Christopher Schmitt

Christopher Schmitt

Location: North Bend, DC

Biography

After retiring from 30 years of service as a United States Army Special Forces ""Green Beret,"" Chris recognizes that ""kindness"" was the most effective weapon in his kit bag. The big idea is to translate the lessons learned from Special Operations in combat into corporate sector leadership acumen. Chris conducts daily face-to-face and cloud-based executive coaching conversations with leaders from Fortune 500 Companies and International Not-for-Profits from his new home in Seattle. Additionally, he facilitates leadership development workshops and leads a wilderness-based leadership development expedition. Chris remains connected to the U.S. Special Operations Community through special projects and is passionate about supporting the Veteran Community by serving as a leader in Team Red, White, and Blue and Bunker Labs.

During the past three decades, Chris has gained extensive experience commanding, planning, and executing special operations missions worldwide. Through facilitating the success of Partner Nation leaders, both General Officers and Government leaders, in Afghanistan, the Balkans, Northwest Africa, and Canada, his career allowed him to serve as a mentor, trainer, and coach both in combat and uncertain environments at the strategic, operational, and tactical levels.

Chris is currently certified in The Birkman Method, the Hogan Assessment, and the AIIR Team Effectiveness Tool. He also has a Top-Secret clearance from the United States Government. This education and extensive leadership background make Chris uniquely qualified to be an executive coach, conduct cross-cultural mentoring, facilitate self-discovery, and inspire others to attain their personal summits.

Niche Areas of Expertise

  • Career Development
  • Executive Presence
  • Leaders in Transition
  • Organizational Development
  • Team Effectiveness

Industry Experience

  • Aerospace & Defense
  • Financial Services
  • Green Energy
  • Government
  • High Tech
  • Pharmaceuticals & Medical Products
  • Retail

Languages

  • English

Education

  • West Point - BS, International Relations and National Security Studies
  • Central Washington University - MS, Organizational Development

Certifications

  • Hogan
  • Birkman Method
  • AIIR Coaching Mindset Index
  • AIIR Team Effectiveness Survey

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