Aloha! I’m Kevin – talent architect with specific expertise in the twin areas of emotional and cultural intelligence. With the motto, Crafting Breakthroughs, I help people understand both themselves and others to map pathways forward.
About Me
I was born and raised in Honolulu, HI where I was exposed to an array of cultures, namely East and Southeast Asian as well as Polynesian. These experiences stimulated my thinking about people and cultures, which inspired me to study abroad in Mainland China and pursue early work experiences in Taiwan. I later earned master’s degrees in Asia-Pacific Studies and Business Administration as well as a Ph.D. in International Management. After completing my doctorate, I spent 3 years teaching at the University of Auckland in New Zealand. For the last 15 years, I’ve been a management professor at the University of San Francisco School of Management (currently a tenured full professor).
My rich teaching experience couples with my deep understanding of human behavior and dexterity with people from a wide array of backgrounds to position me as a leadership coach. People who seek me as a coach are usually looking for ways to be more effective at work. They often find the insights I offer to be valuable and applicable to life more broadly. While I particularly enjoy conversations with people who leading teams, contemplating career transitions, or preparing for promotions, my skills can be applied to work with people at all career stages as well as across industries and sectors.
More recently, I’ve joined the facilitator pool at Stanford’s Graduate School of Business (GSB) for their Interpersonal Dynamics course (nicknamed “Touchy Feely”). Even after working in the area of emotional intelligence for 10 years, this experience has broadened my awareness as well as abilities to work effectively both with myself and with others.
Coaching Approach & Areas
After 20 years working with people at all career stages, I have some ideas of what might work to become successful. However, my expertise as it applies to my coachees centers on listening actively with empathy, asking good questions, and facilitating awareness of the choices available in the spirit of self-actualization. Ultimately, I want to co-design something empowering that works for you.
Working with me should feel energizing and refreshing. We explore areas as you feel comfortable through conversations that help you understand yourself. I ask simple questions and listen actively with empathy. Each coaching conversation should contribute to personal growth and offer you insights that you can use immediately.
My approach focuses on holistic well-being. Thus, while our starting point is often a work-specific dilemma, we often branch off into other leadership development areas. These can include mindfulness, sleep, stress and stress management, fitness and nutrition, and other non-work life decisions with which people grapple.
I hope to help people see the many ways in which we differ (e.g., natural talents, work styles, learning styles, personality, values, cultural norms) and can still work together effectively. We’ll progress at your pace pursuing what is of interest to you. Coaching conversations we could have include, but are not limited to:
Emotional Intelligence (EQ)
Leadership self-development
Priority management
Career transitions
Mental health and wellness
Cultural Intelligence (CQ)
Cultivating your natural talents
Scripting difficult conversations
Strengthening team dynamics
Mindfulness and self-care
Certifications
I am certified to interpret results for scientifically valid self-assessments in:
I’m also a certified HR practitioner (SHRM-CP) through the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) as well as a certified High Performance Coach through the High Performance Institute.
Each of these tools can help you arrive at a deeper understanding of who you are. Your authentic self is waiting to be discovered so you can have more effective interpersonal interactions and achieve better results in life. I would love to help you meet the next best version of YOU!
drkevinlo 