Clear Path Coaching and Consulting

I help small business owners who are great at their craft but feel overwhelmed as their business grows. When you go from doing the work you love to managing a team and navigating the complexities of a growing business, it’s easy to lose control. I guide business owners to build a clear plan that brings everything into focus. With a solid foundation and a team aligned with your vision, you’ll stop feeling like you’re putting out fires and start leading confidently—knowing exactly where your business is headed.

President & Chief Executive Coach

Executive Evolution Podcast

Host of the Executive Evolution podcast. Sharing the lessons learned by successful leaders to educate the next generation of leadership. So many leaders learned lessons the hard way. I created this podcast so you don't have to.

Host

Q & A on Breakthrough Leadership

Co Host

Butler University

Work with students in the MBA Program at Butler University Lacy School of Business. Focus is to supplement and personalize in-class learning, help to sustain positive change, and support new ways of thinking about situations. Additionally, I support student implementation of the MBA 510 LDP, participate in class as requested by the professor, and support Butler's leadership competencies.

MBA Program Executive Coach

Student Connections

Launched a wholly-owned subsidiary of Strada Education Network. Led a growing team of professionals and call center staff on the journey from startup to sale. Increased revenue by 900% in three years and grew the team from 25 to 70 employees. The company was named aTop Workplace in Indianapolis.

President

Strada Education Network (formerly USA Funds)

Senior Vice President, Business Development

Common Sense Student Loans

Providing consulting services to the higher education industry and serving as a guide for families negotiating the college financial aid process. Writing on student loan issues at www.commonsensestudentloans.com

Principal

JPMorgan Chase

Served as Senior Vice President – Sales, Customer Support, and Servicer Management for Chase Student Loans, a provider of  Private consumer loans to college and university students. Lead an organization of 65 in supporting sales, customer support, communications, and vendor management. Report directly to President, Student Loans with charter to analyze operations and make/execute data-driven decisions targeting reduced costs and increased efficiency for organization.

Senior Vice President

Served as Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing with responsibilities for Affinity and Branch Sales teams, e-Commerce and International Student Loan Business, in addition to Campus Sales. Managed and built performance-based culture for all units.

Senior Vice President, National Sales and Marketing

ELM Resources

Served as Board Member in a variety of roles including one year as Vice Chairman.

Member, Board of Directors

Consumer Bankers Association Education Funding Committee

Served as member of the CBA Education Funding Committee representing JP Morgan Chase.

Committee Member

I equip accidental leaders with the leadership confidence, team-building expertise, and business acumen they need to build successful companies - No MBA required.

Your business is growing. But leading it doesn’t always feel clear, calm, or in control.

I work with small business owners and nonprofit leaders who are great at what they do, but never planned to become “the boss.” As their teams grow, so do the challenges they face. That’s where I come in.

I coach leaders who feel stuck in the weeds, pulled in every direction, or unsure how to lead at the next level. I help them shift from reacting to leading with intention.

My approach is simple. I provide clear frameworks that simplify planning, communication, and leadership development. These tools help you focus on what matters, delegate what doesn’t, and build a business that works without creating more work for you.

What’s it like to work with me?

I listen closely. I ask tough, honest questions. I bring structure without rigidity, and I create a space where you can be real about what’s working and what’s not. I’ve walked in your shoes and bring over 25 years of business and leadership experience to help you stay focused and follow through.

You don’t need a complicated playbook. You need a simple plan, strong habits, and a leadership mindset that matches the business you’re building.

That’s what I help you create.

If you’re ready to stop leading by instinct and start leading by design, send me a message here on LinkedIn or go to my website www.clearpathcoaches.com.

Craig P. Anderson

A client told me this year, “Craig, if you ever quit coaching, I’d hire you tomorrow.” 

But I’m not quitting. Because here’s what leaders like you accomplished in 2025:

⭐ A great operator who kept missing on interviews landed the leadership role he’d chased for years. We turned a list of stories into a tight narrative and prep plan he could deliver under pressure.

⭐ A newly promoted senior leader did a fast “tune-up” on vision, communication, and building alignment. His team now moves faster with less rework and clearer ownership.

⭐ An Executive Director navigated a long-tenured employee’s decline. We built a fair, respectful path that protected the mission and the culture.

This work matters because leaders shouldn’t need complex playbooks to earn credibility, align people, and finish important work. You need a simple plan, visible momentum, and a team that owns outcomes. 

So, yeah, I’m not ready to go back to work for someone, because this work is too important.

Where do you want to improve first in 2026: decisions, delegation, or communication? Comment with one word.

Executive Coach & Speaker for C-Suite and Senior Leaders | From Reactive To Focused | Strategic Planning, Delegation, Team Alignment | New Role & Expanded Scope Transitions | Executive Evolution Podcast Host

Executive coaching is not a penalty box for failing leaders.

Most of the executives I meet are not failing.
You are working hard. You care. You are just tired of sorting through everyone else’s agenda.

That is where coaching comes in.
You get one voice whose only job is your success.
No politics. No hidden agenda. No one to impress.

In this short video, I talk about why coaching is not about “fixing” you. It is about helping you:

•	Get clear on what success looks like for you
•	Cut through the noise and make better decisions
•	Build a path that matches your goals and your values

If you are ready for that kind of partnership, let’s talk.

Schedule an Executive Strategy Call and we will map out your next 90 days of focused leadership work together. Link in the first comment.

Coaching should not make you dependent on your coach
A lot of leaders think coaching is about getting answers.

“Tell me what to do. Fix this problem. Solve my team.”

Good coaching does something very different. It trains you to trust your own judgment.

Over time, coaching should help you:

- See your patterns with more honesty
- Make clearer decisions under pressure
- Have the tough conversations you keep avoiding
- Lead your team with confidence, not second-guessing

My job as a coach is not to sit on your shoulder forever like Jiminy Cricket. 

My job is to help you build the skills and self-awareness to lead well when I am not in the room.

As you think about your 2026 goals, ask yourself: "Where do I need to rely on myself more as a leader?"

Tell me your answer in the comments.

#leadershipcoaching #executivecoach #businessowner #selfawareness

Needing a leadership coach does not mean you are failing. It usually means you are finally serious about growing.

The crazy thing about being a leader is that you're constantly surrounded by people, yet you can still feel isolated and alone. Everyone who comes to you has some agenda. 

A leadership coach can be the one person in your career whose only interest is your success. The person who helps you get to clarity, stay focused on your goals, and keep you focused on what's important.

My coach is invaluable to me. They help me with perspective, build my self-awareness, and ask me the right questions.

As you enter 2026, think seriously about connecting with a coach. You'll be amazed by the results.

#ExecutiveCoaching #LeadershipDevelopment #ProfessionalGrowth #LeadershipCoaching #LeadWithPurpose

Stop trying to “finish 2025 strong.” Start building a stronger 2026.

There are five weeks left in 2025. One or two vanish to holidays. The question isn’t “How do I finish 2025?” It’s “How do I launch into 2026?”

Early in my leadership career, I’d hit this season and feel regret. Goals missed. Issues unresolved. (And then I'd make myself crazy trying to cram it all in. )

Why? Too often I lacked the courage, confidence, or leadership skills to make the moves that mattered.

The truth? I needed more confidence, better focus, and better leadership skills.

So I got serious.

I found mentors. I studied. I practiced.
I added real accountability with peers I trusted.

What changed?

- I had the tough conversations I’d been avoiding.
- I watched the leading indicators and stepped in sooner.
- I still made mistakes, but progress beat perfection. My career moved.

Want 2026 to be your leadership year? Join me live:
Wednesday, December 10, 12:00–1:00 p.m. ET.
Comment “Invite” or DM me “Invite” and I’ll send the details.

Stay Focused

#leadership #smallbusiness #management

“I don’t need 1:1s. I talk to my team every day.”

That sounds true. It’s not.

I worked with a leadership team drowning in meetings. Busy all day. Not enough done. The problem wasn’t effort. It was lack of focus.

A real 1:1 isn’t casual chatter. It’s a weekly coaching ritual. Fifteen to twenty minutes. Same agenda. Clear commitments. You give clarity on what matters and real-time feedback on how they’re doing.

Run this 1:1:

- Review the team’s top priorities.
- Confirm their personal priorities that drive those goals.
- Discuss one growth move: skill, system, or relationship.

It’s not about “checking in.” It’s about moving forward. The right work gets done. Alignment holds. People grow.

Would you like my 1:1 agenda and notes template? Let me know in the comments.

Stay Focused

#leadership #management #peopledevelopment

One of the things that held me back the most as a leader was that I wanted to be liked. And because I wanted to be liked, I didn't want to give anything other than positive feedback. If you did something wrong, I had a great strategy - I ignored it and hoped they'd figure it out.

<Narrator: They never figured it out.>

What I needed was a way to give feedback without it feeling like I was breaking a relationship. And after a lot of reading and coaching, I developed a feedback strategy. 

Check out this week's Executive Evolution newsletter to learn more.

#Leadership #PeopleManagement #ExecutiveEvolution #Feedback

Leaders don’t avoid feedback because they don’t care. They avoid it because it feels like conflict. But what if feedback wasn’t a confrontation at all

Open article: Treat Feedback As A Service, Not A Showdown by Craig P. Anderson • 2 min read

Treat Feedback As A Service, Not A Showdown

Before you talk to the team, get clear in your own head. 

When you have a clear and concise vision and three financial priorities defined, your team will run more smoothly. 

Those priorities will drive your meetings, feed your delegation, and save your calendar. 

Want to know more? Join me on December 10, registration details in the comments.

Leaders do not miss Q1 because of talent. They miss it to drift. If you are second-guessing under pressure or losing time to rework, this week’s Executive Evolution shows how to set execution-ready priorities your team can follow.

In the article:

 • What “execution-ready” priorities look like
 • A simple filter to choose what matters for Q1
 • How to make the plan visible and run a light cadence that gets work done

Live session next week: Stop the Drift: Set Three Priorities and Build Accountability for Q1 2026 Wednesday, December 10, at noon Eastern. In 45 minut

Open article: Decide with confidence under pressure: stop the drift before January. by Craig P. Anderson • 2 min read

Decide with confidence under pressure: stop the drift before January.

Most leaders say they will get serious about growth "next year."
Then January hits, the calendar fills, and nothing really changes.

If you want to lead differently in 2026, the next 6 weeks matter.

You do not need a big reinvention. You need a short, focused season of practice on the right skills:

✅ Self-awareness
✅ Difficult conversations
✅ Planning and focus
✅ Decisive action
✅ Feedback habits

If you build these skills now, your 2026 self will walk into the year calmer, clearer, and more confident.

Start building the leader you want to be today. Successful leaders do not wait for the calendar to save them.

Which of these five skills will your future self thank you for practicing first?

#leadership #executiveleadership #smallbusinessowner #leadershipdevelopment

Your 2026 Leadership Success Starts Now!

It’s not too late to align your business for 2026. But you have to start now.
In organizations under 100 people, the biggest drag on results is misalignment. 

✅ Too many priorities. 
✅ No clear owners. 
✅ Confusing meetings.

The result? Decisions stall, the wrong work gets done, and goals get missed.
If that sounds familiar, here’s how to fix it in December:

Pick a short list of Q1 priorities. Make each measurable with a number and a date.

🎯 Assign one owner per priority. No co-ownership.
🎯 Use a simple meeting rhythm to stay aligned and accountable.
🎯 Hold positive, forward-looking conversations about delegation and accountability.

Do this, and you’ll hit goals faster, finish projects on time, and help your team feel what success looks like.

Want help applying this now?

I’m teaching a live webinar on Wednesday, December 10: simple tools to align your team and set up a strong 2026. You’ll leave with actions you can take in December.

Details and registration link in the first comment.

Many leaders are just starting to think about 2026.

If you had to pick one area to grow in over the next few months, which would move the needle most for you as a leader?

Vote, then drop a comment with one specific situation where this shows up for you. Your future self will be glad you named it.

#leadership #executiveleadership #smallbusinessleaders #leadershipdevelopment

Which leadership skill will matter most for your 2026 goals?

Higher Education Servicing Corporation

Controller / Treasurer

Controller/Director of Accounting

AT&T

International Controllers (January 2012 to present). - Primarily responsible for intercompany billing processes: journalizing activity, account analysis & reconciliation of balances, analysis of relationships & investigation of out-of-balances, settlement of intercompany account balances. Also responsible for Hyperion inputs, promotion, & monthly / quarterly reporting package preparation.

Also coordination of Treasury-function related accounts (i.e., cash, external debt, intercompany debt, etc) and the reconciliation & analysis of these accounts, also cashbook journalization & investigation for general ledger postings of bank account activity.

Lead Accountant, International Controllers

Domestic Controllers (April 2001 to December 2011).

Speciaizing in intercompany & affiliate transfer accounting, reporting, & analysis:
Primarily responsible for intercompany accounts: analysis & reconciliation of balances, analysis of relationships & investigation of out-of-balances, settlement of intercompany account balances. 
Also responsible for Treasury-function related accounts (i.e., cash, external debt, intercompany debt, etc) and the reconciliation & analysis of these accounts, also cashbook journalization to post to the general ledger all bank account activity.

Senior Specialist, Legacy AT&T Parent Company (January 2005 to September 2007). 
Primarily responsible for preparing results analysis reports for Income Statement, Balance Sheet, and Cash Flow Statement to transmit to Corporate Consolidations Group during each bookclose cycle on monthly, quarterly, and annual basis.
Results analysis reports include schedules that become part of the 10-Q and 10-K filing with the SEC for AT&T as well as monthly variance schedules for balance sheet and income statement accounts from Hyperion and Oracle financial application systems.
Leadership roles in: 
 Processing of journal entries and reconciliation of entries in conjunction with spin-off of AT&T Broadband unit in November 2002, resulting in net gain on disposal of $33.0 billion;
 Provided schedules and reconciliations to external auditors on quarterly basis; specifically, the audit teams that reviewed employee benefit-related balance sheet accounts and Legacy AT&T Parent Company’s financial statements in total; and, 
 Processing of journal entries and reconciliation of entries in conjunction with merger of AT&T into SBC Communications (immediately rebranded as "at&t") for the period of November 2005 through August 2006.

Lead Accountant, Domestic Corp

Penguin Group USA

Processed journal entries, month-end account reconciliations and analyses.  Prepared month-end reports of days sales outstanding, key performance indicators, and cash balancing.  Investigated open balances on accounts for reclass entries and corrections in both general ledger and accounts receivable subledger.
Worked with Director of Accounts Receivable on validation of custom-designed Access database (a.k.a. CCMS), designing of new refund processing and verification procedures, and updating subledger transaction processing.

Cash & Financial Reporting Manager

Medic One

Maintained cash management models and banking relationships.  Processed month closing, consolidating spreadsheets and eliminations; and processed submissions to primary financial institution.  Performed quarterly updates of depreciation, amortization, long-term payables, current payables, and insurance expense by location for adjustments and preliminary balance sheet reconciliations in anticipation of year-end audit.  Prepared final balance sheet account reconciliations with backup documentation and additional information as needed for external auditors at year-end.
Additional projects undertaken: reorganized permanent files to centralized location (i.e. – leases, notes payable, cancelled checks, and prior fiscal year workpapers); revised and unified the chart of accounts for 13 general ledgers; and updated bank usage (i.e. – file new signature cards, close inactive accounts, consolidate credit card processing).

Corporate Controller

Stout Industries

Performed all accounting functions for A/R, A/P, and G/L and maintained all records, including preparation of year- and month-end financial statements, processing and issuing payment on payables, analyzing and collecting receivables, preparing and recording payroll.  Advised President on financial matters (i.e. – financing proposals, monthly and annual financial statement analysis).

Controller / Accountant

Balance sheet accounting, consolidations, and intercompany/affiliate billing & balancing. Creator of budgets for multiple entities and confirmation of purchases against budgets as well as checking actuals against budget.

Specialties: Treasury accounts (cash, debt, etc) and intercompany/affiliate crosscharge processes

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Denise Dunn-Trakshel, CPA,

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