We help leaders see clearly through challenges. 

At Makena Leadership we challenge, inspire and support leaders to amplify their impact for themselves, their teams, their organizations, and the world.

Known for a whole-person approach, we help clients develop deep understanding and agility for themselves and their colleagues.  Leaders, executive teams, and entrepreneurs alike discover new behaviors, skills and techniques that support their ability to lead, build resilience and collaborate more effectively.

  • Dolores Bernardo Leadership Coach & Managing Partner
  • Dolores Bernardo

    Leadership Coach & Managing Partner

    Dolores is the founder and Managing Partner of Makena Leadership.  She is an expert at supporting clients through rapid organizational growth and change. A sought after executive coach, strategy consultant and facilitator, her experience at working with many of the world’s most innovative, high performing companies has cemented her reputation as a go-to professional helping executives lead in rapidly growing, complex situations that require innovative thinking, rapid execution and compassion. Her clients describe her as “absolutely fantastic.  Genuine, and very friendly with a great breadth and depth of experience.“  

    Details about Dolores’ career can be found here:   https://www.linkedin.com/in/dolores-bernardo-0317502/

    A sought-after speaker, Dolores frequently speaks and writes on coaching and leadership topics. Dolores has written for Harvard Business Review and has spoken at the World Business Executive Coaching Summit and The Conference Board. She serves on an advisory board at California Polytechnic State University. 

  • Nicole Patterson Leadership Coach
  • Nicole Patterson

    Leadership Coach

    Nicole Patterson has over 20 years of experience in business operations and human resources. She’s worked as both an HR Generalist and Specialist across staffing, analytics, operations, program management, learning & development, and compliance. Nicole began her career working in operations with the Managing Partner of a Stanford University medical practice. This gave her exposure to all elements of running a business and an opportunity to discover her passion for HR. 

    Over the next 15 years, Nicole worked in multiple roles in Google’s People Operations [HR] department, most recently as the Head of Planning & Operations in Google’s People Development [Learning & Development] organization. In addition to her professional experiences as a Google business leader and manager, Nicole facilitated courses and coached Googlers across the company and around the globe. She is a certified Hudson Institute Coach and currently serves on the board of the Idaho Women’s Charitable Foundation. Nicole enjoys partnering with leaders and managers to create a culture where people learn, grow and perform their best.

  • Vic Vuchic Learning Science Advisor
  • Vic Vuchic

    Learning Science Advisor

    Vic is a seasoned thought leader in education technology and learning science.  He is currently leading a large initiative working with the world’s leading neuroscientists to map a learning genome and make the latest learning science accessible for all.  He is an expert in how people learn, innovation, and scaling what works and has launched game-changing initiatives that have increased access to education and improved learning for tens of millions of learners in the Americas, Europe, Asia and Africa.  

    Currently serving as Chief Innovation Officer at Digital Promise Global, Vic previously consulted with a number of foundations and organizations on education technology. While working at the Hewlett Foundation Vic developed strategies and managed over $100 million in grants to launch and grow the Open Educational Resources movement and create and advance the Deeper Learning strategy.  Vic completed a master’s degree in Education, Technology and Learning at Stanford University and a bachelor’s degree in Systems Engineering at the University of Pennsylvania.

  • Becky Cotton Leadership Coach
  • Becky Cotton

    Leadership Coach

    Becky Cotton is highly regarded as a top leader in creating a coaching culture in Silicon Valley. Becky first began coaching at Xerox as a manager of large teams and that continued when she joined Google in 2005. Becky co-founded and lead Google’s lauded internal coaching program called Guru+. She grew it to 750 coaches in 150 global offices. The program won international recognition with the International Coaching Federation. She has studied coaching with New Ventures West, the Coaches Training Institute, the Hudson Coaching Institute and the International Coach Federation. 

    Becky’s coaching work and signature methodology has been featured in the following books: Work Rules, The Pivot Method and Pause. She has spoken multiple times for the Conference Board, including keynotes and panels on Executive Coaching and Talent. She speaks at Stanford University’s Continuing Education department on career planning, discovering work purpose and passion. Becky’s clients rave that she is “insightful, curious, warm, open, caring, direct and honest.” She is driven to help clients achieve their goals and develop the emotional intelligence to navigate any leadership challenge.

  • David Spungin Leadership Coach
  • David Spungin

    Leadership Coach

    David Spungin is known for transforming managers into high-performing leaders. He holds a degree from the United States Military Academy at West Point, a Master of Science in Organization Development from American University/The National Training Laboratories for Applied Behavioral Science (NTL), and has completed advanced leadership studies at Harvard University. A U.S. Army combat veteran with corporate leadership experience, he is sought after for developing self-aware leaders who inspire engaged workplaces. He consults primarily to Fortune 500 companies and has trained 2000+ leaders in companies including Schlumberger, Accenture, Harris, Arthur Gallagher, Johns Manville, and Hogan Lovells.

    David is recognized for his ability to quickly assess an organization’s needs, develop creative learning designs, and facilitate highly-engaging training events. He’s known for his skill in relating with a wide variety of personalities and cultures. David can successfully deliver training to an oil and gas executive team in Alaska one day, and Millennial leaders in Silicon Valley the next. 

    David specializes in helping leaders to develop their executive presence, create highly trusting and accountable teams, and a develop a servant’s approach to leadership that inspires results.

  • Jennifer Rosa Milum Leadership Coach
  • Jennifer Rosa Milum

    Leadership Coach

    Jennifer Rosa Milum is an expert at guiding leaders to gain clarity on what matters most to them, turning insight into purposeful and transformative action. Clients are drawn to Jennifer for her inquisitive and authentic demeanor.

    Jennifer holds a certification (CPCC) from the Co-Active Coaching Training Institute, a certification from Boston College Carroll School of Management in Corporate Social Responsibility, and a Bachelor of Arts from Santa Clara University. Before venturing into the world of coaching, Jennifer accumulated her wisdom and pragmatism from her eye-opening adventures traveling, parenting and leading for two decades in corporate citizenship, recruitment, and business development across bio-tech, big tech including Microsoft, National Semiconductor and the venture capital community. Her diverse background uniquely positions her to coach people as they balance the complexities of life, work and leadership.

    Described as “a masterful listener who hears what’s waiting to be spoken” and possessing “the ability to earn trust quickly”, Jennifer stands at the intersection of compassion, courage, innovation, and impact — ensuring her clients lead with purpose in the face of constant change and uncertainty.