Kevin McCarthy

---

I currently provide executive coaching and consulting services with Upstart Logic, helping leaders and organizations navigate complexity, build high-trust cultures, and drive meaningful change. Additionally, I work with Professors Mike Tushman (Harvard Business School) and Charles O’Reilly (Stanford GSB) in their Leading Change and Organizational Renewal (LCOR) program, providing small-group coaching for senior executives.

Previously, I have worked with chapters of the American Leadership Forum (ALF) in Silicon Valley, Sacramento, and the Great Valley, facilitating leadership development for diverse cohorts of senior leaders. My work focuses on enhancing self-awareness, strengthening team dynamics, and fostering collaboration across sectors.

Previously, I collaborated with the consulting firm, Change Logic, supporting organizations in strategic innovation and ambidextrous leadership.

Across all my consulting and coaching engagements, my focus remains on helping leaders develop the capacity to lead transformational change—both within their organizations and in the larger systems they influence.

I have held leadership roles across education and healthcare, including serving as Vice President of Clinics and Education for a three-campus system. In this role, I navigated the complexities of leading change across three distinct organizational cultures, gaining firsthand experience in the challenges and opportunities of transformation.

I also participated in an interdisciplinary healthcare collaborative through the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, working to drive systemic improvements in patient care. Additionally, I led multi-institutional collaborations in both healthcare and education, bringing together diverse stakeholders to create meaningful, lasting change.

For nearly 20 years, I have worked alongside leaders navigating the complexities of change. I have deep respect for the dedication, courage, and personal growth required to lead through turbulence, and I approach my work as a partner in that journey.

My philosophy is deeply influenced by Edgar Schein, the esteemed scholar-practitioner who, after decades of consulting and teaching, described this work as “humble consulting.” Rather than operating from a traditional expert-driven model, this approach prioritizes relationships, learning, and collaboration, empowering leaders through a process of discovery, insight, and applied learning.

I believe that real transformation happens not through the application of the solutions of experts but through meaningful dialogue, deep self-awareness, and the ability to adapt and evolve in real time. My role is to create the conditions where leaders can explore complexity with confidence, challenge their assumptions, and develop the capacity to lead with clarity and authenticity.

Originally trained as a Doctor of Chiropractic, I expanded my expertise with Master’s degrees in Education and Organizational Psychology.  I worked towards a Ph.D. in Organizational Psychology and Human Development, deepening my understanding of leadership, team dynamics, and systemic change, and completed all course work without the dissertation.

I also trained for two years with Bill Isaacs (MIT and Dialogos), developing advanced skills in dialogue, leadership, and team facilitation. Additionally, I completed a certificate program in Dialogue, Deliberation, and Public Engagement through the Kettering Foundation, further strengthening my ability to foster meaningful conversations and drive collaborative change.