Jacquie Boyer

Organizations today operate in environments of increasing complexity. Leaders, especially those leading founder-led or private equity-backed companies, are expected to drive rapid change while navigating uncertainty, diverse stakeholder demands, and systemic limitations. 

In this context, leadership capacity, the lens through which leaders interpret complexity and conflicting demands, is more important than ever. My action research project looked at how executive coaching defines, assesses, and develops leadership capacity, and how this capacity may affect a leader’s ability to navigate and drive organizational transformation.

Through in-depth interviews with eight executive coaches, the project examined how coaches define capacity, evaluate it, intentionally develop it, and view its connection to lasting transformation. Systems, context, and organizational dynamics are also crucial. This presentation will provide insights for executives, coaches, and organizations seeking to develop leaders with the capacity to drive meaningful organizational transformation.

Advisor: Sharon Radd