Dr. Tricia Groff - Executive Coach, Clinical & Business Psychologist, Author

Sometimes you feel alone as you navigate life and leadership, but everyone else struggles with the same questions. “Am I getting this right?” “Am I enough?” “How do I lead my organization well?”

Mergers & Acquisitions – Weeklong executive course at Chicago Booth Business School

Tax & Legal 360 – Three day in-person conference for tax advisors and attorneys

*Founders, Owners & CEOs  – Healthcare Tech, Sustainable Technology, Engineering, Security, Military Technology

*Senior Executives – Finance, Healthcare Technology, Multinational Technology Conglomerate, Multinational Tech Distribution, Healthcare

* Team & Culture – Healthcare, Healthcare Technology, Security, Sustainable Technology, Biotechnology

-My interest in human behavior started when I was 9-years-old, at nine, listening to psychology radio shows. The patterns in human relationships fascinated me, such as common couple dynamics, which created a system of predictable emotions and responses.

By the time I was in high school, I had noticed that older adults sought my advice (not sure what they were thinking) and that people seemed to feel comfortable telling me their secrets. Thus, when it was time to choose a college major, it seemed like my natural understanding of people might lend itself to psychology.

On one hand, being a first-generation college student was difficult – no mentors and no roadmap. At the same time, the need to fund my own education led to diverse, early experiences, which laid the foundation of knowledge and thought processes that are the backbone of my integrated approach.

My first work experience was as a certified nursing assistant when I was 16 years old. I quickly learned that age magnifies, rather than diminishes, our personality. It was during that period that I decided I wanted to practice being the person I wanted to be when I grew up. In terms of knowledge and wisom, I learned about how people make meaning of their lives, the power of perspective, and health challenges such as dementia. That early exposure integrated with later training in neuropsychology and traumatic brain injury.  Seeing people at their most vulnerable taught me how to care deeply while preserving autonomy, dignity, and respect. That principle of protecting and respecting has guided all of my work since that time. When people share sensitive information, it’s sacred. I believe that protecting it goes far beyond any confidentiality promises, HIPAA laws, or non-disclosure agreements. (See Curriculum Vitae for additional details of experience and expertise.)

My early career was marked by counseling multiple life adjustment challenges, specializing in intelligence and cognition, and teaching college students about statistics and human development.

Throughout my work in clinical and counseling psychology, I maintained an interest in organizational psychology that increased as I began specializing in High Achievers, many of whom were senior executives or owned their own businesses. 

Between my desire to speak the language of my business clients and building my practice, I decided that I wanted to understand business as intuitively (or at least more closely) as I understood humans. I began learning from businesspeople rather than psychologists to avoid the echo chambers and circular conversations of staying within my own group.

Learning business by placing myself in new environments was the beginning of a growth pattern. Regardless of the knowledge domain, I believe there is so much opportunity left on the table when we stay in our own comfort zone rather than going into settings that use foreign jargon and different first principles. 

Regardless of the specific area of work, I have always been fascinated by ingredients and outcomes. Why were some people able to maintain a positive outlook under stress? What made committed employees leave their organizations? How do individuals and systems maintain optimal performance in a stabilization and growth pattern rather than stabilization and stagnation?

Today, I am honored to work with forward-thinking senior executives and founders whom I deeply respect. They are High Achievers, driven by both the burden and desire to pursue excellence for themselves and their organizations.  I’m often asked about my favorite aspect of what I do. My first answer is one that came out of my mouth years ago in the middle of a grocery store checkout lane, “I like to see people win.”