Executive Leadership Coach · Keynote Speaker

You got
the seat.
Now make
it yours.

For leaders who've earned the role and know the hardest part is just beginning. Executive coaching and leadership keynote speaking for CEOs, founders, next-generation family business leaders, and PE/VC-backed executives — based in Austin, Texas.

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500+
Leaders Coached
ICF PCC
Credentialed
EdD
Org. Leadership
Dr. Benjamin Ritter delivering a leadership keynote at the CDC Speaker Series Dr. Benjamin Ritter, executive leadership coach, in a fireside chat at the CDC
Trusted by leaders at Amazon · Google · DoorDash · Mayo Clinic · Pinterest · Coursera · CDC · Northwestern
5 Secrets to Becoming Fearless in Your Career — Free Guide by Dr. Benjamin Ritter

5 Secrets to Becoming Fearless in Your Career

A free guide for leaders who want to create clarity, build confidence, and take control of what's next.

Who This Is For

Three moments.
One kind of coaching.

I'm an executive coach for CEOs, founders, next-generation family business leaders, and PE/VC-backed executives. The leaders I work with are already successful — the role is heavier than expected, the decisions are more complex, and there are fewer people they can talk to honestly. That's where the work begins.

01

CEOs & Founders

You've built or scaled something real. Now the organization's complexity has outpaced the leadership style that got you here. We build what comes next.
02

Next-Gen Family Business Leaders

You're inheriting a legacy and the pressure that comes with it. We build the identity, authority, and vision to lead on your terms, not your predecessor's.
03

PE/VC-Backed Executives

You were promoted because you were the best at what you did. Now you're running it. Coaching closes the gap between individual performer and organizational leader.
What Changes

Real outcomes.
Not self-help promises.

  • You stop second-guessing decisions in rooms that used to intimidate you
  • Your team knows what you stand for and follows accordingly
  • You navigate org politics without losing yourself in them
  • You lead with authority that comes from who you are, not just the title
  • Difficult conversations get had. Clearly, directly, without the drama
  • You have a repeatable way to re-center and lead through pressure
  • You influence peers and stakeholders without needing direct authority
"I was experiencing extremely difficult business climate challenges and personnel issues. In just a few months, I adapted my role to better fit my strengths, identified a new business line, and reduced much of the stress and anxiety I was feeling on an almost daily basis."
Executive Coaching Client · Role Design & Stress Reduction
"I now feel more in control of my career trajectory, my confidence is solid, and my team and manager both noticed the positive change. I'm close to a new promotion and leading a highly engaged, productive team."
Executive Coaching Client · Managing Up & Promotion Readiness
"My experience with Ben was transformative. He created a safe space to be fully transparent, then turned our conversations into actionable tasks. I have much clearer insight into who I've been and where I want to go."
Executive Coaching Client · Identity & Self-Leadership
Programs

How leaders
work with me.

Three executive coaching engagements for senior leaders — from a focused 3-month intensive to a year-long executive coaching partnership for CEOs, founders, and next-gen leaders.

01

Fearless Leader™

Year-Long Partnership
Executive leadership coaching for CEOs, founders, and next-generation leaders navigating bigger roles, higher stakes, and more complex decisions. Weekly sessions, ongoing support.
Start the conversation →
02

Fearless Career™

Executive Job Transition
For senior leaders ready to move. 1:1 coaching plus access to Fearless Job Search, an AI tool that finds the roles, surfaces decision-makers, and writes your outreach.
Start the conversation →
03

Becoming Fearless™

3-Month Intensive
For leaders who feel stuck and want to move forward with clarity and intention. A focused engagement that builds momentum fast.
Start the conversation →
Speaking

Four talks.
One through-line.

Leadership keynote speaker for executive teams, leadership conferences, and Fortune 500 events. Past audiences include the CDC, Amazon, Google, DoorDash, and Mayo Clinic.

Dr. Benjamin Ritter — leadership keynote speaker at executive conferences and Fortune 500 events
01

Fearless Leadership

Leading without fear of judgment, failure, or disappointing others. Built for executive teams and leadership conferences.
02

Leading Without Authority

Influence, credibility, and impact without positional power. For cross-functional leaders and high-potential executives.
03

Fearless Career

Taking ownership of career direction and decisions at the senior level. Practical, direct, no platitudes.
04

Own the Room

Authentic executive presence, commanding attention, and communicating with authority. Built for leaders who want to stop performing and start leading.
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The Book

The playbook behind
the coaching.

65 Strategies to Journey from Self-Doubt to Self-Mastery

Becoming Fearless is the framework behind every coaching engagement on this page. It's the operating system I built for leaders who are ready to stop doubting themselves and start leading as themselves.

Written from a decade of coaching 500+ executives, it's direct, research-grounded, and built to be used, not just read.

Amazon Best-Seller · 4.6 stars · 100+ ratings
Get the Book
Becoming Fearless by Dr. Benjamin Ritter — Amazon best-selling leadership book, 4.6 stars
Dr. Benjamin Ritter, EdD, ICF PCC — executive leadership coach in Austin, Texas

Dr. Benjamin Ritter

EdD ICF PCC MBA MPH Amazon Best-Seller
About

Not a coach who talks
about leadership.
One who's studied it, lived it, and coaches through it.

Dr. Benjamin Ritter holds a Doctorate in Organizational Leadership, an MBA in entrepreneurial management, an MPH, and the ICF PCC credential, one of the highest in the coaching profession. He has coached 500+ senior and executive leaders across industries including Amazon, Google, DoorDash, Mayo Clinic, Pinterest, Coursera, Northwestern, and the CDC.

He is the author of the Amazon best-selling book Becoming Fearless, the creator of the Becoming self-leadership app, and the founder of Live for Yourself Consulting. He hosts two podcasts, Live Fearlessly and The Executive, and has been featured in Forbes and Fast Company.

His coaching is direct, research-grounded, and focused on one thing: helping leaders show up fully as themselves, because that is what actually moves organizations forward.

Read more on the Live for Yourself Consulting articles — ongoing essays on executive presence, leading at the top, and career ownership at the senior level. You can also connect with Ben on LinkedIn.

Schedule a Call Connect on LinkedIn
Client Results

What leaders
say changes.

"Ben's program is so powerful in its simplicity. In less than 6 months, I reduced anxiety in a role that had become almost untenable in a toxic environment, built a better team and work environment, and ultimately found a new opportunity I was genuinely excited about."
Executive Coaching Client · Leading Through Toxicity
"After six months of applying to countless jobs and not getting a single interview, I was completely demoralized. Within a month of working with Ben, I had several interviews lined up and accepted a role at an amazing company. His advice isn't cookie-cutter. It's tailored to who you are."
Executive Career Coaching Client · Landing the Right Role
"I felt stuck in my career. My resume was outdated, my LinkedIn was uninspiring, and the market was silent. After rebranding with Ben, I started getting interviews within days and began building relationships at my dream companies."
Executive Career Coaching Client · Market Positioning
"I always wanted work that truly aligned with my values but couldn't pinpoint what I needed. Through coaching, I uncovered my core values and translated them into a meaningful career path. I'm now in a role where I feel fulfilled every day."
Executive Career Coaching Client · Values-Aligned Career
Frequently Asked

Common questions
before we talk.

Who do you coach?
Three groups of leaders make up most of my coaching practice:

CEOs and founders — when the organization's complexity has outpaced the leadership style that built it. Coaching helps you grow into the role without losing the edge that got you here.

Next-generation family business leaders — inheriting a legacy and the pressure that comes with it, while needing to build authority and a vision that's yours, not your predecessor's. We work on identity, decision-making, and leading on your own terms inside a system that already has its own.

PE/VC-backed executives — promoted because they were the best individual performer and now running the organization. Coaching closes that gap: moving from operator to leader, managing board and sponsor expectations, and leading through the pace and pressure that comes with backed environments.

How long are coaching engagements?
Engagements range from a 3-month focused intensive (Becoming Fearless) to a year-long executive coaching partnership (Fearless Leader) with weekly sessions and ongoing support. Fearless Career is structured around your specific transition timeline.
Do you coach virtually or in person?
Most coaching is delivered virtually, which works well for executives across industries and time zones. I'm based in Austin, Texas, and select in-person engagements and offsites are available for executive teams.
What makes your approach different from other executive coaches?
My coaching is direct, research-grounded, and identity-based. With an EdD in Organizational Leadership, an MBA, an MPH, and the ICF PCC credential — one of the highest in the coaching profession — I bring academic rigor and 500+ executive engagements to every conversation. The work is built to be used, not just talked about.
Are you available for keynote speaking?
Yes. I keynote on Fearless Leadership, Leading Without Authority, Fearless Career, and Own the Room. Past audiences include the CDC, Fortune 500 leadership teams, and executive conferences. Email for speaking inquiries.
Where can I read more of your writing?
My ongoing writing on leadership, executive presence, and career ownership lives in the Live for Yourself Consulting articles, plus my book Becoming Fearless and the podcasts Live Fearlessly and The Executive. You can also connect with Ben on LinkedIn.
How do I get started?
Book a complimentary 60-minute discovery call at cal.com/drbenjaminritter/yourcareer. We'll discuss your goals, the gap between where you are and where you're going, and whether coaching together is the right fit.
Ready to Begin

The role is yours.
Lead like it is.

A 60-minute discovery call to discuss your goals, explore coaching options, and see if we're the right fit.

Schedule Your Discovery Call
Complimentary · 60 minutes · Confidential