Valarie Gilbert is an executive coach and leadership consultant with a deep background in technology, financial services, and the creative industries. With over 25 years as a technology executive and more than 5,000 hours of leadership coaching experience, she brings a pragmatic, results-driven approach to leadership development, with a focus on team dynamics, executive presence, and organizational growth.
Valarie has coached leaders across early-stage startups and Fortune 100 firms—particularly founders, first-time executives, and senior leaders navigating rapid change. Her work spans industries including technology, healthcare, entertainment, media, and non-profits, supporting executives in building executive presence and confidence, high-performance teaming, aligning leadership priorities, and fostering cultures of trust and collaboration.
At the core of Valarie’s work is the belief that leadership is not about authority but about influence, clarity, and adaptability. Many of her clients enter leadership as subject-matter experts or founders without formal executive training. Valarie helps them bridge that gap by strengthening core leadership capabilities such as communication, executive presence, strategic thinking, and conflict navigation.
Her coaching and leadership workshops integrate behavioral science, leadership psychology, and systems thinking, providing leaders with both self-awareness and tactical strategies. She frequently works with executives who are:
• Scaling teams in high-growth environments
• Transitioning from operational to strategic leadership
• Navigating conflict and misalignment at the leadership level
• Building influence and executive presence across functions and geographies
• Leading diverse, remote, or hybrid teams with inclusion and trust
• Imposter syndrome and self-doubt
• Over-functioning and difficulty delegating
• Emotional fatigue from constant decision-making and change
Certifications & Education
Valarie holds certifications including:
• Professional Certified Coach (PCC) – International Coaching Federation
• “Becoming MCC” – Advanced Coaching Practicum (MCC Certification – In Progress)
• Leadership Coaching for Organizational Performance – Rutgers University
• Diversity, Equity & Inclusion & Executive Women Leadership – Cornell University
• Organizational & Relationship Systems Coaching (ORSC™)
• Hogan, DISC, 12 Driving Forces, and 360 Feedback
• Positive Intelligence
She earned an M.S. in Engineering from the University of Pittsburgh and a B.S. from Carnegie Mellon University.