Human Intelligence is the Competitive Advantage

"Knowing others is intelligence; knowing yourself is true wisdom. Mastering others is strength; mastering yourself is true power."

- Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching, circa 400 BCE

My name is Alvin Chan. I'm an executive advisory coach and leadership consultant for professionals who are serious about performing at their best, no matter the circumstances.

As the world grows more complex, great leadership demands more of us. I specialize in the interpersonal and mental skills that are at the core of human intelligence: power & influence, judgement, adaptability, and self-mastery.

Below are some short previews of client results. Full versions and more can be found -> here

 

  • “Alvin has been a significant influence on me and my leadership team - driving sharper thinking, greater adaptability, and stronger personal effectiveness ... More than a coach, Alvin has proven to also be an effective thinking partner at the C-Suite level. His unique perspectives have helped with our ability to address complex challenges, and he’s become a trusted partner in our ongoing development."

    Launi Skinner, Chief Executive Officer - Tru Cooperative Bank

  • "Alvin’s coaching and methodologies have helped me become a more effective leader and more importantly, a better person ... After just a few sessions, I became a significantly better communicator and collaborator in professional and personal life. The growth has been crucial to my role as Innovation Director as it helped me earn the trust and confidence of the individuals and teams I work with."

    Anton Ricafort, Director of Innovation-Americas - ACCIONA / SiteNews 40 Under 40 Award Winner

  • “Alvin has been an incredible partner on my journey to peak performance. His coaching and guidance have helped me build my confidence and reach new heights... Alvin has shown me that confidence and peak performance comes from being present and not letting negative emotions dictate my actions. I am deeply thankful for the impact he’s had on my life."

    Sarah Sakurai - Champion Bodybuilder, IBJJF Jiu Jitsu Black Belt Instructor

  • “Alvin is among the most skillful facilitators we have engaged for our leadership programs at the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade. His ability to translate complex ideas into practical, actionable insights distinguishes him both as a thought leader and an educator... Alvin’s expertise in the core human skills that leaders must develop - judgement, influence, self-mastery, and adaptability - is both timely and essential."

    Rosine Hage-Moussa, Director of Events and Programs - Greater Vancouver Board of Trade

  • "Alvin not only coaches skillfully with effective models and insightful questions; he also draws from many sources of knowledge and timeless wisdom. He shared ideas that truly resonated with me and prompted deeper personal reflection. Our work together led to significant progress toward my goals in a short period of time. I have never experienced such impactful coaching!"

    Liz Bailey-Connor, Chief People & Culture Officer, Board of Directors Member

  • “Working with Alvin has changed my life. He has helped me take on a greater workload and balance that with a healthy personal life at the same time ... He also worked with me on tackling a lifelong struggle. He challenged the way I was thinking about it and offered me the skills and support to make incredible advances."

    Liam Maclure, Community Engagement Manager - The Canadian Mental Health Association

  • "Alvin's contributions have been instrumental in transforming our approach to leadership and personal effectiveness. Through his consulting and coaching, we have gained deeper self-awareness and acquired practical new skills that have resulted in substantial improvements in both team engagement and business outcomes. The increased clarity and self-mastery we've achieved led to better decision making, which in turn, has led to remarkable results."

    Mimi Vanderwalt, Director - TELUS Corporation

  • “As a masterful facilitator, Alvin creates an environment where participants feel safe and open to exploring meaningful personal growth ... Through our work with Alvin, we’ve become more adaptable, focused, and effective. The combination of one-on-one coaching and group sessions has driven measurable performance improvements ... I’m grateful for the lasting impact our ongoing relationship is having on me and my team.”

    Willow Mack, Senior Vice President - Ziff Davis / Moz

  • “Alvin’s coaching led to personal insights, motivation, and actions that resulted in reaching my major business milestones. Understanding what beliefs and habits were hindering my success has been so valuable. Getting coached on how to notice and get past these obstacles has led to accomplishing my professional goals even faster than I planned!"

    Alexandra Nguyen, Founder - The Pawsitive Collection

  • "My work with Alvin has had a profoundly beneficial effect across my personal and professional life ... I often share his pragmatic insights with others. I’m grateful for his support and look forward to our continued work together."

    Michael McCarthy, Founder / CEO, Board Director

  • "One of the most powerful parts of working with Alvin is how he helps me turn my goals into thoughtful, actionable steps and keeps me on track with supportive collaboration ... I am no longer held back. I’m taking action with clarity and courage, and I’m already seeing the results in my career. I can’t recommend Alvin enough. His support has been invaluable, and I’m excited to keep working together to build on this success."

    Chrystina Mitchell, Senior Manager, Process Development - STEMCELL Technologies

Beyond Conventional Coaching