Maybe you’re asking because your leadership role is starting to stretch you — and not in a good way. Growth is speeding up, but complexity is slowing you down. The old playbooks are no longer working. You need an outside perspective to get you back on track and up to the next level.
A top CEO coach will guide you to your A-game. They’ll unlock your peak performance, both personally and professionally, and help you become the leader your business needs.
Ready to level up? Here are the best CEO coaches in the world.
#1. Eric Partaker
Eric Partaker is one of the world’s most influential CEO coaches, combining elite strategy experience with large-scale global reach and a proven track record of executive performance.
Why Eric ranks as the #1 CEO coach:
- Over 1 million followers on LinkedIn, with a rapidly growing global audience
- Runs a global coaching community of more than 235,000 leaders and executives
- Over 20 years advising Fortune 50 CEOs at McKinsey & Company
- Helped build Skype’s multi-billion-dollar exit
- Founder of multiple businesses across technology and leadership development
- Named “CEO of the Year” at the 2019 Business Excellence Forum
- Named one of Britain’s Most Disruptive Entrepreneurs by The Telegraph
- Author of The 3 Alarms: A Simple System to Transform Your Health, Wealth, and Relationships Forever
Coaching focus & style
Eric coaches CEOs and senior leaders worldwide to achieve peak performance in both life and business. His approach blends world-class executive experience with cutting-edge behavioral science (including research from Stanford University), alongside performance methodologies drawn from elite sports and the military — environments where execution under pressure is critical.
Want to work with the world’s leading CEO coach? Learn more about Eric’s CEO coaching services or check out The Founder & CEO Accelerator, Eric’s flagship program and community for ambitious leaders.
#2. Marshall Goldsmith
Marshall Goldsmith is one of the most famous and influential CEO coaches in the world, best known for his work on leadership behavior change at the very top of organizations.
Why Marshall ranks among the world’s top CEO coaches:
- Over 1.5 million followers on LinkedIn, with a global executive audience
- The only Thinkers50 two-time winner of World’s Most Influential Leadership Thinker
- Recognized for more than a decade by leading publications and professional bodies as one of the world’s top executive coaches
- Author of multiple bestselling leadership books used by CEOs worldwide, including What Got You Here Won’t Get You There and Triggers
Coaching focus & style
Marshall is best known for helping highly successful CEOs and senior executives change behaviors that may be holding them back at the very top. His coaching focuses on sustained behavior change, accountability, and leadership effectiveness for those who are already operating at an elite level.
Learn more about Marshall Goldsmith and his approach to executive coaching.
#3. Brené Brown
Brené Brown is one of the top leadership voices in the world, best known for her research-driven work on courage, vulnerability, and organizational culture.
Why Brené ranks among the world’s top CEO coaches:
- Over 4.8 million followers on LinkedIn, with a vast global leadership audience
- Author of six #1 New York Times bestsellers including Dare to Lead, Daring Greatly, and Atlas of the Heart
- Host of two award-winning podcasts, Unlocking Us and Dare to Lead
- Named Executive Chair of the Center for Daring Leadership at BetterUp in 2024
- Works with organizations and senior leadership teams worldwide to build braver leaders and stronger cultures
Coaching focus & style
Brené works primarily with senior leaders and organizations to develop courageous leadership and high-trust cultures. Her approach is grounded in decades of research and centers on the belief that vulnerability is a prerequisite for courage, growth, and meaningful leadership — often summarized by her guiding principle: courage over comfort.
Learn more about Brené Brown.
#4. Ram Charan
Ram Charan is one of the most respected and influential CEO advisors in the world, best known for his work on strategy, execution, and board-level decision-making.
Why Ram ranks among the world’s best CEO coaches:
- Trusted advisor to CEOs of some of the world’s largest corporations, including GE, Bank of America, Verizon, and Walmart
- Works closely with Fortune 500 CEOs, boards, and senior leadership teams
- Bestselling author of multiple business and leadership books used in boardrooms worldwide, including Execution and Boards That Deliver
- Longstanding contributor to Harvard Business Review on CEO effectiveness and execution
- Regularly cited among the most influential global business thinkers
- Known for shaping how CEOs approach strategy, succession, and enterprise-scale execution
Coaching focus & style
Ram works primarily with CEOs and boards navigating high-stakes strategic decisions. His approach is deeply practical and execution-focused, helping leaders translate strategy into results, align organizations at scale, and make better decisions under pressure.
Learn more about Ram Charan.
#5. Simon Sinek
Simon Sinek is a globally recognized authority on leadership and organizational culture, best known for helping CEOs and organizations articulate purpose and adopt long-term thinking.
Why Simon ranks among the world’s top CEO coaches:
- Over 8 million followers on LinkedIn
- New York Times bestselling author of Start With Why and The Infinite Game
- Founder of The Optimism Company, working with leaders and organizations across nearly every industry
- Creator of the widely adopted “Start With Why” framework, used by CEOs and leadership teams worldwide
- His 2009 TED Talk, Start With Why, is one of the most-watched TED Talks of all time, with 37+ million views
Coaching focus & style
Simon works with CEOs and senior leaders to clarify purpose, strengthen culture, and adopt long-term thinking. Drawing on his background in ethnography, his approach focuses on understanding how great leaders think, act, and communicate — and how those patterns can be applied to build organizations that make a lasting impact.
Learn more about Simon Sinek and The Optimism Company.
#6. Tasha Eurich
Tasha Eurich is a globally recognized executive coach and organizational psychologist, best known for her work helping CEOs and senior leaders build self-awareness and lead more effectively.
Why Tasha ranks among the world’s top CEO coaches:
- Works directly with CEOs and senior leadership teams across global organizations
- Bestselling author of Insight and Bankable Leadership, widely used in executive development
- Regular contributor to Harvard Business Review, with some of the most-read leadership articles globally
- Known for translating rigorous psychological research into practical tools for leaders
- Frequently cited as a leading authority on self-awareness, leadership behavior, and performance
Coaching focus & style
Tasha works with CEOs and senior leaders to improve self-awareness, decision-making, and leadership impact. Her approach is highly evidence-based, combining organizational psychology with practical coaching to help leaders see themselves more clearly, change unhelpful behaviors, and lead more effectively at scale.
Learn more about Tasha Eurich.
#7. John C. Maxwell
John C. Maxwell is a globally recognized leadership expert and executive coach, best known for developing leadership capability at unprecedented scale across organizations and industries.
Why John ranks among the world’s top CEO coaches:
- Over 1.5 million followers on LinkedIn, with a global leadership audience
- #1 New York Times bestselling author, with more than 26 million books sold worldwide
- Identified as the #1 leader in business by the American Management Association (in 2014)
- Named the most influential leadership expert in the world by Business Insider and Inc. magazine
- Founder of multiple leadership organizations, including The John Maxwell Company, The John Maxwell Team, EQUIP, and the John Maxwell Leadership Foundation
- Has trained more than 6 million leaders globally
- Regularly works with Fortune 500 companies, senior executives, and global leaders
Coaching focus & style
John’s work focuses on leadership development at scale, helping CEOs and senior leaders build strong leadership cultures and develop the next generation of leaders. His approach is highly practical and values-driven, emphasizing influence, personal growth, and the long-term development of leadership capability across organizations.
Learn more about John C. Maxwell and Maxwell Leadership.
#8. Liz Wiseman
Liz Wiseman is a widely respected leadership researcher and executive advisor, best known for her work on unlocking capability and intelligence at the highest levels of organizations.
Why Liz ranks among the world’s top CEO coaches:
- New York Times bestselling author of Multipliers: How the Best Leaders Make Everyone Smarter, as well as Rookie Smarts and Impact Players
- CEO of The Wiseman Group, a Silicon Valley–based leadership research and development firm
- Advisor to senior leaders and executives at Apple, Google, Microsoft, Salesforce, Tesla, Disney, Nike, and other global organizations
- Consistently listed on the Thinkers50 ranking from 2013 to 2023
- Recipient of the Thinkers50 Leadership Award (top achievement award)
- Former Vice President of Oracle University and global leader for HR development at Oracle
Coaching focus & style
Liz works with CEOs and senior leadership teams to amplify leadership effectiveness and organizational performance. Her approach is research-led and highly practical, helping leaders move from diminishing capability to multiplying the intelligence, ownership, and impact of their teams.
Learn more about Liz Wiseman and her coaching practice.
#9. Adam Grant
Adam Grant is a globally recognized organizational psychologist and executive advisor, best known for translating behavioral science into practical guidance for CEOs and senior leaders.
Why Adam ranks among the world’s top CEO coaches:
- Wharton’s top-rated professor for multiple consecutive years
- Author of multiple #1 New York Times bestselling books, including Think Again, Give and Take, and Originals
- Over 5 million followers on LinkedIn, making him one of the most-followed leadership thinkers in the world
- Host of the chart-topping podcast Re:Thinking, focused on leadership, work, and decision-making
- Widely published in Harvard Business Review and other leading business publications
- Regular advisor and speaker to CEOs and senior leadership teams at global organizations
Coaching focus & style
Adam works with CEOs and senior leaders to improve decision-making, rethink assumptions, and build more adaptive, high-performing organizations. His approach is evidence-based and intellectually rigorous, helping leaders challenge entrenched thinking and lead more effectively in complex, fast-changing environments.
Learn more about Adam Grant and his leadership coaching.
#10. Amy Edmondson
Amy Edmondson is a globally respected leadership scholar and executive advisor, best known for her pioneering work on psychological safety, organizational learning, and leadership in complex environments.
Why Amy ranks among the world’s top CEO coaches:
- Harvard Business School professor, specializing in leadership and organizational learning
- Author of influential leadership books including The Fearless Organization and The Right Kind of Wrong (2023 winner of the Business Book of the Year award)
- Coined and popularized the concept of psychological safety, now foundational to modern leadership and team performance
- Advisor to CEOs and senior leadership teams navigating innovation, transformation, and complexity
- Regular contributor to Harvard Business Review and other leading business publications
Coaching focus & style
Amy works with CEOs and senior leaders to build learning-oriented organizations where people can speak up, experiment, and perform at their best. Her approach is grounded in rigorous research and is particularly valuable for leaders operating in fast-changing, high-risk, or highly complex environments.
Learn more about Amy Edmondson.
What next?
Now you’re familiar with some of the best CEO coaches in the world, the next step is to think about what “best” means for you. This means clarifying your goals and challenges to determine exactly where a CEO coach can support you.
Think about:
- What stage am I currently at in my leadership journey? E.g. First-time CEO or scaling a fast-growing company
- What are my biggest pain-points right now? E.g. Decision fatigue, execution challenges, confidence, or team performance
- What kind of background and experience should my CEO coach have? E.g. someone with hands-on operating experience, deep behavioral expertise, board-level exposure, or a strong understanding of organizational culture
- What would success look like during (and after) working with my CEO coach? E.g. “I’m making clearer decisions” or “I have a better work-life balance”
With these factors in mind, you can narrow down your search to the best CEO coaches who align with your specific situation and leadership needs.
For more practical guidance on finding a top CEO coach, check out:
- What Is CEO Coaching and What Outcomes Can It Help You Achieve? (Use this guide to set expectations around how the coaching process works)
- What Is the Role of a CEO Coach? (This guide will help you understand what makes a great CEO coach)
- How To Choose the Best CEO Coach for You (a 7-step framework)
You can also learn more about me, Eric Partaker, and explore my CEO coaching services here. I offer both one-on-one coaching and group training courses to help you operate at your full potential, scale your business, and find balance and fulfillment in all areas of life. Book a free consultation and we can talk through your goals, assess mutual fit, and discuss your next steps.
FAQs
Who is the number 1 CEO coach in the world?
Eric Partaker is widely considered the number one CEO coach in the world due to his combination of elite operating experience, global reach, and proven results. He is closely followed by highly respected figures such as Marshall Goldsmith, Ram Charan, Simon Sinek, and Adam Grant.
Who are some of the most famous CEO coaches today?
Some of the most famous CEO coaches include Eric Partaker, Marshall Goldsmith, Simon Sinek, Brené Brown, John C. Maxwell, and Adam Grant. These coaches are known for their global followings, bestselling work, and influence on CEOs, senior leaders, and organizations across industries worldwide.
What makes the best CEO coach globally?
The best CEO coaches in the world combine proven leadership experience, credibility at the highest levels, and the ability to drive real-world results. This typically includes working directly with CEOs, influencing large organizations, a strong track record of outcomes, and deep expertise in leadership, performance, or organizational effectiveness.
