“Don is my CEO sherpa. He is an intellectual superstar with a unique set of skills, approaches and attributes that allow you to benefit from every interaction with him. He provides a platform for an outrageously open and honest conversation. It’s a tremendous value for any CEO to have a safe haven for those kinds of conversations. He is making me be a better CEO and brings out the excellence that can be achieved throughout my organization. In my opinion, Don’s coaching is a gift to the business world.”

Michael George

CEO, Continuum Managed Services

“Don is one of the most senior coaches I’ve ever met. With him, I feel a continuous progression in my coaching. He always brings the conversation to the next level. He’s great at going under the surface so that I am able to deal with harder and more challenging topics. His coaching made a big difference on how I work with my team and I was able to leverage our power more. Don’s approach is very effective. I highly recommend him.”

Francesco Balestrieri

Region Head Central Eastern Europe, Middle East & Africa, Sandoz International

“I believe mood really matters. It shapes outcomes. Before people go into a meeting, are they afraid or motivated? When they come in, do you break the tension or create tension? Do you add value? When they leave, are they tired or inspired? Don coached me and modeled for our team how to elevate above the pressure, tension and fear that may be in the room and create something that allows people to let all that go so they can get on with trying to figure out solutions.”

Brian McNamara

CEO, GSK Consumer Healthcare

“Don’s work on the power of mood as an important leadership capacity is a culmination of his own personal journey as an entrepreneur, organizational leader, and trusted adviser to senior leaders of global businesses. His current initiative, The Exuberant Leader, is the capstone of his personal journey as a human being and global citizen. He lives exuberance in action in a way that lifts people all over the world to realize their potential.”

Saj-nicole A. Joni

CEO, Cambridge International Group Ltd. and Author of The Right Fight, The Third Opinion and Get Big Things Done - The Power of Connectional Intelligence

“I value Don’s coaching, guidance and friendship. He’s more than a coach – Don is a great partner. He’s made me a much more effective leader and to be more insightful in dealing with difficult situations. I first worked with Don ten years ago; it’s a testament to the quality and depth of his coaching that — after a series of expanded leadership positions in my career —  I am now back with him again. Not only do I find Don’s coaching to be so effective; I really enjoy my time with him. We have a great foundational relationship built on respect and trust which allows us to have deeply open and honest conversations. I would definitely recommend him to any leader who wants to try coaching.”

James Cote

Senior Vice President Ambulatory Services, BayCare Health System

“Don has helped change my perspective about how and where I can have the greatest influence and, in doing so, expanded my reach, involvement and value across the business. I’ve also learned from him the importance of taking time out to really think about what I want to do and how to get there. Don’s approachable style and easy manner were a perfect match and helped me reach a higher level of performance.”

Colin Mackenzie

Region Head of the Americas, GSK Consumer Healthcare

“I was at ease from the first time I met Don. Knowing that he truly cared about me allowed for a deep and meaningful relationship to develop. Don has a remarkable professional skill set. He was able to listen and provide very thoughtful commentary which enabled me and my leadership team to get clearer direction on the work we were doing. Don is high quality. I would highly recommend him.”

Susan Viccaro

Newburyport, Massachusetts Superintendent of Schools, Newburyport School District

“If you are prepared to have a coach who is “all in”, then Don is definitely your guy.  He invested a lot of time understanding the unique dynamics of my situation as I pursued the transition from busy corporate executive to a more entrepreneurial lifestyle.  As a result, Don was able to help me gauge each stage of the process, identify that which was energizing (rather than merely stressful) and maintain the balance between personal and professional sides of the equation. I would absolutely recommend him.”

Andrew Borggaard

Founder & CEO, BearBrook Group, LLC

Don has an amazing ability to quickly understand the dynamics of a situation and to see an issue from multiple key angles. He is a wonderful counterpart, keeping me on course, pushing me to think bigger all while highlighting the balance of my personal well being. Don believes in me and wants me to succeed. It is so helpful to have that sounding board and external perspective. I could never have persevered through some very challenging times without Don’s support. My work with Don has been instrumental in my growth and has made me a better leader.

Rupa Bahri

US Business Unit Leader, Digestive Health, GSK Consumer Healthcare

“Don has vast experience in the business world. His practical guidance and insights were very helpful to me as I navigated through a complex business environment. He played a very important role in helping me establish myself as a leader in the organization and drive the growth agenda. Don has immense listening capacity, that, coupled with his high social intelligence, enabled him to relate quickly to the challenges I face. He’s more than a coach. Don is a partner. I highly recommend him!”

Vijay Zutshi

Head-Business Development & Strategy, Sandoz International

“Don has already generated new levels of integrity and responsibility in the business community with all the people he’s coached. And his deep contentment, appreciation, and gratitude can generate the possibility of life becoming magical, enthusiastic, uplifting, joyful for anyone in his presence.”

Lynne Twist

Author of The Soul of Money and President, The Soul of Money Institute and Co-founder, The Pachamama Alliance

“Don is my ‘hero coach’: he has the rare ability to help me generate rich personal insights out of a casual conversation. He pairs deep wisdom with positivity, kindness, sincerity, and approachability. And his friendly demeanor gets my team talking and creating the ‘positive smell of the place.”

Stefan Kundert

Healthcare/Pharmaceutical Region CEO, Novartis OTC

“What I appreciate about Don and his work is that he models to us all that we have a choice about where we give our attention and energy. Rather than focusing on antagonism, conflict and man’s inhumanity to man, he concentrates on what’s right with the world—exuberance, cooperation, our humanity—and gives himself to growing these.”

Sam Horn

Author of POP! and CEO of Intrigue Agency

“Don would always push me to find the next level and he did it in a positive way. He consistently urged me to get out of my comfort area and find ways to be bold. This was not some academic exercise—it was a real life process targeting real life goals. Don Arnoudse has had an enormous impact on me and in my ability to go after and live out my dreams.”

John Heller

Former CEO, Heller Seasonings and Ingredients, Inc.

“We really need to find ways to create hope in the midst of difficult circumstances and to have the clarity, commitment, and faith to keep going. Being in relationship with Don, you experience a quality of grace. He balances the tension of living in the gap between our current realities—situations that can be complex, challenging, overwhelming, or seemingly too polarized to find resolution—and a future possibility. He lives with these two opposites—reality and possibility—in a way that fully acknowledges paradox, being part of the mystery of what it means to be fully alive on the planet today.”

Steve Boyd

Partner, MacDonald Boyd and Associates

“From the start, Don was extremely helpful in reframing my approach to leading and managing the organization. He helped me look squarely at areas where communication and trust had broken down and regard those dynamics as growth opportunities for myself, for other employees, and for the organization. Don was a key catalyst to fundamental changes in my performance as a leader which have led to some important and very positive developments in my organization.”

Phil Warburg

Former President, Conservation Law Foundation (Boston, MA)

“There’s a calming presence and a no nonsense wisdom about Don—no matter what is going on around him. He’s like a masterful conductor. He knows how to keep people on point with what really needs to be accomplished. He can be in a room full of people saying a lot of different things and even if they all sound like they’re just tuning up their instruments and not everybody’s playing together, he has a knack of getting everybody aligned and playing together so it sounds like a well-tuned orchestra.”

Laura Roberts

CEO, Pantheon Enterprises, Inc

“To my mind, an exuberant workplace is all about bringing purpose into the power of business. In the worlds we inhabit, we often see businesses that lack heart and non-profits that lack head. We see enterprises that believe they have no other reason to exist than to maximize profit. And we see non-profits rejecting the idea they should be judged on their performance, not their intentions. We need to bring those two together. All entities should be using their power to enhance their purpose. Don clearly has a commitment to the full blossoming of potential in individuals and organizations. With him, it’s not about contradicting ideals with what’s reasonable or realistic. It’s about bringing reason to idealism. Often people either bring their heads or their heart. He’s integrated both, and can motivate others to be both pragmatic and practical in advancing ideals. He contributes his whole self, adding a sense of humanity to the process.”

Bill Shireman

President and CEO, Future 500

“Exuberance gets conveyed in the quality of Don’s listening, his posture and tone of voice, his deep responses. People are always talking about the power of disruptive technologies. I think the most disruptive technology to old ideas is creating an environment where possibilities are really entertained and nurtured. In the presence of Don’s exuberance, you’re entering a land where all things are possible. It’s a beautiful environment for generating things that are new, things that haven’t been done before, things outside conventional thinking.”

Stephen Josephs

Co-author of Leadership Agility and Principal, Stephen Josephs, LLC

“Being in Don’s presence reminds me to be in touch with my own exuberance, to reclaim my joy, to always do what enlivens me.”

Alexandria Hilton

Founder and CEO, Eurous Global Executive Leadership LLC

“Enthusiasm for me is a high, high virtue. That’s what I get from Don. Enthusiasm. If you go to the roots of the word “enthusiasm”, it comes from the Greek ‘en’ + ‘theos,’ meaning ‘in God’. Working with someone who experiences enthusiasm is easy. A good part of the work is done already.”

Julio Olalla

Founder, Newfield Network

“Don is an expert at exuberance himself. When I talk to him, the state of mind in which I exit the conversation is completely different to what I go in with. He changes my energy to something very positive, forward-looking, and optimistic … in spite of whatever challenging circumstances I may be in. He is an embodiment of exuberance and my energy literally shifts after speaking with him. He’s always smiling: just looking at him infuses a different mood into the conversation.”

Vineet Singhal

Country Head , Baxalta India (now part of Shire)

“Don has great insight and experience, a warm and supportive manner, and is not judgmental. We all have room to grow—and Don has been an important part of my growth this past year. This coaching experience was clearly a journey—one that I welcomed as I stepped back and looked at changes I wanted to make. I’m very grateful that I had Don as my guide on this journey.”

Sue Schade

Former Chief Information Officer, Brigham and Women’s Hospital (Boston)

“He has a rare ability to connect to people on all levels, from all age groups and backgrounds. He speaks a language that people can understand no matter where they’re coming from.”

Kate McManus

Chiropractic Physician and Licensed Acupuncturist

“Don’s personal legacy is courage and heart. He pushes the envelope for himself and others yet in a wonderfully compassionate way. His professional legacy lies in his commitment to make a difference wherever he goes and with whomever he visits. His unstinting commitment is the root of real leadership and partnership.”

Vince DiBianca

Founding Partner, DiBianca and Associates LLC

“Don has a remarkable capacity to hold the space of a conversation, regardless of where it moves. Whether someone is expressing intense joy or tremendous emotional pain, he’s uniquely skilled at holding the space in a gentle but powerful way and then asking the kind of questions that go right to the heart of the matter. He listens into what’s going on and then says or asks something that just catches you and causes you to think differently about the situation.”

Emily Puetz

Co-founder & Education Practice Leader , Ideas2Impact

“Don is my CEO sherpa. He is an intellectual superstar with a unique set of skills, approaches and attributes that allow you to benefit from every interaction with him. He provides a platform for an outrageously open and honest conversation. It’s a tremendous value for any CEO to have a safe haven for those kinds of conversations. He is making me be a better CEO and brings out the excellence that can be achieved throughout my organization. In my opinion, Don’s coaching is a gift to the business world.”

Michael George

CEO, Continuum Managed Services

“Don is one of the most senior coaches I’ve ever met. With him, I feel a continuous progression in my coaching. He always brings the conversation to the next level. He’s great at going under the surface so that I am able to deal with harder and more challenging topics. His coaching made a big difference on how I work with my team and I was able to leverage our power more. Don’s approach is very effective. I highly recommend him.”

Francesco Balestrieri

Region Head Central Eastern Europe, Middle East & Africa, Sandoz International

“I believe mood really matters. It shapes outcomes. Before people go into a meeting, are they afraid or motivated? When they come in, do you break the tension or create tension? Do you add value? When they leave, are they tired or inspired? Don coached me and modeled for our team how to elevate above the pressure, tension and fear that may be in the room and create something that allows people to let all that go so they can get on with trying to figure out solutions.”

Brian McNamara

CEO, GSK Consumer Healthcare

“Don’s work on the power of mood as an important leadership capacity is a culmination of his own personal journey as an entrepreneur, organizational leader, and trusted adviser to senior leaders of global businesses. His current initiative, The Exuberant Leader, is the capstone of his personal journey as a human being and global citizen. He lives exuberance in action in a way that lifts people all over the world to realize their potential.”

Saj-nicole A. Joni

CEO, Cambridge International Group Ltd. and Author of The Right Fight, The Third Opinion and Get Big Things Done - The Power of Connectional Intelligence

“I value Don’s coaching, guidance and friendship. He’s more than a coach – Don is a great partner. He’s made me a much more effective leader and to be more insightful in dealing with difficult situations. I first worked with Don ten years ago; it’s a testament to the quality and depth of his coaching that — after a series of expanded leadership positions in my career —  I am now back with him again. Not only do I find Don’s coaching to be so effective; I really enjoy my time with him. We have a great foundational relationship built on respect and trust which allows us to have deeply open and honest conversations. I would definitely recommend him to any leader who wants to try coaching.”

James Cote

Senior Vice President Ambulatory Services , BayCare Health System

“Don has helped change my perspective about how and where I can have the greatest influence and, in doing so, expanded my reach, involvement and value across the business. I’ve also learned from him the importance of taking time out to really think about what I want to do and how to get there. Don’s approachable style and easy manner were a perfect match and helped me reach a higher level of performance.”

Colin Mackenzie

Region Head of the Americas, GSK Consumer Healthcare

“I was at ease from the first time I met Don. Knowing that he truly cared about me allowed for a deep and meaningful relationship to develop. Don has a remarkable professional skill set. He was able to listen and provide very thoughtful commentary which enabled me and my leadership team to get clearer direction on the work we were doing. Don is high quality. I would highly recommend him.”

Susan Viccaro

Newburyport, Massachusetts Superintendent of Schools, Newburyport School District

“If you are prepared to have a coach who is “all in”, then Don is definitely your guy.  He invested a lot of time understanding the unique dynamics of my situation as I pursued the transition from busy corporate executive to a more entrepreneurial lifestyle.  As a result, Don was able to help me gauge each stage of the process, identify that which was energizing (rather than merely stressful) and maintain the balance between personal and professional sides of the equation. I would absolutely recommend him.”

Andrew Borggaard

Founder & CEO, BearBrook Group, LLC

Don has an amazing ability to quickly understand the dynamics of a situation and to see an issue from multiple key angles. He is a wonderful counterpart, keeping me on course, pushing me to think bigger all while highlighting the balance of my personal well being. Don believes in me and wants me to succeed. It is so helpful to have that sounding board and external perspective. I could never have persevered through some very challenging times without Don’s support. My work with Don has been instrumental in my growth and has made me a better leader.

Rupa Bahri

US Business Unit Leader, Digestive Health, GSK Consumer Healthcare

“Don has vast experience in the business world. His practical guidance and insights were very helpful to me as I navigated through a complex business environment. He played a very important role in helping me establish myself as a leader in the organization and drive the growth agenda. Don has immense listening capacity, that, coupled with his high social intelligence, enabled him to relate quickly to the challenges I face. He’s more than a coach. Don is a partner. I highly recommend him!”

Vijay Zutshi

Head-Business Development & Strategy, Sandoz International

“Don has already generated new levels of integrity and responsibility in the business community with all the people he’s coached. And his deep contentment, appreciation, and gratitude can generate the possibility of life becoming magical, enthusiastic, uplifting, joyful for anyone in his presence.”

Lynne Twist

Author of The Soul of Money and President, The Soul of Money Institute and Co-founder, The Pachamama Alliance

“Don is my ‘hero coach’: he has the rare ability to help me generate rich personal insights out of a casual conversation. He pairs deep wisdom with positivity, kindness, sincerity, and approachability. And his friendly demeanor gets my team talking and creating the ‘positive smell of the place.”

Stefan Kundert

Healthcare/Pharmaceutical Region CEO, Novartis OTC

“What I appreciate about Don and his work is that he models to us all that we have a choice about where we give our attention and energy. Rather than focusing on antagonism, conflict and man’s inhumanity to man, he concentrates on what’s right with the world—exuberance, cooperation, our humanity—and gives himself to growing these.”

Sam Horn

Author of POP! and CEO of Intrigue Agency

“Don would always push me to find the next level and he did it in a positive way. He consistently urged me to get out of my comfort area and find ways to be bold. This was not some academic exercise—it was a real life process targeting real life goals. Don Arnoudse has had an enormous impact on me and in my ability to go after and live out my dreams.”

John Heller

Former CEO, Heller Seasonings and Ingredients, Inc.

“We really need to find ways to create hope in the midst of difficult circumstances and to have the clarity, commitment, and faith to keep going. Being in relationship with Don, you experience a quality of grace. He balances the tension of living in the gap between our current realities—situations that can be complex, challenging, overwhelming, or seemingly too polarized to find resolution—and a future possibility. He lives with these two opposites—reality and possibility—in a way that fully acknowledges paradox, being part of the mystery of what it means to be fully alive on the planet today.”

Steve Boyd

Partner, MacDonald Boyd and Associates

“From the start, Don was extremely helpful in reframing my approach to leading and managing the organization. He helped me look squarely at areas where communication and trust had broken down and regard those dynamics as growth opportunities for myself, for other employees, and for the organization. Don was a key catalyst to fundamental changes in my performance as a leader which have led to some important and very positive developments in my organization.”

Phil Warburg

Former President, Conservation Law Foundation (Boston, MA)

“There’s a calming presence and a no nonsense wisdom about Don—no matter what is going on around him. He’s like a masterful conductor. He knows how to keep people on point with what really needs to be accomplished. He can be in a room full of people saying a lot of different things and even if they all sound like they’re just tuning up their instruments and not everybody’s playing together, he has a knack of getting everybody aligned and playing together so it sounds like a well-tuned orchestra.”

Laura Roberts

CEO, Pantheon Enterprises, Inc

“To my mind, an exuberant workplace is all about bringing purpose into the power of business. In the worlds we inhabit, we often see businesses that lack heart and non-profits that lack head. We see enterprises that believe they have no other reason to exist than to maximize profit. And we see non-profits rejecting the idea they should be judged on their performance, not their intentions. We need to bring those two together. All entities should be using their power to enhance their purpose. Don clearly has a commitment to the full blossoming of potential in individuals and organizations. With him, it’s not about contradicting ideals with what’s reasonable or realistic. It’s about bringing reason to idealism. Often people either bring their heads or their heart. He’s integrated both, and can motivate others to be both pragmatic and practical in advancing ideals. He contributes his whole self, adding a sense of humanity to the process.”

Bill Shireman

President and CEO, Future 500

“Exuberance gets conveyed in the quality of Don’s listening, his posture and tone of voice, his deep responses. People are always talking about the power of disruptive technologies. I think the most disruptive technology to old ideas is creating an environment where possibilities are really entertained and nurtured. In the presence of Don’s exuberance, you’re entering a land where all things are possible. It’s a beautiful environment for generating things that are new, things that haven’t been done before, things outside conventional thinking.”

Stephen Josephs

Co-author of Leadership Agility and Principal, Stephen Josephs, LLC

“Being in Don’s presence reminds me to be in touch with my own exuberance, to reclaim my joy, to always do what enlivens me.”

Alexandria Hilton

Founder and CEO, Eurous Global Executive Leadership LLC

“Enthusiasm for me is a high, high virtue. That’s what I get from Don. Enthusiasm. If you go to the roots of the word “enthusiasm”, it comes from the Greek ‘en’ + ‘theos,’ meaning ‘in God’. Working with someone who experiences enthusiasm is easy. A good part of the work is done already.”

Julio Olalla

Founder, Newfield Network

“Don is an expert at exuberance himself. When I talk to him, the state of mind in which I exit the conversation is completely different to what I go in with. He changes my energy to something very positive, forward-looking, and optimistic … in spite of whatever challenging circumstances I may be in. He is an embodiment of exuberance and my energy literally shifts after speaking with him. He’s always smiling: just looking at him infuses a different mood into the conversation.”

Vineet Singhal

Country Head , Baxalta India (now part of Shire)

“Don has great insight and experience, a warm and supportive manner, and is not judgmental. We all have room to grow—and Don has been an important part of my growth this past year. This coaching experience was clearly a journey—one that I welcomed as I stepped back and looked at changes I wanted to make. I’m very grateful that I had Don as my guide on this journey.”

Sue Schade

Former Chief Information Officer, Brigham and Women’s Hospital (Boston)

“He has a rare ability to connect to people on all levels, from all age groups and backgrounds. He speaks a language that people can understand no matter where they’re coming from.”

Kate McManus

Chiropractic Physician and Licensed Acupuncturist

“Don’s personal legacy is courage and heart. He pushes the envelope for himself and others yet in a wonderfully compassionate way. His professional legacy lies in his commitment to make a difference wherever he goes and with whomever he visits. His unstinting commitment is the root of real leadership and partnership.”

Vince DiBianca

Founding Partner, DiBianca and Associates LLC

“Don has a remarkable capacity to hold the space of a conversation, regardless of where it moves. Whether someone is expressing intense joy or tremendous emotional pain, he’s uniquely skilled at holding the space in a gentle but powerful way and then asking the kind of questions that go right to the heart of the matter. He listens into what’s going on and then says or asks something that just catches you and causes you to think differently about the situation.”

Emily Puetz

Co-founder & Education Practice Leader , Ideas2Impact