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RALEIGH, N.C. — September 28, 2026 — The Center for Leadership Studies (CLS) has announced a new partnership with 7 Paths Forward, a leadership development and executive coaching organization led by David Goldsmith, Founder and CEO. A co-founder of the International Coaching Federation (ICF), Goldsmith was named to Thinkers50’s Coaches50 list of the world’s top executive coaches in 2025 and 2026. Together, CLS and 7 Paths Forward will deliver an integrated learning experience that combines Situational Leadership® training with personalized coaching support to accelerate skill application, strengthen accountability and drive lasting behavior change.
The new offering combines CLS’s research-backed learning curriculum with 7 Paths Forward’s global coaching community to help organizations bridge the gap between learning and execution. Participants receive tailored coaching from professionals who are trained and certified in the same leadership concepts introduced during the learning experience. This alignment creates a continuous development journey that reinforces classroom learning and helps individuals apply new skills in real-world situations with greater confidence and effectiveness.
“Organizations want more than knowledge transfer. They want learning that translates into meaningful action and measurable growth,” said Chris Shriver, Chief Revenue Officer at CLS. “By bringing leadership development and coaching together in a single experience, we’re helping learners accelerate and sustain development long after the classroom experience ends and supporting organizations in achieving greater returns from their development investments.”
While many coaching solutions operate separately from training initiatives, the CLS and 7 Paths Forward approach is intentionally designed to create continuity. Coaches leverage a shared understanding of the Situational Leadership® framework, enabling conversations that directly reinforce the skills, language and behaviors introduced during training.
“Coaching creates the greatest value when it builds on a shared foundation,” said David Goldsmith, Founder and CEO of 7 Paths Forward. “When coaches understand the curriculum and the outcomes an organization is working toward, they can help learners engage with the material more deeply and connect those concepts to the challenges they face every day.”
The partnership combines the strengths of both organizations to create a more complete leadership development experience. Participants benefit from personalized coaching that helps them address real workplace situations in a confidential setting, while organizations gain greater visibility into common leadership challenges and broad development trends through aggregated coaching insights that can help inform future learning investments.
For more information about The Center for Leadership Studies and this new partnership, visit situational.com.
At The Center for Leadership Studies (CLS), we are committed to enabling leaders at all levels to achieve their highest potential through innovative, impactful leadership training that is grounded in research and application. As the global home of the Situational Leadership® Model, the most successful and widely adopted leadership model available, our award-winning solutions and coaching services enable leaders to engage in effective performance conversations that build trust, increase productivity and drive behavior change.
Media Contact – Julia Pope, Director of Marketing – julia.pope@situational.com
7 Paths Forward is a leadership development and executive coaching firm founded by coaching pioneers David Goldsmith and David Peterson. Through a global community of experienced coaches and practitioners, 7 Paths Forward partners with leaders, teams, and organizations. The firm designs bespoke solutions for clients ranging from high-growth startups to global enterprises across technology, healthcare, finance, and media, elevating leaders and amplifying impact. Learn more at www.7pathsforward.com.
Media Contact – info@7pathsforward.com
