About Us
Here's the thing: most executives are drowning in feedback but starving for real insight. We started Pinnacle & Associates because we got tired of watching brilliant leaders spin their wheels, caught between what they're doing and what they're capable of. For 11 years, we've worked with people who already know how to succeed—they just need someone to hold up a mirror and ask the hard questions. Our coaches aren't here to fix you. You don't need fixing. But you might need to shed some old habits, see your blind spots, and figure out what's actually holding you back from the next level.
Over time, we’ve built a reputation for reliability, quality, and clear communication. We treat each project as a partnership and aim for outcomes that last.
Our Story
Started back in 2013 by a handful of frustrated corporate refugees who believed coaching should feel like talking to someone who gets it. Not a consultant selling a framework. Not a therapist dissecting your childhood. Just real conversations with someone who's lived the corporate trenches and emerged with their sanity intact. We've worked across tech, finance, manufacturing, and healthcare. Built our reputation one transformed leader at a time. No big marketing budget. Just people who refer us because we actually move the needle.
Company founded with a team of 3 passionate professionals
Expanded services and reached 500+ satisfied customers
Opened new headquarters and doubled our team size
Celebrated serving over 2,000 clients with 98% satisfaction rate
Meet Our Team
The people behind Pinnacle & Associates
We’re a team that values ownership, clarity, and growth. We celebrate wins, learn fast, and keep client outcomes at the center.
Cornel Varga
Founder & Executive Coach
25 years in enterprise leadership before hanging it up to coach full-time. Spent a decade at director level in tech before realizing his real gift was helping others navigate the mess he used to live in.
Ioana Popescu
Senior Coach, Leadership Development
HR director turned coach. Understands the political landscape executives navigate because she used to be stuck in it. Specializes in leaders transitioning into bigger roles.
Mihai Dragomir
Executive Coach, Organizational Dynamics
Former CFO who switched gears 8 years ago. Works mainly with finance and operations leaders grappling with growth, team scaling, and the isolation that comes with the top job.
Our Core Values
The principles that guide everything we do
Radical Honesty
We don't do polite fiction. If you're headed toward a wall, we'll tell you before you hit it. Direct doesn't mean unkind—it means you'll never wonder where you really stand with us.
Results Over Comfort
Growth lives outside the comfortable zone. We push because we believe you're capable of more. The goal isn't a nice conversation—it's measurable change in how you lead.
Authentic Connection
You're a whole person, not a job title. We see the ambitious executive and the human underneath, juggling complexity most people never talk about.
Intellectual Rigor
Everything we do is grounded in evidence, psychology, and real-world leadership dynamics. We don't do trendy—we do what works.
Our Approach
Our approach combines proven methods with modern tools. We start with discovery, align on goals, plan clearly, and execute with quality checks at every step.