Our Story
Rethinking Leadership for a Dynamic World
As disruption reshaped the business landscape, we saw an opportunity to help leaders adapt. CLA was founded to pioneer a more resilient, behavioral-based approach to leadership.
Change isn’t slowing down, and neither are we. Since our founding, we’ve expanded our team, developed award-winning methods, and partnered with Fortune 500 companies, private equity firms, and nonprofits to redefine what effective leadership looks like. Our approach helps leaders harness uncertainty, transforming complexity into a competitive advantage and building organizations that thrive in the face of change.
Looking ahead, we remain committed to pushing the boundaries of leadership and organizational effectiveness. Through ongoing research, innovation, and collaboration with forward-thinking executives, we continue to refine and expand our approach. As leadership challenges evolve, we ensure leaders have the strategies, skills, and support to drive lasting impact, no matter what the future holds.
The Beginning of Something Bold
CLA began as Garcia Fisher Gullette, founded by Steve Garcia, Dan Fisher, and Beth Gullette after their departure from AlixPartners. With a vision to redefine leadership advisory, they took on their first clients: a Boston-based private equity firm and a Russell 2000 clothing retailer. From day one, the firm set out to combine deep expertise with a modern approach to leadership.
A New Name and Growing Team
Garcia Fisher Gullette rebranded as Contemporary Leadership Advisors, reflecting a bold, future-facing vision. CLA hired its first full-time employees and established a key strategic partnership with Entromy, developers of an AI-enabled organizational assessment platform. The foundation for scalable, tech-enabled leadership solutions was set.
Expansion and Innovation
With a growing client base of 35+ organizations across the U.S., CLA opened its New York City office. The firm launched its Disrupt & Transform Program, designed to help senior leaders expand their influence and amplify impact. It was a year marked by innovation, reach, and new possibilities.
Global Reach and Scalable Solutions
CLA delivered its first international project for the Latin America division of a global CPG company. The firm also developed its signature Peer Learning Circle method, an innovative approach to democratizing coaching and developing leaders at scale.
Building Community and Capabilities
Dan Fisher was named to the Advisory Board for NYU’s Master’s Program in Executive Coaching & Organizational Consulting. We launched our quarterly, firmwide gathering, CLA Days, bringing the team together to build connection and culture.
Recognition and Reach
CLA reached a new milestone, serving over 100 clients across industries including Private Equity, Retail, Life Sciences, Healthcare, Technology, Financial Services, and Manufacturing. The firm’s Top Talent Program with Verizon earned the prestigious Brandon Hall Gold Award for Executive Education. CLA also partnered with RallyBright to certify team coaches on the Resilient Teams Platform.
Expanded Partnership, New Possibilities
Natalie Baumgartner joined the partnership and launched CLA’s Culture Transformation Practice, bringing a new dimension to the firm’s offerings. CLA formed a strategic partnership with Achievers, creators of the award-winning Achievers Experience Platform. Steve Garcia was appointed to the Organization Design Forum Advisory Board, extending the firm’s thought leadership reach.
Thought Leadership Takes Center Stage
Wiley published The End of Leadership as We Know It, co-authored by Steve Garcia and Dan Fisher. CLA launched the Talent Management Collective (TMC), a member-driven community of future-focused talent executives. CLA’s Peer Learning Circle solution earned the top spot on Google search, a testament to its growing impact.
Scaling Impact Across Industries
CLA served over 200 clients, more than doubling its reach in just a few years. The Influence & Impact Program, designed for women leaders in healthcare and life sciences, launched to strong demand. CLA celebrated a major internal milestone with its first promotion to Principal, marking another step in developing the next generation of firm leadership.
Built for a new era of leadership.
Leadership today is more demanding than ever, and old solutions don’t work in a world of constant change. Leaders need more than theory. They need practical, personalized support.
We founded CLA to deliver exactly that. By combining business expertise with behavioral science, we help leaders build adaptive, impactful organizations that drive business results.
In a Dynamic World, Make Leadership Your Competitive Advantage
Whether you’re building your executive team, restructuring your organization, or navigating change, we bring the tools and partnership to help you lead with impact.
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