Ever felt stuck at work, even while doing your best? Or seen a capable teammate burn out from lack of support? It’s common. In today’s fast-paced world, skill alone isn’t enough—people need guidance to grow, lead with confidence, and face challenges without losing themselves. Without it, motivation fades and stress takes over. That’s where coaching—rooted in real research and built for real people—makes the difference.
It helps leaders not just perform but thrive, turning big ideas into practical tools for leading with clarity, purpose, and heart. And behind this are some of the most inspiring coaches—people who understand the science of leadership and know how to make it simple, human, and powerful. They’re helping individuals grow, teams work better, and companies build healthier, more connected workplaces. In times like these, their support isn’t a luxury—it’s something we all need.
One of the key figures driving this shift is Jeffrey Hull, Executive Director of the Institute of Coaching. He’s leading a global effort to redefine leadership by combining science with the real-world needs of people in the workplace. With a rich background in corporate HR, clinical psychology, and executive coaching, he brings depth and practicality to his role. His goal is clear: to turn research into tools leaders can use—tools that build clarity, resilience, and real impact. Under his guidance, the Institute—affiliated with Harvard Medical School—has grown into a trusted name in leadership development.
He leads a global team, supports a growing network of over 4,000 members, and shapes the Institute’s strategy, partnerships, and educational programs. Driven by values like inclusion, service, and collaboration, his leadership has expanded the Institute’s global reach through programs and talks across India, Korea, Dubai, and more. Strategic partnerships, including with the International Coach Federation (ICF), have only strengthened the Institute’s influence. Based on his work as the IOC leader and an Executive Coach to corporate leaders worldwide, he and his co-author Margaret Moore recently published a new book:
The Science of Leadership: Nine Ways to Expand Your Impact, from Berrett-Koehler. Named by Thinkers50 as one of the top 50 coaches worldwide and a long-standing member of Marshall Goldsmith’s 100 Coaches group, Jeffrey Hull demonstrates through teaching, writing, leading and coaching that when leaders are supported in the right way, they don’t just perform better—they lead with empathy, confidence, and purpose. And that’s the kind of change the world needs now more than ever.
From Boardrooms to Breakthroughs
Jeffrey’s career path has been anything but traditional. He began in the corporate world, serving as Director of Human Resources at Booz Allen Hamilton. It was there that he first discovered his passion for leadership development and naturally found himself drawn to coaching leaders. However, he soon realized that informal coaching alone wasn’t enough—he wanted a deeper understanding of human behavior to truly support growth.
This insight led him to pursue a PhD in psychology. He also became a licensed therapist in New York and spent several years in clinical practice. While that experience was valuable, he missed the fast-paced environment of the business world and the opportunity to work with high-performing professionals. A major turning point came when he attended a Harvard Medical School conference on coaching, where he saw coaching framed not just as a helpful tool, but as a science-based discipline. Inspired, he began volunteering with the Institute of Coaching.
His role there gradually grew—first stepping into program development as a volunteer, then adding the role of Director of Education, and eventually becoming Executive Director. Today, he leads a team of 20 and supports a global community of over 4,000 members. Along the way he built a leadership, team and executive coaching practice worldwide, taught at major universities NYU and Harvard Medical School, published articles in journals like HBR, and wrote books on life transitions and leadership agility. His journey has been one of integration—bringing together corporate insight, academic knowledge, and human understanding to shape a new kind of leadership.
Early Challenges Shaped a Coaching Mindset
Jeffrey Hull’s leadership journey has been shaped by meaningful challenges early in his career. One such moment came when, as a young executive, he asked his assistant to bring him coffee and was reminded by his boss that it no longer aligned with modern workplace values. It made him reflect deeply on how he led and treated others. Later, when he began coaching senior executives, he quickly realized that he needed a deeper skill set and better understanding of human psychology.
Instead of feeling discouraged, he took it as motivation to grow, earning a PhD in psychology. These moments taught him humility, resilience, and the importance of lifelong learning. He believes the most effective coaches are those who’ve faced setbacks and bring empathy and insight to their work.
Drawing from these values, he points out two key gaps in leadership development today. The first is the outdated, one-size-fits-all approach of many corporate training programs, which often fail to create lasting change because they don’t account for individual context. Coaching helps fill this gap by offering personalized support in a safe and private setting. The second gap is the disconnect between academic research and real-world leadership, where important findings often never reach the people who need them most.
The Institute of Coaching works to bridge these gaps by:
- Grounding its work in evidence-based research
- Translating academic insights into education programs with actionable tools and practices
- Providing coaching and leadership research to members and leaders in accessible formats
These efforts are helping today’s leaders grow with clarity, empathy, and impact. They provide invaluable resources to coaches so they are well-grounded in the science of well-being, coaching and leadership when they work with clients.
The Two Pillars of Career Growth
Jeffrey Hull shares his guidance for those starting in coaching or leadership with two simple yet powerful words:
- Connect: Build meaningful relationships, volunteer, and offer support.
- Pivot: Stay resilient and flexible when things don’t go as planned.
Jeffrey Hull reflects on his journey, noting that volunteering at the Institute fifteen years ago completely transformed his career. His message is clear—when you show up with the genuine intention to help, the right opportunities often follow.
Focus Matters Most Under Pressure
For Jeffrey Hull, the quote “The time to focus is when there’s no time to focus” has been a guiding mantra throughout his leadership journey. It serves as a steady reminder to remain calm, centered, and present—even during the most demanding and high-pressure moments. For him, it reinforces the belief that focus isn’t a luxury—it’s a critical leadership skill, especially when everything feels overwhelming. This mindset has helped him lead with clarity and purpose, no matter the challenge.
Mindfulness in Action
Mindfulness is often seen as the foundation of strong leadership. Jeffrey Hull recommends using mindfulness apps to stay grounded throughout the day—one that stands out to him is called Breathe. These simple tools serve as gentle reminders to pause, take a breath, and recenter. In today’s fast-paced world, such moments of reflection are incredibly valuable. They help improve focus, reduce stress, and support clearer, more thoughtful decision-making.
Research-First Approach to Coaching Excellence
The Institute of Coaching sets itself apart with its special focus on research. It is one of the few academically affiliated organizations dedicated to translating coaching research into real-world tools and practices that help leaders and coaches thrive.
Several key elements highlight what makes the Institute unique:
- Affiliation with Harvard Medical School
- Research-driven mission as its core offering
- Collaborations with organizations like the ICF, often conducting research funded by them
- A commitment to collaboration over competition in the coaching ecosystem
By offering a strong scientific foundation, the Institute supports coaches across the globe in applying proven, evidence-based methods to their work.
Science-Backed Tools
The Institute of Coaching encourages members to utilize validated assessments in their coaching practices to ensure a strong foundation of data and psychological science. These include tools like EQi 2.0 for emotional intelligence, the Hogan Leadership Suite, and various strengths-based assessments. Each one helps provide deeper insights into leadership behavior and development. Currently, the Institute is planning to develop its own validated tool focused specifically on human-centered leadership as part of a larger research initiative in collaboration with industry and academic partners. It is expected to launch within the next year and aims to offer a fresh, practical way to measure the real impact of leadership in today’s complex and fast-changing environment.
Purpose Over Profit
The Institute of Coaching is guided by a set of core principles that shape how it operates, leads, and supports its global coaching community. These values go beyond business objectives, reflecting a deeper mission to foster meaningful and sustainable leadership.
The organization’s approach is built on the following key principles:
- Purpose and passion: The Institute views coaching as a meaningful mission to support personal and professional growth—not just a business service.
- Service orientation: The team believes in putting the needs of others—clients, members, and the community—before their interests.
- Integrity, inclusivity, and impact: Every decision is made with honesty, fairness, and the goal of making a positive difference for individuals and organizations.
- People before profit: As a nonprofit, the Institute prioritizes supporting people and creating value over financial gain.
These principles are central to the Institute’s culture and inform every aspect of its work—from team collaboration to the development of coaching programs. This values-driven focus on human-centered leadership enables the organization to create lasting change across individuals, organizations, and communities.
Success Story
A standout example of the real-world impact of Jeffrey’s work in the coaching space is shared in The Science of Leadership. It tells the story of a senior executive who was promoted from leading eCommerce at a large manufacturing and service company to becoming the COO of a global firm in the Middle East. Initially, he approached the role with a traditional, top-down leadership style shaped by Western norms. However, his new position demanded a more adaptable, culturally aware, and innovation-driven approach.
Through guided coaching, he shifted his leadership style—embracing vulnerability, actively listening, and creating an environment built on psychological safety. This transformation enhanced his effectiveness and had a ripple effect on his team, leading to increased engagement, creativity, and stronger alignment.
Beyond individual success stories enumerated in his co-authored new book, Jeffrey’s global credibility is rooted in his academic rigor and external recognition. maintains strong partnerships with leading institutions and collaborates with respected organizations like the ICF, which funds many of the Institute of Coaching research initiatives.
A Recommended Read
Jeffrey Hull recommends Rise Above by Scott Barry Kaufman, a book that encourages readers to move beyond a victim mindset and embrace a high-performance life rooted in psychological science. He highlights the book as inspiring and evidence-based, noting that it’s also referenced in The Science of Leadership. For anyone looking to lead with clarity, purpose, and impact, this book is a must-read.
Jeffrey Hull’s 5 impactful business mantras
- Lead with purpose and empathy, focusing on meaningful growth over just results.
- Support people, not just performance, through personalized coaching that builds strong teams.
- Combine science with practice to create effective, evidence-based leadership tools.
- Embrace resilience and learning, viewing challenges as growth opportunities.
- Stay focused and mindful under pressure for clear, effective decision-making.
