Dr. Brian Arao (he/him/his) empowers leaders to unlock their potential and build high-performing, inclusive teams. With nearly 23 years of experience as a transformative leader in higher education, Brian brings a unique perspective to executive coaching. He moves beyond conventional wisdom, partnering with leaders to identify their inherent strengths and create actionable plans for achieving their goals.
Brian’s coaching approach is asset-based, focusing on your existing wisdom rather than offering prescriptive advice. He facilitates powerful growth by helping you clarify your priorities and develop concrete strategies for success. His experience spans diverse industries, including tech, philanthropy, telecommunications, and construction, providing him with a broad understanding of leadership challenges.
What sets Brian apart is his expertise in diversity, inclusion, and belonging. As a Professional Certified Diversity Coach with the CoachDiversity Institute and a Certified Facilitator with the Cultural Intelligence Center, he equips leaders to build healthy and humanizing environments that attract and empower diverse talent. This approach to leadership is crucial in today’s construction landscape, where fostering a culture of belonging drives innovation and performance.
Brian is also an Associate Certified Coach with the International Coaching Federation and holds a doctorate in international and multicultural education. His academic background, combined with his practical experience, provides a robust foundation for his coaching practice.
Beyond his professional life, Brian is a fitness enthusiast, amateur plant-based chef, and a self-proclaimed comic book geek – ask him about his experience speaking on and moderating panels at San Diego Comic Con! He resides in Sacramento, CA, on the ancestral homelands of the Nisenan, Maidu, Miwok, and Me-Wuk peoples.