REDEFINING SUCESS

Dave O’Connor is on a mission to help highachieving professionals find deeper fulfillment. Offering one-on-one coaching and group workshops designed to transform both the professional and personal lives of men, his unique approach, “The DAVE Method” (Discover, Accept, Vision, Experiment), helps clients uncover the deeper issues at play, embrace their current reality, and define a clear vision for how they genuinely want to achieve their goals.

After over two decades in the corporate world holding high-pressure leadership roles, he witnessed a common pattern: accomplished executives checking off milestones and achieving success, yet feeling discontent—a struggle he knew firsthand. “I wanted to offer a different approach to creating a full life; one that doesn’t just focus on productivity and performance but also on helping people rediscover what lights them up.” It’s coaching that goes beyond the usual career advice to deliver real, sustainable change.

That vision came to life with the launch of his personalized coaching practice located in the heart of downtown Lake Forest. “Coaching is about creating space for meaningful change not just in careers but in the overall quality of life.”

Holding an associate certified coach credential, he studied under Dr. David Drake, a leader in narrative coaching, and studied at the Harvard Institute for Coaching and the Coactive Training Institute. To keep his coaching approach sharp and effective, he engages in ongoing supervision with Katie Drescher, a master-certified coach.

“My experience isn’t just theoretical,” he says. “My goal is to integrate practical strategies with deep, personal insights to drive meaningful, lasting changes for my clients.” For founders, EVPs, and CEOs across diverse industries, he has coached at life-changing conferences like Camp Mograph, a premier creative industry event where professionals learn, connect, and recharge.

O’Connor reflects on the success story of a senior executive he worked with who was grappling with the existential question: Is this it? “Through our coaching sessions, he used my method to clarify his values, embrace change, and take intentional action.” The result was a career pivot that balanced fulfillment with income, deepened connections with his family, and renewed the client’s sense of purpose in both his personal and professional life.

For O’Connor, these transformations are the heart of his mission. “Real success isn’t just about hitting targets—it’s about noticing what’s important about those targets and prioritizing the right ones just for you,” he says. With the launch of The Thriving Midlife Man group coaching series in January at the Gorton Center, he is expanding his reach. “January is the perfect time for fresh starts,” he shares. “This series is for men ready to redefine what success means for them and start living it.”

O’Connor’s coaching is more than a service; it’s a call to action for men ready to grow—not just professionally, but as human beings. “The courage to dive deep and do the work is where the magic happens,” he says. And with O’Connor as their guide, his clients are proving that it’s never too late to thrive.

Dave O’Connor, Executive Coach is located at 253 Market Square in Lake Forest, 518-727-6531, heycoachdave.com, Instagram: @heycoachdave. Sign up for Coach Dave’s LinkedIn Newsletter, “The Clear Leader”: linkedin.com/in/djoconnor1.