Competing priorities.
Real consequences.

I work with leaders and families to think through important decisions.

When the answer isn't obvious

People usually reach out when:

a decision isn’t moving forward
there are strong arguments on more than one side
multiple stakeholders are involved
or something feels stuck

How I Work

I help clients think through situations where the answer isn’t obvious—what they are dealing with, what matters, and what the tradeoffs are.

Using the COImpAct model (Context, Outcomes, Implications, Action), we work through the situation step by step, making the thinking more explicit and easier to evaluate.

The goal is not simply to arrive at an answer, but to reach a decision that is understood, aligned, and workable in practice.

WHAT THIS WORK INVOLVES

I work with individuals, families, and leadership teams in both one-on-one and group settings.

working through complex decisions and competing priorities
facilitating conversations across individuals, teams, and families
navigating transitions in leadership, ownership, and wealth
establishing structures and processes that support how people want to operate going forward

vision

FAMILY OFFICES

Within family offices, this work often arises when:

there is a decision about structure, roles, or leadership
family members and professionals see things differently
expectations are not fully aligned
the organization has outgrown how it has been operating

I work with families and leadership teams to think through these situations, clarify tradeoffs, and determine how to move forward

This may involve organization design, leadership development, or facilitating conversations across family members, executives, and advisors.

Families & Shared Decisions

In family enterprises, people often hold multiple roles at once.

You may be an owner, executive, employee, or board member in the business—while also being a parent, child, sibling, or in-law in the family.

These roles don’t always align. The dynamics can be complex and ambiguous, and it is not always clear how to differentiate or integrate them.

These situations often surface when decisions need to be made—about roles, leadership, ownership, or direction—and different perspectives need to be worked through.

I use the COImpAct model (Context, Outcomes, Implications, Action) to help make sense of these situations—clarifying what matters, what the tradeoffs are, and how different choices may play out.

Families often work with a range of advisors—legal, financial, and others—each addressing different aspects of the situation.

Part of the work may involve helping to integrate these perspectives so that decisions are made with a clearer understanding of how the pieces fit together.

The aim is to help families arrive at decisions that are understood, aligned, and workable in practice.

My Experience

For over four decades, I have worked with senior executives and family enterprises.

Often in situations where important decisions need to be made and the path forward is not immediately clear.

WHAT THIS WORK MAKES POSSIBLE

These are the kinds of situations clients often describe ...

“I would highly recommend Paul to executives seeking an advisor with the experience and judgment to assist in tackling difficult decisions and situations.”
— Neil Constable, Head of Quantitative Research and Investments, Fidelity Investments

“Paul helped me align stakeholders and move a complex initiative forward with clarity and follow-through.”
— Steve Borukhin, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Downtown Travel

“Paul asks thoughtful questions and helps people think things through for themselves, enabling them to arrive at decisions they can stand behind.”

— Dennis Kessler, Private Directors Association (PDA)

“Paul helps people expand their understanding and navigate complex situations with clarity. He brings a thoughtful, steady presence and an ability to surface insights that shape thinking over time.”
— Torri Hawley, Chief Learning Officer, Tamarind Learning

PAUL EDELMAN, PHD

I am a coach and consultant working with leaders, families, and family enterprises facing consequential decisions.

Much of my work begins when the path forward is not clear—when there are competing priorities, multiple stakeholders, and meaningful consequences attached to the outcome.

I work with people to think these situations through carefully, understand the tradeoffs involved, and arrive at decisions they can stand behind.

My background is in psychology. I received a PhD in developmental psychology from Harvard University and a BS in physics from MIT.

Over four decades, I have worked as an internal organization development consultant, an executive search consultant, and a senior executive in a venture-backed company. I have also served as an investor, board chair, and advisor.

These experiences shape how I approach my work, with attention to both the human and structural dimensions of decision-making.

QUALIFICATIONS

PhD, Developmental Psychology, Harvard University
BS, Physics, MIT (Social Science concentration in Cognitive Psychology)Executive Education, Investment Decisions and Behavioral Finance, Harvard Kennedy School
Professional Certified Coach (PCC), International Coach Federation (ICF)
Board Certified Coach, Center for Credentialing & Education (specialty designations in executive, leadership, career, and business coaching)
Certified Master Facilitator, Board Advisor, and Family Legacy Coach, Center for Executive Coaching
Certified Wealth Education Facilitator, Tamarind Learning
Certificate in Private Company Governance, Private Directors Association
Certified Advisor, 21/64
Certified User, ProfileXT and Profiles Managerial Fit Assessments
Certified Emotional Intelligence Practitioner, Genos International
Certified Facilitator, Family Enterprise Assessment Tool (FEAT)
Accredited Partner, Smart Collaboration Accelerator and Smart Collaboration 360 (SC360), Gardner & Co
Qualified Family Office Professional, Investment Certification Institute
Certified Talent Optimization Consultant, The Predictive Index
Accelerating Coaching Excellence (ACE) Certified Coach, Coaching.com
Member, Society of Industrial and Organizational Psychologists
Member, Exit Planning Exchange
Member, Purposeful Planning Institute
Member, Family Firm Institute
Member, Financial Therapy Association
Member, Massachusetts Collaborative Law Council
Member, International Association of Collaborative Professionals
Member, Institute for Family Governance
Founding Member, Private Directors Association - New England Chapter

CAREER

Executive Coach and Family Business Consultant, Edelman and Associates
Faculty Member, Ultra High Net Worth Institute
Executive in Residence, Babson College, Bertarelli Institute for Family Entrepreneurship
Executive Search Consultant, Edelman & Associates
VP, Talent and Organization Development, MicroE Systems (VC-backed startup)
Angel Investor, Hub Angels Investment Group
Advisory Board Member, Wildlife Acoustics
Internal Organizational Development Consultant, AT&T
Board Member, MIT Alumni Association
Board Member, National Center for Employee Ownership
Teaching and Research Fellow, Harvard University, Department of Psychology and Social Relations

paul

Certifications

contact

Contact

Paul Edelman, PhD

Edelman & Associates

3 Virginia Drive

Lakeville, MA 02347

paul@edelmancoaching.com‭

1 (508) 947-5300‬

If it would be helpful, we can have a brief conversation to understand the situation and determine whether it makes sense to work together.

You can schedule a time here:

https://calendly.com/pauledelman/30-min-conversation

If you don't see a convenient time, feel free to reach out directly:

paul@edelmancoaching.com

Or feel free to fill out the contact form below.

Competing priorities. Real consequences.

​I work with leaders and families to think through important decisions.