Denise Sughrue is an executive coach with nearly 30 years of experience helping leaders navigate complex transitions and drive strategic change. She fosters inclusive and authentic leadership, empowering clients to lead confidently, purposefully, and impactfully. From emerging leaders to seasoned executives, Denise has guided professionals across industries in embracing their leadership styles and showing up intentionally for themselves and their teams.
With a background as a woman in STEM and a working parent, Denise understands the challenges of balancing career and life, particularly the societal and workplace expectations placed on professionals. She is passionate about helping clients—whether they have children—design fulfilling careers without sacrificing personal well-being.
Denise began her career as an engineer in the Department of Defense. She later transitioned into consulting, where she has spent over 25 years helping clients drive transformational change in industries such as higher education, biotechnology, aerospace and defense, telecommunications, and the federal government. Her expertise spans strategic foresight, human capital transformation, organizational change, and strategy design and execution.
Beyond her professional work, Denise is deeply committed to community service and leadership development. She serves as Secretary of the Board for Arlington Thrive, a nonprofit dedicated to financial stability and eviction prevention. She is serving her last year on the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business Alumni Board, where she was also formerly the board chair.
Denise holds a B.S. in Aerospace and Ocean Engineering from Virginia Tech and an MBA from the Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland. She earned her executive coaching certification from the Coach Diversity Institute. She lives in Virginia with her husband and has three adult children. She enjoys working out, learning how to refinish furniture, gardening, and travel.