About

Helping is a passion

About Donna

Donna Ghalambor is the president of SophArian Consulting and Coaching, LLC, a transformational and leadership coach, international speaker, and entrepreneur.

She holds a Doctor of Education in Organizational Change and Leadership and a Master of Science in Organizational Psychology and Leadership from the University of Southern California (USC), and a Master of Science in Engineering from the California State Polytechnic University, Pomona (CalPoly).

Her interdisciplinary background across three industries (technology, higher education, and finance) include Robotics engineer at Kraft Foods, North America, Adjunct Faculty at USC teaching career advancement and professional development, and at CalPoly teaching Engineering Management courses including Organizational Behavior, Leadership, Managerial Decision Making, Financial Accounting, and Project Management. She also serves as business advisor in the Master of Science in Engineering Management program at CalPoly. With 2 decades of experience in the financial sector, building a portfolio of high-net-worth clients, streamlining finances for individuals, and a myriad of small and medium-sized businesses, she has developed an unparalleled competency and skill for helping individuals and organizations identify the underlying factors hindering their performance towards personal and professional excellence as well as operational efficiency.

She is a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) through International Coaching Federation (ICF) with the designation of Master Practitioner in Energy Leadership Index from the Institute of Professional Excellence in Coaching. By the virtue of her experience in the academic arena in the field of organizational psychology and leadership, her approach to coaching is unique, scientific, data-driven, and methodical, using the principals of positive psychology and emerging trends in leadership development. She is also a Certified Faculty Mentor with the focus on promoting academic success and enhancing students’ sense of belonging from CalPoly’s Center of Student Success, Equity, and Innovation.

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Her passion for learning and development, commitment to create diverse, equitable, and inclusive working and learning environments, and contributions to industry thought leadership and community transformation have positively impacted her professional engagements.

She has been speaking on leadership at several conferences, actively engaged in her community, and contributed significantly to causes involving employment empowerment and professional excellence. Her leading contributions include facilitating Top Performer Coaching Program and Alumni Alliance Employment Success at the Women Helping Women Foundation and serving on the Board of Directors at the Iranian American Women Foundation.

Testimonials

Angela Jamison

Journalist at Los Angeles Times
In my coaching experience with Donna, I instantly felt safe, validated and heard. She is warm, compassionate, witty, and authentic. She has integrity, sharp listening skills and insight. All the traits that enabled me to acknowledge my woundedness and shift my self-image from disempowerment to empowerment. Donna helped me create a far better solution than had I grappled with it alone. Months later, the seed she planted in me is bearing much fruit. She is phenomenal.

Dr. Cynde Herman

Senior HR Director
Donna’s method and focus on perspective, processes, and performance ensured that I remained focused on my goal to achieve the performance I wanted. As she reminded me, when I got clarity in my perspective (including shifting blocks) and set up effective processes – the performance organically occurs, which it did. Donna’s expertise in sales was the final essential excellence she brought to our coaching work together. Her enthusiasm and dedication will support your reaching the performance that you need or dream of.

Megan Smith

Director of Sales at Freudenberg
Donna is a very professional, intuitive and skilled business coach. Her blend of warmth, passion and insights of the human condition along with her proven success in the entrepreneurial and financial world is very unique. Donna’s blend of life experiences, personal and in business makes her an excellent coach for any entrepreneur or business professional. Being a client of Donna’s was very beneficial for both my personal and business life, a wonderful experience.

Bryan Shepherd

Senior Recruiter at Korn Ferry
There are two types of people in the world: those that find solutions and those that find excuses. Indubitably, Donna is the former. She steps up to drive action while also possessing the nuanced soft skills to address and resolve conflict. Her drive and dedication is unmatched.