Richardson Consulting & Coaching

How I think

Work is personal.
Growth is intentional.

The best organizations don't just scale — they do it in ways that make the people inside them better. I believe sustainable growth requires attention to the human layer as much as the operational one. Strategy without culture is scaffolding without a building.

Whether I'm coaching an executive, advising on operations, or facilitating a leadership workshop, I bring the same through line: clarity, honesty, and the patience to get underneath the surface.

People first, always.

Systems and processes matter — but the humans running them matter more. I hold both.

Substance over speed.

Fast growth built on shaky foundations rarely lasts. I help you build for durability without sacrificing momentum.

Ask before prescribing.

The right answer for your organization isn't the one that worked somewhere else. I start with curiosity.

Operational and human fluency.

From PMO infrastructure to company culture — rare breadth that lets me work across the org chart without losing context.

What I offer

Three ways to
work together.

Depending on what you need and where you are, we can engage deeply or surgically. Every engagement starts with a no-obligation discovery conversation.

Coaching

Executive & Leadership Coaching

One-on-one coaching grounded in the Co-Active® methodology — an evidence-based approach that meets you where you are and moves you toward where you want to be. For leaders navigating transitions, scaling influence, or simply getting clearer on what's next.

I have a particular passion for coaching leaders from underrepresented groups — people who've had to work twice as hard for half the recognition, and who are ready to step fully into their power.

Works well for

Executive, mid-career and emerging leaders and individuals at inflection points

Consulting

Fractional Operations & PM Consulting

Embedded, part-time operational leadership for organizations that need senior capacity without a full-time hire. I bring deep experience building PMO infrastructure, portfolio visibility, and cross-functional operating models — from seed stage through IPO.

Works well for

Scale-ups adding capacity, executives building ops infrastructure, and portfolio companies in transition

Advisory

Strategic People & HR Advisory

Senior advisory on People & Culture Strategy, organizational design, talent and compensation frameworks. Designed for HR leaders and founders who need an experienced thought partner — not another vendor — as they build or evolve their people function.

Works well for

CHROs, HR leaders, and founders building their first people function

About Derrick

An unusual path.
A distinct vantage point.

I started my career 30 years ago as an R&D engineer, discovered a passion for project management, built world-class PMO systems and practices across a wide range of medical device and drug development organizations, and eventually led People & Culture at a hypergrowth company through its IPO. That arc — technical, operational, and deeply human — is what I bring to every client engagement.

I'm known for attracting and developing talent, building cultures where people feel both accountable and empowered, and bringing clear frameworks to ambiguous situations. Most importantly, I'm known for seeing and understanding people.

In 2025, I launched Richardson Consulting & Coaching to chart my own path and answer a calling. I decided to let go of the exhausting politics, posturing and conformity that workplaces required of me. I saw patterns in companies and in my own behavior that troubled me. I wanted to refocus my energy and become intentional about investing in the health of organizations and the growth of people.

I am passionate about fostering operational and personal growth in ways that are both effective and humane. I am particularly committed to serving leaders from underrepresented communities — those navigating the same spaces that I did for decades: the ones that weren't built for them — helping them find their footing, their voice, and the full measure of what they're capable of.

Education & Credentials

M.Eng. Mechanical Engineering, Cornell University B.S. Product Design Engineering, Stanford University Certified Professional Co-Active Coach (CPCC) Project Management Professional (PMP)

CPCC — Certified Professional Co-Active Coach

ICF Member — International Coaching Federation

Derrick Richardson speaking at a conference

What clients say

In their own words.

“

Coaching sessions with Derrick are truly transformative. He brings an incredible level of energy, insight, and intentionality that makes every session both inspiring and immediately impactful. Derrick doesn't just provide guidance — he challenges your thinking, expands your perspective, and equips you with practical tools that drive real, sustained progress. The growth extends well beyond the sessions, influencing not only professional effectiveness but also personal confidence, mindset, and resilience. His coaching creates lasting change, helping you show up more purposefully in every aspect of life. Derrick is an exceptional coach who genuinely elevates both performance and personal fulfillment.

“

Before working with Derrick, I found myself at a crossroads in my career. Despite having the technical expertise and professional experience, I struggled to define a clear path forward. From the very first session, Derrick created a space that was both structured and deeply personalized. He asked the right questions — the kind that pushed me to think differently about my potential. Derrick helped me move from feeling overwhelmed to having a concrete, actionable career strategy. The clarity I walked away with wasn't just motivating — it was transformative. Working with Derrick was one of the best investments I have made in my professional development.

“

Working with Derrick has improved how I show up professionally. I came in to sharpen my networking skills and executive presence. I got that, and more. Derrick helped me understand that I can approach every interaction as service rather than self-promotion. That approach changed how I see conversations from ones that feel forced into ones that are authentic to me. Derrick built up from my existing strengths and gave practical frameworks without ever making it feel mechanical. His structured approach of providing honest feedback and steady follow-through kept me accountable and helped me grow.

“

Working with Derrick as a coach has been one of the most meaningful investments I've made in my personal and professional growth. Through his coaching, I've gained greater clarity around my personal legacy, long-term vision, and the values that guide my decisions. His thoughtful questions, genuine care, and ability to create and hold space for reflection have helped me move beyond simply setting and achieving goals to understanding why those goals matter. Derrick has a unique ability to balance empathy with accountability; he doesn't provide answers, he helps you uncover your own. Our sessions have helped me become more intentional in my leadership, more confident in my decisions, and more aligned with the life and legacy I want to build.

Who this is for

See yourself here.

Executives & C-Suite

You're leading a scaling organization and need a trusted thought partner.

You're not looking for a vendor with a playbook. You want someone who's sat in a seat like yours, understands the pressure that comes with raising $1B in capital, executing an IPO and a merger, and can be candid with you in ways most people aren't.

Start a conversation →

HR & L&D Leaders

You need senior capacity, a facilitator, or a fractional People leader.

Whether you're building out an L&D program, advising on org design, or looking for coaching resources to offer your leaders — Derrick brings both the people expertise and the operational credibility to earn buy-in at every level.

Explore partnership options →

Individual Coaching Clients

You're at an inflection point and want a coach who can match you where you are.

Whether you're navigating a career transition, stepping into new leadership, or simply ready to invest in yourself — coaching with Derrick is grounded, practical, and genuinely curious about who you want to become.

Derrick brings lived experience navigating spaces not designed for everyone equally, and holds a deep commitment to coaching those from underrepresented communities who are ready to find their voice and own their path.

Inquire about 1:1 coaching →

Growing organizations
and the people
who lead them.

Work is personal.
Growth is intentional.