Exceptional leaders don't rise alone. They rise through strategic partnership.
Welcome to Executive Coaching | Nicole Barbano
The Executive Coaching Division of Hunter Ambrose International
We provide strategic, no-fluff coaching for professionals and organizations ready to make meaningful progress.
Whether you're:
A high-performing individual seeking direct, one-on-one executive coaching
A seasoned leader navigating career change, burnout, or a new chapter
An employer developing your leadership pipeline in a rapidly changing world
This is your starting point for clarity, growth, and momentum.
In today’s complex economy, executive and corporate coaching is no longer a perk—it’s a necessity. The leaders who will thrive are those who can adapt, make clear decisions, and think beyond the next quarter. Coaching equips you or your team to lead forward with confidence, build resilience, and drive innovation that actually sticks.
Whether you’re here to explore coaching, enroll in a masterclass, or join our next Office Hours session, we’re glad you’re here.
Let’s raise the bar. Let’s get to work.
"First say to yourself what you would be; and then do what you have to do."
— Epictetus
The 4F Method is the foundation of Nicole’s coaching practice. Successful, sustainable professional growth is short-term without a 4F approach.
First, Fitness, Finances, and Family.
It’s how we align what matters personally with where you’re going professionally — so you’re not just growing, you’re thriving.
First - Putting yourself first isn’t selfish. It’s the most responsible thing you can do to show up, engage fully, and perform consistently — for your team, your family, and your future. And often, putting yourself first means doing the things we’d rather avoid: getting enough sleep, setting boundaries, organizing your environment, and taking ownership of your life instead of letting it run you over.
Fitness comes next — not as a number on a scale, but as a foundation of presence, energy, and clarity. How you move your body in the first ten minutes of your day, how you nourish it, and how you tend to your emotional health — these choices don’t just impact your health. They impact how you lead, think, and recover.
Finances come before family because you can’t be present for the people you love if you’re quietly distracted or overwhelmed by money. Most adults don’t know their basic numbers — bank balances, available credit, debt-to-income ratio, and retirement savings. That lack of clarity robs us of time, presence, and power. Financial awareness isn’t about wealth. It’s about stability, ownership, and choice. Imagine taking a trip with your family, knowing everything was saved, planned, and prepared — and knowing you won’t dread the bill when you get back. That’s peace of mind. That’s leadership at home.
And finally, Family. The people we love, raise, support, or choose — they’re the reason we show up. When your health is aligned, your finances are steady, and your focus is clear, the time you spend with your family becomes richer, deeper, and more intentional. This is what it means to lead a life on purpose.
And to achieve the professional goals you dream of, and have the determination to achieve.
Nicole’s purpose?
To create extraordinary experiences and opportunities for herself and the people she cares about. That starts here.
About Nicole Barbano
Nicole Barbano is the Founder of Hunter Ambrose International and a strategic executive coach specializing in leadership development for C-suite executives, entrepreneurs, and high-performing professionals who are scaling organizations, navigating complex decisions, and managing competing priorities.
With two decades of proven success building and divesting businesses while placing thousands of executive leaders across North America and the UK, Nicole brings unparalleled real-world experience to her coaching practice. She partners with leaders to crystallize vision, accelerate execution, and create sustainable leadership frameworks that drive both organizational performance and personal fulfillment.
Nicole's methodology integrates strategic business acumen with her signature focus on alignment, agency, and measurable outcomes. Her approach is designed for executives who demand both clarity of thought and precision in execution.
A California native, Nicole now resides in Kansas City, Missouri, with her husband and business partner. Their three grown children are successfully pursuing their own professional trajectories—a testament to the family leadership principles that inform her work.
For executives ready to elevate their strategic thinking, enhance their leadership effectiveness, and create intentional space for what matters most, Nicole provides the framework, accountability, and expertise to achieve transformational results.
Meet Nicole: Her Values and Vision
Executive Leadership Through the 4F Quadrant
Foundation & Values
Nicole's leadership philosophy is rooted in the timeless principles passed down from her Italian immigrant grandfather, who arrived from Potenza with an unwavering commitment to excellence and family legacy. His World War I photograph holds a place of honor in her office—a daily testament to the values that shaped her approach to executive development: discipline, integrity, and the understanding that true success encompasses all dimensions of life.
The tradition of Sunday dinners remains sacred in Nicole's world—not merely as family time, but as a practice in intentional leadership, meaningful dialogue, and the art of bringing people together around shared purpose.
The Entrepreneurial Launch
In June 2006, Nicole founded Hunter Ambrose International from her dining room table with 45 days' notice and three school-age children entering summer break. As a single parent in a modest San Diego apartment, she set a non-negotiable deadline: launch by summer's end. That bold decision led to immediate client success and a move to La Jolla by fall—demonstrating the power of decisive leadership under pressure.
The 4F Leadership Framework
Nicole's executive coaching centers on the 4F Quadrant methodology, recognizing that exceptional leaders must excel across four critical dimensions:
First (1F) - Professional Excellence: The foundation of executive presence and business acumen that drives organizational success. Only by putting yourself first can you serve others.
Fitness (2F) - Physical & Mental Resilience The energy and stamina required to lead at the highest levels while maintaining peak performance.
Finances (3F) - Strategic Resource Management: Financial literacy and strategic thinking are essential for sustainable business leadership and personal stability.
Family (4F) - Relationship & Life Integration: The personal relationships and life balance that provide meaning and long-term fulfillment.
Rural America Leadership Insights
Nicole's extensive work across Rural America has provided unique insights into authentic leadership and organizational values. Her experience in communities that exemplify resilience, innovation, and collaborative problem-solving informs her approach to developing leaders who can navigate complexity while staying grounded in core principles.
Communication Philosophy
Nicole's communication style reflects her commitment to clarity and respect in all interactions. She believes that ambiguous communication can be catastrophic in leadership contexts—a principle reinforced by Malcolm Gladwell's research in Outliers. Her communication filter is both simple and transformative: Is it true? Is it kind? Is it necessary?
Curiosity as Leadership Development
Central to Nicole's coaching approach is the fundamental question: Where have you been, and where are you headed? She believes that curiosity fuels innovation, challenges conventional thinking, and lays the foundation for achieving meaningful goals. Her passion for travel stories and cultural exploration reflects her understanding that diverse experiences create more effective leaders.
Seasonal Leadership Perspective
Nicole views Easter as the optimal time for executive reflection and strategic planning, offering the renewal energy of a fresh start without the pressures of traditional year-end planning. This quarterly reset approach provides leaders with multiple opportunities for recalibration and strategic course correction throughout the year.
Through the 4F Quadrant methodology, Nicole partners with executives and organizations to develop comprehensive leadership capabilities that drive both professional success and personal fulfillment.
