Brian Buford

Senior Consultant

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Brian Buford works with senior leaders who are working under real pressure. He helps them think clearly, make sound decisions, and lead effectively in organizations that are complex, fast-moving, and not always easy to navigate. Before starting his own practice, Brian led enterprise leadership development at a Fortune 50 company, so he understands both the demands of senior roles and the organizational realities around them. He has coached leaders across more than 150 organizations globally, including in technology, healthcare, retail, financial services, and professional services. His style is direct, grounded, and practical.

BACKGROUND & INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE

At Target Corporation, Brian led the team responsible for building the company’s enterprise leadership development work. That included programs for top talent at all levels, an executive coaching function, action-learning initiatives, and a leadership curriculum used across the business.

Since then, he has worked with C-suite leaders, general managers, sales executives, functional leaders, and senior technology leaders across a wide range of organizations. Some have been founder-led companies. Others have been large global enterprises. His clients have been based across North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. Much of his work has involved helping leaders grow, lead through change, handle complexity, and perform in high-expectation environments.

Brian has a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology and completed postdoctoral training in Consulting Psychology. That background gives him depth in assessment and behavior change, but his work is not academic. It is meant to be useful, relevant, and tied to what the leader is actually trying to accomplish. 

Coaching Approach

Brian works best with leaders who want honesty, thoughtful challenge, and help staying focused on what matters most. He is especially effective with leaders navigating ambiguity, pace, stakeholder complexity, and the challenge of getting results through others. He tends to quickly figure out where the real issue lies, whether that is decision-making, alignment, communication under pressure, leadership confidence, team dynamics, or the demands of a larger role.

Clients value Brian because he cuts through noise, offers a clear perspective, and helps turn insight into action. He adapts well to different personalities and contexts, and he builds trust quickly. He also understands that leadership is never just about the individual. It is also about the environment they are in, the relationships around them, and the way influence and decisions work inside the organization

Relevant Coaching Assignments

  • CTO, $2B global technology company. Focus: executive influence, composure under pressure, and leading effectively across technical and business stakeholders.
  • General Manager, $7B global beverage company. Focus: executive influence, team alignment, and leadership confidence in a complex operating environment.
  • VP, North America Sales, $4B global company. Focus: stakeholder alignment, cross-functional influence, and sustainable execution at scale.
  • Head of People and Culture, $66B global pharmaceuticals and diagnostics company. Focus: strategic thinking, confidence, delegation, and expanding impact in a large global enterprise.  

Education & Professional Affiliations

  • D. in Counseling Psychology; undergraduate degree in Psychology
  • Level 3 (Virtuoso) Coach, Accelerating Coaching Excellence, WBECS
  • Board Member, The Conference Board Executive Coaching Council
  • Army Master Resilience Trainer, University of Pennsylvania
  • Treasurer, Society of Consulting Psychology
  • Board of Directors, World Institute for Action Learning
  • Mentor Coach and Area Lead Coach, Center for Creative Leadership
  • Selected assessment certifications: CCL Benchmarks, FIRO-Business, Hogan Assessments, NEO, Watson-Glaser, Workplace Big Five Profile