Envision. Evolve. Execute.
CFIL's consultants and coaches bring over 25 years of experience in developing intentional leaders, intentional teams, and intentional cultures. We partner with you fully realize the talent, passion, and performance of your people.
Meet the Team
Mike Whitehead
Scott Cornwell
Bill Meeker
Lauren Haynes
Partner, Executive Coach, Senior Consultant
Practice Manager
Benjamin Endsley Klein
Jenna Mosteller
Director of Venue/Experience Architect
Client Experience Coordinator
Nathalia Oliveira
Tabitha Haug
Client Experience Associate
Consulting Business Manager
President, Managing Partner, Executive Coach
CEO, Founder
Susanne Deitzel
Robert Schleusner
Partner, Executive Coach, Senior Consultant
CAO, Managing Partner, Senior Consultant
The Center for Intentional Leadership was founded over 25 years ago, and its coaches and consultants bring considerable industry experience to their work developing intentional leaders, intentional teams, and intentional cultures. We leverage the core approach along with business acumen as a partner to fully realize the talent, passion, and performance of your people.
Our Vision
Mike Whitehead
As the founder and chief executive of the firm, Mike Whitehead is an advisor and guide for leaders committed to living and leading from a meaningful purpose.
Mike has worked intensively for over twenty-five years with chief executives, industry experts and political leaders, and approaches leadership, human relatedness and global impact using the lens of direct experience, curiosity and keen insight.
His practical yet challenging method of expanding perspective, increasing awareness, and building meaningful relationships has created change in thousands of lives, both personally and professionally.
Mike developed the principles of Intentional Leadership to yield meaningful and significant results for leaders and their organizations. His provides a rigorous, profound and satisfying exploration of purpose as a powerful source for exceptional results.
Clients of the firm include Fortune 100 corporations to small busines, as well as non-profit and civic organizations. Mike participates with many boards and community organizations with the aim of providing opportunity and quality of life for all including disadvantaged children and education. Mike speaks publicly on the practice of Intentional Leadership as it applies to performance, change, innovation, collaboration, purpose - and intentionality as it applies to all facets of life. For him, this includes family, his farm, basketball, and an occasional motorcycle ride.
Leaders passionate about creating an impact seek Mike’s guidance to strengthen their performance and expand their influence. In the process, they experience the radical transformation of their lives.
His conversational craft stimulates new ways of seeing, enables new ways of thinking, and creates new possibilities to enrich the quality of human life.
Often referred to as “an ordinary guy, with an extraordinary commitment,” his method of inquiry and personal parable engages people with our common human desire to make a difference with one’s life.
Scott Cornwell
Scott Cornwell serves as President and Managing Partner for the Center for Intentional Leadership. Scott has been certified as a Professional Certified Coach (PCC)awarded through the International Coaching Federation as well as a Board-CertifiedCoach (BCC) certification and received his formal Coach training and certification through the Masters in Executive Coaching program at Queens University. In addition, Scott holds a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Minnesota. His under graduate business degree is from The Citadel in Charleston, SC. He is certified in a number of executive assessment tools in support of his coaching practice. Scott is also the author of two books and a member of the Forbes Coaches Council.
Scott’s business experience, with over 25 years as a successful business leader and leadership development executive at start-ups, mid-size companies, and Fortune 500organizations brings a unique background to his coaching work with executive leaders in high growth organizations. Scott’s primary focus in executive coaching and leadership development is in working with c-suite leaders in their onboarding, in role development, and transition as executives in fast growing organizations. This work extends from the coaching of the individual to team development and ultimately partnering closely with clients to shape and impact the organizations culture.
In his past roles, Scott has served as a leadership development executive to high performing teams, led national sales organizations, built process design functions, and designed and delivered organizational development programs that created sustainable results. Scott draws on years of experience in coaching c-suite and executive leaders across multiple industries including healthcare, technology, manufacturing, financial services, and consulting. Clients have included Albemarle, AvidXchange, Barings, Bank of America, Domtar, Harris Teeter, Duke Energy, Sunbelt Rentals, and Atrium Healthcare. Specific roles have included Executive and Managing Directors, CIO, CSO, CEO, President, CLO, CAO and other various Vice President and Senior Director roles. Most importantly, Scott’s coaching focus is based on a deep commitment to helping executive clients around the globe lead remarkable organizations and live meaningful lives both inside and outside the organization. Scott is known for his intense focus on his client’s goals, understanding what values drive those goals, and helping his clients develop and succeed.
As Managing Partner and Practice Leader, Scott leads and manages the coaching and consulting capabilities of the firm including the design, development, and deployment of the proprietary Intentional Leadership Coaching process. This global coaching capability has been designed with years of experience working with executive leaders at multiple levels of the organization including the onboarding of new leaders, in-role leadership development, and the transition and succession of key executives into new roles and stages of their careers. Additionally, Intentional LeadershipCoaching provides senior Human Resource leaders visibility into the coaching process, consistency in approach when coaching multiple leaders of their firm, and impactful leadership development results linked to the strategic priorities of the firm.
Scott and his wife Kari, a second grade school teacher, have been married for over 25 years and have two daughters, Madison and Amelia. Scott has a passion for the outdoors and fitness where he enjoys golfing, long hikes, boot-camp fitness, and open water swimming.
Susanne Deitzel
Susanne is responsible for the development and evolution of the firms internal platform and practices of the firm. She joined the firm in 2006 with a background in communications and marketing, and served several publications as a writer and editor. A ghost-writer, she has worked behind the scenes to ensure the efficacy, clarity and appeal of messages for industry and civic leaders both within their organizations and the public-at-large. Over her tenure, she has been responsible for integrating the purpose, philosophy and services of the firm for its clients and associates.
A linguistics junkie and philosophy devotee, shejustifies spending much of her time reading as source inspiration for developing content and design.. She brings a concentration in communication to the Center’s programs, advising senior executives on developing genuine, clear and effective communications to their teams. Susanne co-designed many of the Center’s signature programs over the years and has a developed a special commitment to leaders who are both gifted with and challenged by deep empathy and compassion. She is passionate about discovering the intersections between business strategy, design thinking, language and platform development and the operations of CFIL’s deeply committed and creative consultancy.
Susanne raised her two adult children as free thinkers and free spirits, who are doing an amazing job creating their own space in the world. After deciding in 2018 to get “back to the country” she spends much of her time walking with her black lab in the woods or in the pastures of her home in Rock Hill, SC. Like her colleagues, she has a strong commitment to what might make the world a better place and spends the better part of her waking hours doing her best to bring those ideas to fruition.
Bill Meeker
Bill joins as Senior Consultant and Executive Coach bringing 28 years of experience with a track record of success in senior roles of increasing responsibility in complex, global environments. His career has spanned a variety of industries including small manufacturing, heavy industrials, distribution, industrial services and financial services sectors. As a formal coach to executives over the years, he has built enduring, confidential relationships and is known for his business acumen, candor and focus on high-performance leadership.
Bill has developed a deep expertise in leading large-scale organizational change on a global basis. He has served as a Chief Human Resources Officer under a private equity owned business where he focused on organizational transformation including structure, culture, employment brand, talent, change management and engagement. As the head of talent and learning for a Fortune 500 company, with operations in 60 countries, he had responsibility for the global talent strategy, including global talent acquisition, learning and leadership development, succession management, engagement strategy, performance management processes, assessments and career management. He was recognized by the Board of Directors for leading a progressive company talent roadmap and a successful competency rollout. For one of the world’s largest financial services companies, he led enterprise leadership development programs, had responsibility for strategic leadership for management development and supported C-Suite development offerings for the CEO. His experience at leading change at this size and scale allows him to understand the pressures executives face.
Bill’s corporate work experience has afforded him the opportunity to work in over 30 non-U.S. countries leading to a deep understanding of leadership development in culturally diverse settings. He has been an active champion of diversity and inclusion, receiving recognition for his leadership efforts particularly as a National Society for Black Engineering (NSBE) Conference speaker and recruiter, a Society for Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) recruiter, Women’s Network speaker and Men Advocating Real Change (MARC) speaker.
Bill holds a Bachelor’s in Business Administration (BBA) from Western Connecticut State University and a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) from University of North Carolina, Wilmington. He has been a corporate faculty member and certified in adult teaching methods, a certified trainer for facilitation, coaching and behavior-based interviewing content and in a number of assessment tools (Lominger, MBTI, Hogan, Behavior-Based Interviewing). He holds his Associate Certified Coach (ACC) credential through Intentional Coaching Federation (ICF)
Bill and his wife Suzanne have been married for 26 years and have a son, Will, and a daughter, Sierra who are active young adults. He has summited Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest mountain, is a five-time marathon runner, and triathlete and has an interest in helping others achieve both their professional and wellness goals. When he is not playing pickleball, cycling or spending time soaking up the outdoors with his family, he is helping leaders find their best self. Whatever the charter, Bill is known for bringing his energy, enthusiasm, and collaborative style to address needs and customize solutions based on the unique culture of the organization.
Robert Schleusner
Robert serves as an executive coach and senior consultant for the Center for Intentional Leadership. Robert earned his Executive Certificate in Leadership Coaching from Georgetown’s School of Continuing Studies. Robert holds an MBA from New York University’s Stern School of Business and a Bachelor of Science in Finance from the University of Alabama.
Prior to joining CFIL, Robert served as a business leader for 24 years at Bank of America. As a member of the firm’s Management Committee, Robert led the 3500+ person global Wholesale Credit organization with annual revenue of more than $6BN. His team was responsible for underwriting and monitoring credit to the firm’s Global Banking & Markets, Private Bank, and Merrill Lynch Wealth Management clients. Prior to this appointment in 2015, he spent 18 years in Global Capital Markets, the last four of which were spent as head of the Global Leveraged Finance organization, a $1.5BN annual revenue business.
Robert recognized the value of the executive coaching he and his team received and this served as a catalyst for his next career. Robert is committed to bringing his business experience together with his education in coaching to benefit clients in a way that helps them unlock their potential and lead authentic lives both inside and outside their professional environment. He brings a holistic approach to his coaching engagements and wishes to serve as a LIGHT on his client’s path. Robert’s current and former clients include the Charlotte United Way, SteelFab, Barings and Training the Street.
In the Charlotte community, Robert spent six years on the board of directors at Charlotte Latin School, an independent, K-12, day school. He currently serves on the board of F3 Nation, a national organization whose mission is to plant, grow and serve small men’s workout groups for the invigoration of male community leadership. He also serves as the President of the F3 Foundation. Robert is a mentor within several organizations and currently serves on the strategic steering committee for Christ Episcopal Church. In conjunction with prior roles, he served on the board of the Loan Syndications and Trading Association.
Lauren Haynes
Lauren has a combination of grace, purpose and an impeccable commitment to excellence to her role as practice manager. Prior to joining our team, Lauren worked in Atlanta non-profits where she was responsible for program development, project management and educational outreach. She also spent two years in South Korea teaching students English as their second language. During her time abroad, she traveled extensively across East and Southeast Asia contributing to her deep curiosity and fulfillment in diverse cultural experiences.
Lauren has a degree from the Georgia Institute of Technology. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, hiking, exploring new cuisines and spending time with family and friends.
Jenna Mosteller
A former educator, Jenna is the newest associate on the CFIL team and serves as a client experience manager. In her role, she aids in the delivery and execution of coaching and consulting for firm partners, as well as managing the considerable daily management of client services. Jenna brings a full heart and kindness to CFIL clients.
She graduated from the University of at Charlotte, enjoys spending time with friends and family and the seasonal attendance at local Renaissance fairs.
Benjamin Endsley Klein
Ben brings an astute sense of creativity, aesthetic, and organization to the workings of Whitehead Manor Conference Center, the home of the Center for Intentional Leadership.
A broadway director, Ben, his wife, Stephanie (a talented former actress and now talented executive chef), and their young son, Oscar, breathe life, purpose and playfulness into the workings of space and place. Ben has harnessed and leveraged his unique insight and skill set into becoming a modern-day major-domo to Whitehead Manor as well as impeccably choreographing the design, logistics, hospitality and services of his workplace.
Trusted Partners
Our business processes support our methodology to ensure continuity, consistency and confidentiality, while providing room for adjustment, agility and alignment to stakeholder needs.
