David Goldsmith is a founder and longtime leader of the executive coaching profession. For more than 30 years, he’s expanded and improved coaching globally through training, advocacy, and organizational leadership. During that time, he’s also coached hundreds of executives and entrepreneurs to quickly achieve better results and greater success.

While personable and approachable, David is known for the speed and efficacy with which he helps clients solve difficult problems, make significant improvements and proceed directly to their goals. Insightful, incisive, and forthright, David is uniquely efficient in identifying opportunities, catalyzing progress, and delivering value.

David co-founded the Foundation of Coaching, now the Institute of Coaching at Harvard University Medical School. He served as the first president of Coach U, one of the oldest and most established coach training schools. He co-founded the International Coaching Federation (ICF), the largest association of coaches worldwide with over 50,000 members, and he trained the first coaches in Japan, helping establish the first Japanese coaching company, coacha.com.

As a thought leader and educator, David has organized innovative global coaching conferences and is a sought-out speaker and panelist at business, coaching, and academic summits.

In addition to educating other coaches, David serves as an executive coach to senior leaders worldwide in companies like Google, Meta, and Boston Consulting Group. Many of his clients work in the tech, healthcare, professional services, fintech, and construction industries.