Amber Waugaman, Executive Coach

Amber Waugaman is an associate certified Executive Leadership Coach dedicated to partnering with clients to boost their leadership impact and capabilities. With a powerful blend of education, expertise, and business acumen, Amber brings over 14 years of rich corporate experience, including extensive knowledge in both finance and people management. Drawing from decades of counseling others in their careers, her approach leverages her deep understanding of leadership and organizational dynamics. She is known for her deep rapport-building abilities, genuine sincerity, and exceptional skill in recognizing subtleties that might otherwise go unnoticed. Committed to continuous learning and staying at the forefront of industry trends, she provides clients with practical tools and actionable insights for tangible progress and meaningful growth. Amber believes in the inherent resourcefulness and capability of her clients, offering personalized guidance through a combination of coaching and mentoring techniques tailored to individual learning styles.

Amber excels in working with senior-level and middle-level leaders who face a variety of challenges, including insecurity in their abilities, insufficient leadership development, and the pressures of keeping up with rapid changes. Her clients often seek to maximize their effectiveness, develop their leadership skills, and advance their careers. Amber helps them navigate tasks with limited resources, improve their leadership bench strength, and refine and develop their skills to stay ahead. Her coaching and training enables clients to better understand themselves and effective leadership behaviors, fostering their ability to identify and develop others.

Clients consistently report that their work with Amber results in elevated leadership skills, increased productivity, reduced turnover, and enhanced interpersonal effectiveness. Clients have built and led high-performing teams, fostered self-accountability, and seen less resistance to change initiatives. Many have attained promotions, boosted their confidence, and taken control of their time and energy.

Amber is a trusted partner and vendor of Penn State University, serving as an Executive Coach and Learning Partner training facilitator to provide high-impact leadership development to internal and emerging leaders. She has provided Executive Coaching to companies such as LightBox, FedTech, Boulder Care, and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra.

Amber's credentials include coach training from MentorCoach and membership in the International Coach Federation. She is a Certified Professional in Management® from the American Management Association and is certified to administer and debrief Hogan Assessments. Additionally, she is Mental Health First Aid certified and is working toward the Association for Talent Development’s Certified Professional in Talent Development. Amber is also a member of the Society for Human Resource Management and actively volunteers with the SHRM Vermont State Council. Her insights have been featured numerous times on the Optimal Work Daily podcast, and she has presented workshops on leadership development, leadership skills for the future of work, practical strategies for career advancement, and succession planning.

Based in Pittsburgh, Amber serves clients nationwide as a self-employed full-time Executive Leadership Coach. She prefers to coach and provide training virtually and is also available for phone and in-person coaching, as well as in-person training facilitation upon request.