Speaker · Facilitator · Licensed Clinician

Derek Sloan

LPCC · NCC · CCTP · Founder, Abridge Leadership

"Pressure isn't the problem. Leading without a system is."

About Derek

Derek is uniquely qualified. He is a licensed mental health provider and certified clinical trauma professional with over 20 years coaching leaders across industries. He has also built and sold businesses himself. That combination of neuroscience, clinical depth, and real organizational experience is rare.

Derek is the founder of Abridge Leadership, host of the Mental Stillness Podcast, and an executive coach who has worked with C-suite leaders, frontline managers, and high-performance teams under genuine pressure. His frameworks are grounded in clinical research and immediately applicable.

He is the author of Pressurized: A Field Guide to Leading Well Under Pressure, available now.

Credentials

LPCC, Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor
NCC, National Certified Counselor
CCTP, Certified Clinical Trauma Professional
Certified Leadership Coach
Graduate degrees: org. leadership & clinical mental health
20+ years, thousands of coaching engagements
SHRM Recertification Provider
Founder, Abridge Leadership
Host, Mental Stillness Podcast

The Pressurized Leadership Assessment

A triangulated three-layer diagnostic that produces a personalized profile for each leader and a team profile. This assessment is built on the research of all four frameworks.

Four Proprietary Frameworks

Framework 1

The Device States Model™

Leaders stop being surprised by their own reactions. They gain a precise, real-time read on their stress state before it costs them a decision, a conversation, or their team's trust.

Framework 2

The PACE Reboot™

Leaders stop reacting and start responding. In under 90 seconds, they can interrupt a pressure spiral and return to intentional, clear-headed leadership before the moment gets away from them.

Framework 3

The CARE Model™

Leaders stop guessing why their team is underperforming. They gain a diagnostic lens for exactly which condition is limiting each person right now, and a clear direction for where to lead next.

Framework 4

The Resilience Playbook™

Leaders stop hoping their culture holds under pressure. They build the specific conditions, play by play, where their team performs through difficulty instead of fracturing from it.

Keynote & Workshop Topics

Keynote

Pressurized: Leading Well When the Stakes Are High

25–60 min · Four frameworks, immediately applicable · Professional recertification credit hours available

Keynote

Know Your State Before It Costs You

25–60 min · The Device States Model™ · Real-time stress awareness for leaders

Keynote

The 90-Second Reset: How Leaders Interrupt Pressure Spirals

25–60 min · The PACE Reboot™ · Immediately applicable under pressure

Keynote

Why Good Teams Break Under Pressure

25–60 min · Resilience Playbook™ + CARE Model™ · Culture and team dynamics

Workshop

The Device States Workshop: Know Your State. Lead Your Team.

Half-day · Deep application of Frameworks 1 & 2 · Team assessment + personalized PACE Reboot™ protocol

Workshop

The CARE Diagnostic: Why Your Team Is Stuck and What to Do About It

Half-day · The CARE Model™ applied · Team diagnostic + individualized action planning

Workshop

Building a Pressure-Proof Culture

Half-day · Resilience Playbook™ · Six plays for teams that perform through difficulty

Workshop

The PACE Reboot: 90 Minutes to a New Default

Half-day · Hands-on PACE Reboot™ skills practice · Personalized protocol for each participant

Program

The Pressurized Leader: Full-Day or Cohort

Full-day or 4–6 sessions · Complete system with assessments, diagnostics & personalized development plans

Ideal Audiences

HR & L&D Healthcare Leaders Senior Executives Business Owners Manager Cohorts People Managers Nonprofits

Formats Available

Keynote Half-Day Workshop Full-Day Intensive In Person Virtual Team Debrief Executive Session Individual Assessments Team Assessments

What People Are Saying

A masterclass in human-centered leadership, providing the emotional intelligence tools necessary to lead with intention rather than reaction. A clear road map for staying grounded and effective.

Dr. Trisha Vinatieri, Psy.D.

Clinician Care Consulting

Through the CARE Model we identified 16 emerging leaders and launched a 90-day mentorship program. The greatest gift we have in this business is influence. Your work made that real for us.

Eric Mason

Multi-Unit Chick-fil-A Operator

I am a better leader today because of Derek's coaching. He helped me understand not just who I am as a person, but what drives me to serve others and pursue excellence.

Joseph Latimer

Chick-fil-A Corporate Support Center

Working with Derek is like having a compass for your leadership journey. He brings an intentional line of questioning that helps you find your true north and stay moving in the direction you actually want to go.

David

Executive Director

Derek's background in leadership coaching combined with his clinical training makes him uniquely able to diagnose practical issues while unearthing deeper motivations. Working with him has accelerated my growth and led to the best results I've had to date.

Shawn Grant, Ph.D.

Executive Director

Derek taught me how to better serve my team and create a more fulfilling work experience. He is an incredibly gifted communicator with a heart to serve others.

Jason Whitfield

Chick-fil-A Owner/Operator