Top 15 Coaches In Chicago In 2026
Chicago is a city defined by its character. Shaped by Lake Michigan and a history of rebuilding after adversity, it learned early on how to rise, redesign itself, and think big. Its neighborhoods—each with a distinct identity—tell stories of migration, industry, art, sports, and community. Here, hard work isn’t a slogan; it’s a daily practice. Directness is part of the local style, and loyalty to the city is worn with pride. It is a place where corporate giants, tech startups, leading universities, and mission-driven organizations coexist. Chicagoans tend to balance ambition with pragmatism: they dream big, but they value tangible results. In that space between aspiration and execution, many professionals, entrepreneurs, and leaders look for more than success—they seek direction, clarity, and sustainable growth. That is what this article is about. Throughout the year, we review and compile profiles of coaches across specialties—career, executive, business, life, and more—to identify those truly making an impact in the city. The Top Coaches in Chicago in 2026 featured below do more than guide conversations; they help redefine goals, strengthen leadership, and turn potential into measurable progress. This list is a resource for those ready to take their next step with intention. These are the Top 15 Coaches In Chicago in 2026 that you can contact right now:
Audrey Rubin
Audrey doesn’t just understand how an organization works—she has led it from nearly every possible angle. She has served as COO, General Counsel, law firm partner, law professor, and corporate board member, becoming a go-to leader when it comes to making strategy, numbers, and talent truly work together.
Her signature is clear: productivity with purpose, metrics that demonstrate value, and leadership that communicates with impact. She has optimized global legal departments, advised senior executives, and helped firms reduce costs without sacrificing excellence—blending operational vision with cultural intelligence.
If you’re curious what leadership looks like when someone masters both the boardroom and the business details, her LinkedIn profile is a must-visit.
Callie Salaymeh
Callie blends science, pedagogy, and technology with inspiring ease. With a Ph.D. in Curriculum Studies and a passion for artificial intelligence, she operates at the intersection of deep learning and emerging tools, helping educators teach better in a fast-changing world.
As a teacher and Instructional Technology Coach, she doesn’t just talk about innovation—she implements it. She designs learning experiences for leaders and educators, integrates generative AI into the classroom, and translates adult learning theory into real-world practices that impact students every day.
If you’re interested in how AI can enhance—not replace—teaching, her LinkedIn profile is well worth exploring.
Christina Canright
Christina supports people when life asks them to evolve. An ICF-certified coach and breathwork guide, she creates spaces where change stops feeling like a threat and becomes a possibility, helping others move through transitions with greater awareness, calm, and direction.
Her background in journalism, design, corporate communication, and community leadership gives her a rich and human perspective: she understands the stories we tell ourselves—and how to rewrite them. With deep listening, warmth, and a positive vision of the future, she helps dismantle limiting beliefs and build more authentic relationships—with oneself and with others.
If the idea of growing with intention resonates with you, her LinkedIn profile could be the next step in your journey.
Corey Flournoy
Corey doesn’t speak about leadership from theory, but from global experience and the conviction that the best decisions are made when multiple perspectives are heard. With over 25 years working alongside corporations, NGOs, and educational institutions across continents, he has turned organizational change into an opportunity to align culture, strategy, and results.
As founder of Creative Outreach Consulting, he designs experiences that go far beyond a motivational talk: he creates courageous conversations, builds real capabilities, and helps teams close the gap between intention and impact. His approach inspires leaders to act with vision, integrity, and a broader understanding of the world around them.
If you’re interested in leadership that truly integrates diverse voices to drive results, his LinkedIn profile is a great place to start.
Erika Gerdes
Erika seemed to have it all: 12 years at Google, leading high-level global partnerships. But behind the success was an uncomfortable question: is this truly mine? When she chose to leave that title—while raising two children as a single mother and without a financial safety net—she didn’t just change careers; she went through an identity crisis that forced her to rebuild from the ground up.
From that rupture came her greatest lesson: living “outside-in” disconnects us; living “inside-out” transforms us. Today, she supports high-performing leaders in breaking free from imposed expectations, reclaiming their authenticity, and turning stagnation into meaningful impact through keynotes, workshops, and deep coaching engagements.
Her story and work speak even louder when you see the full picture—visit her LinkedIn profile and discover why so many leaders trust her.
Hammond Meuer
Hammond works with a powerful question: what if your career depended not on a job, but on you? As a Career Ownership Coach, he supports professionals who feel stuck, affected by layoffs, or simply ready for something different, helping them explore paths toward self-sufficiency and new income streams.
Rather than offering quick answers, he creates a safe space to explore possibilities beyond the traditional job market. Through an educational, no-obligation process, he helps clarify goals, redefine options, and evaluate whether entrepreneurship or self-generated income could be the logical next step.
His philosophy is simple: “Your success is our only business.” If taking control of your professional path resonates with you, his LinkedIn profile is a strong place to begin.
Harry Karydes
Harry knows what it means to make decisions under pressure: he is an emergency physician who has led teams in moments when every word matters. Today, he brings that experience into the executive world, helping new leaders communicate with clarity, confidence, and direction when immediate results are required.
His approach isn’t about doing more—it’s about leading better. Through his Plan, Process, and Perform framework, he transforms constant urgency into clear priorities, chaos into structure, and reactivity into strategic leadership. He combines emotional intelligence with practical systems so projects move forward and teams stay aligned.
Harry works with those who want to stop putting out fires and start building a legacy. Visit his LinkedIn profile to learn more about how he leads.
Jenny Henderson
Jenny has spent over two decades helping people turn what excites them into concrete action. Today, through her own coaching practice, she supports leaders who want to reconnect with their purpose and redesign their professional spark—not from external pressure, but from what truly drives them.
Her work brings together strengths, values, and courageous decisions. Using tools like CliftonStrengths and personalized processes, she helps clear obstacles, clarify goals, and build plans that generate real momentum—not fleeting enthusiasm. Each journey is unique, because each story is unique.
Jenny doesn’t push prepackaged careers—she helps design meaningful paths. Her LinkedIn profile offers a great window into how she turns purpose into action.
LaTonya Wilkins
LaTonya doesn’t speak about surface-level leadership—she invites you to go deeper. In an era defined by artificial intelligence and constant uncertainty, she supports CEOs and senior executives in leading “below the surface,” where trust, psychological safety, and culture are truly built.
As founder of Change Coaches and author of Leading Below the Surface, she challenges traditional models with her REAL approach (Relatable, Equitable, Aware, Loyal). Her work combines executive coaching, team development, and accredited training to create leaders who don’t just manage change—they evolve with it.
Her perspective is clear: the future of leadership demands emotional depth and genuine connection. Explore her LinkedIn profile and discover how leadership looks when what matters most isn’t always visible.
Laura J. Sanchez-Greenberg
Laura doesn’t just advise leaders—she’s been on the field herself. With over 20 years navigating strategy, operations, and human behavior, she supports founders and CEOs who are scaling fast—and don’t want to lose clarity along the way.
Through Verde Associates, she works in those defining moments when success begins to strain systems, teams, and the leader personally. She blends business insight with behavioral science to strengthen leadership capacity, align teams, and scale without sacrificing culture or purpose.
Direct, warm, and strategic, Laura helps leaders see the entire board before making the next move. Her LinkedIn profile is a great way to understand how leadership evolves when growth demands a higher level.
Melissa Fanaro
Melissa operates where coaching stops being individual and becomes systemic. As Vice President of the Americas Coach Network at EZRA, she leads a network of more than 2,500 coaches across the U.S., Canada, and Latin America, ensuring quality, consistency, and large-scale impact.
Her strength lies in connecting business strategy with human development: she designs programs that not only inspire leaders, but also improve culture, engagement, and measurable results. With global experience in acquiring and developing coaches across more than 80 countries, she understands how to build inclusive ecosystems that truly work.
Melissa doesn’t just spark powerful conversations; she builds the infrastructure for thousands of them. Discover the scope of her work by exploring her LinkedIn profile.
Patrick Donohue
Patrick is the kind of coach who gets straight to the point: clarity, action, and results. ICF-certified and having supported over 900 clients, he has turned career transition into a structured, concrete, and achievable process.
His four-step method—find your element, activate your network, craft a compelling message, and nail the interview—has given direction to those seeking a job or career change. He also works with leaders on executive presence and tough conversations, and personally helps clients break cycles of procrastination, anxiety, and negative thinking through practical daily accountability tools.
Patrick combines structure with real forward momentum. Learn more about his approach and journey by visiting his LinkedIn profile.
Rhonda Rosborough
Rhonda deeply believes that the way we interpret the world defines how we lead it. As founder of Apply Your Strengths, she partners with individuals and teams to discover what is already working within them—and to use it with intention, clarity, and confidence.
Her journey from CPA to educator to coach gave her something rare: structure with sensitivity. She combines the Gallup strengths approach with mental fitness tools to transform frustration into focus and talent into meaningful contribution within organizations.
Rhonda doesn’t aim to change who you are—she amplifies the best in you. Explore her vision and professional journey on her LinkedIn profile.
Sara Goggin Young
Sara brings together two worlds that rarely intersect so seamlessly: law and empowerment. As an Illinois attorney, she has guided individuals through pivotal life moments—from real estate transactions to estate and criminal matters—with expertise, preparation, and care.
But her impact extends beyond the courtroom. Through Power 2 Believe™, she empowers women—especially young women—to strengthen their voice, rebuild confidence, and lead their lives with determination. Her signature blends personal resilience, practical strategy, and a deep belief in every woman’s potential.
Sara doesn’t just defend rights; she awakens conviction. Connect with her story and purpose by exploring her LinkedIn profile.
Valerie Friedlander
Valerie works at the intersection of strategy and humanity. With over a decade leading multimillion-dollar teams and advising C-level executives, she understands that sustainable results are built on strong cultures and self-aware people.
As a PCC coach and organizational development consultant, she designs learning experiences that transform how leaders communicate, manage conflict, and build cohesion. Her approach integrates Energy Leadership™, systems thinking, and a deeply human view of work.
Want to know why Valerie was selected as one of our Top Coaches in Chicago in 2026? Make sure to get to know her better by visiting her LinkedIn profile today.
We hope you enjoy the top 15 coaches in Chicago in 2026!
