Biography
I’m a leadership coach, management consultant, and former founder passionate about helping leaders grow and lead with purpose, creativity, and courage. I hold a PhD in industrial-organizational psychology and have completed 200 hours of ICF-accredited coach training from Co-Active Training Institute.
📝 My Story
After 15 years co-founding, building, and leading companies in the fast-moving media and retail industries, I made a bold, purposeful move, changing mid-career to pursue a PhD in industrial-organizational psychology at 40.
That leap took courage — and it gave me a deep understanding of what it means to reinvent yourself, navigate change, and grow through uncertainty. I know firsthand the highs and lows of leadership in disrupted industries and the “identity work” required when making big shifts in life and work.
Today, I draw on that lived experience — and evidence-based tools — to help leaders and teams unlock their potential and lead with courage and creativity.
At CMA Global, I partner with leaders across industries to:
- Develop leadership skills and self-awareness through tailored coaching
- Use pre-hire assessments to make smarter hiring decisions
- Surface, clarify, and embed core values to shape culture
- Build authentic, trust-based teams
- Drive organizational development and alignment
🔄 My Career Pivot
Earlier in my career, I co-founded and co-led ALIVE Media Group, a publishing and events company. Over 15 years, I wore many hats—building the team, developing operations, co-leading ALIVE Magazine and EQ, and producing large-scale events. It was a time of growth, experimentation, and the kind of chaos that makes work both meaningful and memorable — a lot like consulting.
What stuck with me most was mentoring emerging talent and contributing to St. Louis’ vibrant business and cultural scene. We did great work—and also made our share of leadership mistakes. Those hard-won lessons deepened my passion for helping others grow into the leaders they’re meant to be.
🤝Let's Connect
If you're navigating a transition, building a stronger team, or working to shape company culture, I’d love to support you. I bring psychological insight and real-world leadership experience to help you lead with creativity, purpose, and impact.
Join me on Substack here: https://substack.com/@kellyhamiltonphd
🌱 Beyond Work
I give my time and resources to organizations committed to equality, am a sporadic creative writer and budding cartoonist, and try to keep a few pandemic-era hobbies alive while giving myself lots of room to fail—currently failing forward at outdoor gardening (there’s always next year).