Les Joynes | Coaching for Creativity - for Executives and Leaders in Technology, Innovation and the Creative Industries

Hi, I’m Les. I grew up in Santa Barbara, California—surrounded by coastal light, 35mm film rolls, and a childhood steeped in imagination. At age 15, I began studying under Disney cinematographer Wolfgang Lauter, learning to see the world through the lens of an Agfa Stilette rangefinder camera. By 18, I was exhibiting at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art. That early exposure to visual storytelling and creative discipline set the foundation for everything that followed.

My journey has taken me from advertising on Madison Avenue to management consulting in Brussels, to creative public diplomacy projects in India, China, and Mongolia as a Fulbright scholar. I’ve worked with startups in New York, mentored artists in Australia, England and Brazil and led cross-cultural leadership workshops in Europe and Asia.

Today, I coach at the intersection of imagination and innovation—supporting global leaders, founders, and creatives to lead with purpose, resilience, and clarity in times of transformation.

Creative Futures Require Creative Leadership

We’re living in a time shaped by generative AI, immersive experiences, and seismic shifts in how we work, lead, and create. To thrive in this environment, leaders need more than strategy—they need vision. They need the courage to question convention, the curiosity to explore what’s next, and the creative resilience to reimagine what’s possible.

As Columbia University’s first Research Scholar in Coaching and Creativity (Department of Organization & Leadership), I bring over two decades of global coaching and consulting experience into dialogue with the arts, technology, and design futures.

I’ve coached over 200 leaders in 20 countries—across AI, fintech, robotics, media, academia, and the arts. I currently serve as Coach in Residence at Columbia’s Startup Lab and lead private coaching for executives and creative founders seeking clarity, growth, and real-world impact.

What Does Creative Leadership Look Like in 2025?

It starts with mindset. Creative leadership isn’t just about innovation; it’s about integration—bringing together empathy, imagination, and strategy to create adaptive, human-centered futures.

The Creative Leader’s Toolkit:

• Growth-Oriented Thinking: View complexity as fuel for invention.

• Curiosity & Exploration: Bold questions and lateral thinking spark unexpected insights.

• Risk-Taking & Iteration: Innovation demands prototypes, not perfection.

• Empathy & Deep Listening: Trust and collaboration unlock collective creativity.

• Resilience & Adaptability: Navigate uncertainty with grounded clarity.

My Creative Coaching Approach: Strategic, Reflective, and Boldly Creative

Whether you’re launching a venture, scaling a team, or designing the future of your field, I offer:

• Personalized 1:1 Executive and Innovator Coaching

• Strategic Reflection & Creative Leadership Labs

• Peer Coaching Circles & Cross-Industry Learning

• Coaching for Founders, Artists, Technologists & Change-Makers

• Experiential Workshops on Creativity & Leadership

• Tools for Navigating AI, Storytelling & the Future of Work

Why This Work Matters Now

Today’s creative organizations are under pressure to deliver business results without losing their soul. Leaders are being asked to stretch farther—to bridge strategy with vision, scale with sustainability, and growth with human impact.

Creativity Coaching offers a reflective space to pause, reframe, and reimagine. I work with leaders and teams to:

• Translate bold vision into actionable outcomes

• Strengthen innovation and cross-functional collaboration

• Build creative cultures that thrive under pressure

• Lead with authenticity, presence, and courage

Bringing Creative Thinking to Global Leadership

I’m still a practicing artist, currently developing projects in India and New Zealand, and I continue to work with global executives to shape futures that are imaginative, inclusive, and impact-driven.

From the lens of a 15-year-old photographer to global boardrooms, my journey has always been about seeing differently—and helping others lead with that same visionary clarity.

Core Coaching Competencies

• Group Coaching & Leadership Development and Cross-Cultural Team Facilitation

• Leadership & 360 Assessment Debriefing and Strategic Planning & Goal Setting

• Human-Centric Development and Emotional Intelligence & Empathy Building

• Creative Problem Solving and Innovation and Creative industries coaching to writers, artists, engineers and management

• Entrepreneurship and start-up team coaching

Coaching Qualifications

• New York University certified coach (2019)

• Group Coach Training, GCHQ, New York (2021)

• GoldAward Creative Mentor Training, University of London (2020)

• MEA Trained Transitions Coach (2024)

Education

• Ph.D. (Art, Environment, and Technology), Leeds Metropolitan University, UK; MBA (Organizational Management), California State Polytechnic University, CA, M.Sc (International Management), Boston University and Vrije Universiteit Brussels; MA Sculpture, Musashino Art University, Tokyo, MA Fine Art, Goldsmiths, University of London, UK; BA Fine Art (Hons) Central St Martins College of Art & Design, London, UK; BA Cum Laude in History, Boston University, MA. Columbia University Visiting Scholar and Scientist Program. New York.

Testimonials 

“Dr. Joynes 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, Consultant, McKinsey & Company

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. Embassy

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. I highly recommend him. - Hugues Dongmo, Vice President, XBTO Humla Ventures, New York

Les’s unique coaching style blends his diverse training and deep experience in both creativity and management enabling him to work effectively with leaders as they build their pathways towards their professional and work-life balance goals. - Paulette Rao MCC, BCC

“I have known Les for thirty-five years from when we were both still studying at the VUB. He continues to impress me as smart, creative, out of the box, and people oriented. An active listener and coaching partner he demonstrates a unique ability to engage clients not only with coaching frameworks but also with a creative mindset which gives executives and leaders a vital edge in decision-making and planning. .” Karsten De Clerck, Chairman Vrije Universiteit Brussels (VUB), Global Senior Partner Egon Zehnder