Leadership Team
James Whittaker
CEO
Before founding The Ambitious Exec, James served as an economic consulting Director at Deloitte in NYC, playing a crucial role in the Global Hiring Team. He was responsible for hiring top talent across various sectors, including professional services, IT, marketing, government, sales, tax, and accounting. James is also the author of the Amazon bestselling book The Reverse Job Search Method, which has sold tens of thousands of copies worldwide. His vision is to ensure everyone works in careers they love, with fulfilling work and fair compensation, addressing and fixing the recruiting industry's challenges for mid-career professionals.
Amanda Whittaker
Co Founder
As Co Founder of The Ambitious Exec, Amanda focuses on building and nurturing professional communities. She brings extensive experience in strategy and management. Prior to this, Amanda played a key role in the global expansion of TED Conferences, connecting over 50,000 members and organizing impactful events worldwide. Her expertise supports her current role in empowering professionals to achieve career aspirations and facilitating seamless career transitions. Amanda is dedicated to addressing gaps in executive recruiting and helping clients realize their full potential, leveraging innovative approaches and guidance to ensure transformative career journeys and lasting success.
Jill Wilk
Director of Coaching & Content
As a certified executive and career coach, Jill brings over 25 years of corporate senior HR leadership and recruitment expertise across industries, helping clients achieve clarity, focus, and solution strategies. With a lens towards navigating the human resources and recruitment process landscape, Jill focuses on client professional growth, job advancement, and career transition while inspiring confidence, awareness, and motivation.
Operations Team
Mackenzie Lyons
Program Administrator
Executive Career Coaching Team
Javier Vargas
Sr. Business & HR Executive
As a certified coach with 1,500+ hours of experience, Javier helps clients navigate change and seek clarity. With over 30 years of senior leadership at Apple and Adobe, and as Global HR leader at ManpowerGroup, he offers a unique perspective on talent acquisition. Javier’s extensive expertise empowers clients to achieve their goals with confidence, insight, and strategic guidance, fostering growth, resilience, and success in their professional journeys.
Holly Chen
HR Executive Leader
Holly is a certified executive coach with experience in marketing, finance, and HR across three continents. With roles including SVP, HR Business Partner in Fortune 500 companies, and Head of People for startups, she specializes in guiding senior leaders through transitions and transformations. Her deep understanding of organizational dynamics empowers individuals to unlock their potential and drive enduring success while eliminating past and future road blocks.
Kristina Gentleman
Executive Business Leader
Kristina is a talent and organizational development leader with over 15 years of experience partnering with senior executives in the technology and consulting sectors. She holds a Master of Science in Organization Development from Pepperdine University, is a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) through the International Coaching Federation, and is certified in the PROSCI ADKAR change management methodology.
Referral Engine Coaching Team
Jay Guyton
Referral Engine Coach
Jay brings 10+ years of expertise in marketing, sales, automation, and client relations to The Ambitious Exec team. For the past four years, she has focused on helping startups and SMBs streamline their operations through automation. At TAE, Jay works closely with clients to leverage automation and social media to expand their job search and connect with decision makers, aiding them in landing their next career opportunity.
Josh Williams
Referral Engine Coach
Josh has 14+ years of marketing experience working with businesses from solopreneurs to Fortune 500 companies. Starting at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, he contributed to a 15% sales increase for the FedACH suite. As the Social Media and SEO Lead for Insight Consulting Group, he developed effective strategies. At TAE, Josh coaches on leveraging social media and automation tools for career advancement.
Sacha Mohan-Boodoo
Outreach Specialist
Sacha brings 15 years of client service leadership, offering deep insights into business executive perspectives. As an Outreach Specialist, she works with clients to ensure their successful referral engine setup tailored to their individual needs and goals, maximizing their experience and outcomes.
Career Advisory Team
Chris Salcido
Career Advisor
A seasoned executive coach and search consultant with over 30 years of experience, he specializes in delivering top-notch C-level career coaching. He guides professionals toward salaries up to $1.5 million, excelling in this niche field. Nationally recognized as a trusted advisor, advocate, and industry expert, he provides unparalleled insights and support to executives seeking to advance their careers and achieve their highest potential and professional aspirations, driving lasting success.
Michael Whitlow
Career Advisor
Michael brings experience in advisory, operations, and strategic growth across multiple industries. He has worked closely with executives, business owners, and senior leaders to navigate complex decisions related to growth, operational improvement, and long-term positioning. His background advising enterprise clients and practice leaders provides practical insight into the challenges professionals face as they advance or reposition their careers. As a Career Advisor, he helps experienced professionals clarify direction and make confident career decisions.
What Clients Say About Us
Contact
hello@TheAmbitiousExec.com
(914) 559-0737
hello@TheAmbitiousExec.com
(914) 559-0737
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The Ambitious Exec provides career consulting, training, and professional development services designed to help executives improve their job-search strategy, market positioning, and career opportunities. We do not guarantee job placement.
Testimonials and client success stories reflect the individual experiences of those clients and should not be interpreted as typical or guaranteed results. Outcomes vary based on numerous factors.
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The Ambitious Exec
4845 Pearl East Cir., Ste. 118
Boulder, CO 80301