Executive Coaching with a Difference

 

At Leadership FilmWorks, coaching is more than a conversation — it’s a creative, strategic journey that transforms how leaders think, feel, and lead.

With over 20 years in HR leadership, a doctorate in leadership from the University of Pennsylvania’s prestigious PennCLO program, and status as a proud Wharton alum, Dr. Douglas Clayton has coached and mentored leaders across industries and cultures. He brings both real-world executive experience and deep academic insight to every coaching engagement. Through an active inquiry process and consultative style, he helps leaders uncover blind spots, clarify their purpose, and take strategic action.

As a Board Certified Coach (BCC) through the Center for Credentialing & Education, and a multiple-certified Executive Coach through the Center for Executive Coaching, Dr. Clayton holds advanced certifications in:

  • Change Leadership
  • Communication Impact
  • Power & Influence
  • Strategic Planning & Execution
  • Career Coaching
  • Culture Change

In addition to his background in leadership and strategy, Dr. Clayton is also an award-winning filmmaker whose documentaries have inspired audiences and transformed communities. He brings that same lens into his coaching — using the art of storytelling, cinematic perspective, and emotional truth to help leaders understand their own narrative and unlock what drives them. Coaching becomes not just developmental — but transformational.

But what truly sets his coaching apart is this:

He uses storytelling and his experience as a corporate leader and filmmaker to guide transformational leadership breakthroughs.

Leaders who work with Dr. Clayton clarify their narrative, uncover their purpose, and develop the confidence and clarity to drive meaningful change — in their teams, organizations, and lives.

What You Can Expect:

  • A coaching experience grounded in trust, active inquiry, and measurable results
  • A consultative partnership that draws on your context, challenges, and aspirations
  • A unique lens that blends strategic insight, creative thinking, and cinematic storytelling
  • Customized sessions that meet you where you are — informed by real-world challenges and guided by decades of leadership experience
  • A renewed sense of purpose, clarity, and leadership impact

What Our Participants Tell Us

As the Head of Human Resources at our media technology company, I’ve had the opportunity to observe firsthand the impact Douglas Clayton has had as an executive coach to our President. From the very beginning, Doug brought a unique combination of deep insight, strategic thinking, and genuine care that immediately resonated with our leadership team.

His coaching style is thoughtful and intentional, always meeting our President where he is—while consistently challenging him to grow, clarify his vision, and make more impactful decisions. Over the course of their engagement, I’ve seen a significant transformation: increased confidence, stronger communication with the executive team, and a sharpened focus on both people and performance. Doug created a space for honest reflection, which led to more courageous leadership and improved team alignment.

Beyond the one-on-one coaching, Douglas also served as a thought partner for me as HR leader, helping ensure our development efforts were aligned with organizational strategy. His approach is both strategic and deeply human—a rare combination that has made a measurable difference.

I wholeheartedly recommend Douglas to any company looking to elevate their executive leadership through coaching. His work is not only impactful—it’s inspiring.

Hilary French
HR Leader, Media Technology Company

Douglas Clayton’s coaching has had a profound impact on my leadership journey at Nikki Beach Hospitality Group. Leading global marketing and brand initiatives comes with a high level of complexity, and Douglas provided exactly the clarity, structure, and perspective I needed to navigate it successfully.

He creates a coaching experience that is both deeply personal and highly practical. Our conversations challenged me to sharpen my voice as a leader, elevate my strategic thinking, and stay connected to the heart of our brand values, all while building stronger alignment within my teams

Douglas has a unique ability to offer honest, actionable feedback in a way that inspires growth. His insights stayed with me long after each session, pushing me to lead with even greater authenticity and purpose.

It has been a privilege to work with Douglas, and I would enthusiastically recommend him to any executive ready to take their leadership to the next level.

Maritza Solorzano
Chief Marketing Officer & Chief Brand Officer, Nikki Beach Hospitality Group

I began my executive coaching journey with Doug in 2024. Doug began by making a trip to visit with myself and other members of my organization to begin laying the groundwork for our working sessions. He conducted interviews with people throughout all level of our organization and consolidated the feedback into a very detailed report to outline my perceived strengths and areas for improvement. As a leader, you are often unsure of how people feel about you or your performance due to the isolated nature of the role. This provided me with clear feedback on how I could better serve the organization through communication and action. From there it was a very collaborative process to decide the key areas of focus and begin discussing various strategies and thoughts surrounding how to grow further into my role. Doug was also excellent at providing resources based on his extensive career experience and offer insights into tackling challenging conversations. I found his ability to link my experiences back to the experiences of others very valuable for determining my own path forward. As a bonus, we both share a love of cinema and were able to give each other some great suggestions on our top films. If you’re looking for a great resource to act as coach, advisor, and confidant, I highly recommend reaching out to Doug.

Marques Manning
President, Kontek

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