Nick DeStefano
360-degree Assessment
For 15 years, Nick has worked with leaders, teams, and organizations seeking to strengthen engagement, build confidence, and create cultures where people feel valued and perform at their best. His leadership perspective and coaching have been shaped through his work in both healthcare and higher education.
As a Gallup Certified CliftonStrengths Coach (formerly StrengthsFinder), his work is grounded in positive psychology. He loves helping individuals discover their natural talents and strengthen them for both individual and team success. As Don Clifton once said, “Imagine what would happen if we stopped looking at what is wrong with people and instead focused on what’s going right.” Nick brings this focus to every client he gets to work with in both coaching and professional development
To Nick, leadership is not about the titles we hold but rather the choices we make. This grounding belief is what led him to become a trained Leadership Practices Inventory (LPI360) Coach. This 360 assessment and coaching session helps leaders see how often others experience their leadership behaviors. Based on 40+ years of leadership research, Nick uses the LPI360 to help leaders turn intention into daily behavior, especially in moments that matter most. This allows leaders to strengthen trust, accountability, and team performance over time.
Outside of coaching, Nick specializes in leadership development, team engagement, and experiential learning for organizations and teams. As a keynote speaker and leadership consultant, he helps others lead with clarity, connection, and kindness. Why? Because ultimately, he just wants to make the world and your team a little kinder, because everyone deserves the leader they GET TO follow, not the one they HAVE TO.
On a Personal Note
Originally from Maryland, Nick DeStefano now lives in Myrtle Beach with his college sweetheart, Megan. They first met at a small college in Dallas….
PA, the spacing was intentional 😛 Megan and Nick are proud parents to two amazing, inspiring, and energetic young boys, Calvin & Cooper. CAL is on the autism spectrum, and Coop is just like his dad, full of ADHD energy and passion…and Megan is a saint! The neurodivergence in their family has taught Nick more about leadership and kindness than any book or job ever could. He’s even named his consulting business, Chasing the Awesome Life, after CAL to remind himself and others that we all have the potential to lead.
Outside of his professional work, Nick enjoys training for endurance events, spending time outdoors, and making meaningful memories with his family. Whether it is a long run, time at the beach, or a simple moment at home, he values experiences that build connection and perspective. At the heart of Nick’s work is a personal mission to help create one million kind leaders. His approach to leadership is shaped not just by research and experience, but by a deep belief that how we lead at work carries into how we show up at home, in our communities, and in the moments that matter most.
Core Values
> Curiosity
> Courage
> Kindness
> Love
> Joy
Favorites
Color: Orange, Go Orioles
Sport: Baseball, playing it or watching it with my boys
Book: The Power of Mattering, Zach Mercurio
Children’s Book: The Giving Tree
Musician: Jimmy Buffett
Guilty Pleasure Song: Anything Celine Dion
Pen: Sharpie s-gel
Author: Ryan Holiday
Hobby: Running or hanging at the beach with the family.
Quote: “If you don’t like something, try to change it, if you can’t change it, change your mind about it.” ~ Maya Angelou
Food: i Love pizza…sadly, it doesn’t love me back #Cheesedisease #ItDoesntStopMe