Dr Leigh Richardson | Outstanding Leadership in Coaching

Throughout Dr Leigh Richardsons' career, she has led two rewarding professional lives—corporate leadership and brain health—both centered on understanding and enhancing human performance. These two paths have intertwined in ways that inspire her commitment to build brain health that builds brain capital.

Her journey began in Connecticut with Exxon Enterprises, where she worked as a Human Resource Specialist alongside brilliant business, scientific, and technical minds. This experience provided deep insight into workplace dynamics—how people interact, innovate, and influence each other. It shaped her ability to navigate human behavior and foster collaboration, key skills in leadership development.

A personal turning point came when one of her twins, after a car accident and struggles in school, declared, “My brain is broken.” His self-diagnosed ADHD led to a quick recommendation for Ritalin when he asked for help. She sought a more holistic approach. Following two ICU stays for brain injuries, she trained alongside a neurologist, earned board certification in 2005, and founded the Brain Performance Center (BPC) in 2009.

She combined coaching, counseling, biofeedback, and Neurotherapy at BPC to create new brain pathways, enhancing mental performance, emotional resilience, and executive functioning. By building brain health that builds brain capital, she empowers individuals to connect the dots between human behavior and effective leadership.

In 2021, amid pandemic challenges, she founded the Brain Performance Institute to help leaders and teams adapt. Drawing from her doctoral research on crisis decision-making, she developed programs focusing on Brain Capital, stress management, and innovative leadership under pressure.

What sets her approach apart is its practicality. Every program is tailored to meet unique needs and equip leaders with tools to navigate uncertainty, inspire teams, and drive meaningful change.

The impact has been profound. The Brain Performance Center and Institute have empowered thousands of clients to unlock their cognitive and emotional potential, transforming their organizations and themselves. It has been an incredible privilege for her to merge science, strategy, and a deep understanding of human behavior to inspire leaders to be their best—especially when it matters most.