Jeannette Hobson
Professional Expertise
Over the past 25 years, Jeannette has coached over 600 business leaders to reach a higher level of performance with tangible, measurable, bottom line results. Using assessments and questioning techniques to identify strengths, Jeannette finds the intersection between the leader’s strengths, desires, role, and organizational strategy. Whether working with teams or individuals, she ensures that the common goals and strategies are clarified, understood, and agreement is reached so that obstacles can be removed and forward momentum can be achieved.
If metrics are a measure of competence, Jeannette has facilitated over 650 meetings and has conducted over 11,000 hours of individual coaching. Referrals and repeat clients are the mainstay of her practice.
Jeannette has been associated with Vistage International for over 18 years as an executive coach and mentor and facilitator of CEO Peer Advisory Groups. At Vistage, the leader of each CEO peer group is called the Group Chair. In 2008 Jeannette won the prestigious Cope Award, given annually to only one chair in the world. She was also a long time member of the Chair Advisory Board, she was a chair trainer; she also was the leading energy to attract and retain more women as chairs and as members.
Prior to becoming affiliated with Vistage, Jeannette was founding partner of Gateway Consulting Group, Inc. GCG provided marketing strategy and technology implementation support to large organizations facing major change in their economic model due to deregulation. GCG specialized in investment management firms and public utilities. GCG was started after 20 years with The Bank of New York. Jeannette credits BNY with teaching her business skills, helping her transition a specialty in HR to a specialty in Investment Management, with an Executive MBA from Columbia University as part of the training. She is a Past President of the Financial Women’s Association of NY, Past President of the Columbia Executive MBA Alumni Association, a Certified Management Consultant (CMC) and a member of the Institute for Management Consultants CMC certification board.
A frequent speaker on strategic issues, Jeannette has addressed a variety of industry and executive organizations including numerous utility industry conferences, investment and financial services industry conferences, consultants, and CEO groups. She sits on the boards of a closely held public company and a large not for profit. For relaxation, Jeannette and her husband enjoy boating on the St. Lawrence River in the summer, and attending ballet and theatre year round.
Current and Recent Coaching Assignments
- CEO of large distributor of business equipment to help him develop his executive leadership skills and create a true executive team
- COO of a B2B service firm to develop his leadership communications skills and position him for an executive position post acquisition
- Founder of a health care company to develop her strategic and leadership skills enabling the business to grow
- Co-Founders of hospitality business to leverage their individual leadership styles to achieve high growth goals and ensure that executive team receives a unified direction and voice
- Son of business founder and his father to improve communications between them and develop a business direction that both could support
- New CEO of public company to advance her leadership expertise and provide her with an outside trusted advisor
- Vice President of global technology company to help him identify his strengths and create new career opportunities within the organization
- Managing Partner of regional accounting firm to help her establish a culture of accountability and position her for success and election to a second term
Education and Professional Affiliations
- M.S Business Policy / Executive MBA, Columbia Business School
- BA University of Dayton, Dayton, Ohio
- Certified Management Consultant (CMC), Institute for Management Consultants
- Member, IMC certification board
- Member, part president, Financial Women’s Association
- Certified Navigator