Simone Gooden is an Executive Coach and Leadership Advisor with over 30 years of experience in leadership development, talent strategy, executive coaching, and team development. She is a trusted partner to leaders navigating complex business challenges. Her career spans leadership roles in Human Resources, Talent Planning, and Change Management, where she worked closely with executives to drive performance, enhance leadership effectiveness, and build high-performing teams. As an Executive/Leadership Development Leader, Simone facilitated executive coaching programs, guided leadership transitions, and supported leaders in developing initiatives to grow their leadership pipeline. Her expertise lies in helping leaders shift perspectives, unlock potential, and drive meaningful organizational impact.

Simone believes transformation starts with the leader. Her coaching philosophy centers on empowering leaders to challenge assumptions, embrace new approaches, and maximize their influence. She serves as a catalyst for growth, supporting executives in enhancing their leadership presence, decision-making, and team engagement. Her approach is both strategic and practical, balancing insight-driven reflection with actionable steps. Whether coaching executives through career transitions, strengthening leadership teams, or guiding individuals in navigating change, Simone ensures her clients achieve tangible, lasting results.

Simone holds a Masters degree in Human Resources Management from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, professional coaching credentials from New Ventures West, the NeuroLeadership Institute, and the Global Team Coaching Institute. She is certified in Hogan, Leadership Circle Profile, iEQ9 Integrative Enneagram, DISC/PIAV, and EQ-i2.0 assessments. Outside of coaching, she thrives on personal growth and embraces challenges that push her beyond her comfort zone. Whether it’s improv to sharpen real-time adaptability or salsa dancing to refine trust and flow, she continually seeks new ways to develop and grow, just as she inspires her clients to do. Simone lives in Davidson, NC.