About Pancho
Because Why began in a philosophy classroom, but my interest in personal and professional development started much earlier.
As a kid, I was told what to believe more often than I was invited into dialogue. That led me to think independently, and I became fascinated by questions. How do we know what we know? And how do we navigate the gap between what we say we value and how we actually behave? What makes doing something worthwhile?
That curiosity led me to study economics and philosophy. Through a series of coincidences, it led me into the outdoor industry, onto startup teams, and into projects that prioritized purpose and values, even in times of uncertainty.
It also led me into the mountains.
It’s a unique mindset to be tied into a rope, working through fear, and trusting someone on the other end. The stakes are visceral instead of hypothetical, and it’s easy to see mental chatter for what it is: an obstruction to clarity. You discern whether you’re acting (or failing to act) from fear or presence. It’s an opportunity to see what it’s like to choose one thing to focus on and then to do it. Your insides match your outsides.
I’ve worked to create the same dynamic in my time working on leadership teams in tech and the outdoor industry. And now I strive to help others find this clarity of purpose and action through coaching.
The work I do with leaders and teams isn’t about process improvement or optimization. I help individual professionals find alignment; we make sure their beliefs, values, and behavior are congruent. And aligned leaders foster aligned teams; shared context and a sense of togetherness give people meaning. They communicate more clearly. They take ownership. They act beyond their job description with proactivity and care because their work feels like it’s personally meaningful.
My clients are often high-capacity people in moments of transition. They want to build teams that can think for themselves. They want work relationships that feel energizing rather than draining. They want to succeed without becoming someone they don’t recognize.
That work starts with self-awareness and expands into relational intelligence. When a team begins to do it together, it becomes part of the culture.
I introduce research-backed frameworks and structured reflection, but the real work is in the conversation. I won’t hand you answers. I’ll help you build the skills to see more clearly, challenge your assumptions, and practice new ways of showing up. We’ll find the answers along the way.
I’m irreverent enough to call out irony, sincere enough to sit with discomfort, and self-aware enough to laugh at myself along the way.
The Sierra Nevada is still my favorite place in the world. Being there reminds me how little time I have, how meaningful this all is, and how objectively small we all are.
As your coach, I’ll bring my whole self to the conversation. I’ll expect you to do the same.
Qualifications and Accomplishments
ACC Credential - International Coaching Federation
Advanced Coach Certificate - Lumia Coaching
Futurist Academy Alumni Board of Directors - Programming Lead
Randstad Risesmart Career Coach Authority
Skip Yowell Future Leadership Academy - Outdoor Industry Association
200hr Yoga Teacher Certification
BS in in Economics and Philosophy - Cal Poly SLO