Dina Denham Smith

Dina combines first-hand executive experience with deep expertise in organizational psychology to help leaders scale their impact, strengthen relationships, navigate complexity, and elevate team performance—while sustaining well-being for enduring success.

Dina has coached senior leaders and teams at premier brands such as Adobe, PwC, Gilead, Gap, Sephora, Goldman Sachs, Google, and Netflix; high-growth companies like Dropbox, DocuSign, and Stripe; and PE-backed start-ups shaping the world.

Clients value her perceptiveness, pragmatism, and directness, along with her ability to help them unlock powerful new ways of thinking and leading.

What Dina's clients say:

• “Dina keenly understands the dynamics and challenges inherent in executive leadership, such that her counsel and ideas were always perceptive and practical. Her combination of empathy, insight, and strategic mindset provided me with the support to scale my organization rapidly and navigate complex management challenges confidently. Thanks to her, I have realized tangible improvement in my leadership capabilities, team dynamics, and career.” — Robert Brown, CMO, Zai Labs

• “Dina seamlessly switches modes to match what her clients need for maximum impact. My work with her was key in bringing various challenges and experiences together to truly shift my mindset and transform from a high achiever into a leader. The shift has really 'stuck,' and I feel prepared to tackle what comes next.” — Alicia Llosa Chang, Partner, PwC

• “Dina helped me be bold, think big, and 'step out into the abyss' with an inspiring new vision for my organization. She reminded me that I still need to manage up, maybe even more so as an executive. Dina was an excellent executive coach who challenged me and helped me grow. I am a better leader due to her passion, discipline, and welcoming style.” — Hope Merritt, VP and GM, Intel

Prior to coaching, Dina served as EVP of a boutique private equity firm and affiliated operating company which grew sales 15x during her tenure. Dina also scaled and led a 75+ person Account Management and Professional Services organization at a digital marketing agency. She began her career as a management consultant for PwC, leading numerous teams to drive broad strategic change.

Dina was named to the Thinkers50 Radar 2026, recognizing the top 30 emerging management thinkers globally. She is the lead author of Emotionally Charged: How to Lead in the New World of Work (Oxford University Press, 2025) and has written over 70 articles on leadership for top publications like Harvard Business Review. She is frequently featured in international media outlets such as the Wall Street Journal, Business Insider, Newsweek, and the BBC.

Dina holds an MS in Industrial/Organizational Psychology, as well as an MBA with high distinction from the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan. She is a certified executive and team coach.

Originally from the East Coast, Dina now lives in the SF Bay Area with her family and two spoiled doodles. Outside of work, she is a competitive equestrian and loves to travel, ski, read, and enjoy great food and wine with her family and friends.