My Expertise

Dave O’Connor is a renowned executive coach and thought leader whose work centers on helping high-achieving men and women rediscover meaning, confidence, and clarity. With a unique blend of empathy and pragmatism, Dave has empowered countless executives, business owners, and industry leaders to navigate the complexities of life’s prime years, aligning their professional success with personal fulfillment.

Dave is an International Coaching Federation (ICF) Associate Certified Coach (ACC) with over 500 hours of coaching experience. His coaching education includes training from the Co-Active Training Institute, the Harvard Institute of Coaching, and Dr. David Drake, the creator of the Five Maturities and founder of The Moment Institute, as well as independent study. He also engages in ongoing coach supervision with Katie Drescher, JD, MCC, ESIA, SP.

Dave’s most powerful work happens with influential, emotionally intelligent leaders at inflection points—clients who are both accomplished and open. They carry significant responsibility in their roles, and they crave courage more than advice. They don’t need to be told what to do; they need a partner who helps them see more—more possibilities, more clarity, more meaning in the decisions that impact others. These are the kinds of people Dave most admires, and helping them lead with even more depth and vision is how he makes his own impact on the world.

My Dream Clients
”I work with leaders whose decisions carry real weight—executives, founders, and partners navigating pivotal, people-centered moments. My dream clients are already accomplished, but they’re open—open to being stretched, to learning, to being surprised by their own depth. They seek more than confidence; they want the courage to face consequential choices with clarity, humanity, and conviction. These are the people I admire most, and the ones I’m proudest to serve.”

Away From Coaching

Dave and his wife, Meg, live in Lake Forest, Illinois, where they enjoy the charm of the local community and take frequent walks with their two spirited terriers. A lover of golf and standup comedy, Dave also finds creative expression through fine art drawing and painting, which brings a meditative balance to his work.