Leadership development for advertising & marketing agencies.
I help emerging leaders navigate the shift from individual contributor to confident leader and stay engaged as they grow into their next role.
THE GAP THAT’S COSTING AGENCIES EVERYTHING
The advertising and marketing industry is shifting from execution to advisory. Clients expect strategic partners—not vendors who deliver on briefs and disappear.
But most account managers and team leaders weren't trained for that shift. They were trained to manage timelines, coordinate stakeholders, and keep clients happy. Now they're being asked to challenge clients productively, connect work to business outcomes, and operate at a level that AI can't replicate.
That gap, the one between what clients expect and what your people are equipped to deliver, is where relationships erode, accounts shrink, and top talent walks.
I help close that gap.
WHO I WORK WITH
+ For Agencies & Marketing Organizations
You know your account leaders are capable of more. But they're stuck in execution mode, managing deliverables instead of driving strategy, saying yes when they should push back or provide a strategic recommendation that really pushes the client, and struggling to articulate value beyond hours logged.
I partner with agency principals and HR leaders to build the internal capability that makes strategic partnership real. Not theoretical. Real.
WHO I WORK WITH
+ Individual Leaders
You're an emerging leader. You're good at what you do—but you're hitting a ceiling. Maybe you're stepping into management for the first time. Maybe you're a director navigating stakeholder politics. Maybe you're ready for VP and don't know how to get there.
I help you get there—and stay grounded while you do it.
Why I’m Different
I'm not a coach who learned your industry from a textbook.
I spent 25 years inside advertising and marketing agencies leading teams, managing clients, and navigating the same pressures your people face today. When I coach an account director through a difficult client conversation, I know what's at stake because I've been in that room.
I pair that industry experience with formal training in counseling psychology, ICF-certified coaching methodology, and a suite of assessment tools designed to surface blind spots and accelerate growth.
Credentials:
MA, Counseling Psychology
BA, Communications Theory & Research / Psychology
ICF Professional Certified Coach (PCC)
COR.e Leadership Dynamics Specialist
COR.e Transitions Specialist
Energy Leadership Index (ELI) Master Practitioner
Leader Network Diagnostic Certified Trainer
Assessments: FIRO-B, Benchmarks 360, WorkPlace Big Five, Change Style Indicator
What People Are Saying
“I've worked with Dahlia in a variety of capacities for the last several years. She has led both individual and group coaching for our team, spearheaded workshops on key leadership skills for our account management team, and been a sounding board for organizational and personnel decisions many times. What I find to be the most impressive in my work with Dahlia is that she can say the hard and clear thing in a way that contains both empathy and honesty at the same time. Our team respects her greatly, and several of the folks she worked with have gone on to get promotions, in large part due to the skills they learned under her tutelage.”
— Courtney Lewis, CEO & Partner @ The Variable“Working with Dahlia was one of the most impactful investments I've made in my personal and professional growth. I initially came seeking structured guidance on how to grow as a strategic contributor and navigate new challenges. What I found was not just a coach but a deeply intuitive thought partner who helped me reconnect with my own inner authority."
— Caroline H., Private Coaching“I came to coaching looking for someone who would truly challenge me — not simply listen and reflect, but push my thinking and help me grow as a leader. Dahlia delivered exactly that. She brought a calm, grounded presence to our work together, even as we navigated complex personal and professional challenges. She was candid, thoughtful, and unafraid to ask hard questions, including helping me distinguish between situations where I was genuinely being wronged and moments where I might be layering my own interpretations onto events. That level of honesty and clarity was invaluable.
— Jessy M., Corporate Coaching ClientReady to Get Into Action?
Whether you’re an agency leader looking to invest in your team, or an individual ready for your next chapter, let’s have a conversation and get you into action!
