Yvonne Hernandez Friedman, Ph.D., PCC
Leadership Coach
“Working with Yvonne helped me stop performing leadership and start living it. I was finally able to quiet the doubt, realign with my values, and lead in a way that felt like me—powerful, imperfect, and effective.”
I coach higher education leaders to rise with clarity, confidence, and strategy—especially in the messy middle of complex institutions. Whether you’re stepping into your first leadership role, managing change across silos, or navigating the hidden curriculum of executive life, I help you lead with purpose and impact.
My coaching supports:
- Navigating Leadership Transitions: From department chairs to cabinet-level roles, I guide leaders through the early turbulence of new positions and help them develop a leadership approach that matches institutional context and personal authenticity.
- Strategic Planning & Decision-Making: I help leaders at all levels—from deans to vice presidents—connect day-to-day operations with long-term institutional goals, turning strategy into action.
- Leading Through Change & Transformation: Whether it’s a structural reorg, a cultural shift, or a political minefield, I equip you with change management tools, emotional agility, and energy awareness to lead through uncertainty with resilience and adaptability.
- Enhancing Executive Presence & Communication: As a certified EQ-i/EQ 360 practitioner, I support leaders in becoming emotionally effective—deepening self-awareness, navigating challenging interpersonal dynamics, and communicating with grounded confidence.
- Building and Leading High-Performing Teams: From direct reports to cross-functional teams, I help you foster energy-conscious leadership, build psychological safety, and drive team accountability and cohesion.
- Developing Financial & Operational Acumen: I demystify the numbers. Through coaching and tools, I help you build confidence in budget, resource alignment, and operational strategy.
- Creating Inclusive and Student-Centered Campus Cultures: My equity-rooted approach helps leaders embed belonging into decision-making, student services, and team culture.
About Me
I bring over 20 years of experience in higher education, having served in a range of roles from entry-level to senior leadership across diverse institutions, including Coastal Carolina University, UC San Diego, San Diego State University, Arizona State University, and the University of Houston–Clear Lake. Over the past five years, I’ve served as a senior leader, working closely with presidents, provosts, deans, and emerging professionals to lead campus-wide efforts in strategic planning, institutional transformation, and student success.
I’m a Professional Certified Coach through the International Coaching Federation, with additional certifications in emotional intelligence (EQ-i and EQ 360) and Prosci Change Management. I’m also trained in Energy Leadership, a research-based coaching methodology that helps leaders understand how their energy—conscious or unconscious—shapes every interaction, decision, and outcome. My coaching style blends pragmatic strategy with deep emotional insight, helping you become the kind of leader who transforms organizations from the inside out.
As a Mexican-American, first-generation college graduate, and woman in executive leadership, I understand what it takes to lead in environments where you may be underestimated or overextended. My mission is to help you shift from burnout and self-doubt into energized, values-driven leadership that sustains both results and wellbeing.
If you’re navigating a pivotal moment, managing quiet pressure behind the scenes, or ready to build something lasting—let’s talk. Coaching with me is a place to exhale, reflect, strategize, and rise.