We help organizations strengthen leadership, develop people, and build high-performing teams
Our Team
Connie Weiss, PhD
Senior Consultant
Anne Liljenstrand, PhD
Managing Director
Senior ConsultantSteve Hansen, PCC
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Senior Consultant
Dr. Weiss, is an executive coach and leadership consultant who partners with leaders to maximize their effectiveness, navigate complex organizational challenges, and achieve meaningful results. She brings expertise in executive coaching, leadership assessment and development, action learning, team effectiveness, and group facilitation.
Connie has worked with leaders across industries including healthcare, energy, utilities, retail, manufacturing, and finance, coaching everyone from emerging high-potential leaders to senior executives. Her clients value her ability to create a coaching relationship that is both supportive and challenging, helping leaders gain insight, strengthen key leadership skills, and translate learning into lasting behavioral change.
Prior to becoming a consultant, she held senior leadership roles at Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center, including Chief Strategic Development Officer, where she led initiatives in leadership development, succession planning, strategic planning, patient experience, and organizational effectiveness.
A Board Certified Coach, Connie holds a doctorate in Consulting Psychology from Alliant International University. She is certified in numerous assessments, including Workplace Big 5, Hogan Assessments, Influence Style Indicator as well as trained in MBTI, FIRO-B, TKI and Clifton Strengths. Her approach blends evidence-based leadership development, thoughtful inquiry, and practical business experience to help leaders increase their impact and successfully lead.
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Managing Director
Anne Liljenstrand, Ph.D. is Managing Director of The Bader Group, where she partners with leaders, teams, and organizations to strengthen leadership effectiveness, navigate change, and achieve business results. For over 20 years, she has coached senior leaders, designed leadership programs and organizational development initiatives, and advised organizations across healthcare, biotech, pharmaceutical, technology, engineering, finance, manufacturing, defense, and government sectors.
Anne has extensive experience working with leaders at all levels, from emerging managers to C-suite executives. Her coaching focuses on helping leaders increase their impact through stronger communication, managing conflict, strengthening relationships, focusing strategically, executive presence, leading others and building your team, and organizational influence. Her work is grounded in the belief that sustainable leadership success occurs when individual strengths, organizational realities, and business objectives are aligned.
Bilingual and internationally experienced, Anne has coached leaders within the United Nations Secretariat and organizations around the world. She has also served as an Executive Coach and Mentor Coach with the Center for Creative Leadership and has taught physicians, researchers, biotech professionals, and medical students through the University of California San Diego's Master's in Clinical Research program since 2009.
Anne holds a PCC through ICF and is a Board Certified Coach with doctoral training in both Clinical and Industrial-Organizational Psychology. Known for her practical and business-focused approach, she naturally considers organizational cultures, politics and individuals dynamics throughout her work.
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Senior Consultant
Steve Hansen is a Professional Certified Coach with more than 30 years of executive and leadership experience. He specializes in executive coaching, leadership development and group coaching; helping leaders strengthen their effectiveness, build influence, and achieve business results.
Steve holds experience working with leaders at all levels, from emerging managers to C-suite executives, across industries including financial services, technology, healthcare, manufacturing, insurance, engineering, government contracting, and communications. His clients span more than 20 countries across North America, Europe, Asia, and Africa. He also has experience as a Master Coach with the Center for Creative Leadership and as an executive coach for the United Nations Secretariat.
Known for his practical and results-oriented approach, Steve helps leaders leverage their strengths, navigate organizational complexity, strengthen key relationships, and drive meaningful behavior change. Through thoughtful inquiry, assessment feedback, and accountability, he supports clients in developing the self-awareness and leadership capabilities needed to succeed in demanding environments.
Before becoming a coach, Steve held executive leadership roles including Chief Operating Officer and Director of Sales, where he led organizational growth, improved operational performance, and built high-performing teams. His business experience brings a practical, real-world perspective to every coaching engagement.
Gloria Bader, EdD
Founder
Xavier Hernandez, PhD
Senior ConsultantHead AdministratorMichelle Blanchard
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Founder
Dr. Gloria Bader founded The Bader Group with a vision of helping leaders, teams, and organizations achieve exceptional results through trust, collaboration, and meaningful leadership development. Her pioneering work in organizational trust, executive coaching, and action learning, and organizational development has influenced leaders across industries including healthcare, technology, manufacturing, finance, education, and the nonprofit sector.
Throughout her distinguished career, Gloria partnered with organizations such as State Farm, IKEA North America, Northrop Grumman, the United Nations, the Inter-American Development Bank, and Solar Turbines. Known for her highly customized and practical approach, she helped organizations navigate complex challenges while developing leaders at every level.
Gloria is a published author, conference speaker, educator, and longtime contributor to the field of leadership development. She served for more than 20 years as an adjunct staff member and feedback specialist with the Center for Creative Leadership and taught in the University of California San Diego's master's program in healthcare leadership. She holds a doctorate in leadership from the University of San Diego.
Today, Gloria's legacy continues through The Bader Group's commitment to helping leaders and organizations build trust as the foundation for lasting success.
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Senior Consultant
Xavier Hernandez, Ph.D., is a Board Certified Coach, leadership consultant, and Executive Coach. He partners with leaders, teams, and organizations to strengthen leadership effectiveness, accelerate development, and drive sustainable organizational results. Xavier is proficient and certified in administering, interpreting and providing feedback on several individual and organizational assessments and instruments.
Drawing on expertise in executive coaching, assessment, talent development, and organizational effectiveness, Xavier helps leaders increase self-awareness, leverage their strengths, and navigate complex business challenges. His coaching approach integrates assessment insights with real-world leadership experiences, creating meaningful opportunities for growth, behavior change, and lasting impact. He balances support and challenge to help leaders achieve their goals while strengthening their influence and effectiveness.
Xavier has worked with leaders and teams across a wide range of industries, including automotive, banking, biopharmaceutical, healthcare, technology, energy, government, hospitality, and professional services. He has extensive experience working in multicultural and global environments, supporting organizations through leadership development, executive assessment, talent management, culture change, and large-scale organizational initiatives.
Xavier holds a doctorate in Clinical and Industrial-Organizational Psychology from Alliant International University. He conducted research and maintains expertise in the areas of Strengths Psychology Social Axioms and Latino Leadership. His work is grounded in systems thinking, and a commitment to helping people and organizations thrive.
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Head Administrator
Michelle Blanchard serves as The Bader Group's Head Administrator and Bookkeeper, overseeing the firm's financial operations and administrative processes. She plays a key role in ensuring that clients experience seamless support behind the scenes, bringing accuracy, organization, and attention to detail to every aspect of the business.
Michelle holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with an emphasis in Accounting from San Diego State University and is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA, inactive). Her professional experience includes work with public accounting firms, nonprofit organizations, and small businesses.
Known for her reliability and commitment to exceptional service, Michelle helps keep The Bader Group operating efficiently, delivering outstanding results for clients.
Who You’ll Work With