Executive Coaching Testimonials · Sydney

Named voices. Real organisations.
Substantive change.

Real, named, LinkedIn-verifiable testimonials from CEOs, managing directors and senior executives Dan Auerbach has coached. Each one writes under their full name and current role. Organised below by corporate leaders and private company founder CEOs.

Senior leaders at

Westpac AMP Macquarie Bank National Australia Bank Goldman Sachs Woolworths Allianz TPG Telecom Sonic Healthcare Knight Frank Super Retail Group M&C Saatchi UNSW NRMA Insurance Perpetual Tourism Australia NSW Government Westpac AMP Macquarie Bank National Australia Bank Goldman Sachs Woolworths Allianz TPG Telecom Sonic Healthcare Knight Frank Super Retail Group M&C Saatchi UNSW NRMA Insurance Perpetual Tourism Australia NSW Government

Part One

Corporate leaders. CEOs, C-suite, senior executives.

Leaders running, or carrying executive responsibility inside, listed companies, professional services firms, government agencies and major institutions. Coaching engagements that ran across complex transitions, board pressure, and senior team performance.

“

Dan worked with the M&C Saatchi Senior Leadership group in various capacities including Executive Coaching, consulting, and group facilitation. He connected with a large number of executives and senior leaders with extremely positive feedback across the board. Dan is engaging and highly insightful, bringing valuable perspectives on team dynamics and leadership functioning that have been immediately helpful. The work elevated the team's ability to meet complex challenges and opportunities of today's fast-changing workplace.

Justin Graham

CEO · M&C Saatchi

“

Dan has a unique ability to absorb complex information and extract salient leadership challenges. He discerns the point of one's growing edge in leadership and takes you back into scenarios for further development. He helped uncover emotions, thoughts and behaviours, presenting them back in ways that greatly expanded awareness. Direct reports spontaneously commented on positive changes in leadership and demeanor. Dan was an invaluable ally managing stress and workload during Covid, helping develop better perspective, work-life balance and wellbeing.

Carmen Rechbauer

CEO · NSW Healthcare

“

Stepping into the Managing Director role was significant. Dan's coaching was instrumental in supporting the transition, providing invaluable guidance on activating teams for high performance, working effectively at senior levels, and navigating a much larger role. His coaching combines deep insight with practical guidance and unwavering support. He helped maintain focus on key priorities and approach the role with advanced leadership. The coaching supported better balance of multiple demands and empowered driving meaningful outcomes with the team.

Jeremy Robotham

Managing Director · Knight Frank

“

Dan fostered deep reflection, growth, and a powerful 'unlocking' effect over a couple of years of partnership. His thoughtful and intuitive approach helps leaders navigate complex challenges, recognize potential, and step into greater confidence and capability. Wholeheartedly recommended for anyone seeking a trusted partner for executive leadership development.

Angela Uther

General Manager Talent, Leadership & Capability · Super Retail Group

“

Dan demonstrated excellent technical skills in psychology and coaching with clear commercial acumen and understanding of business operations. Conversations moved quickly and efficiently with clear, specific, relevant questions that challenged, the types of questions that had been missing. Benefits included getting to the right focus quickly with results flowing more easily. No hesitation recommending him to any CEO or Executive Leader seeking to elevate effectiveness to the next level.

David Johansson

Director, Strategy, Performance & Reporting · AMP

“

With rapid expansion, communication between business units was lacking with misaligned priorities and little accountability. Dan worked with the senior team, helping each become highly functioning executive team members. Dan has an uncanny ability to connect with various personalities, recognize growth potential, and motivate trying new engagement ways. The program had major business impact with more accountability, aligned and completed projects, and a team that now looks forward to working together.

Kiril Ruvinksky

Director · Strategic Private Wealth

“

Dan is an asset to executives looking to realize strategy through improved collaboration. He supported leaders with coaching to develop advanced collaboration and communication skills critical to executing ambitious digital transformation strategy.

Julie Whitfield

Chief Information Officer · Treasury NSW

“

Dan's approach helped understand behaviours underlying 360-degree review results. With his guidance and provocation, deeper understanding of personal psychology and why approaching situations certain ways developed. This gave deeper insight into behaviours and how perceived by others, equipping better alignment of behaviours with intended conveyance.

Ethan Orsini

CFO Universal Store · ex GM Super Retail Group

“

As a Germany-based professional for an Australian employer, finding the right coach was crucial. From the first session, Dan's direct approach resonated; his ability to quickly grasp challenges was remarkable. Conversations became like looking in a mirror, helping understand how coming across to others and identifying growth areas. Dan's understanding of cross-cultural dynamics combined with direct and insightful coaching style makes him exceptional for professionals in international environments.

Eva Seller

Regional General Manager Continental Europe · Tourism Australia

“

Dan's coaching made real difference at a pivotal leadership point. He helped gain clarity, become more direct, and shift CEO presence, especially in complex senior relationships. What was most valued was combining insight with practical, grounded advice and strategies. He helped become more direct and structured, and supported reshaping leadership and accountability holding.

Madeline Vaughan

CEO · Adara Group

“

Dan was incredibly insightful in helping understand people and their motivation including personal triggers. Working with him was valuable developing and driving finance strategy across team and organisation. Where Dan excels is shaping thought process by asking challenging, thought-provoking questions ensuring viewing entire picture, not just personal viewpoint.

Michael Tzimoulas

CFO · NSW Department of Customer Service

“

Introduced through Westpac's professional development investment, Dan's expertise was instrumental advancing ability to navigate complex stakeholder relationships, leading to enhanced Westpac group outcomes. Dan's perceptiveness offers insights and actionable advice far surpassing standard coaching methodologies previously encountered. He helped build on personal strengths rather than emulating others.

Suzanne Bartkiw

Head of Consumer Portfolio Design & Governance · Westpac

“

Over recent months, Dan quickly dove into root development areas and provided instantly implementable strategies to better oneself as business leader, built upon session to session. His mix of empathy and willingness to challenge resulted in getting to 'real' issues. He assisted significantly better understanding of self and how to bring out best within business environment and life generally.

Josh Maingard

General Manager · Bromic EMEA

“

Engaged Dan wanting to sharpen internal leadership and grow practice externally. His approach helped think more strategically about client relationships and business development, and become more effective in delegation and time focus. Came away with stronger executive presence, clearer client messaging, and more confidence leading team and winning work.

Stuart McKenzie

Partner · Colin Biggers & Paisley

“

Dan's guidance has profoundly shaped my leadership journey, preparing me for a C-Suite role. He skillfully blends clinical psychology experience with commercial acumen and insight, quickly identifying key issues in complex leadership challenges and knowing exactly where to intervene for maximum impact. With his guidance, I developed confidence and skills structuring thoughts with precision, helping communicate with clarity and impact.

Nivedita Newar

Deputy CISO · UNSW

Part Two

Private company founder CEOs. Owners, in the seat.

Founders and managing directors of privately held businesses. Different pressures, different accountability lines, same need for a thinking partner who can hold the commercial and the personal in one conversation.

“

As CEO of a consulting and manufacturing business operating across four continents, I was seeking a coach to develop leadership capabilities elevating executive team performance. Dan helped identify and leverage core leadership strengths and transition from directing executives to truly empowering them. Results were transformational. Leadership team now operates with stronger alignment, clearer accountability structures, and genuine connection across all regions. Dan combines deep understanding of human behaviour with real commercial acumen, understanding global business pressures while helping become leader organisation needs.

Matthew Tobin

Founder & Managing Director · UAP Group

“

Dan asks questions that deep down you know you should be answering, and many that you didn't. Never came away from a conversation without genuinely useful new insight.

Ben Stack

CEO · Stacks Law Firm

“

Dan worked over several months reexamining role as Managing Director of mid-sized Architectural Studio. He helped reappraise fundamental drivers of professional journey and whether achieving desired outcomes. The way Dan builds trust and makes discussing difficult issues very easy is unique. He made things much clearer and helped overcome barriers initially seeming insurmountable.

Alex Kibble

Managing Director · TKD Architects

Featured in Australian Financial Review · Sydney Morning Herald · Australian HR Institute · Public Accountant

A thirty-minute conversation. No obligation, on either side.

The best way to find out whether this work is for you is a short conversation. If it isn't a fit, I'll often know someone who is, and I'll point you there.

Or call 0404 041 666

Or write dan@danauerbach.com.au

A 30-minute introductory conversation

Pick a time.

Sydney time (AEST). By phone, video, or in person at Surry Hills.

Tue 26 May
Wed 27 May
Thu 28 May
Mon 1 Jun
Tue 2 Jun

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