Apex:
MD/Executive Coaching Program

The Reality: 

At this level, your people are visible leaders in managing larger teams and are an expensive line item on your firm’s P&L. The competition is at its peak—their challenges are complex, and finding both the time and a trusted thought partner to focus on long-term strategy can be difficult. 

This is the moment to invest in a seasoned coach—who is fully aligned with their professional and personal success.

The Opportunity: 

A 6-month, 1:1, highly bespoke coaching engagement to help your executives reach their unique goals.

The Focus Areas: 

✔ Executive Communication – Delivering vision with clarity and impact.

✔ Senior Influence – Building strategic alliances at the highest levels.

✔ Industry Leadership – Strengthening reputation and positioning as a go-to expert.

✔ High-Stakes Decision-Making – Navigating complexity with confidence.

✔ Sustained Performance – Staying sharp in a high-pressure environment.

✔ Leadership Presence – Enhancing EQ, reading the room, and adjusting approach.

✔ Team Development – Managing change and equipping the next generation.

✔ Sponsorship & Opportunity – Strengthening networks to elevate future potential.

✔ Leading innovation – Developing and integrating market-leading ideas.

The Outcome:

We’ve worked alongside top industry leaders and bring deep expertise in leadership strategy. Our coaching provides a private, strategic space to remove barriers, refine leadership approaches, and optimize success at the highest levels.

< Coaching for Directors

Coaching for VPs >

  • “Kristy provides exceptional guidance and support, tailored to the unique challenges of the banking industry. Her expertise and personalized approach has helped me evolve in a number of ways and I’m unquestionably better positioned in my career having worked with her.”

    —William J. O'Flaherty, MD, Investment Banking, Matrix Capital Markets Group, Inc.

  • “Kristy’s passion for ensuring that everyone in the industry has the opportunity to reach their full potential is at the core of her values. Her inspirational leadership and mentorship are the key to her coaching success. Working with Kristy is not only a joy, but transformational.”

    — Jennifer Ocampo-King, MD and Head of Securities Lending, TD Securities

  • “Kristy has been our coach and partner in leading our VP and Director coaching program since 2022. This has been a strategic investment in the learning, productivity, engagement, retention, and growth of our Corporate and Investment Banking teams. I would recommend Kristy’s expertise and partnership to any of my peers.“

     — David J. Skurka, Executive Vice President, Co-Head of Global Corporate & Investment Banking, National Bank

  • Kristy’s expertise in banking culture and leadership is invaluable, however, what sets her apart is her ability to quickly develop trusted relationships with our bankers and her boundless commitment to making our firm the best place to work.”

    — Spencer Cavalier, President, Matrix Capital Markets Group, Inc.

  • “Kristy is a natural coach who leads with her relationship management abilities. Her judgement, interpersonal skills and understanding of the business allow her to build trust quickly and make a positive impact on culture and the development of teams.”

    — Sara Stowe, MD and COO, Corporate and Investment Banking, Scotiabank

  • “Kristy is currently coaching my investment banking team at National Bank. The feedback from the participants has been overwhelmingly positive and I have already seen the positive impacts from her coaching. I would be happy to speak to anyone considering her services. Thank you, Kristy!”

    — Sean McIntyre, MD and Head of Diversified Industries, Investment Banking, National Bank Financial

A woman with long hair wearing a green dress and a gold necklace stands in front of a blue paneled wall.

After 20 years in the industry, I founded Birchstone Executive Coaching to meet an important need—a boutique coaching and leadership development practice led by certified professionals with deep expertise in the broader investment banking industry. 

Your environment is complex, and you need coaching partners who understand its demands and can integrate seamlessly.

Hi, I’m Kristy Carrod,