Dawn O. Holzer, SPHR

Dawn serves AvoLead clients as an organizational development expert, strategic thinker, change agent and executive coach. Drawing on 20 years of business acumen in the areas of leadership development, succession planning, training and organizational change, Dawn has demonstrated that she is a trusted partner, innovative leader, team player and force for driving change.

Energizing and engaging, Dawn develops relationships with her clients that are trusting, respectful and compassionate. She quickly understands complex systems and brings an insightful, practical, no-nonsense approach to meeting her clients’ business needs. Her calm but intense insight and wisdom recently resulted in a new nickname for Dawn among her partners: Yoda!

As the principal of Pathway Leadership Consulting, her clients included sales executives, engineers, account managers, information technology experts, and managers from Marketing, Technology, Security, Consumer Products Manufacturing, Higher Education, Healthcare, Financial Services and Nonprofits.

Dawn’s professional experience includes 12 years in a large multi-hospital healthcare system and five years as Assistant Vice President of Human Resource Development at a leading global financial services firm. In those positions Dawn became known for bringing a fresh focus to organizational change, succession planning, cultural alignment, talent management and leadership development.

Working with clients to design and implement strategic change in organizations is her passion. She has guided the development of a systematic, comprehensive approach to succession planning and leveraging of high potentials in several organizations. Dawn has an unwavering belief in the importance of this kind of talent management work, which is a strategic challenge for many organizations. She also enjoys work focused on shifting the culture of an organization in response to changes in the market or as a result of a merger or acquisition.

Dawn holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She continued her studies, earning a Masters in Business Administration from Pfeiffer University. In addition, Dawn holds a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) designation.

An avid learner, when Dawn is not working with clients she enjoys playing golf, reading, spending time with family and friends, travel and being outdoors. You might even find her with her head spinning while watching her daughter compete nationally in trampoline and tumbling! She, her husband Mike and their youngest of four daughters live in Greensboro, NC.

What clients say about Dawn:

“Dawn’s ability to temper direction with compassion is matched by no other. She is a tremendous leader.” –Consultant, HR & Organizational Development

“Dawn provided Business Coaching services as I entered a new role. During our six months together, Dawn enabled me to achieve peak performance by improving my business acumen, political savvy and interpersonal skills. She enabled me to discover new aspects of my abilities.” –Director of Clinical & Business Intelligence, Healthcare

“The one-on-one coaching experience was very impressive! One of the most rewarding experiences I have had in my career. It was customized to fit my needs and the results have already been noticed in my professional as well as personal environments!” -VP Risk Management, Global Financial Services Firm

“Dawn was my first formal coach. She guided me firmly, but gently, to determining where my path was leading. She is, in large part, responsible for me stepping out to do the work that I do today.” –VP Human Resources, Apparel Manufacturer

“Dawn Holzer takes the time needed to understand the specific training needs of an organization’s leadership team to enhance their training experience and meet the customer’s needs.” –Executive, Healthcare