Angie O’Donnell

3D Leadership Group -

Profile

Angie O’Donnell is the inspirational founder of 3D Leadership Group. Angie has a rich background in leadership, marked by her international experiences in Hong Kong and Zurich and an illustrious career working with C-suite leaders from various sectors, including Fortune 100 companies.

Interview

Angie, what inspired you to start 3D Leadership Group, a woman-owned business, and how has this designation impacted your journey?

Since I was a teenager, I’ve been intrigued by the intersection of business and psychology, and the evolving human potential movement which asks if we’re living and accessing our full potential as humans. Then I read a book by author Daniel Pink where he explores our need for autonomy, mastery and purpose in our lives and this catalyzed me to become an entrepreneur with a focus on coaching business leaders.

After 20 years in large corporate environments which included two Fortune 500 companies, I was ready to take the plunge and start my own business with a goal of living my full potential and helping others do the same. Together with my best friend and fellow MBA student, we co-founded 3D Leadership Group 15 years ago and just last year my co-founder retired. Achieving national women-owned status 9 years ago was an honor for us and our clients are always pleased to see this recognition.

Your tenure with BankBoston in Hong Kong and Coutts & Co in Zurich must have offered unique insights. How have these international experiences shaped your approach to leadership and coaching and becoming a Master Certified Coach?

This is an excellent question because living and working internationally is one of the most transformative experiences we can have.

If you’re open to the discomfort, it reshapes and rewires your self-view and your world-view. I’m a Canadian, and I’ve lived in two countries all my life, but working in Asia contributed to my sense of efficacy, independence, and appreciation for our global connectivity. One thing I observed in the many diverse leaders I met is that those with strong followership invest in building a sense of community and strive to bring out the best in others.

Becoming a Master Certified Coach was not easy!

There are three coaches on the team with this rare designation, and it only comes with a commitment to sharpening your skills every day. I believe that there’s parallel learning taking place between the coach and client, and that successful leaders want a coaching partnership that will challenge and support them.

You’ve worked with c-suite leaders from diverse sectors Ð from Fortune 50 companies to the State Police Agency. How do you tailor your coaching approach to fit different organizational cultures and leadership needs?

There’s a saying in coaching: Meet your clients where they are.

This implies that the client is the driving force, and our role as coaches is to get a deep understanding of who they are, where they want to go, and what’s getting in their way of reaching their potential. As we support them in exploring and surfacing this self-knowledge, these highly motivated people will make the behavior shifts that serve them and their organizations.

For me, it’s helpful to have context for their industry and sector, but I don’t over think it.

What was the inspiration behind starting the Prism Women’s Leadership Development Program?

Honestly, it was a back-of-the napkin moment during a plane ride with my co-founder. Our team had been coaching in several women’s development programs, and it felt like the designers had over-rotated on the MBA-like competencies and de-emphasized the importance of women exploring how we’ve been socialized, how we can leverage our emotional intelligence and the value of a high-touch learning
environment. Prism was the result, and we’re now in our 5th year and always evolving!

The 3D Leadership Group provides various services, encompassing Leadership and Team Coaching, 360-feedback initiatives, and an Executive Presence program. Could you shed some light on these offerings, particularly the Executive Presence program, which our readers may not be familiar with?

We are a team of 15 coaches, and our sweet spot is coaching senior leaders and those assimilating into C-suite roles. At these levels, leaders often focus on enhancing their executive presence, which includes qualities like composure, confidence, verbal and visual style, approachability, resilience, and intentionality. You can also think of these as elements of executive readiness, which are less tangible but highly personal and impactful.

Finally, what’s next for you and the 3D Leadership Group? Are there any upcoming initiatives or projects you’re particularly excited about?

Yes, we have a lot to look forward to, and meeting clients in person again has been re-energizing and a reminder of the incredible people we’re privileged to partner with. In addition to Prism, our STEM women’s program with a Fortune 50 tech firm continues to gain momentum. And there’s increasing interest from Private Equity firms to introduce coaching to their portfolios of scrappy start-ups. We’re very optimistic about 2024 and the opportunities ahead!

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