Andrea Umbach

Andrea’s professional journey began at Apple Computers in Cupertino, California in 1986, right after the leadership transition from Steve Jobs to John Scully. At Apple, Andrea became passionate about technology, the leaders of paradigm-shifting ideas, and how companies were structured and managed to make it all happen.

Her position in sales force motivation led her to work in Internal Communications Strategy at Alcatel, a monolithic French global corporation manufacturing phone switching systems, mobile phones, business computers, high-speed trains, and satellite payloads. At Alcatel, working from Brussels and Paris, Andrea experienced the paradox of classic European management systems in the face of worldwide competition, government control of markets, and a hugely diverse workforce. Her challenge was to communicate strategy and effective management systems to thousands of international managers worldwide.

Andrea then obtained her Master of Science in Organizational Behavior from Cornell University, and on her way to determining if a Phd would satisfy her, she was recruited by Microsoft in 1993 to work in their management development area. Microsoft was far more tempting than a Phd, and Andrea spent the next seven years working with HR and line executives to create systems to identify, develop, and retain future leaders for the corporation. She also conducted organization development and strategic planning efforts with critical groups across the company and provided individual coaching to senior managers around their management, leadership, career decisions, and performance. The lessons at Microsoft were both life changing and intellectually transforming. 

In 2000, Andrea left Microsoft to build a coaching business independently, seeking a variety of clients in high technology, private equity, and the nonprofit world.  After 25+ years, she has coached hundreds of leaders in some of the world's most demanding and future oriented organizations.

Andrea has raised two boys to young men in the midst of Seattle and the Northwest. She is an avid traveler, skier, sailor, and outdoorswoman, usually packing her children and friends along to locations of the world and wilderness to join in her adventures. Andrea also carried forth that sense of adventure while working as an Airstream Ambassador with her 2017 Basecamp Trailer. Andrea is also co-author of “Dining In Seattle: Past & Present,” a menu-inspired cookbook featuring recipes from 21 of Seattle’s most acclaimed restaurants of today.  Additionally, Andrea has served as a Trustee on the Board of The Bush School, Seattle’s only K-12 school for 12 years.  Andrea uses both Idaho and Seattle as her home bases.

• Umbach Leadership Consulting - Owner and Principal, Executive Coach

• Microsoft – Executive Succession & Retention, Management & Executive Development

• Alcatel – Strategic Internal Communications

• Apple – Media Specialist Internal Communications

• Airstream - Airstream Ambassador

• Peanut Butter Publishing – Author, Editor

• The Bush School – Board Service

• Cornell University M.S. / A.B.D., Organizational Behavior, 1989 – 1992

• Ecole Superieure Lyons Certificate Francaise, French Language, 1988

• University of California, Berkeley, B.A., Social Anthropology and Social Psychology, 1983 – 1986

• Phi Beta Kappa

• Korn Ferry -  360-degree Talent Assessment Tools

• Hogan Personality Inventory (HPI); Hogan Development Survey (HDS); and Motives, Values, Preferences Inventory (MVPI)

• California Psychological Inventory (CPI)

• Blanchard Training – Situational Leadership

• Search Conferences – Participative strategic planning

• Power and Systems (Barry Oshry) – Organization Workshop and systems thinking for executives

• Center for Creative Leadership assessment tools – Benchmark: 360-degree Leadership assessment

• PDI Profiler 360 – Executive 360 Leadership assessment

• Precision Questioning and Precision Answering intellectual tools

• SYMLOG – Team diagnostic tool and team building

• How to Build Your Influence Maps (Amazon, Dent Explore)

• Hassle Mapping Your Biz (Amazon, Dent Explore)

• Organization Workshop (Microsoft, Amazon, Dent Explore)

• Coaching Senior Executives (Amazon)