About Gael O’Brien

Gael O’Brien is an executive coach, consultant, presenter, and leadership columnist. Her focus is serving leaders who want their leadership to mean something.

Her expertise in leadership includes: aligning purpose and values with strategic direction and business decisions; corporate responsibility and philanthropy; communication and engagement; and building trust and reputation.

Founder and president of Strategic Opportunities Group, Gael originated and wrote The Ethics Coach for Entrepreneur Magazine, is a columnist for Business Ethics Magazine and publishes The Week in Ethics. Please follow The Week in Ethics FB page for regular updates of ethics in the news.

Her extensive corporate background includes serving as a vice president of Mitsubishi Motors North America, president of the Mitsubishi Motors U.S.A. Foundation, and a general manager of Mitsubishi Motor Manufacturing of America recruited to help lead a model workplace initiative and culture change after the company was sued by the EEOC. She was director of marketing at Price Waterhouse, Chief of Staff for an Ohio Senate leader, and assistant editor at The Chronicle of Higher Education.

Gael is a Kallman Executive Fellow, Hoffman Center for Business Ethics at Bentle University and a Senior Fellow Social Innovation, The Lewis Institute at Babson College. She is certified in Business Ethics (McCallum Graduate School of Business) and has worked with the Ukleja Center of Ethical Leadership at California State University Long Beach and the Center for Business and Ethics at Loyola Marymount University, in addition to the Hoffman Center for Business Ethics.

Gael is a presenter at international and national conferences, universities, and business events. She has been an uber judge for the International Business Ethics Case Competition since 2010. As a member of Toastmasters International, she will receive her Distinguished Toastmaster designation in 2018. She has been a TEDx speech coach since 2014. A past president of Professional Coaches, Mentors & Advisors, she has served on the boards of 10 non-profit and professional organizations.

Her client list includes RAND, The Conference Board, Bain, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, The Ethics and Compliance Officer Association, universities, manufacturing companies, professional service firms, start-ups and associations.

Gael is a graduate of Skidmore College (BA) and the College of William and Mary (MA). She is certified in The Leadership Circle’s Culture assessments and 360 profile assessment and is a Board Certified Coach (BCC) designated as an Executive/Corporate Business/Leadership Coach. An award-winning communicator, she is accredited by the Public Relations Society of America.