Exec Strategy Insight was founded in 2014 by a small group of organizational psychologists and former C-suite executives who shared a single conviction: that the quality of leadership inside an organization is the single greatest predictor of its long-term success. We had each spent decades inside large corporations — navigating restructurings, leading global teams, and sitting through countless strategy off-sites — and we knew firsthand that even the most talented leaders benefit enormously from a trusted thinking partner who can hold up a mirror, challenge assumptions, and offer frameworks for navigating complexity.
What started as a boutique practice serving three clients in Gatineau has grown into a nationally recognized executive coaching firm working with leaders across financial services, technology, healthcare, manufacturing, and the public sector. Despite our growth, we have remained intentionally small. We do not believe in high-volume, low-touch coaching. Every engagement is led by a senior coach with at least fifteen years of leadership experience and a recognized coaching credential from the International Coaching Federation or an equivalent body.
Our headquarters remain at 16756 Skiles Rapids, J8X 1A1 Gatineau, Quebec, Canada, though we serve clients across Canada, the United States, and Europe through a blend of in-person and virtual sessions. We are proud of our roots in the National Capital Region and draw inspiration from the bilingual, bicultural fabric of our community.
Over the past decade, we have coached more than four hundred senior leaders, facilitated over sixty leadership team alignment programmes, and maintained a client satisfaction rating above ninety-five percent. These numbers matter to us not as marketing points, but as evidence that our approach — grounded in research, delivered with empathy, and measured by real outcomes — genuinely works.
These five principles guide every coaching conversation, every programme design, and every business decision we make.
We draw on peer-reviewed psychology, neuroscience, and organizational behaviour research. Every tool and technique we use has an evidence base behind it, and we continuously update our methods as the science evolves. We do not follow fads — we follow findings.
Trust is the foundation of effective coaching. We maintain strict confidentiality boundaries and never share session content with sponsors or HR without the explicit, informed consent of the coachee. This creates the psychological safety leaders need to be truly candid.
We are not cheerleaders. Our coaches are trained to deliver feedback with compassion and directness in equal measure. We believe that growth happens at the edge of comfort, and we will respectfully push you to that edge when the moment calls for it.
Leaders do not operate in isolation. We always consider the broader organizational system — culture, power dynamics, market pressures — when working with a client. This ensures that individual behavioural shifts translate into team and organizational impact.
We set clear, observable goals at the outset of every engagement and track progress through mid-point reviews, stakeholder feedback, and end-of-programme assessments. If something is not working, we adjust. Coaching should deliver tangible results, not just good feelings.
Our coaches bring a rare combination of corporate leadership experience and deep coaching expertise.
Isabelle holds a doctorate in organizational psychology from McGill University and spent eighteen years in senior HR and talent leadership roles at two Fortune 500 companies before founding Exec Strategy Insight. She is a Professional Certified Coach through the ICF and specializes in C-suite transitions and board readiness. Her clients describe her as incisive, deeply empathetic, and relentlessly focused on results.
Marcus spent twenty years in the technology sector, rising from software engineer to CTO at a mid-cap SaaS company before pivoting to coaching full-time. He brings a unique ability to bridge the gap between technical and business leadership, making him an ideal partner for executives in fast-moving, innovation-driven organizations. He holds a Master Certified Coach credential and is trained in systemic team coaching.
Amara is a certified team coach and facilitator with a background in management consulting at a global firm. She has designed and delivered leadership alignment programmes for executive teams ranging from five to thirty members across healthcare, financial services, and the public sector. Her facilitation style is energizing, structured, and deeply inclusive — she ensures every voice in the room is heard.
Our commitment to professional excellence is backed by recognized certifications and ongoing development.
All of our coaches hold ICF credentials at the PCC or MCC level, ensuring adherence to the highest global standards for coaching ethics and competence. We invest in a minimum of forty hours of continuing education per coach per year.
We maintain research partnerships with the Telfer School of Management at the University of Ottawa and the Desautels Faculty of Management at McGill University, keeping our methods aligned with the latest academic insights in leadership development.
We offer pro bono coaching to emerging leaders in non-profit organizations across the Outaouais region. Each year, our team donates over two hundred hours of coaching time to leaders working in social impact, education, and community development.
Our team has contributed articles and research papers to publications including the Harvard Business Review blog, the Canadian Journal of Administrative Sciences, and Coaching World magazine. We believe in giving back to the profession by sharing what we learn.