Human Capital Development
humancapitaldevelopment.ca
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Human Capital Development

When did you last say exactly what you were thinking —
to anyone?

If that question landed, we should talk.

Human Capital Development works with CEOs and senior executives navigating the isolation, pressure, and identity shifts that come with positions no one fully prepares you for.

Book a Discovery CallWhat we do
From CEO Cadence · Chapter 10

“One CEO described this as ‘living behind glass.’ She could see people. People could see her. But there was an invisible barrier that prevented full connection — created not by either party, but by the structure of power and responsibility.”

Read the full chapter →
Executive Coaching

1:1 coaching for CEOs & senior leaders

The decisions no one else can carry. The relationships that shift at the top.
July 2026

CEO Cadence — The Book

The inner work of becoming a cadence-based leader. Sample chapter available now.
CEC, MBA, CHE
Core credentials
20+ years
Leadership + coaching experience
4 sectors
Healthcare · Govt · Engineering · Military
Ontario, Canada
Available nationally & virtually
What We Do

Leadership development
for the top job.

Human Capital Development supports CEOs and senior leaders through executive coaching, custom leadership assessments, and keynote speaking — all grounded in the psychology of what happens when you take on real authority.

01

Executive Coaching

One-to-one coaching for CEOs and senior executives navigating the psychology of high-stakes leadership. The inner mechanics of how you show up when everyone is watching.

  • 6 and 12-month structured engagements
  • Narrative 360 and bespoke leadership tools
  • CEO Cadence frameworks and assessments
  • Virtual or in-person across Canada
Inquire about coaching →
02

Keynotes & Workshops

Built for audiences that want something they’ll still be thinking about on the plane home. Original research, direct client experience, and hard-won insight.

  • “The CEO and Isolation” — Keynote, 45–60 min
  • “Leading From Inside the Isolation” — Half-day
  • “When Your Client Lives Behind Glass” — Coach dev
  • CEO conferences, peer groups, board retreats
Inquire about speaking →
03

Custom Leadership Assessments

Proprietary tools designed for the realities of senior leadership — not off-the-shelf questionnaires. Built to surface what standard instruments miss.

  • Narrative 360 — story-based feedback, not scored surveys
  • Succession Readiness Assessment
  • Designed for C-suite and senior leadership
  • Integrated into coaching or available standalone
Learn about assessments →
6×
Return on investment in executive coaching

The largest study of its kind found organizations earned nearly six times their investment in coaching — over $100,000 in added value per executive. Additional outcomes included higher productivity, improved quality, and strengthened leadership relationships.

Manchester Inc. study · 100 executives · Fortune 1000 companies

CEO Cadence by David Johnston
CEO Cadence · July 2026

The inner work of becoming
a cadence-based leader.

CEO Cadence explores what happens to leaders psychologically when they take the top job — and what they can do about it. Written for the CEO who suspects something has shifted and hasn’t had language for it yet.

“One CEO described this as ‘living behind glass.’ She could see people. People could see her. But there was an invisible barrier that prevented full connection…”

Read Chapter 10: The CEO and Isolation →
Read the Sample ChapterBook David to Speak on This
Honest Boundaries

This isn’t for everyone.
That’s the point.

  • ×
    We don’t offer assessments without conversation. Whether it’s MBTI, DISC, StrengthsFinder, or something else — we’ve done them all. But these tools are only effective when they’re followed by meaningful conversation and real coaching. The instrument is never the point.
  • ×
    We won’t tell you what you want to hear. Most coaches are too careful. David is direct about difficult things — respectfully, but clearly.
  • ×
    We’re not a check-the-box engagement. If someone told you to “get a coach” and you’re looking to satisfy a requirement, this won’t work for either of us. But if the possibilities of working with a coach genuinely appeal to you — that’s a different conversation entirely.

But if you’re carrying weight that no one else in your organization can see —

If you’ve noticed that people speak to you differently now. If you’ve lost the freedom to think out loud without consequence. If the role has changed you in ways you haven’t fully processed — that’s exactly where this work begins.

Let’s talk →
How It Works

A straightforward process

No sales funnel. No intake questionnaire. A real conversation about whether this is the right fit.

1

Discovery Call

30 minutes. Free. You share where you are. We share how we work. No obligation on either side.

2

Proposal

If it’s a fit, we send a clear proposal — scope, structure, timeline, and fees. No vague retainers.

3

Engagement

We begin. Sessions are structured but adaptive. The goal is always real change, not just insight.

4

Accountability

Between sessions, we check in. Coaching without follow-through is just conversation. We track progress.

From Clients

What senior leaders say

David’s balanced approach of both “support” and “constructively challenge” allows his clients to reframe their current thinking and perspectives. David’s tranquil ability to listen and observe intuitively builds trust and understanding. Working with David will be a transformative experience on your leadership journey.
Jodi Y.
Senior Public Service Leader
The HCD Narrative 360 process was simple and powerful. Within a couple weeks I went from thinking I understood how to support my team to actually understanding what would be helpful. I have an action plan and the results are already showing.
Mark J.Executive Leader
David is an exceptional listener who created a trusting environment where I felt comfortable and at ease. He helped me set goals and clear pathways to success. Every time I left the room I felt renewed, excited and confident about how to navigate business issues.
Mike M.Executive Coaching Client
David Johnston, Founder of Human Capital Development
David Johnston, CEC, MBA, CHE
About the Founder

A practitioner,
not just a coach.

David Johnston is the founder of Human Capital Development. He spent three decades working inside complex organizations — as a leader, a change practitioner, and an executive coach. His clients describe him as direct without being blunt, and rigorous without being academic.

His coaching practice grew out of a recognition that senior leaders — especially CEOs — face a category of challenge that most programs aren’t designed for. The decisions that can’t be delegated. The relationships that shift when you take the top job. The emotional regulation required when everyone is watching.

CEO Cadence, his first book (July 2026), is the result of years of research and client work on what he calls the “structural isolation” of executive leadership — and what leaders can do about it.

CEC — Certified Executive CoachMBA, Leadership · Royal RoadsCHE — Certified Health ExecutiveCCMP — Prosci ADKARMyers-Briggs & DISC Certified
Sectors

Where we’ve done the work

Not as observers — embedded in the leadership cultures of each.

Healthcare

Health system CEOs, clinical VPs, and public health leaders managing accountability, transformation, and care delivery.

Engineering & Infrastructure

Technical leaders transitioning into executive roles — from expert to organizational decision-maker.

Government & Public Sector

Leaders managing public accountability, ministerial relationships, and politically exposed executive roles.

Military & Uniformed Services

Officers navigating the civilian-to-executive transition — where command culture meets consensus culture.

“The CEO role doesn’t just give you authority. It changes your relationships, your access to truth, your sense of who you are. Most leadership programs prepare you for the job. Very few prepare you for what the job does to you.”

— David Johnston, CEO Cadence

Start Here

30 minutes. Free.
Let’s see if it’s a fit.

Every engagement starts with a conversation — no intake forms, no sales process. You share what’s going on. We share how we work. We decide together whether to go further.

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Ontario, Canada1-519-500-3953david@humancapitaldevelopment.cadavid@ceocadence.com