Stephen Kao, Consultant

Stephen was an accomplished senior executive who became an executive coach and leadership development consultant in 2013. He is a strategic thinker and is passionate to help managers, directors, general managers, vice presidents, managing directors and C-level executives excel in their roles and become more impactful.

Having worked for global brands (P&G, BASF, Honeywell, Emerson, Ecolab & Danaher) for over 32 years, Stephen accumulated a wealth of knowledge and experience in leadership and business management. He started his professional career as an engineer and moved up the rank to take up senior executive roles at Emerson, Ecolab and Danaher with full Profit & Loss and Working Capital responsibilities that include product development, marketing, sales, supply chain, manufacturing, engineering and after-sales services. He has a proven track record of leading culturally diverse management teams, building high performing teams, mentoring & developing talents, growing sales & market shares, increasing manufacturing & operating efficiency, improving profitability & cash flow, integrating acquisitions to enhance market share and leverage operational strength.

As an executive coach, Stephen leverages his broad multi-cultural and extensive corporate leadership experience to help leaders increase their self-awareness, think better so as to make better choices in order to achieve optimal outcomes and become more impactful. As a result of Stephen’s coaching, his clients became more inspiring and influential leaders, developed better emotional intelligence, improved their strategic thinking and planning skills, enhanced their communication and presence, managed their stress more effectively, bettered their work / life integration, built high performing teams and became more versatile leaders that contributed to improved business results and more purposeful living.

Born in Shanghai, growing up in Hong Kong & the United States, and with a corporate career in many different parts of the United States and Asia Pacific (Singapore, Hong Kong and China), Stephen is a global citizen.

Education & Certifications

  • University of California, Santa Barbara, BS Chemical Engineering
  • Ross School of Business, University of Michigan, Executive Development Program
  • Progress-U, Certified Professional Corporate Coach (Advanced Level)
  • International Coaching Federation, accredited coach
  • Certified in Hogan Assessments, Harrison Assessments, Workplace Big 5, Firo-B, Profilor 360, Benchmark 360

Areas of Coaching/Areas of Expertise

Emotional intelligence, Strategic Thinking & Planning, Executive presence, Asian American Leadership, Inspirational Leadership, Influencing others, Communication, Change Leadership & Management, Developing Direct Reports, Cross-cultural Leadership, Leading Virtual & Diverse teams, Executive On-boarding and Acquisition Integration. Team Coaching to senior leadership teams.

stephen kao