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Don Fries, PCC
Executive and Leadership Coach

"Successful and significant leaders are those with a clear, primary focus coupled with an engaged energy, that creates the momentum to motivate, engage and inspire others."

During my 38 years with Exxon Mobil Corporation and its heritage companies, I have led and managed organizations and teams across the globe (including living abroad in Singapore from 2000 to 2005). My professional expertise is primarily in the areas of manufacturing, supply chain, sales, marketing, learning and professional development, inclusion and diversity, and culture change. The common thread throughout all of these experiences was a passionate desire to learn from others, to gain an appreciation and respect for the views and beliefs of others to achieve a common goal, and to help others achieve their full potential.

Although I began my “formal” Coaching journey in 2018, through my professional and personal life experiences, I have been developing and honing my coaching skills over the past 40+ years. My approach to coaching is open-minded and flexible to ensure that my connection with my clients is as meaningful and productive for them as possible. My goal is to partner with my clients in a creative, energized and thought-provoking way; to discover new possibilities; explore practical options; and accelerate effective implementation of go-forward plans.

Education & Credentials:

Professional Certified Coach (PCC), International Coaching Federation
Certified Professional Coach, Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching (IPEC)
Energy Leadership Index (ELI) – Master Practitioner – IPEC
Hogan Assessment Certified
Bachelor of Science, Chemical Engineering, Lehigh University
Master of Business Administration, University of Delaware

Approaches & Expertise: Talent Management; Culture and Change Management; Global Project Management; Directors/VP’s/SVP’s; Senior Management; Mid-Level Management; Individual Contributors

My Ideal Clients: Experienced and highly regarded Sales and Marketing leaders

Coach Don on What Makes A Great Coach

What People Are Saying

"From skeptic to advocate! I was initially unsure how I was going to get the most out of the coaching experience. As someone who is very self-reliant and reluctant to seek out help from others, formal coaching at first seemed like it would be a chore for me as opposed to something I could easily fit into and learn from. Don’s coaching approach quickly changed my mindset. I found it to be personable and sincere, while also deeply rooted in the prior experiences of his impressive executive career. Having such a knowledgeable coach who was able to provide impartial and objective guidance to my professional situations was exactly what I needed. At times it was a simple reminder of something I may not have thought about….while other times it was a very different perspective of something that I had not even thought about. I’m truly grateful for this experience."

More from Coach Don

How to Measure Your Organization’s Feedback Readiness: 5 Key Areas Every Leader Should Assess

October 31, 2025

Building a strong feedback culture begins with understanding your organization’s feedback readiness—the degree to which your systems, leaders, and employees are equipped to give and receive feedback effectively. In this article, executive coach Don Fries breaks down the five key dimensions of feedback readiness—psychological safety, frequency, skillfulness, reciprocity, and follow-through—along with practical metrics and reflection questions to help leaders assess and strengthen their organization’s capacity for open, actionable dialogue.