Life coaching has evolved into a powerful tool for both personal and professional development. In California, a state renowned for its vibrant culture of innovation and self-improvement, several life coaches stand out for their exceptional impact. From the sun-soaked beaches of Los Angeles to the bustling streets of San Francisco, these top ten life coaches are redefining success and fulfillment. With their unique blend of expertise, passion, and transformative strategies, they are guiding individuals through significant changes and empowering them to reach their fullest potential. In this article, we explore the lives and careers of these influential coaches and examine how they are reshaping personal growth and making a lasting difference in the Golden State.
1 – Tim Storey
Originally known as the Original Comeback Coach, Tim Storey stands out as a powerful thought leader in life strategy, as well as an author, speaker, and counselor who has profoundly impacted personal development. From his significant work with high-profile clients like Robert Downey Jr. and Kanye West to his efforts with underserved communities around the world, Tim has empowered millions to turn setbacks into comebacks. His influence extends to everyone, from entertainment moguls and athletes to residents of war-torn regions.
Tim’s best-selling books and dynamic presentations inspire people to develop a “Miracle Mentality,” uncovering hidden possibilities and overcoming deep-seated fears. Today, he hosts “The Daily Moment” on Reach TV, continuing to inspire millions across the country. Growing up in Compton, California, Tim’s personal experience with adversity has deeply shaped his approach and mission. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from Vanguard University and an honorary doctorate from Bethany Theological Seminary.
2 – Brendon Burchard
As a high-performance coach known worldwide, Brendon Burchard has made a significant impact with three New York Times bestsellers. Celebrated by O, The Oprah Magazine as one of the most influential leaders in personal growth and recognized by Forbes as the world’s leading high-performance coach, Brendon has revolutionized lives through his dynamic coaching and innovative online courses. After a life-changing car accident at 19, he began exploring the questions “Did I live? Did I love? Did I matter?” which inspired his mission to enhance vibrancy, connection, and meaning in people’s lives.
With over 10 million followers, his motivational tutorials and podcast, The Brendon Show, have accumulated more than 100 million downloads. Brendon is renowned for his bestselling books, including High Performance Habits and The Motivation Manifesto, and has trained over 1,000 top performance coaches globally. He is also a member of Oprah’s Super Soul 100.
3 – Susan Allan
Susan Allan is an internationally recognized Life Coach, Certified Mediator, motivational speaker, communication trainer, and author with over 25 years of experience transforming lives through creative solutions. As the founder of The Marriage Forum Inc., she utilizes Heartspace® tools to foster joyful and beneficial relationships, helping couples navigate every challenge, including addiction recovery. Her Evolution Revolution® tools are designed to turn anxiety and stress into self-generated peace, the first step to creating lifelong love.
The Divorce Forum® provides strategies for protecting family assets and encouraging cooperation. WINWINWIN© is renowned for delivering exceptional results for athletes and coaches. Susan has empowered a diverse array of clients, including CEOs, top business leaders, elite athletes, and celebrities, helping them overcome obstacles and achieve their best life results. Her commitment to positive change extends globally, offering complimentary one-hour sessions through her Solution Strategies to anyone seeking significant improvements in their lives.
4 – Lisa Nezneski
The distinguished Integrative Medicine expert is Lisa Nezneski, B.S. Pharm.D., BCPS, who seamlessly integrates traditional medicine with mindfulness practices such as meditation and alternative therapies. With over 30 years of professional experience, Lisa holds Board Certification in pharmacotherapy, Certifications in mindfulness meditation, and Shamanic Energy Healing. Throughout her career, she has excelled as a clinical pharmacist, hospital administrator, and healthcare consultant. As the author of Seven Mindful Questions and Grounded in Chaos, Dr. Nezneski highlights her deep expertise in using mindfulness to focus on what matters and change what is not working for good.
Her holistic approach combines medication with natural supplements safely through her company, Healthy Mindful Self. She earned her Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of Cincinnati and holds certifications from prestigious institutions, including Harvard Business School and Wharton University. In her role as a Clinical Professor at Duquesne University and her former position as Chief Clinical Officer, she has made substantial contributions to healthcare and mindfulness.
5 – Goldie Uttamchandani
Goldie Uttamchandani is a bilingual Life and Leadership Coach with a rich cultural heritage. Raised in Madrid and educated in the UK, Goldie’s unique background informs her coaching approach. Since 2013, she has collaborated with the Department of Education in Cataluña, initially delivering motivational talks to teenagers in public schools. Her dedication to youth leadership development has established her as a sought-after coach for teenagers, focusing on empowering them during their formative years.
Goldie’s early career in public speaking laid the groundwork for her professional coaching, and she continues to lead conferences and workshops in schools. As a Youth and Family Coach, she supports both teenagers and their parents through the complexities of adolescence, believing in the potential for personal growth during these pivotal years. In addition to her coaching practice, Goldie is a thought leader in multigenerational leadership. She co-founded the podcast Mind The Gen Gap, advocating for understanding and collaboration across generational divides within organizations.
Outside of her professional life, Goldie is a dedicated mother, drawing inspiration from her children. She enjoys running, fitness, and advocates for the preservation of the Sindhi language by creating educational videos with her kids.
6 – Carla Villanueva-Manas
Carla Villanueva-Manas, PCC, is an award-winning Executive Coach, Master Coach Trainer, and visionary leader recognized for propelling trailblazers and organizations to extraordinary success. Known for her innovative coaching methods, Carla helps clients transcend their limits, achieve transformative results, and drive exponential growth. Her holistic approach addresses behavioral, mindset, and systemic shifts to ensure sustainable change, reflecting her mission to ignite exponential positive change by empowering leaders and coaches who uplift others.
With accolades including three Best APAC Coach and Best Executive Coach awards, Carla combines her extensive C-suite experience and advanced training to support CEOs, senior executives, and business owners in enhancing their leadership and achieving lasting success. Her clients praise her for sparking innovative thinking and delivering profound insights that lead to significant breakthroughs. As both a Coach to Leaders and a Coach to Coaches, Carla excels in enhancing performance and fostering growth in senior leaders while transforming emerging and seasoned coaches into change catalysts. Her work creates a ripple effect, emphasizing the transformative power of coaching in driving significant change and leading the way to a brighter future.
7 – Susan Carabello
Susan is a transformative coach dedicated to helping women achieve abundance across all areas of their lives. Inspired by her own journey with manifestation, Susan now guides others to experience similar growth and success. She imparts the practices and principles she has successfully applied to her own life and business, teaching women to master self-love, design their lives with intention, and find happiness from within.
As a coach and motivational speaker, Susan empowers women to realize their full potential. She is the author of Beauty Behind the Veil, a memoir detailing her personal transformation from self-sabotage to becoming a powerhouse manifester. Through this book, she aims to inspire others to take control and shape their dream lives. Her second book, The Gift: A Practical Guide to Loving Yourself, Leading Yourself, and Learning the Lessons of Your Soul, is now available for pre-order on Amazon.com.
8 – J.R. Rackley, LMFT, CLC
J.R. Rackley has dedicated over 12 years to working in a Dual-Diagnosis setting, focusing on addiction recovery, trauma therapy, wellness therapy, and coaching, with a longstanding commitment to mental health. His extensive experience listening to individuals struggling with a low Sense-of-Self inspired him to create the Sense-of-Self Program.
J.R. holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a Master of Arts degree in Psychology from California Southern University. He currently serves as the Clinical Director of an outpatient program that addresses trauma, addiction, and other mental health challenges. As a Certified Cyber Therapist, J.R. possesses a deep understanding of Telehealth and the evolving landscape of virtual therapy. Passionate about his role as a Life Coach, he is dedicated to reaching and supporting as many people as possible, guiding them towards personal growth and a more empowered sense of self.
9 – Sanaz Kalantari
Sanaz Kalantari is a dedicated Life and Leadership Coach and Educator with a mission to help individuals live consciously, authentically, and energetically. Leveraging over 20 years of corporate experience with Fortune 500 companies and a decade of coaching expertise, she offers a multifaceted approach to personal leadership and high performance.
As a Certified Professional Coach (CPC) and a member of the International Coach Federation (ICF), Sanaz holds additional certifications in Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP), Integrative and Blueprint Coaching, Energy Leadership Index Master Practitioner (ELI-MP), and COR.E Dynamics Leadership from the Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching (iPEC). She is the founder of Mastering Mindset, which provides one-on-one coaching, group workshops, and virtual events in collaboration with experts in positive psychology and human behavioral sciences. Sanaz is also a strong advocate for diversity in the workplace and communities, a commitment rooted in her multicultural upbringing and experiences as a working mother navigating the global technology industry.
10 – Amy Sinton
Amy Sinton is a dedicated personal life and business coach with a passion for helping individuals achieve their goals, enhance their personal development, and find solutions to various challenges. Committed to improving careers and quality of life, Amy supports clients in becoming more empowered and reaching their full potential in their daily lives, careers, and personal and professional relationships.
With over two years of coaching certifications earned in Poland, Amy specializes in online coaching, serving clients across various countries. Fluent in English, Polish, and Russian, she leverages her multilingual skills and extensive experience in multicultural environments to connect with a diverse clientele. Her global perspective enriches her coaching practice, enabling her to offer valuable insights and support tailored to the unique needs of individuals from different backgrounds.
