Amanda Fornal is a Columbia University–credentialed executive coach with 27 years of experience working at the intersection of strategy, leadership, and transformation. Her perspective is shaped by a rare combination of enterprise consulting, startup advising, global research, and cultural exploration.
Leaders work with Amanda when their challenges are complex, their decisions carry real consequences, and simple frameworks are not enough.
Her work supports individual leaders while strengthening organizational clarity, alignment, and decision quality.
A Rare Combination of Experience
This combination allows Amanda to coach leaders operating across scale, complexity, and rapid change.
Enterprise and startup depth
Amanda has worked with global organizations including Dell, NetApp, ServiceNow, DataRobot, BMW, and American Express, while also advising dozens of startup founders from idea through scale. She understands both highly structured enterprise environments and founder-led ambiguity.
Strategy and execution
Trained at PwC and IBM, Amanda brings strong strategic thinking, systems awareness, and operational insight to her coaching. She helps leaders connect long-term vision with practical, grounded action.
Global and cultural perspective
Amanda has traveled to over 100 countries and conducted interviews with people from more than 75 countries as part of her global research work. This experience informs a deep understanding of culture, values, power dynamics, and how leadership shows up across contexts.
Research-driven and human-centered
As the founder of the Investing in Kindness research initiative, Amanda studies how values, leadership, and decision-making shape organizations and outcomes. This perspective strengthens her ability to coach with both rigor and empathy.
How Amanda Works With Leaders
Amanda's coaching is strategic, thoughtful, and grounded. She works as a trusted thought partner, helping leaders:
- •Think clearly in complex, high-stakes situations
- •Identify and challenge assumptions and blind spots
- •Navigate change, growth, and uncertainty with confidence
- •Strengthen judgment, presence, and decision quality
- •Move from insight to sustained, practical action
Coaching is conducted with clear boundaries and confidentiality, supporting leaders' thinking without creating organizational noise.
Her approach blends reflection with accountability. Coaching conversations are structured but flexible, designed to meet leaders where they are and support meaningful progress over time.
Background and Credentials
- •Columbia University–credentialed executive coach
- •Vice President, Columbia Coaching Learning Association
- •27+ years in strategy, innovation, consulting, and advisory roles
- •Former consultant at PwC and IBM
- •Founder of Orange SFM, Founder Buddies, and Investing in Kindness
- •Fellow of The Explorers Club
Sponsors choose Amanda when they want a coach who can operate credibly with senior leaders, align with business priorities, and handle complexity with discretion.