Founder/Managing Director, LEEDS Coaching

Claudia began her career as a media & entertainment consultant in Washington, DC. Building on her television, public relations and networking skills, she honed her business acumen by working in the U.S and abroad, providing technology consulting and training services to prestigious firms including the Bank of New York and Marsh & McLennan, before turning to academic endeavors. Claudia returned to her alma mater – Columbia University – to recruit and develop the next generation of minority business leaders and entrepreneurs. As an Assistant Director of Admissions at the Columbia Business School from 1994-1996, Claudia helped recruit and admit MBA students focusing on underrepresented minorities.

Here is what one of her clients had to say about her:

“I met Claudia as I was matriculating to Columbia Business School in September of 1995, and I have to say, without her professional career guidance, I would not have had nearly the positive and productive experience that I did. Claudia has a real talent for not only providing incredible strategic professional direction, but she also has a knack for making you feel as if you are her number one priority at all times. That is an amazing accomplishment since, at the time; she was counseling and managing hundreds of Columbia Business School students in addition to me!"
[ March 31, 2009]

In 1996, Claudia returned to the private sector to serve as a Corporate Employee Resources Manager at Pfizer Inc and then Manager of Recruiting at PricewaterhouseCoopers from 1999 -2000. She later joined Deloitte & Touche in 2000 as Director of Diversity, Women's Initiatives and Work Life Balance for the firm’s Tri-state Region. As Director, she implemented and facilitated the rollout of the firm’s first Diversity Awareness Training Program and helped reinvigorate the region’s Diversity Council. She was also a member of the Tri-State Region’s Diversity Advisory Committee which gave her an important voice and access to senior leadership to advocate for the inclusion of LGBT employees through GLOBE and African Americans and Latinos through ABLE.

“Claudia has a sophisticated understanding of diversity. She guided our global inclusion efforts at Deloitte to a whole new level. Claudia is the most honest, hardworking, reliable and smart diversity executives I have had the honor to work with.” Former Member of ABLE at Deloitte.
[April 8, 2009]

After September 11, 2001, Claudia left Deloitte to develop a new pathway to leverage her skills and passion for executive coaching, diversity & inclusion management, and leadership development by becoming an entrepreneur. In 2002, Claudia launched LEEDS Coaching, a leadership development, business consultancy and executive coaching practice. LEEDS Coaching helps clients develop pathways to success by transitioning into careers in consulting, financial services, sustainable economic development, and entrepreneurship. Some of her executive coaching and diversity & inclusion management clients included Best Buy, Guidant, Johnson & Johnson, Pernod Ricard, University of Minneapolis, and MinorityMBAs.com. Desiring to live well, as well as do good, she also committed four years to working with a large national non-profit organization, Management Leadership for Tomorrow (MLT), by serving as the Lead Coach. While at MLT, she successfully counseled and managed over 200 minority professionals by providing them the tools and resources needed to obtain early stage careers and admissions to top graduate business schools.

“Claudia provided invaluable help during my applications to business school. She was kind, competent, and most of all, believed in me…even in my toughest times of doubt! I would highly recommend her to anyone applying to grad school. Thanks to Claudia’s amazing support, I was able to get through this challenging process with great success!”
[September 17, 2008]

Claudia has melded her talent for connecting people, public speaking, coaching, and leadership development with over 18 years of corporate recruiting and management consulting skills. She is deeply committed to helping make a difference in the lives of individuals looking to create a better world doing what they love. Claudia graduated Columbia University with a BA in French. In addition to speaking French, she is fluent in Spanish. Claudia also has received professional certification through the Institute for Diversity, the Society of Human Resource Management and the Institute of Executive Development (EDI) at the National Black MBA Association.

She is also a member of several professional associations and networks including: LinkedIn, Forte, NBMBAA NY Metro Chapter, HACE, Columbia Alumni Association, and Deloitte Alumni Association. PricewaterhouseCoopers Alumni Association, and others.

Claudia currently attends the New School for Social Research where she is completing her final semester in the M.A. Program in the Politics Department. She also received an M.S. in Organizational Change Management in May 2014 where she graduated Summa Cum Laude. Areas of Specialization: Diversity & Inclusion, Career Management, Talent Acquisition, Executive and MBA Coaching, Career Counseling, Assessment, Training, and Mentoring. Membership/Affiliations: Forte Foundation, Women for Hire, Hispanic Association for Career Enhancement (HACE), College Summit, Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), and the Coalition to Save Affordable Housing.