Hello! I'm Carol Carlan
Strategic Advisor. Results-Driven Consultant. People-First Leader.
For over four decades, I’ve had the privilege of helping leaders, teams, and organizations grow stronger, clearer, and more aligned. My journey began in the financial services world, where I broke barriers as the first female president of a regional bank. From there, I went on to lead a major philanthropic foundation, helping nonprofits across the region grow their impact and elevate their leadership.
Through it all, I’ve remained passionate about helping people thrive—from the boardroom to the community. Today, I bring my experience and insight to Carlan Consulting, where I work with professionals and organizations ready to lead with clarity, purpose, and courage.
Whether I’m facilitating leadership retreats, coaching executives, or guiding strategic planning conversations, my goal is simple: to help you move from intention to aligned action. If you’re navigating change, growth, or new possibilities, let’s talk.
A Legacy of Leadership
Carol Carlan is the Founder and CEO of Carlan Consulting, a leadership development firm dedicated to helping organizations scale performance and profit through people-first leadership. A founding member of the global John Maxwell Team, Carol brings more than 45 years of business experience and deep community impact to every client engagement.
For over four decades, Carol has worked with organizations and individuals to optimize leadership, align teams, and build healthy workplace cultures. She holds multiple certifications, including Master Axiologist, TriMetrixHD, DISC, Driving Forces, EQ, Priority Leadership, and is SmartRev Certified. Her experience spans leadership coaching, executive development, and talent strategies that drive sustainable growth.
Carol’s professional career includes over 35 years in banking, where she made history as the first female president of a large regional bank. She also spent more than a decade leading philanthropy initiatives in healthcare and research sectors. Her extensive leadership background fuels her ability to guide both individuals and organizations toward long-term success.
A lifelong community advocate, Carol has served on more than 35 nonprofit boards, including 25 years with the PACE Center for Girls, where she was a founding member of the Escambia/Santa Rosa chapter and later served as Chair of the State Board of Trustees. She is also an Emeritus Trustee of Pensacola State College, 125th Chair of the Greater Pensacola Chamber, and Inaugural Chair Emeritus for the Institute for Human and Machine Cognition (IHMC).
Her contributions have earned her numerous honors, including:
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PACE Awards: Spirit of Pensacola & Business Leader of the Year
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Blue Angel Leadership Award – Leadership Pensacola
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Pioneer Award – PACE Center for Girls, State Board
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Pinnacle Award – Recognizing long-standing impact on state and local organizations
Carol is a proud graduate of Leadership Pensacola (1984) and Leadership Florida Class XXX. Her motto — “Leave it better than you found it, and be the difference” — reflects the heart she brings to every client, board, and initiative she serves.
What People Say
“Working with Carol Carlan has been instrumental in my growth as a leader. At multiple points in my career, her guidance helped me better understand my natural leadership style—my drive, decisiveness, and sense of urgency—and how to lead more intentionally within a collaborative team environment.
What sets Carol apart as a consultant is that she has done the work herself. She understands that sustainable results don’t come from one-size-fits-all strategies, but from cultivating teams made up of unique individuals whose strengths, perspectives, and contributions are essential to an organization’s success and future growth. Her approach goes beyond assessments, translating insight into action and awareness into real results.
Because of Carol’s passion for people and enhancing performance, I lead with greater clarity, self-awareness, and appreciation for the individuals around me. I would confidently recommend her to any organization seeking strategic growth powered by people.”
“Working with Carol through the TriMetrix HD assessment and coaching sessions was truly eye-opening. The tools gave me deep clarity into my behavioral style, driving forces, and emotional intelligence, helping me adapt my leadership approach without losing my authentic self.
As a result, I’ve made stronger people decisions, improved team alignment, and grown both personally and professionally—living proof that strategic growth truly starts with developing the people within the organization.”
“Working with Carol Carlan has been a genuinely transformative experience, particularly at an important transition point in my life. After retiring from a long and successful career, I found myself asking thoughtful, intense questions about what I wanted to do next and how I wanted to show up in this next chapter.
Through our monthly sessions, Carol created a supportive and insightful space that helped me step back, gain clarity, and see myself with renewed confidence and perspective. Her guidance wasn’t about quick fixes—it was about asking the right questions, challenging assumptions, and helping me better understand myself as both a person and a leader.
That self-awareness led to meaningful personal growth and a stronger, more grounded leadership approach. The time I spent with Carol was extremely beneficial, helping me reconnect with my strengths, trust my instincts, and move forward with intention and purpose.
Carol has a rare ability to combine strategic thinking with genuine care for the individual. I am truly grateful for her guidance and would highly recommend her to anyone navigating transition, growth, or leadership development.”
“I have had the privilege of knowing and working with Carol Carlan for over 10 years, and she is truly exceptional. As a master practitioner of TTI assessments, Carol brings deep expertise in behavior, motivation, and emotional intelligence. What sets her apart is how she applies this knowledge—through coaching, consulting, and team development—to genuinely transform lives and help individuals and organizations grow, align, and make better people decisions.
Carol is an intelligent, thoughtful leader with a rare ability to see and elevate the unique potential in every individual. She creates environments where people feel understood, supported, and empowered, while also guiding organizations toward meaningful, strategic growth. Her work consistently leaves people, teams, and organizations stronger, more connected, and more inspired.
She embodies the belief that true success begins with people. A values-based leader, compelling presenter, and respected thought leader, Carol doesn’t just inspire change—she turns it into meaningful action. Her people-first approach makes her impact both powerful and lasting.”