presence > Increase influence, build trust
- Interpersonal relationships> Influence and persuasion, Manage Up, Collaboration.
- Grit and resilience > Commit, persist, innovate
- Addressing blind spots > Changing behavior and perceptions (e.g. overconfidence, defensiveness)
- Global Mindset > Leading across geographies and cultures
- Transition Coaching – Accelerating your impact and influence
Testimonials
Direct and Empathetic
Spot On
Invaluable help and support
Recent Publications
Harvard Business Review
- When You’re Told You’re Not Strategic Enough
- When Asking Too Many Questions Undermines Your Leadership
- Your Team Members Aren’t Participating in Meetings. Here What to Do.
- Are you Being Emotionally Manipulated at Work?
- How to Tell an Employee They’re Not Ready for a Promotion
- 6 Ways to Become a More Collaborative Leader
- 4 Distractions that Derail Meetings – and How to handle them.
- Becoming more collaborative- When you like to be in control
- How to equip your team to problem solve without you.
- Are you a difficult person to work for?
- When leaders struggle with collaboration
- Three habits that may be derailing your career
- Three ways you can grow your influence in a new job
- Five relationships you need to build a successful career
Fast Company
- 3 Ways Leaders can Strike the Right Balance Between Confidence and Caution.
- Hacking the Growth Paradox: 3 Ways Leaders Can Get Unstuc
- Hacking the Growth Paradox: 3 Ways Leaders Can Get Unstuck.
- Five ways to better lead teams when you are hard to please.
- Six mental shifts that will make you happier and more successful in your new job.
- How building teams with diverse work experiences can drive success
New Book
Featured in
The Long Game: How to be a long-term thinking in a short-term world.
By Dorie Clark
Wall Street Journal bestselling author and executive education faculty, Duke University Fuqua School of Business.
The Canary Code: A Guide to Neurodiversity, Dignity, and Intersectional Belonging at Work.
By Ludmilla N. Praslova PhD
Thinkers 50 Radar, Professor of Industrial-Organizational Psychology at Vanguard University.
Work from the Inside Out: Break through nine common obstacles and design a career that fulfills you.
By Tammy Gooler Loeb
Award Winning Executive Coach and award-winning Podcast host
Lets connect
Schedule a quick conversation with Luis