Executive coaching

Performance rooted in
Action & Reflection

FOCUS

Dedicated to your excellence

In my experience, intentional performance development is a differentiating strategy for individuals and teams.

I specialise in executive coaching within the Private Equity ecosystem, working closely with you to reinforce self-leadership pillars and minimise noise.

APPROACH

The intentional journey of performance

Coaching that provides a time-out reflective space to gain clarity and amplify progress.

Coaching that supports performance through introspection and decisive action.

Performance framed as an intentional journey of development.

Why Ground Executive Coaching?

  • Grounded in your goals. The core motives that inspire and matter to you are what drive lasting change — that's our focus.

  • A unique blend of front-line Private Equity experience and elite executive coaching training and expertise.

  • Customisation as the key to effectiveness, this is not a one-size-fits-all approach.

  • We leverage your strengths and your own perspectives to fuel progress through the process.

“It takes someone who has worked in the environment to really understand it.”

Meet Elena

Elena Utrera is a Mastered Certified Executive Coach and the founder of Ground Executive Coaching. She combines a unique blend of front-line professional experience and executive coaching expertise. She partners with senior executives, high potentials, and teams, to support their leadership journey.

Elena has a consolidated international background as a private equity investor, investment banker, and non-executive board member. Her coaching practice builds on a career in leading firms, including Goldman Sachs’ Mergers & Acquisitions division and private equity investment roles at TowerBrook Capital Partners and Keensight Capital.

She discovered her talent for people development working alongside senior management teams and managing people as a due-diligence and deal execution team leader.

Elena has honed her professional skills in ‘up or out’ environments, she understands the requirements of managing one’s own performance effectively, whilst working with a plethora of stakeholders (peers, the broader team, advisors, management teams, investors, board members).

Download Elena’s Coaching Bio

What clients say

  • "Elena helps me think in a different way. I normally focus on the day-to-day. I now need to prioritise leading my team. In our sessions, I stop to gain perspective — this is giving me a more strategic vision of my role, with my clients, and in leading the team (vs doubling down on ‘day to day problem solving’)."

    Managing Director, bulge bracket Investment Bank

  • "Elena expertly guided our sessions for me to identify what my priorities within the business and with the management team members were. Her ability to listen closely and quickly grasp the nuances of what I was dealing with made a difference in clarifying my decision-making process. The resources she shared throughout were highly relevant and valuable."

    Founder and CEO

  • "During our conversations I find myself having insightful perspectives that allow me to see the situation we are discussing very differently. I like the simplicity of a few frameworks shared during our last session that I have applied and can see a shift on how I'm interacting with my team."

    Head of Marketing / Sr VP, large privately held company

  • "Coaching with Elena for the past months has made a difference on how I’m seeing my career. I feel I now approach it more productively differentiating between the ‘tactics’ and the ‘strategy’. Most importantly it’s been the change on how I think and feel about managing my career trajectory and promotion. I can see I'm performing better in my current role with less emotional stress about it."

    VP Legal & Commercial Affairs

Bespoke Services

‘Clear Thinker is better compliment than Smart’ - Naval

Individual One-on-One Coaching Programs

Team Development Programs & Workshops

Talent Assessment (Hogan & MBTI Accredited)

    • PE Managing Director: solidifying leadership style in their new firm and executive presence at Investment Committees

    • Managing Director, Bulge Bracket Investment Bank: career strategy - preparing for MD promotion, team management dynamics

    • Founder & CEO: managing a growing team, set the basis to shift from dysfunctional team dynamics to aligned and effective

    • Consultant, Global Management Consulting firm: navigating internal career progression

    • Senior VP, privately held company: refining leadership and communication style internally and with clients

    • Team Development: delivering group leadership skills programs for a large European Private Equity firm

Coaching that builds on your unique path, where clarity and deliberate action turn potential into outcomes.

Contact

Fill in the form or email: elena@groundexecutivecoaching.com

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Certifications & Affiliations

  • Meyler Campbell Mastered Accredited Coach

    Certified executive coach, trained by world renowned Meyler Campbell (accredited by EMCC, AC)

  • Hogan Certified Profile

    Certified practitioner of Hogan Inventory Profiles
    Psychometric assessment

  • Certified practitioner of Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI, Step 1 & 2) Psychometric assessment

  • EMCC Global Individual Accrediation

    European Mentoring and Coaching Council (EMCC) member

  • Affiliate at the Institute of Coaching (IOC), McLean Hospital, part of Harvard Medical School