The Institute for Effective Leadership is a leadership development and advisory firm that helps organizations and executives to be more effective. We see "effectiveness" as achieving --and constantly surpassing-- an organization's stated objectives, for greater impact, profitability and sustainability in a changing marketplace.
We help our clients identify leadership and organizational challenges. We assist them in aligning and attuning the practice of leading with the real needs of their businesses with a view to the future. Our approach is rigorous, personal, and customized to the task at hand. We are people and organizational experts, combining a profound knowledge of the human person and tested leadership theory with today's most advanced tools and methods to produce practical, effective results.
Our passion is transforming organizations through effective leadership. Our mission is to help organizations and executives and to reach their full potential, for the good of their organizations and society as a whole.
Vincent Higgins
President
Vincent Higgins is a board director, strategist and President and CEO of the Institute for Effective Leadership. As a recognized leader in corporate strategy and leadership development, he assists organizations in successfully planning for the future, while simultaneously raising the bar on leadership talent and recruiting. He has spent his entire professional career helping organizations and leaders from diverse industries and cultural backgrounds affect real, sustainable change.
With advanced degrees in physics, philosophy, and theology, he uses his “theo-physicist” background in leadership and enterprise development. He has lived in a number of countries working with corporate leaders and organizations and speaks several languages.
In his new book, Social Influence and Genius, A Leadership Journey - A Better Future for your Business and the World, Mr. Higgins develops an innovative new model for organizational and leadership development. Click here
Previously Vincent served as a Director of the prestigious Lumen Institute. The Lumen Institute is an international organization for the development of senior business leaders.
Mr. Higgins also serves on the Board of Directors at Chancery Resources, a public company who’s corporate mission is to acquire, develop, and expand proven gold and mineral properties into world-class assets.
David B Robinson
Partner
David B Robinson comes from an experienced and effective leadership development background. From his work as Executive Director at Booz Allen to the 33 years of service in the Navy, attaining the rank of Vice Admiral, Mr. Robinson brings both insight and knowledge to the Institute. He has expertise in both team building and executive coaching, having mentored many talented individuals and built successful teams in both the military and the corporate worlds.
In 2005, Robinson received the prestigious Admiral Arleigh Burke Award for Leadership which is presented by the Navy League of the United States to outstanding government, industry, or academic leaders who embody the professional and ethical standards of Admiral Burke, the distinguished combat commander and innovative naval strategist who served an unprecedented three terms as Chief of Naval Operations. Previous recipients of the award include President George H.W. Bush, industrialist H. Ross Perot, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Thomas A. Moorer, and U.S. Senator John McCain.
From 1998 to 2008 Mr. Robinson served as an Executive Director at Booz Allen Hamilton, where he was a market lead in the company’s Navy business. He was responsible for the firm's business with the Naval Sea Systems Command, as well as for the program and executive level guidance of the firm’s businesses with the Navy Secretariat and the Navy Staff.
Mr. Robinson served 33 years in the U.S. Navy, participating in naval operations worldwide. His Navy responsibilities spanned command at sea to significant positions in major staffs to extensive tours in Washington, D.C. and he established a proven record of managing complex problems and leading large organizations
As a flag officer, he served as the Commander, Surface Naval Forces, U.S. Pacific Fleet; Deputy Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet; Director of Operational Plans and Interoperability (J7) on the Joint Staff; command of a carrier battle group; and the Director for Surface Warfare on the Navy staff
Mr Robinson graduated from the United States Naval Academy and earned a MS in Oceanography. He and his wife Rebecca reside in Dallas, Texas.
James Larson
Senior Consultant
James Larson brings two decades of achievement to the IEL team in the areas of executive leadership development, organizational strategy, and corporate culture building. His unique background and international experience firmly establish him as an outlier in his field, with proven success in helping leaders from a variety of industries to be more effective and their organizations more profitable with sustainable growth in today’s marketplace. James will focus on bringing our leadership model for perpetual corporate development to businesses primarily in the Atlanta market. High impact goals, focus, and accountability management are all part of this integrated approach which drives growth and profitability with a view to future business challenges.
James’s knowledge of leadership in theory and practice was gained hands on through various directive roles at leadership training and development facilities in the United Sates, Latin America, and Europe. Later he designed and led successful leadership development programs in Chicago, Minneapolis, and Atlanta. He also founded and directed a national office of donor relations for an international non-profit, providing personal leadership development and relationship management services to a national network of top executives and high net worth individuals. His successful client relations model was later adapted globally by the organization.
An expert communicator and keen observer, James adds value by distilling complexity quickly; he helps clients to identify core leadership and performance challenges and to develop personalized, practical solutions that truly improve the bottom line and empower those being led to achieve aggressive collective goals. His specialties include executive performance assessments, communication and relational skills training, leadership team training, and aligning corporate culture with the defined goals of a business.
James earned Bachelor of Arts degrees in History and Classics from St. Olaf College and Bachelor of Arts degrees in Philosophy and Theology from the Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum (Rome, Italy). He is fluent in Spanish and Italian and resides in Atlanta, GA.
Matthew Williams
Senior Consultant
Matt Williams is one of Houston’s a leading executive coaches and trainers, effectively facilitating growth initiatives in organizations from Fortune 500 to the mid market. His experience has included leadership roles at Hewlett Packard, turnaround leadership in the mid market and the founding, leading and successful sale of a medical technology firm. Matt has over 25 years experience providing direction and insight in the areas of strategic planning, leadership development and organizational performance. He is an ICF Certified Professional Coach with certifications in the use and application of a variety of assessment tools utilized in the process of leadership and team development.
Mr. Williams has authored a number of articles around communication and leadership published in various journals. He is active in the creation of leadership and performance related programs as well as speaking and delivering workshops on related topics. One of his specialties is helping executives gain clarity around “issues” quickly for the development and execution of strategies that bring about individual and team results. The approach, a blend of solutions-focused and appreciative coaching styles, challenges established leaders, and those in transition, to reach for both near term results and transformational growth.
Mr. Williams received his BA in Marketing and Masters Certificate in Executive and Professional Coaching from the University of Texas. He is a member of the International Coaches Federation, Board Member of the Houston Coaches and member of the American College of Healthcare Executives.
David Whipp
Senior Consultant (United Kingdom)
David provides several decades of experience in organizational development and talent management. He has significant experience in helping organizations to identify and build their Talent Pipeline thinking and processes, design and deliver Global Leadership development solutions, implement Change Projects and HR Capability Programs.
Over the last 6 years his projects have included developing and implementing succession and talent management solutions as well as developing and implementing competency frameworks with global HR teams in the Middle East, Denmark, Germany, Switzerland, UK, Russia, USA, Japan, India and China.
David’s commercial experience began in travel and tourism followed by 10 years with Nestlé in sales and marketing. A career switch took him to Kraft where he developed his skills and experience in Organization Development, Learning & Talent Management. Over the next 18 years, as Kraft grew rapidly through major acquisitions and joined the Altria/Philip Morris group, David led many international leadership and talent development initiatives before forming his own UK based consultancy, ChangeMaker International in 2005.
We help our clients identify leadership and organizational challenges. We assist them in aligning and attuning the practice of leading with the real needs of their businesses with a view to the future. Our approach is rigorous, personal, and customized to the task at hand. We are people and organizational experts, combining a profound knowledge of the human person and tested leadership theory with today's most advanced tools and methods to produce practical, effective results.
Our passion is transforming organizations through effective leadership. Our mission is to help organizations and executives and to reach their full potential, for the good of their organizations and society as a whole.
Vincent Higgins
President
Vincent Higgins is a board director, strategist and President and CEO of the Institute for Effective Leadership. As a recognized leader in corporate strategy and leadership development, he assists organizations in successfully planning for the future, while simultaneously raising the bar on leadership talent and recruiting. He has spent his entire professional career helping organizations and leaders from diverse industries and cultural backgrounds affect real, sustainable change.
With advanced degrees in physics, philosophy, and theology, he uses his “theo-physicist” background in leadership and enterprise development. He has lived in a number of countries working with corporate leaders and organizations and speaks several languages.
In his new book, Social Influence and Genius, A Leadership Journey - A Better Future for your Business and the World, Mr. Higgins develops an innovative new model for organizational and leadership development. Click here
Previously Vincent served as a Director of the prestigious Lumen Institute. The Lumen Institute is an international organization for the development of senior business leaders.
Mr. Higgins also serves on the Board of Directors at Chancery Resources, a public company who’s corporate mission is to acquire, develop, and expand proven gold and mineral properties into world-class assets.
David B Robinson
Partner
David B Robinson comes from an experienced and effective leadership development background. From his work as Executive Director at Booz Allen to the 33 years of service in the Navy, attaining the rank of Vice Admiral, Mr. Robinson brings both insight and knowledge to the Institute. He has expertise in both team building and executive coaching, having mentored many talented individuals and built successful teams in both the military and the corporate worlds.
In 2005, Robinson received the prestigious Admiral Arleigh Burke Award for Leadership which is presented by the Navy League of the United States to outstanding government, industry, or academic leaders who embody the professional and ethical standards of Admiral Burke, the distinguished combat commander and innovative naval strategist who served an unprecedented three terms as Chief of Naval Operations. Previous recipients of the award include President George H.W. Bush, industrialist H. Ross Perot, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Thomas A. Moorer, and U.S. Senator John McCain.
From 1998 to 2008 Mr. Robinson served as an Executive Director at Booz Allen Hamilton, where he was a market lead in the company’s Navy business. He was responsible for the firm's business with the Naval Sea Systems Command, as well as for the program and executive level guidance of the firm’s businesses with the Navy Secretariat and the Navy Staff.
Mr. Robinson served 33 years in the U.S. Navy, participating in naval operations worldwide. His Navy responsibilities spanned command at sea to significant positions in major staffs to extensive tours in Washington, D.C. and he established a proven record of managing complex problems and leading large organizations
As a flag officer, he served as the Commander, Surface Naval Forces, U.S. Pacific Fleet; Deputy Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet; Director of Operational Plans and Interoperability (J7) on the Joint Staff; command of a carrier battle group; and the Director for Surface Warfare on the Navy staff
Mr Robinson graduated from the United States Naval Academy and earned a MS in Oceanography. He and his wife Rebecca reside in Dallas, Texas.
James Larson
Senior Consultant
James Larson brings two decades of achievement to the IEL team in the areas of executive leadership development, organizational strategy, and corporate culture building. His unique background and international experience firmly establish him as an outlier in his field, with proven success in helping leaders from a variety of industries to be more effective and their organizations more profitable with sustainable growth in today’s marketplace. James will focus on bringing our leadership model for perpetual corporate development to businesses primarily in the Atlanta market. High impact goals, focus, and accountability management are all part of this integrated approach which drives growth and profitability with a view to future business challenges.
James’s knowledge of leadership in theory and practice was gained hands on through various directive roles at leadership training and development facilities in the United Sates, Latin America, and Europe. Later he designed and led successful leadership development programs in Chicago, Minneapolis, and Atlanta. He also founded and directed a national office of donor relations for an international non-profit, providing personal leadership development and relationship management services to a national network of top executives and high net worth individuals. His successful client relations model was later adapted globally by the organization.
An expert communicator and keen observer, James adds value by distilling complexity quickly; he helps clients to identify core leadership and performance challenges and to develop personalized, practical solutions that truly improve the bottom line and empower those being led to achieve aggressive collective goals. His specialties include executive performance assessments, communication and relational skills training, leadership team training, and aligning corporate culture with the defined goals of a business.
James earned Bachelor of Arts degrees in History and Classics from St. Olaf College and Bachelor of Arts degrees in Philosophy and Theology from the Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum (Rome, Italy). He is fluent in Spanish and Italian and resides in Atlanta, GA.
Matthew Williams
Senior Consultant
Matt Williams is one of Houston’s a leading executive coaches and trainers, effectively facilitating growth initiatives in organizations from Fortune 500 to the mid market. His experience has included leadership roles at Hewlett Packard, turnaround leadership in the mid market and the founding, leading and successful sale of a medical technology firm. Matt has over 25 years experience providing direction and insight in the areas of strategic planning, leadership development and organizational performance. He is an ICF Certified Professional Coach with certifications in the use and application of a variety of assessment tools utilized in the process of leadership and team development.
Mr. Williams has authored a number of articles around communication and leadership published in various journals. He is active in the creation of leadership and performance related programs as well as speaking and delivering workshops on related topics. One of his specialties is helping executives gain clarity around “issues” quickly for the development and execution of strategies that bring about individual and team results. The approach, a blend of solutions-focused and appreciative coaching styles, challenges established leaders, and those in transition, to reach for both near term results and transformational growth.
Mr. Williams received his BA in Marketing and Masters Certificate in Executive and Professional Coaching from the University of Texas. He is a member of the International Coaches Federation, Board Member of the Houston Coaches and member of the American College of Healthcare Executives.
David Whipp
Senior Consultant (United Kingdom)
David provides several decades of experience in organizational development and talent management. He has significant experience in helping organizations to identify and build their Talent Pipeline thinking and processes, design and deliver Global Leadership development solutions, implement Change Projects and HR Capability Programs.
Over the last 6 years his projects have included developing and implementing succession and talent management solutions as well as developing and implementing competency frameworks with global HR teams in the Middle East, Denmark, Germany, Switzerland, UK, Russia, USA, Japan, India and China.
David’s commercial experience began in travel and tourism followed by 10 years with Nestlé in sales and marketing. A career switch took him to Kraft where he developed his skills and experience in Organization Development, Learning & Talent Management. Over the next 18 years, as Kraft grew rapidly through major acquisitions and joined the Altria/Philip Morris group, David led many international leadership and talent development initiatives before forming his own UK based consultancy, ChangeMaker International in 2005.
