Career Coaching

Career Coaching for 21st Century Careers.

The way we work has transformed. Careers now unfold across global, hybrid, and fast-changing environments, where professionals often combine traditional roles with freelance, contract, and entrepreneurial pathways. As an NYU trained coach, I approach career development as a space for self-discovery, strategy, and agency—supporting individuals to shape their paths with clarity, confidence, and purpose.

About: A coach at Columbia University I coach executives and leaders in technology, healthcare, fintech, robotics, education, government and consulting. I also support founders and entrepreneurs and emerging leaders in the New York City ecosystem. I have worked internationally across Asia, Europe, and the U.S., helping individuals build agency, author their own pathways, and make aligned career decisions. Together, we clarify strengths, values, and direction; Identify skill gaps and growth opportunities; shape compelling career narratives; Build strategic networks and industry connections; Prepare for applications, interviews, and transitions; navigate entrepreneurial and portfolio careers. Coaching Focus: I work with individuals and teams to develop: personal Growth: clarity, resilience, and accountability; Leadership: decision-making, influence, and impact; collaboration: communication, trust, and emotional intelligence; creativity & Innovation: idea generation and problem-solving; navigating change with strategy and confidence; cultural Agility: working effectively across diverse environments. My work integrates coaching, mentoring, and parallel learning models—supporting clients to think systemically, act creatively, and adapt across contexts. Coach Training: New York University Coaching Certification; GCHQ Group Coaching Training; Coaching Research, Department of Organization and Leadership, Teachers College, Columbia University; MEA-trained TQ coach training; University of London GoldAward Mentor Training. Education: MBA (California State University); M.Sc Management (Boston University / Vrije Universiteit Brussels); MA (University of London); MA Japan); PhD (UK)

Coaching Experience: Building on my consulting practice, I began coaching in 2000. I have coached executives and leaders in technology, healthcare, fintech, robotics, education, government and consulting. I also support founders and entrepreneurs through Columbia and the European Union. I have coached leaders who have gone on to thriving careers at HSBC, Bayer, Department of State, McKinsey, Apple, Morgan Stanley and Amazon. I have also developed coaching workshops at Yale, University of Melbourne, California State University. I bring experience as a management consultant, advising organizations such as 3M, DuPont, General Electric, General Motors, Dow, Exxon, and Bayer—grounding my coaching in real-world strategy and leadership.

Coaching Philosophy: Coaching is both practice and art—integrating analytical thinking with creativity and intuition. My coaching practice is grounded in the belief that education and careers are evolving, living processes. Coaching supports individuals to navigate complexity, expand awareness, and engage in meaningful, sustained growth.

Selected Testimonials

• “Les is a phenomenal coach who influences how I think, plan, and act, to achieve my ambitions and maximize my potential. His methods combine creative and strategic problem solving techniques that ensure that the paths I define and choose simplify complexities and focus on the most important outcomes. Our work has helped me grow as a more impactful partner to my clients and influential leader and member on my teams” - Peter Sun | Consultant, McKinsey & Company

• “I’ve had the pleasure of working with Dr. Les Joynes as my leadership coach since 2020. Through our coaching sessions, I gained strategic tools to build professional clarity, set meaningful career and life goals, and cultivate a growth mindset—skills that are essential for the evolving future of work in the pharmaceutical industry. With his professional training and deep understanding of the healthcare landscape, Les is an exceptional coaching partner. He asks insightful questions, listens with intention, and creates a thoughtful space for reflection and visioning. I wholeheartedly recommend him to any leader or team seeking to grow with purpose.” - Cathy Chuang, US Marketing, Alzheimer’s Disease, Eisai Pharma, former Bayer AG.

• “As a Creative Leadership Coach, Les understands how to effectively engage clients on their unique professional journeys. Each session is filled with "a-ha" moments of insight where I felt inspired and prepared to progress (with actionable steps and insights to reflect on) to achieve a range of creative professional projects and goals. I fully recommend him as a coach to anyone seeking to advance, pivot, and/or think through the challenges that come with advancing in (and beyond) one’s chosen disciplines"  - Dr. Chelsea Coon | Author of Performance as Transformation through Endurance (Rowman & Littlefield)

• “Coaching is recognized today as a value-add resource for international organizations, diplomatic communities and government working in multi-cultural environments. It is my pleasure to recommend Dr. Les Joynes as an experienced and thoughtful leadership coach. Experienced across thirty-five countries, Les works alongside leaders and teams to build strategic goals, team effectiveness, mission focus, and maintain work-life balance”  - Anthony Diaz | Chief, Political and Economic Affairs, U.S. Department of State and Political advisor to the US Mission to the United Nations

• “As a venture capital professional, it's easy to get caught up in a daily routine and relegate career development decisions to our "someday" to-do list. A leadership coach, Dr. Joynes engaged unique approaches to align my professional and personal goals and work-life balance.” - Hugues Dongmo | Vice President, XBTO Humla Ventures, New York