Rachel Benyola

Location: San Francisco, CA
Language: English

Rachel Benyola, Chief Executive and Founder of AnneeLondon, consults leaders in the areas of high-potential development, entrepreneurship, succession planning, interpersonal conflict and career transitions. She has coached executives and emerging leaders in $50M-$500M+ companies within retail, fashion, television, entertainment, healthcare, municipal government, nonprofits, and higher education. Rachel also coaches female executives on leading through and transforming cultural barriers within an organization.

Rachel was recognized as a Forbes Magazine’s 30 Under 30 leader for scaling AnneeLondon, a brand of outdoor exercise gear, into a multi-million dollar valuation in less than two years. Using a patented, game-changing helmet design that folds flat and retains its safety integrity through repeated impacts, she won several business competitions and secured funding to develop a full product line.

Rachel built a seasoned executive team to scale the venture into a North American corporation, making diversity and leadership development critical parts of her company culture.

She continues to executive coach because she passionately ascribes to the philosophy behind servant leadership. In her own words, “It is our responsibility as leaders to coach senior management in ridding ourselves of antiquated business practices, and to usher in the next generation of leaders with supportive guidance.”

Rachel is a direct, tenacious coach who unearths the entrepreneurial spirit in her coachees with creative, proven coaching methods. She activates and inspires leaders to move and take action with focused vision. She aggressively pushes to challenge leaders to go beyond their comfort zone and regain their inner enthusiasm for their work. Drawing from her own pool of expertise as a CEO and executive coach, Rachel leverages unique and often unseen connections among resources within and outside organizations to expand a leader’s influence. Her coaching mottos include: listen aggressively, communicate effectively, develop an entrepreneurial mindset, and create positive energy.

In addition to receiving Forbes Magazine’s 30 Under 30 award in Manufacturing and Industry, Rachel was named one of the nine innovators of the year by Smithsonian Magazine, young entrepreneur of the year by Drexel University, and AnneLondon one of the top 10 hottest Philadelphia emerging ventures in 2017. Rachel is also on Drexel University’s annual 2018 top 40 Under 40 leaders list. Rachel speaks on leadership, the entrepreneurial mindset, and innovation for maker communities, MENSA, women’s leadership organizations, and several universities across the United States.

Rachel holds a Master of Science in Psychology from Chestnut Hill College. She is trained on the Hogan 360º and DISC executive psychometric assessments. Rachel is also certified in the Coaching Mindset Index (CMI). Rachel earned an MBA from Drexel University’s LeBow College of Business in Innovation Management and Entrepreneurship with a certification in Leadership. Rachel earned her Bachelor of Arts from Rutgers University in Psychology and in Women and Gender Studies. During her time there, she was the first student to receive the prestigious Rutgers Civic Scholar Award for launching a new career and academic development program for minorities and underprivileged youth.