“Exceptional leaders go beyond the expected. They demonstrate courage, encourage collaboration and foster innovation.”
~ Maria Arnone
Maria Arnone
I provide executive coaching to global clients in Media/Entertainment, Financial Services, Creative Services and Technology. With over a decade of experience coaching leaders of Fortune 100 companies, my work focuses on high performers and the challenges that drive them and their organizations toward achieving exceptional goals. A defining moment in my coaching practice was stimulated by involvement with a growing practice in the investment banking world – assigning coheads to jointly lead a business. I decided to take an objective look at the practice. My clients responded enthusiastically to the invitation to explore this topic. Conversations led to insights about the dynamics in the relationship between competitive high performing leaders. Intensive work with media giants, including The New York Times and Viacom followed. My work with pairs of executives expanded. The focus remains to strengthen the effectiveness of leaders through an intentional process that explores the dynamics in peer relationships. I believe that chemistry alone is often overrated and can eclipse the constructive relationship benefits that emerge from diverse styles and thinking. In my experience, working beyond the limitations of chemistry yields more productive, powerful leadership alliances among my coaching clients.
My academic and coaching credentials include Master Coach Certified by the International Coaching Federation, Newfield Network, Gestalt International Studies Center, MBA, Stern School of Business, New York University and Graduate Studies, University of London. Prior to dedicating myself to executive coaching, I co-founded the MSP Institute, a global education and research organization specializing in designing business simulations to develop leadership skills.
Expertise
My coaching engagements begin with understanding my client’s business strategy and the leadership skills needed to execute it.
For the individual, I gain an understanding of the executive’s leadership style, values, strengths, and the stressors that get in their way. This information is acquired through a thorough, constructive and thoughtful process that includes behavioral evaluation tools, as well as interviews with relevant others such as peers or subordinates
INDIVIDUAL EXECUTIVE COACHING
Individual leadership coaching can be initiated by the executive or their organization. In either case, the goal is to strengthen the best of what already exists and to ensure that the positive results are felt on the job and beyond. Often, having private counsel to provide a perspective can define and challenge their views, resulting in strengthening overall effectiveness.
Leadership Peer Coaching (Co-heads)
Coaching for executive peers has gained considerable traction in my business. I focus on creating mutual understanding and respect between rivals that often benefits from the guidance of a neutral resource. It works. The result is a breakthrough in stalled momentum and the creation of a solid platform for taking action going forward.
Coaching for Early Career Leaders
Taking intentional action to build bench strength has served as a competitive differentiator in highly successful companies for decades. My coaching work with early-career leaders ensures that leadership succession becomes part of the organization’s culture versus merely a dormant plan.
Leadership Blog
Three Reasons Why Acquisitions Fail and How to Ensure Success
Initial acquisition agreements represent a scenario of possibilities and excitement, yet over 75% of the acquired firms lose value in the first year. Why does it happen that time and time again the...
Three Relationship Mistakes by Entrepreneurs (and how to avoid them)
Have you ever had a strong peer relationship that unexpectedly surprised or disappointed you? Not an open conflict, because the disagreement was resolved enough to move forward. Yet the rupture was...
Strengthening Shared Leadership
How can an organization support two executives newly appointed to share responsibilities for taking over an important function which was suffering morale setbacks resulting from a volatile and...
When Chemistry Sparks Like a Faulty Wire
What can you do when peers are having a negative impact on you? Chemistry doesn’t have to rule your relationships and addressing this can increase your effectiveness. What follows is a case study...
Coaching in an “Us vs Them” Environment
The animosity between Alex and Carlos extended beyond their immediate encounters in the business. Their direct reports were careful to align their allegiance within their group. Both groups...
Decision making differences
“They brought me in for my experience and contacts. We had a good year, yet I am laboring under a boss who second guesses me, and makes my life difficult. My review was devastating. I am thinking of...