Meet Dr. Jeff Kaplan, MCC
Executive Coach. Business Psychologist. Speaker.
Dr. Jeff Kaplan, MCC is the CEO and Founder of Leading with Heart, Inc., an executive coaching and leadership development firm on a mission to make heart-centered leadership the most impactful management approach in the world.
One of fewer than 4% of coaches globally to earn the Master Certified Coach credential, Jeff has spent nearly four decades helping leaders and teams bring more purpose, empathy, and humility to the way they lead. His work blends the science of psychology with the humanity of leadership—turning insight into action and culture.
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Named U.S. Leadership Development Coach of the Year by CEO Today magazine, Jeff has guided leaders across healthcare, technology, finance, and education. A three-time author, creator of the Leading with Heart 360™ assessment, and former president of ICF Philadelphia, he continues to shape how leadership is defined, practiced, and felt.
Jeff will bring his message to a global stage in his upcoming TEDx Wilmington talk, Leading with Heart.
The Heart Behind the Work
After nearly four decades as a coach and psychologist, Dr. Jeff Kaplan has learned that leadership isn’t defined by authority, it’s defined by humanity. He has worked with executives who shoulder immense responsibility yet quietly question whether they’re truly making a difference. What he’s discovered is that the most extraordinary leaders aren’t the ones who command—they’re the ones who connect.
Leading with Heart was born from Jeff’s belief that empathy and purpose are not “soft skills,” but strategic advantages. When leaders create environments where people feel valued, heard, and inspired, performance follows naturally. His life’s work is to help leaders bring their full humanity to the table—to lead with courage, compassion, and curiosity. Because when leaders lead with heart, they don’t just change organizations—they change lives.
Speaking & Media Features
Dr. Jeff Kaplan, founder and CEO of Leading with Heart, Inc. and a leadership coach with over 30 years of experience, recently delivered a TEDxWilmington talk that challenges one of the most common workplace narratives: labeling people as “difficult.”
In his talk, “The Difficult Person — and How to Deal with Them,” Dr. Jeff Kaplan invites leaders to rethink conflict not as a problem to eliminate, but as an opportunity for understanding, growth, and stronger human connection.
