Our Head Coach, Dr. Jeff Schneider

With graduate degrees from Stanford, Harvard, and Fielding, Dr. Jeff Schneider, PhD, JD, M.Ed, MA, PCC, has devoted the past three decades to serving individuals and a broad range of organizations in various capacities: as a trusted advisor, professional and executive coach and change agent, facilitator, educator, attorney, judge, arbitrator, executive, professor, and leader of two nonprofit organizations.  A life-long student of the mind, behavior, and human potential, Jeff has developed an expertise in adult development, education, and personal and organizational transformation. He is entrusted by adults of all backgrounds, careers, and goals, and by for-profit and nonprofit organizations - from sole proprietors to the largest multinational public corporations - as well as by public agencies and academic institutions. His unique contribution to psychological scholarship centers on the relationship between adult development and the experience of meaning in life.

Stanford Law School, J.D.

Harvard University Graduate School of Education, M.Ed. in Mind, Brain and Education.

Fielding Graduate University, PhD in Human Development and MA in Organization Development and Change.

Stanford University, A.B. Economics Honors, With Distinction.

College of Executive Coaching, Advanced Certification.

Coaching and Counseling: As a Board Certified Coach and credentialed with the elite designation of Professional Certified Coach (PCC) by the International Coaching Federation, Dr. Jeff serves as confidential and transformational coach and change agent for high achieving: professionals, executives, entrepreneurs, family- and closely-held businesses, nonprofit organizations, and educators and educational institutions spanning five continents. His clients range from City mayors and transitioning individuals to multinational corporations and professional services firms, from nonprofit organizations of all sizes to academic institutions. Jeff has taught and coached senior executives from around the world at and on behalf of Harvard Business School and Yale Graduate School of Management and has coached several U.S. mayors on behalf of the Bloomberg|Harvard City Leadership Initiative. He conducts workshops for nonprofit leaders on behalf of the Fieldstone Leadership Network and for practicing coaches on behalf of the International Coaching Federation. For University of San Diego Graduate School of Leadership and Education Studies, Jeff mentors and assesses coaches-in-training and leads adult development workshops for therapists-in-training. On a pro bono basis, he coaches transitioning elite military troops, frontline public servants, and vulnerable individuals.

Jeff helps clients identify goals, values, strengths, strategies, growth opportunities, and habits, and to implement strategies for achieving individual, team, and organizational goals while finding happiness, meaningfulness, and satisfaction by means of a plethora of science-based tools to help clients navigate through transitions, make difficult decisions and manage crises and disputes, attain peak performance through sustainable behavioral change, enhance their leadership and management skills, develop their organizations, manage their stress and their time, enhance their learning and memory, and concentration, ignite motivation, build resilience, and improve their professional and personal relationships.

Teaching:  For decades, Dr. Jeff has facilitated learning for adults, on behalf of Harvard Graduate School of Education, Yale School of Management, California Western School of Law, Harvard Business School, and the Graduate School of Leadership and Education at the University of San Diego.  He additionally developed a “Metacognition and Neuroscience” curriculum for high school and college students and has taught and mentored incarcerated young adults. From half-day seminars to 3-day boot camps, Jeff has instructed professionals on behalf of the National Business Institute, the University of California, American Land Institute, the California State Bar, among others. He also served as advisor to the University of California’s Continuing Education of the Bar.  Some of the Partners in Thought® interactive workshops created by Jeff are described here. 

Legal Career: For over 25 years, Jeff served as legal counselor to individuals and organizations, including as General Counsel and Director of Real Estate Finance for a national mixed-use development company, and before that, stints at a large international law firm, a mid-sized regional firm, and as Managing Partner of his own firm.  Rated “AV” by Martindale-Hubbel (its highest rating awarded for both legal ability and ethical standards) and included in the annual list of Best Lawyers in America® based on confidential peer reviews. Named a “Super Lawyer” by an independent rating service and named a top lawyer by San Diego Magazine.  For 20 years, Jeff taught at California Western School of Law as an adjunct professor, primarily in areas of negotiations, business franchise law, and real estate finance.

Leadership and Public Service:  

• The Association for Community Housing Solutions (TACHS) 1993-1997. President of a nonprofit corporation devoted to developing and servicing housing for the mentally-ill homeless (1993-1997).
  

• The Children’s School for Child-Centered Education, Inc. (progressive pre-K through 8 independent school in San Diego) 2007-2011. President and Chairman of the Board of Trustees and Member of School Board.
  

• Judge pro tem 1997-2017. Adjudicated over 1,000 cases for the San Diego Superior Court.
  

• Arbitrator 1991-2012. Arbitrated disputes between attorneys and their clients on behalf of the San Diego County Bar Association.
  

• The Honor Foundation 2019 - present. Coaches men and women transitioning from the elite armed forces such as SEAL teams.

• Words Alive 2017 - 2019. Taught and mentored incarcerated youth.
  

• San Diego Volunteer Lawyers Program (Received over a dozen awards for public service performing pro bono legal services.)
  

• San Diego AIDS Foundation 1989-1995. Pro bono counsel.
  

• United States Selective Service Board 2007-2013. Nominated by the Governor of California and appointed by the President of the United States.

Personal: After 30+ years in San Diego, California, Dr. Jeff and his wife of 31 years recently relocated to the U.S. Pacific Northwest with their two hilarious dogs. Hobbies include running, tennis, sailing, hiking, music, reading, meditating, and learning.  Distant past professional highlights include snorkeling and sailing instructor and theatrical performer for Club Med in Martinique, professional photographer, and criminal investigator.