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Danessa Knaupp

Senior Executive Coach
Goodstone Group LLC
DC Metro Area
Email:  dk*****@************up.com
Phone: (804) 381-8638

Education and Professional Affiliations
  • Certificate, Executive Coaching, Georgetown University
  • A., Psychology, College of William and Mary
  • PCC Certified Coach
  • Certified in a range of contemporary assessment and typing tools including Hogan, EQinAction, and TetraMap
  • Member, International Coach Federation
  • Member, Virginia Council of CEOs
  • Adjunct, Robins School of Business, University of Richmond

Professional Experience

Danessa’s coaching consistently enables clients to create value for their organizations and to operate with purpose.  Using a practical, behavioral coaching approach to explore leaders’ potential and leveraging an awareness of the organizational culture and systems surrounding the client, she helps leaders build targeted, simple practices to increase effectiveness and deepen impact. Danessa’s trademark candor, compassion and humor enable leaders to embrace coaching as a lever for reaching their full potential.

During Danessa’s 20+ years as both a senior corporate leader and an entrepreneur, she successfully navigated many of the same challenges her clients face. Leveraging her expertise as a senior leader, entrepreneur, and executive coach, she coaches clients on leadership development, team performance enhancement, strategy development and execution, and change management.  Danessa speaks fluent Spanish allowing her to coach in both English and Spanish.

Recent Coaching Experience

  • SVP at a $100B+ private multi-asset alternative investment firm to refine balance, define her personal brand, and develop a personally rewarding career path
  • President of a healthcare plan to manage perceived volatility at work, develop empathy and emotional intelligence and strengthen team performance. Client promoted to larger role post engagement.
  • SVP of a large American managed health care corporation to develop his strategic next step and to strengthen his connection to purpose
  • Merchandising SVP of a national retail chain to support the strategic thought behind the overhaul of the function, the ability to influence without direct authority, and prepare for larger responsibility.
  • Eight-member executive leadership team of the North American sector of luxury Italian brand to strengthen flexible leadership skills in response to the pandemic. Focus was on continuing to grow in new ways and keep the team focused and performing. The team achieved record-breaking growth in 2020.
  • Three-member leadership team of a boutique apparel brand moving into broad private label distribution. Focus was on role definition, strategic thinking, prioritization, and leadership. Engagement included both group and one on one coaching with the CEO, President and COO.
  • Managing Director in a senior sales role for a leading global asset management firm to prepare for global role and develop greater emotional intelligence
  • Five-member SVP team at an international Fortune 100 financial services firm to prepare for integration of a large acquisition
  • Founder CEO of a rapidly expanding national marketing organization to strengthen ability to navigate conflict, lead through others, and develop executive presence
  • SVP of an international Fortune 500 firm to improve communication style and executive presence in preparation for a CHRO promotion. Client promoted following the engagement.
  • Managing Director of a multi-billion-dollar private equity firm to prepare for promotion, strengthen emotional intelligence, and improve communication. Client promoted during the engagement.
  • Founder CEO of a tech firm to focus on delegation, establishing trust with direct reports, and demonstrating authenticity
  • COO of a professional services firm to develop leadership perspective, executive presence and enhance balance
  • Division COO of a multi-billion-dollar private equity firm to transition from individual contributor to strategic leader and grow influence.
  • SVP of a financial services firm to strengthen strategic voice, reduce discomfort with conflict, and prepare for broader responsibility
  • Managing Director for investment firm to develop long-range talent plan, resolve conflict with outgoing leader and revitalize team performance
  • Controller of a large GSE to define his introverted leadership style, increase comfort with public speaking, and develop comfortable executive presence
  • CFO of a large construction company to increase ability to develop and motivate team, reduce negative perceptions and drive change
  • Managing Director at a private investment firm to grow strategic thinking, influence, and executive presence.
  • Executive Director of a large non-profit to diversify leadership approach and develop a high-performing team
  • SVP at Fortune 500 financial firm to improve perceived authenticity with team and overall balance
  • Director at a large VC and PE firm to strengthen emotional intelligence, influence, and leadership presence.
  • Director in biopharmaceuticals to develop executive presence and strengthen influence. Client promoted during the engagement based on her progress.
  • Executive leader re-entering the US job market after two consecutive ex-pat assignments to secure a role that maximizes international experience and reflects his values
  • Marketing strategist in the pharmaceutical industry to strengthen influence and develop differentiated leadership strategies to apply situationally
  • Executive Director of a state-wide non-profit to improve strategic thinking, team leadership and communication
  • Private investment firm Principal to develop his ability to influence and drive portfolio company performance.
  • General Manager of a large retail establishment to adjust to abrupt expansion and shift in responsibilities
  • Senior partner in a law firm to manage competing priorities and demonstrate greater commitment at work
  • Private investment firm Principal to prepare for promotion by understanding his ability to source deals and influence senior partners.
  • High potential Senior Director to refine executive presence, develop a career path, and connect to purpose
  • Seven-member C-Suite team of a large construction corporation to reset the bar for feedback and team interaction
  • Founder CEO of a professional services firm to establish 5-year transition plan, shift operating structure, and improve balance
  • High potential Principal at a private investment firm to strengthen executive presence in preparation for promotion

Career History

Independent Executive Coach and Consultant (2016-present)
Uses a multidisciplinary approach to help clients achieve professional and personal long-term goals. 

Capital One, SVP (2008-2016)
Internal change management consultant and coach, responsible for large-scale strategic operations changes including:

  • Integration of the health care business acquisition
  • Drove the national shift of retail bank customer behavior from brick-and-mortar branches to mobile options
  • Full-scale redesign of $3MM employee incentive and reward system, affecting more than 7000 employees in 1000 branches
  • Corporate logo transition

National Sales and Service lead, responsible for sales execution across the full 1000-branch national footprint. Responsible for:

  • Design and execution of sales processes at all employee levels
  • Developing and implementing sales reward and recognition programs, including a $1.5MM national sales leader reward trip
  • Defining and executing the in-branch marketing process, including all customer-facing collateral

Dinner Divas LLC, Founder and President (2004-2008)

  • Developed two successful unique retail “make it and take it dinner stores” grossing nearly $1 million in less than 18 months
  • Developed a unique marketing strategy combining grass-roots activities with traditional mass media to achieve swift market dominance and achieve national sales prominence in less than six months
  • Designed and delivered the full business plan, including pre-launch activities, day to day operations, employee policies and procedures, marketing programs and exit strategy
  • Marketed and sold each location successfully