About Jeff Purnell
True leadership isn’t just about what you achieve. It’s about who you become in the process.
That’s why I'm passionate about helping other executives navigate their own journeys, finding their path to authentic, confident leadership while addressing the internal challenges that often go unspoken.
Having been an executive leader for over 25 years, I remember the kinds of challenges you’re facing.
I spent my career in challenging, complex, and dynamic roles, and I know how difficult it can be to prioritize taking time out for your own development when you’re already stretched thin.
But I also know, from my experience both personally being coached in my career and as a coach seeing the impact on my clients, it will be a worthwhile investment of your time.
You probably Want OR NEED to:Lead more strategically
Scale and be successful at the executive level
Drive transformational change
Work effectively with conflict
Inspire and empower your team
Articulate your vision compellingly
Achieve work-life synergy
Accelerate your career progression
BUT YOU'RE Likely:Navigating uncharted waters
Feeling overwhelmed
Struggling with complexity and constant change
Feeling alone
Lacking personal fulfillment
Challenged to maintain work-life balance
As your coach, I’ll serve as your guide on a transformational journey of self-discovery and growth.
My goal is to help you not just succeed, but thrive – in your career and personal growth. As your trusted advisor, my role is to help you reach new insights and develop practices that lead you to the sustained changes you need to achieve the outcomes you desire. I’ve focused and streamlined my coaching process to drive accelerated results and help you lead with more confidence and ease and less stress and turmoil.
My Approach Is:
Practical & Solutions Oriented
My simple, streamlined, solution-oriented interventions and practical processes cut out redundancy and fluff and yield powerful results.
Responsive, Honest & Direct
I provide input and feedback with integrity and care that others haven’t or wouldn’t. I meet you where you are and respond to whatever arises.
Efficient & Precise
I take the friction out of the coaching process, so you can spend your scarce time efficiently and focused on your own development.
Holistic
I believe that everyone is good and capable. All our parts are interconnected and can be explained only by reference to the whole. I work with the whole person and see the client as part of the larger system that is the whole organization.
I’ve been in your shoes:I understand the disconnect between outward success and inner turmoil.
After 20 years in my engineering career, others saw me as an exceptional leader achieving notable success, but they didn’t realize I often grappled with self-doubt, a lack of confidence and persistent fears. I frequently felt like I was on a non-stop roller coaster, struggling to find balance and fulfillment. And, after decades focusing on tech, I found myself more enthusiastic about the people leadership and development part of my job. The stress of it all wore on me and held me back from reaching my full potential.
But then, in 2008, I unknowingly stepped onto the path that eventually led to my becoming a coach. While juggling the demands of a high-intensity job and raising three daughters with my wife of now 36 years, I was offered an unprecedented opportunity to lead leadership development for Cisco's global engineering organization – 30,000 people strong, and I took it. My new role perfectly blended my technical background with my growing passion for human development.
But I found myself in uncharted territory, realizing that developing people was fundamentally different from developing products, and I felt very alone. The skills that had served me well in engineering didn't always translate to this new domain, and I didn’t succeed right away. Pushed outside my comfort zone, I learned through on-the-job struggle and through the coach training and certification that I took during this time.
At the same time, my curiosity about psychology and spirituality grew, which led me to explore meditation, the Diamond Approach, a unique understanding of ancient spiritual wisdom and modern psychology, the Enneagram, and Hakomi, a mindfulness-based somatic therapy. These pursuits weren't just hobbies; they became lifelines that helped me navigate the complexities of my work, and of balancing a high-powered career with a rich family life over the next 12 years, as I advanced to executive leadership roles in Engineering, Operations, and Supply Chain, eventually becoming a Vice President.
Even when it wasn’t my primary focus, I never lost sight of the importance of coaching. Whether in multinational corporations or scrappy startups, I found opportunities to coach and be coached, experiencing firsthand the transformative power of this practice. As I approached early retirement, I realized how much coaching had helped me grow: I had finally reached a point where I led authentically, humbly, and confidently, bringing my full self to my role. No longer afraid to admit when I didn't know something, I had learned to step into unknowns, do my best, and trust in the process.
When I retired in Nov 2020, focusing on executive coaching was the natural way to put to use my experience, both as a coach and as a leader who benefitted immensely from coaching. It enables me to blend my passion and understanding for human development with my many years of my experience (and struggle) as an executive to help people suffer less and have more success and fulfillment in their lives.
“Jeff Purnell is an extraordinary coach whose guidance has been transformative for me. His insightful coaching style coupled with deep expertise has propelled my growth. With patience and wisdom, he navigated me through challenges, empowering me to exceed my potential. His dedication to my success has been invaluable, fostering not only professional development but personal growth. I am profoundly grateful for his mentorship, which has left an indelible impact on my journey. “
Vinod Metha, Vice President R&D, Nutanix