Hello, I’m Whitney.
I discovered my calling through coaching—a craft that combines forward momentum, intuition, collaboration, and science. My coaching approach is built on a diverse background as a therapist, facilitator, leadership consultant, and elite athlete.
When I was rowing on the women’s national team I was always curious why some people were more successful than others. I studied the athletes around me, and I certainly studied myself. I was drawn to understand what got in the way of excellence, confidence, and well being. So when I “retired” from rowing I became a therapist. And while I loved the depth, intimacy and challenge of the work, something was missing for me. I went back to my roots and worked with athletes around wellness and teamwork. I started my coaching practice, and took on various roles in leadership development, and got my coaching certification. I Love coaching. I love that true change requires self awareness and depth, the excitement of going after a goal, the flow that comes with greater authenticity, and the genuine connection I have with my clients.
I’m passionate about both well-being and excellence because I have learned the hard way you can’t really have one without the other (especially not when you are over 40). This is largely the inspiration for my podcast, Untrained.
I’m a parent and a stepparent, I’m married to a psychology professor and I live in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Formal BIO:
Whitney Otto, MA, PCC
Whitney Otto is an executive coach, leadership consultant, author, and world champion athlete who helps senior leaders and executive teams collaborate more effectively, elevate their leadership, and sustain high performance without burnout. A Professional Certified Coach (ICF PCC), Whitney blends evidence-based psychology (CBT, Internal Family Systems), resilience science, and competitive mindset to drive meaningful and lasting leadership change.
Whitney earned her BA from Brown University and a Master’s in Counseling Psychology from Lesley University. She began her career as a therapist and facilitator before moving into leadership coaching at scale. She was a founding and Master Coach at Valor Performance (now Mursion)—a venture-backed leadership platform serving organizations like LinkedIn, HubSpot, One Medical, and Mass General Brigham—where she coached executives and VPs to lead under pressure, reduce burnout, and embed sustainable performance habits. She also served as Director of Community Engagement, building a thriving network of high-performing leaders.
In addition, Whitney has helped deliver leadership development experiences for organizations across industries—from renewable energy and high-tech engineering to venture-backed startups—leading emotional intelligence programs, group coaching, and tailored executive development initiatives.
She also serves as an Executive Coach and Facilitator for Chief, the premier private network of senior executive women, helping top leaders strengthen their influence and feel resourced and supported in the process.
In addition to her private practice, Whitney serves as a contracted executive coach supporting leaders at a Big Four consulting firm, delivering performance psychology–based coaching to help dozens of senior managers prepare for promotion and over 40 newly promoted partners successfully navigate the transition into executive leadership.
Whitney is the co-host of The Untrained Podcast, helping high achievers unlearn toxic patterns and embrace authentic, sustainable leadership. Known for combining psychological depth, practical leadership tools, and the mindset of a world-class athlete, she partners with executives and their teams to navigate complexity, lead with authenticity, and build sustainable cultures of performance.
