David B. Sarnoff, Esq., ACC

Meet David Sarnoff

David B. Sarnoff, Esq., ACC is an ICF Certified Executive Coach, leadership trainer, and co-author of Beyond the Courtroom (PLI Press, with Natalie Loeb). Drawing on an unusually diverse career as a practicing attorney, executive search consultant, business owner, and Board of Education president, David brings a rare combination of real-world experience and coaching expertise to the leaders and organizations he serves.

David works with attorneys, corporate executives, directors, managers, and individual contributors to elevate professional performance, emotional intelligence, leadership potential, and team effectiveness. He specializes in helping high potentials and high performers develop sharper self-awareness, stronger soft skills, and a deeper understanding of how their words and actions shape those around them.

Empathy, inclusion, and allyship are central threads throughout his work. He is also a frequent speaker and workshop facilitator at conferences and webinars on topics including emotional intelligence, giving and receiving feedback, time management, boundary-setting, generational dynamics, mentorship, and allyship. David's commitment to equity and inclusion extends beyond the coaching room.

In September 2020, he was appointed to the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee of the New York City Bar Association, and in September 2022, he was elevated to Co-Chair for a two-year term. He is also an Adjunct Instructor at iCoach Global (formerly iCoach New York), a professional coaching program affiliated with the Zicklin School of Business at Baruch College. He is also an alumnus of the iCoach program. Beyond his coaching career, David served on the Fort Lee Board of Education for several years, including three consecutive terms as Board President.

In 2015, he was honored with the Archie Hay Award for Distinguished Service and Leadership from the Bergen County School Boards Association, and he served on the statewide NJSBA Mental Health Task Force.

Experience

• Coached an IT leader at a large law firm to increase self-awareness and learn how to adapt communication style to get the results needed from direct reports and colleagues.

• Coached a Security Executive at a large well-known hospitality center to enhance emotional intelligence leading to game changing impact on the team’s morale. This leader was recognized for enhanced leadership capability.

• Coached a law firm Partner focusing on business development. Engagement included cultivating and nurturing relationships. Additionally, the client learned how to design, plan, develop goals and successfully execute the business development plan.

• Coached a law firm Partner to strengthen communication skills to better manage and inspire direct reports, enhance leadership skills, refine and execute on a business development plan.

• Coached a General Counsel at a non-profit to increase self-awareness and take ownership for interpersonal communication skills so the GC could make intentional decisions to adapt behavior for more favorable relationship building.

• Coached an IT leader as the leader transitioned into a global role, focusing on communication skills, raising self-awareness and awareness of non-verbal communication, building relationships, managing up and navigating firm politics.

• Coached a Chief Human Resources Officer of a large non-profit to enhance leadership skills and relationship building while adopting a strategic mindset.

• Coached a hedge fund executive to increase self-awareness, emotional intelligence skills, conflict resolution and effective communication.

• Moderator, of multiple Safe-Space Dialogue Panels on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Allyship, for Loeb Leadership  

• Presenter, Giving Effective Feedback Equitably, DEI Committee of the New York City Bar Association 

• Presenter, Leading in Adverse Times: The Leadership Challenge, NALP Professional Development Institute Conference 

• Keynote Speaker, Change Management and Preparing for the Post-COVID Work Environment, Association of Legal Administrators, DC Chapter, Human Resources Retreat 

• Presenter, Active Listening is a Critical Skill for Attorneys to Practice Law at a High Caliber During Coronavirus and Beyond, Faculty, Practising Law Institute CLE One Hour Briefing 

• Using EQ as a Tool to Improve Lawyers’ Well-Being and Performance, New York City Bar Association CLE 

• Generational Challenges Between Law Firm Partners and Associates, PLI – One Hour Briefing 

• Facilitated a large group Everything DiSC© Assessment workshop at the Lafayette College Leadership Institute 

• Co-presented at a Leadership Conference for the Native American Leadership Forum