Executive coaching with Denise O'Brien-Peterson
Everyone needs someone in their corner. I'd like to be in yours.
30+ years inside Fortune 100 financial services, where I still consult today. I'll give you honest, candid feedback and help you figure out your next move, at work or beyond it.
Why I do this work
“You have the right to a beautiful life.”
I grew up on a working farm in Luray, Missouri. Everyone expected I'd marry young, stay close, and maybe take over the farm. I wanted something different, and my family didn't love that. I went anyway. Hard work was a must-do. So was learning.
I've spent more than 30 years in Fortune 100 financial services. When my corporate role ended, I honestly didn't think I could make it outside corporate America. Then a coach gave me candid feedback and a whole new view of what was possible. Not everyone has that person they can trust. I want to be that person for you.
Life has tested me. I lost my brother. Just days after my son was born, I learned I had a brain tumor. After surgery, I was the one walking the hospital halls, getting strong enough to go home and hold him. Five months later I was back at work full time.
My dad has a rule, and so does my husband: don't start it if you don't think you can finish it, even if finishing means you walk. That's how I got through Ironman Wisconsin, a 2.4-mile swim, 112 miles on the bike, then a full marathon. My husband and I trained for it together, months before our wedding.
I wrote about the climb in Journey Up the Gravel Path. I coach the way I've lived it: honestly, practically, one step at a time.
About the book ›Two ways to work together
Changing roles, or changing how you lead?
Career strategy
For when you're at a crossroads and can't see the next move yet.
- Decide which work you want to own next.
- Turn your experience into a clear case for your value.
- Tell your story so the market you're entering hears it.
What changes: your position.
Leadership advisory
For when you're staying put, and want to lead differently.
- Move from reacting to leading on purpose.
- Build trust without carrying every decision yourself.
- Turn self-awareness into habits your team can see.
What changes: your impact.
How it starts
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01
A free 30-minute call
We talk about where you are and whether I'm the right fit. No cost, no pitch.
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02
An honest read
Three questions I ask myself before every big decision: What do I want out of this? Why is it worth my time? What's the path to get there?
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03
A plan you can act on
Sometimes it's as simple as pros and cons, side by side. It works. You leave with next steps, whether or not we keep working together.
From clients
“I felt stuck and unsure how to pivot in a competitive market. Working with Denise helped me reframe my experience and adjust how I was positioning the value I offer.”
“I initially thought I needed help with my resume, but Denise offered a more strategic perspective on what I was missing.”
Outside client work, I served on the board of Beautifully EmpowHERed, a nonprofit that supports women and girls through career development, mentorship, and mental health care. I still advise there as a mentor. Over the past three years I've helped three college-aged women prepare to enter the industries they've chosen.
I'm also an active member of The Lighthouse, the emotional intelligence community at EQ Applied. It's where I trade notes with other leaders on putting EQ to work in relationships, leadership, and hard decisions, and I bring what I learn there to my clients.
The memoir
Journey Up the Gravel Path
Grief, recovery, and finding the strength for the next step.
Get it on Amazon ›Free guide
Find the skills that travel with you
The Transferable Skills Mapping Guide I use with clients. Free PDF, no sign-up.
Download the guide ↓