January 30, 2023, Minneapolis, Minnesota—Navigate Forward, a boutique outplacement firm specializing in career transition services for C-suite leaders and senior executives, has added experienced leadership coaches Mike Meyer and Andrew Craven to its roster of career consultants.
Meyer’s background as an executive coach, experienced board director and former C-suite executive is an ideal complement to support Navigate Forward’s client mix. Craven brings additional Fortune 500 company experience and expertise in change management.
2022 was our strongest year ever. Extending our team with Mike and Andrew positions us for continued growth.
Both new hires add capacity that will enable Navigate Forward to continue its delivery of comprehensive and highly personalized career services for senior leaders.
“2022 was the strongest year ever for the business, particularly in our Board Readiness practice and our newest service, Legacy Planning. Extending our team with Mike and Andrew positions us for continued growth across our service lines,” said Anne Sample, CEO of Navigate Forward.
Meyer to Guide Senior Leaders Considering Retirement or Next Chapter
Both new hires have an impressive track record of helping executives excel.
Mike Meyer is a sought-after executive coach whose book Work and Win with an Executive Coach shows senior leaders how to maximize the impact of coaching engagements.
Prior to launching his own practice, Meyer held C-suite human resources roles for Ecolab and Abbott Labs, and ran a fast-growing medical device business. He has extensive experience in international business and leading organizations through significant change. He serves as board chair for the Loft Literary Center, board member of Graywolf Press and past board chair for the Nature Conservancy.
At Navigate Forward, Meyer supports the company’s Legacy Planning service and is himself a Board Readiness alumni. He works one-on-one with top executives to plan the right mix of activities to leverage their skills and experience beyond the corner office.
“Ending well as you retire or leave your corporate career is so important. I’m excited to help senior leaders envision their next steps and move forward with intention,” Meyer said.
He added, “Navigate Forward’s personal approach—the way they help executives move toward something new—is inspiring. I’m pleased to join their executive community and continue my own professional journey with such a high-caliber team.”
Craven to Provide Peer-Level Support to Senior Leaders in Career Transition
Andrew Craven excels at change management: helping organizations and individuals traverse new situations and realize their goals.
Craven brings extensive experience in business transformation, project leadership, management consulting and sales. His background includes executive roles with Best Buy, Medtronic, Securian Financial Group and Royal Bank of Canada; he also supported jobseekers in transition while at outplacement firm Lee Hecht Harrison.
Craven delivers Navigate Forward’s Executive Transition Services, providing tailored outplacement services for executives. He guides senior leaders in career transition as they identify their goals, develop the right tools and strategies, and ultimately, realize their ideal opportunity.
“I really appreciate Navigate Forward’s thoughtful methodology and the great reputation of their consultants,” Craven said. “Their style is truly about helping candidates find the right path—not checking boxes. It’s such fulfilling work to help leaders translate their ideas, hopes and plans into action.”
New Hires Expand Roster of Tenured Career Consultants to 20
Meyer and Craven expand the Navigate Forward executive consultant team to 20. Both are based in Minneapolis, but work with C-suite and VP-level clients across the country.
Andrew and Mike’s diversity of business experience and unique perspectives deepen our bench strength and allow us to partner with even more clients
Their skills and experience help the organization serve an even greater variety of executive clients.
“We strive to match each executive client with a career coach of the right temperament, background and delivery style. Adding Andrew and Mike to the team—with their diversity of business experience and unique perspectives—deepens our bench strength and allows us to partner with even more clients,” noted Sample.
About Navigate Forward
Navigate Forward provides highly customized support to senior executives who are currently in career transition, planning change in the future or seeking board service, helping them find their passion, their path and their place in the business community. Since our inception in 2008, we’ve worked with more than 1,800 clients and 425 companies across the country and around the world. We are proud to be a certified women-owned business.
