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TAKE BACK CONTROL

YOUR DAY AND YOUR CAREER

Executive Coaching Kelowna:
Critical Support for Okanagan Leaders

You’ve built a career in the Okanagan. You’re senior leader in your organization, whether it’s a fast-moving tech team, a construction crew, or operations across the valley. You’re capable, decisive, and relied upon… but lately, leading feels harder than it should.

Meetings, decisions, and daily distractions eat your time. Your team looks to you but sometimes misses the mark. Strategic focus, accountability, and execution seem out of reach.

You’re up early, working late, and spending weekends catching up when you’d rather be skiing at Big White, hiking at Knox Mountain, or relaxing on the lake. Leadership at the top can feel lonely, and figuring out the next step often drains more energy than it gives.

It doesn’t have to be that way. You deserve support that matches the pressure you face, and that lets you enjoy life in the Okanagan while still leading effectively.

Leadership Development That Helps Kelowna Leaders Thrive

You want a team that owns their responsibilities, communicates clearly, and delivers results. You want space to think strategically and make confident decisions without being pulled in every direction.

You want to feel like a leader, not a firefighter, (unless you’re a firefighter, in which case, cool!). And underneath it all, you want to enjoy your work and the Okanagan lifestyle again.

Business Coaching Built for Kelowna's Smart Leaders

We know you’re intelligent and your time is valuable.

Therefore, our executive coaching is designed for business owners, executives, and professionals like you. We often work with leaders in engineering, accounting, tech, healthcare, and operations across the valley.

You’re the one people rely on. You’re solving the problems. But you don’t have to do it alone.

Take Back Your Time and Energy

Forget one-size-fits-all leadership programs or that part-time distance education leadership certificate. You need coaching that works with the realities of your calendar, your team, and your industry. We help you:

  • Get your team executing without constant micromanagement

  • Create a clear strategy and actionable plan

  • Gain a trusted sounding board for tough decisions

  • Reclaim your time and focus for the things that matter

Whether it’s navigating conflict, improving communication, or unlocking hidden potential in your team, we help Kelowna leaders grow without burning out.

As Your Leadership Development Partner in Kelowna, We Help You...

  • Lead your team without waiting until 5 pm to do your own work
  • Improve execution and accountability across the organization
  • Increase your capacity while protecting your energy
  • Stop wearing busy as a badge of honour
  • Reclaim Your Time And Mental Bandwidth
  • Love your work again while leveling up
  • Handle conflict and challenging conversations with confidence
  • Love Your Work Again As You Level Up
  • Leverage your strengths—and your team’s—to grow your business
  • Build a high-performing team aligned with your values
  • Gain The Time And Focus To See Your Strategy Clearly

Leadership Coaching With ROI That Sticks

You get results with ROI that sticks. No generic exercises, no cookie-cutter programs. Just coaching built around your real-world challenges and goals.

Is This You...?

Straight talk – our approach isn’t for everyone. You’ll get the most from coaching if:

  • You’re highly competent and committed to improvement

  • You value plain language over vague advice

  • You’d rather solve real problems than sit through theory

  • You’re driven to grow yourself and your team

  • (Bonus) You suspect your workplace could be a sitcom

If this sounds like you, executive coaching in Kelowna can help you regain clarity, increase impact, and enjoy the Okanagan lifestyle again.

Your Future Can't Wait.
Start Now

Schedule a 30-minute introductory call to see if we’re a fit and how working together can take you from frustration to focus. Select your availability and complete the form to get started.

BOOK NOW

Professional Business Coach & Leadership Development Expert

You want to get to the point. So you need to work with a professional who has the skills, education and real-world experience to understand you.

 

C.J. Wilkins has been a senior leader and an award-winning entrepreneur in Kelowna for more than 15 years. Past winner of Young Entrepreneur of the Year and Green Innovator of the Year, he understands business in the Okanagan.  He meets you where you are in your journey so you get the most value from working together.

 

C.J. is a Certified Executive Coach and Professional Certified Coach (International Coaching Federation) with real-world experience, not just a list of questions to ask. Together we work smarter, not harder to get you where you want to be as a leader.

LEARN MORE ABOUT US

Additional Services for Okanagan Organizations

TEAM TRAINING
FACILITATION

Ready to Explore Lasting Change?

Schedule a 30-minute introductory call to see if we’re a fit and how working together can take you from frustration to flow. Select your availability and complete the form to get started.

BOOK NOW

Frequently Asked Questions About Business Coaching, Leadership Coaching and Executive Coaching in Kelowna

We get it. Hiring an executive coach can feel a bit overwhelming. What are you actually buying? What can I expect when hiring a coach? Take a look… we dive in to all the common questions we get from leaders who are looking to level up.

Each session is a focused, confidential conversation built around what’s actually going on for you — your challenges, your goals, and what’s getting in the way.

An engagement usually starts with some form of assessment. To maximize your success, it’s important to know where you’re succeeding and what your blind spots might be.

In a typical session, we start where you are: what’s most pressing right now, and what progress looks like. Expect direct, sometimes challenging questions that push your thinking. You’ll leave with clear next steps you choose and actually want to act on.

Early on, we build a plan around where you want to go. Maybe that’s getting your business running the way it should, tackling the overwhelm that’s followed you home one too many times, or finally figuring out why your team isn’t firing on all cylinders. Whatever it is, we work with you to dig in to the important stuff that moves the goalposts.

Most Kelowna leaders walk out of their first session thinking, “I should have done this sooner.” Start with a free 30-minute intro call and find out if it’s right for you.

A consultant typically tells you what to do and may implement solutions for you.

We don’t do that (often – sometimes the answer might be smacking us in the face and we need to share it).

A business coach helps you develop your own leadership capacity and decision-making skills. We work together to build sustainable systems and develop your team, so you’re not dependent on outside help long-term. Think of it as building internal strength rather than renting expertise.

Most Kelowna business leaders notice improvements within the first few sessions. However, results start to pick up at 4-6 weeks, particularly around time management and delegation. Deeper organizational changes typically emerge over 3-6 months. We focus on quick wins early while building long-term capability and forming new habits. Many clients reclaim their weekends within the first two months.

Executive coaching investment varies based on your needs and goals. Here are some of the factors that go into pricing…

We often work with clients on a 3-month, 6-month or 12-month engagement that can be renewed – the longer the term, the more affordable it becomes.

We charge based on estimated value creation and ROI. This means we vary our fees based on the type and size of organization, level of leader and scope of what we’re trying to achieve together. 

That means for a smaller not-for-profit, you may be in the $3,500 ballpark for a 3-month engagement. For a large Kelowna business coaching at a senior executive level that same three month engagement may be $6,000 or more. 

We offer flexible payment arrangements including monthly retainers for longer contracts and project-based engagements. During your 30-minute introductory call, we’ll discuss options that fit your budget and objectives.

We work with both! Whether you’re a solo entrepreneur growing your first team, a mid-sized business owner managing 20+ employees, or an executive in a larger organization, we have experience with helping clients at your level. Our approach adapts to your specific situation and we meet you where you are in your leadership journey (sounds corny but it’s true).

We frequently work with tech founders, construction company owners, professional services firms, retail owners and operational leaders across the Okanagan.

We focus primarily on virtual coaching because we know your time is valuable. Most Kelowna business leaders don’t want to add another meeting to drive to.

Virtual sessions let you connect from wherever you’re most comfortable (home office, a quiet coffee shop, even your car between appointments). Many clients find they’re more authentic and reflective when they step away from the office urgency. You can be candid about real challenges without worrying about who might overhear.

That said, we’re flexible and can meet in person when it makes sense for your situation.

Great question. A few things to consider: Are you open to direct feedback? Is the challenge you’re facing worth significant time and investment to solve? And are you ready to implement changes, not just talk about them?

That’s exactly why we start with a free 30-minute introductory call. There’s no sales pitch, just an honest conversation about where you are, what you’re facing, and whether coaching makes sense for your situation.

Not everyone is ready for coaching, and that’s okay. We’ll tell you straight if we think you’d be better served by a different approach.

Full disclosure, we are also selective with our clients. We don’t like working with jerks or folks who use coaching as a shield to solving their actual leadership challenges. 

Executive coaching delivers practical, measurable impact for you and your team. Kelowna and Okanagan leaders typically see improvements in several key areas:

  • Less frustration, more focus. You stop reacting to every fire and start working on what actually matters. Strategic thinking becomes part of your week, not something squeezed in at 9:00 PM.

  • Time and capacity back. Weekends feel like weekends again, and leaving the office before dark becomes normal.

  • Improved decision making. Less second-guessing, fewer sleepless nights, and more confidence in your calls, even the tough ones.

  • Teams that execute. Better accountability, smoother execution, and fewer communication breakdowns that cost time, money, and credibility.

  • Stronger leadership presence. More influence with peers, direct reports, and senior stakeholders because you’ve earned credibility.

  • Results that stick. Productivity improves, outcomes get better, and growth is sustainable instead of short-term wins that fall apart under pressure.

Most leaders in Kelowna are there because they’re really good at their work and are strong subject matter experts. Combining your deep expertise with strong leadership skills doesn’t just make you capable—it makes you outstanding.

GET STARTED

Kelowna Leadership Insights

man in a white shirt expressing frustration at two team members seated at an office table

The One Conversation Leaders Keep Avoiding (And Why It’s Costing Them)

Most leaders don’t avoid performance conversations because they don’t care. They avoid them because no one ever taught them how to have one well. In the meantime, the cost quietly adds up — scattered focus, a frustrated team, and an employee who never got a fair shot at knowing where they actually stood. It doesn’t have to go that way. The ROI of Understanding™ framework gives leaders a practical way to have the conversation that changes things: earlier, cleaner, and without the fallout. If you’re carrying a conversation you’ve been putting off, this one’s for you.

Read More
firefighters in silver suits putting out an inferno

What Great Leaders Do Differently When Everything Feels Urgent

The leaders who stay sharp under sustained pressure aren’t superhuman. They just do a few things differently. When everything feels urgent, most managers put their heads down and hustle. The problem is that hustling harder isn’t a strategy, it’s a habit. And it’s one that slowly erodes your effectiveness, your team’s trust, and your ability to think clearly when it matters most. If you’re ready to stop reacting and start leading with intention, this one’s for you.

Read More
woman in a yellow jacket snowboarding at big white in kelowna

Building a High-Performance Leadership Team in the Okanagan

You’ve got a good team. Mostly.
They show up and they work hard, but getting everyone pulling the same direction is harder than it looks. There’s real effort everywhere and not enough momentum to show for it.
If you lead a team in Kelowna or anywhere in the Okanagan, you’re not alone. This comes up all the time. And it almost always comes down to three things: trust, accountability, and momentum.
The Okanagan gives you real advantages that most leaders never use. Let’s change that.

Read More
bennett bridge from the kelowna side

5 Signs Your Kelowna Business Needs Leadership Help

You’ve built something real in the Okanagan. Whether you’re running a tech startup downtown, managing a construction company across the valley, or leading a professional services firm, you’ve proven you can build and grow a business.
But lately? Leading feels harder than it should.
You’re working longer hours, your team keeps coming to you with problems, and strategic thinking gets pushed to evenings and weekends when you’d rather be at the lake or on the slopes at Big White.
If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Many Kelowna business leaders face the same challenges. Here are five clear signs it’s time to get leadership support (and what you can do about it).

Read More
woman at a laptop on a video conference

New Leader Support in Kelowna: Helping High Performers Become Confident, Capable Leaders

Promoted into leadership and suddenly feeling overwhelmed? Many high performers discover that the skills that got them promoted, like technical expertise, reliability, and strong output, are not enough when managing people. Leadership requires prioritizing, delegating, and guiding a team while keeping your own workload under control. Communication is critical. Listening well, asking the right questions, and creating understanding can prevent wasted time and frustration. Our Leading with EI program helps new leaders in Kelowna and the Okanagan develop these skills before or soon after stepping into management. Practical coaching ensures leaders hit the ground running, avoid burnout, and build accountable, high-performing teams. Funding may be available through the BC Employer Training Grant.

Read More
black and white image of an aircraft in a hangar with no wings

The Pace of Problem Solving: How Slowing Down Speeds You Up

If you run a business in Kelowna, you know the pressure to fix problems fast. Clients are waiting. Cash flow matters. Downtime hurts. But moving quickly is not always the smartest move. Many entrepreneurs rush big, complex issues and ignore small ones until they become far more expensive than they needed to be. In this post, I share a lesson from aircraft maintenance that changed how I approach problem solving in my own work with business owners across the Okanagan. It is about knowing when to act immediately and when slowing down actually saves time, money, and credibility. If your days feel reactive and your problems keep resurfacing, this shift in pace may be the missing piece.

Read More

Our Clients Are Talking

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C.J. Wilkins is BRILLIANT! This was one of the most productive hours with a consultant that I have EVER had. C.J. has a wealth of knowledge, experience, understanding. He knows of what he speaks. C.J. provided specific ideas into developing our audience; ideas that are very doable - not pie-in-the-sky goals. Practical, common sense, relatable suggestions. These are things the we can implement immediately.
David Garber
Edmonton Metropolitan Chorus
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I can't say enough good things about C.J.'s coaching practice and the programs he offers. The impact that his coaching has had on my performance and emotional intelligence at the office has made my work-life balance better as well as more personable with all of my coworkers. My career path has been more focused and personal goal setting has become a large part of my work experience. Thank you for everything, C.J. and I would recommend his programs to everyone!
Matt Clarkson
YMCA of Lethbridge
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C.J is an amazing presenter that brings both passion and extensive knowledge to the topics. CJ's enthusiasm is evident in his presentation style and his knowledge is inspiring to all that have the privilege to engage with him.
Angela McLaren
CJ has been a wonderful coach helping to support me to grow my emotional intelligence to become a better leader for my team. He is personable and easy to talk to providing practical guidance and useful tools that has already led to positive results. Thank you for everything and I highly recommend his services to anyone looking to enhance their team!
Jodie E.
YMCA of Medicine Hat
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When it comes to Marketing and communications strategy, C.J. totally works his magic! C.J. is able to take a 20 minute story and make it 5 minutes yet more impactful!
We had been delivering services for 37 years and no one was able to donate on our website. C.J. brought our website into the 21st century so that our website is now interactive, engaging, and now, you can donate with a press of a button!
Debbie Scarborough
Executive Director
Wilkins Creative Insights helped me expand my small business goals into a comprehensive, individualized action plan for success.
He also developed my website from start to finish and transformed it into a user-friendly platform, while maintaining the spirit & style of Textile Apparel.
Working with C.J. is like having an experienced business partner in your corner.
Alicia Meier
Owner
C.J. has been an exceptional coach in supporting me as I build my business. His quick mind and razor sharp focus keeps me and my business growth on track. I highly recommend C.J. if you are looking for top notch service and cutting edge creativity! If you are ready to soar call C.J. today!
Shauna Paynter
Owner
Safe and Sound Counselling
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This was one of several strategic planning meetings that I have attended. I certainly can say comparably that the content, the facilitation and the overall day were above meeting my expectations. And thank God it was fun!
Matt Brown
Board Member - OSIF

Ready to Explore Lasting Change?

Schedule a 30-minute introductory call to see if we’re a fit and how working together can take you from frustration to flow. Select your availability and complete the form to get started.

BOOK NOW