Dalena Bradley, Leadership Interview Coach

Leadership Interview Coach

I'm Dalena Bradley, an award-winning Certified Interview Coach dedicated to helping you communicate your value, stand out from the competition, and win job offers faster.

HIRE ME
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For me, “What do you do?” isn’t an unoriginal conversation starter. I love knowing more about your work, what drives you, what frustrates you, and why you do what you do.

My work is 100% aligned with two common themes in my life: Communicating well and a passion for stories.

From Wheat Country to the City by the Bay.

Growing up in wheat country 10 miles outside of Grass Valley, OR (population 165) with (ahem) few entertainment options, I'd fill notebooks with stories, just for fun.

A communications major in college, I stayed the course and launched a corporate communications career in San Francisco initially working for three global companies, including Hyatt Hotels, Nestlé, and a commercial insurance brokerage firm.

Everyone Has a Story

After returning to Oregon and during a painful work year at a Portland PR firm, I grabbed the chance to pivot to do something completely different: executive recruiting.

It was a great move. I loved working with clients, I loved talking with prospective candidates, but mainly I loved hearing their stories.

In 2008, I merged my communications and recruiting expertise to help professionals like you remove barriers to success like these:

  • It's been years since you've interviewed. (Or maybe you've never had to "officially" interview for a job before.)
  • You struggle to sell yourself, even though you're great at what you do.
  • You're not getting offers, even though you're actively interviewing.
  • You need to rebuild confidence because you were laid off or were thrown off track by life events.
  • Or you're simply overwhelmed by the process and don't know where to start.

My Values

Mission

To help people get the jobs they want faster through customized job interview prep and career marketing support.

Vision

To help as many people as possible achieve rewarding work. I strongly believe that if you're happy at work, you're much happier in LIFE.

Honesty

I care deeply about your success. I will provide kind yet candid, practical feedback others may not be at liberty to provide or too nice to share.

Inclusivity

I respect each person as an individual and the unique perspective they bring to the world. I am happy to adapt my process or make special accommodations when needed to make my client's experience as successful and effective as possible.

Sense of Humor / Authenticity

I'm a down-to-earth, friendly person with a good sense of humor who creates a comfortable, safe space during this process.

Responsiveness / Communication

Great communication and clear expectations are key for a positive working relationship. I will be in close communication and follow through on my promises and deliverables.

Recognition

Dalena was named a 2026 winner of The Modern Coach Momentum Awards in the Interview + Communications category, recognizing coaches whose work creates meaningful impact in their client’s careers.

After working with me, people who came to me with those struggles said things like:

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“I felt prepared, confident, and ready to meet the employer!”

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“You helped me land the exact job with the exact company I wanted!”

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“Your feedback and focus were instrumental in me landing my dream job.”

Here's the reality:

You have experience and great stories within you–you've earned them!

I'll be your guide and your sounding board and take you through a tried-and-true process. It doesn't matter how long it's been since you've interviewed. You'll feel more confident in your conversations, and you'll be one step closer to that job offer faster!

LET'S TALK!

And Just in Case You're Interested, Here's my Official Professional Bio:

Dalena Bradley is an award-winning leadership interview coach who has helped hundreds of professionals excel in interviews and win job offers faster via 1:1 coaching, robust workshops, and as a subject matter expert on LinkedIn Learning, podcasts and guest speaking engagements. In 2026, she was named a winner of The Modern Coach Momentum Awards in the Interview + Communications category.

Previously, she worked in corporate communications (Hyatt, Nestlé), as an executive recruiter, and as an outplacement consultant (Lee Hecht Harrison, Impact Group). Dalena is a Certified Interview Coach and has her B.A. in Communications from the University of Portland. She works with clients globally who are committed to elevating their interview skills and want a personalized approach based on their unique situation.

Dalena Bradley, professional job interview coach, smiling confidently in a business portrait.

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Welcome Video

Learn more about my approach and how I can help you communicate your value and win.

Frequently asked questions

What does a leadership interview coach do?

A leadership interview coach is a one-on-one consultant who prepares senior professionals for high-stakes job interviews. The work spans strategy (mapping your stories to the role), practice (real mock interviews with live feedback), and refinement (debriefs that turn one interview into a learning loop). Unlike general career coaches who focus on broader career direction, interview coaches focus specifically on interview performance: how you tell stories, handle tough questions, project executive presence, and negotiate the offer.

What credentials should an interview coach have?

The strongest interview coaches combine three things: formal coaching certification (such as Certified Interview Coach or equivalent), real experience on the hiring side of the table (executive recruiting, HR, or outplacement), and a track record of client results. Look for someone whose background lets them speak to what hiring teams are actually looking for, not just generic interview tips. Dalena holds the CIC credential and previously worked as an executive recruiter and outplacement consultant before transitioning to coaching.

What is a Certified Interview Coach?

A Certified Interview Coach (CIC) is a credential awarded by the Professional Association of Résumé Writers & Career Coaches (PARWCC), recognized as the gold standard for interview skills training in the career services industry. The certification covers strategic messaging, value articulation, mock interview methodology, and adaptive coaching across formats including AI-assisted and remote interviews. Dalena earned her CIC credential through PARWCC, the leading professional body for résumé writers and career coaches.

How do I choose the right interview coach?

Start by matching the coach to your level and your situation. Senior leaders need a coach who has worked with senior-level interviews, ideally from the recruiter or hiring side, and who can speak to executive presence, salary conversations at the leadership tier, and remote interview formats. Look at credentials, client results, and whether their approach is personalized to your role or generic. Most coaches offer a free consultation. Use it to gauge fit, not just price.

What's the difference between a career coach and an interview coach?

A career coach helps you figure out direction: what you want next, how to position yourself, and how to plan your career path. An interview coach focuses on a specific moment: the interview itself, and the skills needed to win the offer. There’s overlap, but the depth is different. Career coaches go wide. Interview coaches go deep on stories, delivery, tough questions, and offer conversations. Dalena’s work is interview-focused, with her background in career marketing and corporate communications supporting the positioning piece when needed.

What makes Dalena's coaching approach different?

Dalena brings a hiring-side perspective to every session. As a former executive recruiter and outplacement consultant, she knows what hiring teams are actually evaluating and where leadership-level candidates lose offers. Her coaching combines that recruiter insight with one-on-one practice, real-time feedback, and a calm, candid style that creates a safe space to be honest about what’s working and what isn’t. Clients consistently say the strategy session alone shifted how they thought about their value.

Who are Dalena Bradley's typical clients?

Most clients are directors, senior managers, and executives stepping into leadership roles or making career-defining moves. They come from a wide range of industries, including tech, healthcare, finance, communications, and nonprofit leadership. Some haven’t interviewed in years. Others are interviewing actively but not landing offers. All share one thing: they want personalized coaching for a specific high-stakes opportunity, not generic interview tips. Dalena works with clients globally via Zoom.

How do I start working with Dalena?

Every engagement begins with a complimentary 20-minute consultation. You’ll share what you’re working on, the role or moment you’re preparing for, and any questions about the process. If it’s a good fit, you choose the package or à la carte session that matches your needs, complete a brief intake form, and we schedule your sessions. Most clients begin within one to two weeks of the consultation.

Ready to get started?

Every engagement begins with a complimentary 20-minute consultation. We’ll talk through your needs and goals and confirm whether we’re a fit.
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