Live and Lead From Alignment, Not Obligation
Coaching for mission-driven leaders, creatives and teams — one-to-one, as a team, or through workshops. Whether you're facing a major transition, choosing your next chapter, or building a healthier team culture, we start with what's actually in the way.
For when you know something needs to change and can't yet see what's in the way.
For executive directors and other leaders who want coaching for themselves, or a healthier, more sustainable culture for their teams and staff.
Hi, I’m Alex,
I work with people who look successful on paper, but internally sense a quiet nudge that there is more to express.
My journey began in East Germany, where I learned firsthand the power of persistence and vision under constraint. That experience taught me two things at once: the constraints people live under are real, and how you meet them still shapes what you can build. My work focuses on the part that's within your reach: the patterns, beliefs and fears that keep you stuck, whether that shows up as burnout, self-doubt or fear of the unknown.
I spent 20 years founding and leading organizations in Chicago, and for the last 12+ years I've coached mission-driven leaders and teams throughout the U.S.
Wherever you're starting from, I meet you where you are — with compassion, realness, and a path toward deeper self-trust.
Who I Work With
I work with leaders, professionals and creatives — and the teams they're part of. Most come to me through one of these doors:
Navigating a Major Transition
You've outgrown where you are, or a lot is changing around you. You want to see what's true for you before you choose your next chapter.
Leading from Your Gifts
You know what you're good at, and most days it stays in the background. You want to lead from authenticity, not obligation.
Building or Leading Something New
You're stepping into something new — a role, a venture, a direction — and don't yet know what you want it to be. You want clarity and confidence before you commit.
Pursuing Audacious Goals
You have a vision for something bigger and bolder, and you keep finding reasons to wait. You need strategic support navigating the risk without losing yourself.
Reconnecting with Joy & Purpose
You've been in survival mode. You're ready to remember what actually energizes you and move beyond burnout.
Breaking the All-or-Nothing Trap
You believe change means giving up everything you've built. You're ready to discover that meaningful transitions can happen gradually.
How We Work Together
There are two ways to work with me.
If you know something needs to change in your own work or life:
Start with the free 15-minute reflection, or schedule a Clarity Call to talk it through.
Every engagement is shaped around what you need. Most people start with eight to ten sessions. Many continue for six months to a year, and some keep working with me for several years. Each session includes preparation beforehand and a detailed write-up afterward, with concepts and practices to anchor what came up. Fees depend on the length and shape of the work, and we'll go over them in our first conversation. Some clients' organizations cover the cost through a professional development budget.
If you're looking for support for your team or organization:
You want the culture around you to reflect the values you actually hold. You're ready to lead in a way your team can feel, not just read in a document. Let's explore what would help most — coaching for you, work with your leadership team, or workshops for your whole staff.
The Client Experience
"Alex is an amazing listener. He is compassionate. He’s empathic, he’s a strategic thinker. He is everything you would want to have in someone who you’re opening up to about something such as a career choice or a lifestyle change."
"I can’t recommend Alex highly enough. He’s really transformed the way I think about not only my work, but also my life and my relationships and the interconnections between all of these pieces. I highly, highly recommend Alex.”
"Alex Poeter was one of the wisest and most strategic nonprofit leaders in Chicago for over twenty years. He is a very creative problem solver who anticipates trends and understands how to marry big ideas to clear action plans."
My Approach
An inside-out framework for lasting transformation
Grounding
Getting clear on what's true for you right now — inside and around you.
Visioning
Giving yourself permission to want what’s most important to you, without fear and guilt doing the editing.
Creating
Taking aligned action, and building practices you can sustain.
The free 15-minute reflection is a starting point for grounding and visioning. In coaching, we work through all three together.
Conversations on Leadership & Transformation
Exploring the intersection of inner alignment and outer impact.
A deep dive into breaking through plateaus and moving from survival to leadership.
Why the most powerful transformation happens from the inside out.
Insights on resilience and creating work aligned with your true purpose.