About

Welcome to the Extraordinary Conversations website. I’m Patrick O’Neill. I am a husband, father, grandfather, community leader, author, and coach.

Since 1988, I have worked with leaders to help them thrive and grow. I specialize in coaching people to use power in ethical ways – at work, at home and in the community. This requires self-knowledge, self-trust, empathy, and responsibility for the impact of one’s decisions on others. It also requires a compelling vision for a preferred future. I can help you with all of this.

Over the past three decades, it has been my honor to work with thousands of individuals, and hundreds of teams. My clients will tell you that this work is deep, rigorous, and transformational.

I am a truth-teller. Never with intent to do harm, but rather, to help expand your vision of what’s possible for you and for those you lead. Those who carry a commitment to continuous improvement welcome, rather than defend, against feedback.

My clients have included individuals and teams from The Boeing Company, Teva Pharmaceuticals, The Ontario Pension Board, CIBC World Markets, The Walt Disney Company, Saab, Kraft, Nestlé, Pearson, Revlon, Telus, Sony-BMG Music, as well as mid-size and smaller organizations. I have worked with religious communities going through accelerated change; in reconciliation processes in the townships of South Africa and in Canada; and in the peace process in the Middle East.

I also worked with the renowned Basque-American cultural anthropologist, Angeles Arrien, for twenty years until her death in 2014. Together, we taught the perennial wisdoms from a cross-cultural perspective to empower people with practices on leadership, well-being, visioning, and continuous learning. I continue that work through educational programs online and in person. For more information, please go to thefourdirections.com.

I am the author of two books: The Only Certain Freedom (a Globe and Mail Top Ten Business Book of 2018, and an Amazon #1 New Release) and A Hundred Chances, Short Meditations on Opportunity, Risk and Probability.  I am currently at work on a third book, The Four Chambered Heart.

My practice is focused on your growth as a person and a leader. If you feel the call to step out of your comfort zone into the next expression of personal and professional excellence, send me an email at patrick@extraordinaryconversations.com.  Let’s have an extraordinary conversation.