COACH PROFILE

Laila Keith

Guiding Women Leaders to Thrive in Work and Life

Laila Keith is a dynamic and accomplished coach who specializes in helping mid-career female executives and aspiring leaders navigate the complexities of modern professional life. With over 20 years of success in corporate strategy and talent development, Laila has become a trusted advisor and mentor for women seeking clarity, balance, and success in their careers.

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Laila Keith

Coaching Credentials and Philosophy

Laila holds the prestigious ICF Associate Certified Coach (ACC) and Certified Professional Coach designations and is a Maslow Leadership Certified Executive Culture Coach. These credentials underscore her expertise in leadership development, career strategy, and personal transformation.
Her coaching practice, NovaQuest Coaching, is centered on empowering women in their 30s and beyond—particularly those with Fortune 500 experience—who are ready to conquer burnout and tackle career milestones. Laila’s approach is characterized by her ability to eliminate the “what to do next” syndrome that often plagues her clients. By providing clarity, direction, and a personalized roadmap, she helps her clients achieve work-life balance and unlock their full potential.

Corporate Leadership and Talent Development Expertise

Before founding NovaQuest Coaching, Laila built an impressive career as a corporate leader and talent development expert. Her most recent role was as the Digital Health Practice Leader at FlemingMartin Executive Search, where she connected top-tier talent with opportunities in the rapidly evolving digital health sector.
Prior to this, Laila spent nine years at Johnson & Johnson Vision, where she excelled in driving sales and leading training efforts. She rose through the ranks from Senior Territory Business Manager and Field Sales Trainer to Sales Excellence Trainer for the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. As part of J&J’s elite training team, she played a pivotal role in advising business leaders across multiple functions, including HR, Sales & Marketing, Finance, Legal, Communications, Compensation, Healthcare Compliance, Customer Success, and Leadership Development.
Her expertise at J&J encompassed sales force effectiveness, integrity, inclusivity, effective performance coaching, change management, talent retention, talent development, and cultivating a winning corporate culture. One of her proudest achievements during her tenure at J&J was launching the company’s first Leadership Development Summit for its Surgical Vision division, a milestone that showcased her ability to drive innovation and inspire transformation.

Early Career and Broader Experience

Laila’s corporate journey began with roles at Novartis and Sanofi-Aventis, where she served as a Senior Sales Consultant, honing her skills in relationship management and business development. She later transitioned to Morgan Stanley, where she worked in the Investment Banking and Corporate Finance Execution Divisions, gaining valuable insights into financial strategy and corporate operations.
This eclectic professional background has given Laila a unique perspective on leadership and career development. Her ability to navigate diverse industries and roles has become a cornerstone of her coaching approach, allowing her to connect with clients from a wide range of professional backgrounds
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Inspiring Change and Advancing DEI

Inspiration is at the heart of Laila’s work. Her vision is to empower individuals to conquer burnout, embrace their potential, and achieve their brightest goals. She is particularly passionate about advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, ensuring that women and underrepresented groups have the tools and opportunities they need to thrive.
Laila brings a contagious enthusiasm to the learning space, fostering environments that motivate, elevate, and energize. Her clients benefit from her consultative approach, which combines a deep understanding of sales, leadership development, and training with an empathetic, client-centered coaching style.

Coaching Impact

Laila’s coaching philosophy is rooted in the belief that clarity and a well-structured plan are key to overcoming challenges and reaching one’s full potential. By drawing on her extensive corporate and coaching experience, she provides her clients with a unique and dynamic perspective that ignites transformation. Her clients praise her for her ability to drive mindset and behavioral change, help them achieve clarity and confidence in their next steps, and provide actionable strategies for work-life balance and career advancement.

Education and Personal Lifeance

Laila is a native New Yorker who values education and lifelong learning. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in English and French Studies from Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut. Her academic background, combined with her professional achievements, underscores her ability to communicate effectively and lead with both empathy and expertise.

A Vision for the Future

As a coach, leader, and advocate, Laila Keith remains committed to inspiring change and helping women break through barriers to achieve their goals. Whether through her corporate leadership, her coaching practice, or her passion for advancing DEI, Laila is a transformative figure in the world of leadership development.
Through NovaQuest Coaching, she continues to make a lasting impact, empowering her clients to conquer challenges and embrace the opportunities that lie ahead.

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Watch Laila on FDN: Coach Spotlight