Clarity For Financial Services Leaders When The Stakes Are High

Built for Financial Services leaders who've outgrown
conventional advice

I'm John Hawkins - Executive Coach, Strategic Advisor & Performance Specialist
I help successful leaders see their blind spots and do something about them.
My clients are accomplished Financial Services C-Suite and senior executives who’ve hit performance ceilings. They’re brilliant strategists who understand their industries inside and out, but they also recognize that functional excellence alone doesn’t create the influence and leadership presence they need for what’s next.
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Sometimes what feels like a strategy problem is really a leadership problem in disguise.
That's where the Executive Performance Optimization System™ comes in.
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Why the Usual Options
Fall Short

Industry-specific coaches

Give you deep sector knowledge - but can keep you stuck in how things have always been done.
Generic executive coaches

Work on general leadership concepts - but often lack the context and frameworks for high-trust, high-stakes business environments.
Management consultants

Analyze your business - but don’t develop you as the leader who has to execute the strategy.
I sit in a different seat.

After 25+ years in senior executive roles and advisory work across financial services, fintech, insurance, medical devices, and technology, I help you spot blind spots and patterns that are hard to see from the inside.
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I provide you outside clarity that sharpens decisions and elevates your impact.

Background

Professional Authority:

My background spans multiple senior executive roles in financial services and technology. I’ve served as SVP of Client Success at CardWorks, Chief Strategy Officer at Dataline (acquired by CardWorks), Interim CIO (multiple companies), alongside 25+ years working with leaders who’ve outgrown standard advice.
That mix of executive experience and advisory work lets me see the roadblocks slowing you down - and the trampolines that could propel you forward.

Core Leadership Philosophy

Leadership isn’t about knowing all the answers.

It’s about seeing what others can’t see - starting with yourself.
Most leaders get plenty of advice about what to do.What they don’t get is someone who can identify what’s actually holding them back - especially when stakeholder complexity and competitive pressure create blind spots.

Organic

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Sustainable

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Aware. Intentional. Accountable.

We focus on seeing clearly, acting deliberately, and following through until results change.
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AI ENABLED SUPPORT - TRIWISE FORCE MULTIPLIER™

Human Judgment First. AI as a Force Multiplier.

Behind the scenes, I use private AI tools and custom GPTs built on my Executive Performance Optimization System™ and your context. That means you get:
  • Thought partnership between sessions
  • Faster prep for critical conversations and decisions
  • Real-time access to key frameworks and questions—without digging through old notes
I’m not handing you off to a generic bot. You have 24/7 access to your personalized, highly trained, private-to-you copilot that reinforces the work we do together and is a powerful force multiplier.

Two Types of Leaders Call Me

THE SEEKERS (70%)
You’re a top performer who knows you don’t know it all.

You ask hard questions.

You want to grow your team and your impact.

You might have quiet doubts about your full potential, but you’re excited about what’s possible.

and you don’t want to leave that potential on the table.
THE REFERRED (30%)
Someone who cares about you suggested we talk.

You’ve been successful, but the game around you is changing.

Your edge doesn’t feel as sharp as it used to.

You’re noticing more friction with key stakeholders and your team isn’t as engaged as they once were.

You can sense there’s something you’re not seeing—and you’d rather address it now than wait for it to become a problem.
Either way, you're ready to see what you can't see about yourself.
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WHO I'VE HELPED

What Clients Say

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"John wears special X-ray goggles that see EXACTLY what executives must do to succeed - and then he keeps you accountable until you're more successful than you thought possible.

Strategic action steps, accelerated and predictable growth, overcoming stress ... you name it, John makes it happen for you.

And I'm not just talking about career and financial success (though that's certainly apart of it). I'm also talking about personal success. There's a difference, and John knows which one is most important. 

You cannot meet John and not experience significant change. Why? Because of who he is. Because of the way he lives and the compass that guides him.

 If you have the opportunity to be friend John or work with him in any capacity, then consider yourself blessed and expect your life to change for the better.

He comes with my highest recommendation."

Caleb Breakey

Founder & CEO, Renown Publishing
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"John Hawkins played a pivotal role in transforming both me and my company. At a time when I had reached my limits as a leader, John helped me grow from VP to COO and ultimately to CEO.

He was instrumental in building a stronger leadership team, aligning our culture around growth, and helping us make tough decisions about who should be part of our future.

He guided us through a complex and emotional leadership transition from my father, the founder, to me. That transition alone could have derailed the business, but John’s steady hand and experience kept us moving forward.

He supported every area of the company - from HR and sales to account management and strategic planning.

Ultimately, John helped position Dataline Systems for a successful sale. His coaching and guidance were absolutely critical to the outcome we achieved. "

Darren York

Former CEO, Dataline Systems
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"John is an out of the box thinker with an IQ that is off the charts. More importantly his EQ is equally off the charts.

It is his ability translate somewhat abstract data points and translate them into something actionable that moves people and teams in a positive direction.

If you don’t want to have someone challenge you or your team don’t contact John!

If instead you want to build your team, see measurable growth, and move to the next level, then John  is your guy!"

Paul DeSmet

President, Technical Micronics Control
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"I recently had the pleasure to work with John in developing leadership skills across our team of both senior and emerging executives in an ever changing fast pace work environment.

The key remarkable thing about working with John is that he can read people really well and help them in the right direction. I have seen many of the team members respond to his coaching, mentoring and training and transform into leaders they need to be.

John takes the time to learn and understand what your needs are in order to engage people to lead through change.

John is dynamic, brilliant coach, leader and speaker with a unique, diverse background.

Our team has grown significantly and enjoys working with John"

Rosa Pizzuto

Senior Director, Global Partner Process Improvement, Stryker
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"John worked  with my North American District and Regional management teams on their leadership skills. In that time both morale and productivity has gone up as a direct result of John's mentoring.

One of the side benefits of this mentoring was the ability of our team to deal with difficult customers. In a 500+ Franchise network this skill is invaluable. 

I have known John for the best part of 15 years and I have used him on numerous occasions delivering specialty leadership and sales programs and and have never been disappointed.

His high energy, and innovative facilitation keep the participant engaged. John does his homework delivering relevant information specific to our needs, maximizing growth for our Franchisees. 

I would highly recommend John for any size business, whether 10 employees or 10,000, and I will certainly use his services in the future."

George Lezon

President, LINE-X Protective Coatings
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"John Hawkins has extraordinary insights and culmination of rich experiences with life and leadership.

The impact he makes on people is beyond inspirational. He genuinely cares and helps people focus on impactful attributes and values that elevate their leadership abilities

John reminds us that we as leaders we need to be intentional about building the blueprint to our happiness, well-being and success!"

Elaine Szetto

Founder of Integro Bank | EVP, Chief Innovation Officer | Board Director | Speaker

EXPERIENCE & SYSTEM CREDENTIALS

Experience Credentials:

  • 25+ years working with Financial Services C-Suite and senior executives who’ve outgrown standard leadership advice
  • Multiple Executive Coaching Successes in financial services and technology
  • Multiple Senior Executive Roles including: Former SVP of Client Success at CardWorks, Chief Strategy Officer at Dataline, Interim CIO, VP of Sales
  • Specialization in helping good leaders become great - and great leaders become exceptional

System Credentials:

  • Executive Performance Optimization System™ with 12 specialized frameworks
  • Evidence-based approach with measurable outcome tracking
  • Pattern recognition developed in complex, high-stakes environments.
  • Private AI-Enabled Tools and Custom GPT's Force Multiplier ™ built on these frameworks to reinforce the work between sessions
  • Systematic accountability protocols  designed for ever increasing C-Suite complexity

What Happens Next?

Whether you need executive coaching, strategic advisory, or a combination of both, it starts with a straightforward conversation about your situation.

No sales pitch. No pressure. Just an honest discussion about whether this makes sense for where you are right now.

This isn’t a sales pitch. It’s clarity for leaders who are ready to see their situation differently.

No fluff. No generic theory. Just perspective you can’t get anywhere else.
Schedule a Conversation