Our Strength is Our Expertise

Lead and Grow with Fortitude

Candy Deemer

As a former C-level executive in one of the world’s largest advertising agencies, Candy brings a deep understanding of communication, influence, and team-building to her 15+ years of experience coaching executives to become more inspiring and effective leaders in their organizations.

Candy has coached senior executives and teams in a variety of sectors including healthcare, education, entertainment, manufacturing, financial services, and large nonprofit foundations. And she taught and coached 15 cohorts of mid-career professionals in the Executive MBA program at Loyola Marymount University. She is the Co-Author of “Dancing on the Glass Ceiling” (McGraw-Hill, 2003), a book designed to help women reach higher management levels by tapping into their strengths and authenticity as women.

Candy spent over 20 years in advertising, primarily with DDB Worldwide Communications in Chicago and Los Angeles. She was the COO (and highest-ranking woman) in DDB’s Los Angeles Office. She has served on several nonprofit boards, including the Northwestern University Alumni Association, and Social Venture Partners LA (founding board member). She is a charter member and past Board Chair of the Council of One Hundred, a small national group of distinguished alumnae selected by Northwestern to be career mentors. She is currently the Northwestern University Regent for Southern California.

Candy holds B.S. and M.S. degrees from Northwestern’s Medill School of Journalism. She holds coaching certifications from the International Coach Federation (ICF) and Marshall Goldsmith Stakeholder Centered Coaching. She is also certified in the Hogan Assessment System, the Strengths Deployment Inventory, and trained in the DiSC Assessment.

Candy’s husband, Ken is also an executive coach. They have three sons, and are passionate about family, international travel, and sailing.