Kristin Goodwin navigates life’s complexities with the same precision she once used piloting a B-2 Stealth Bomber. The retired Air Force brigadier general has transformed her military leadership experience into a thriving executive coaching career, helping others discover their potential with the same determination that propelled her to become the first female Bomb Wing Commander.
“Don’t take yourself out of the game,” Goodwin says, reflecting on a pivotal moment in her career when she applied to fly the B-2 Stealth bomber at a time when no woman had ever been part of the squad. “Let someone else tell you no. The only guaranteed ‘no’ is the one we give ourselves.”
This philosophy captures the essence of Brig. Gen. Kristin Goodwin’s approach to life: challenging limitations, embracing innovation and staying authentic while navigating complex environments. As founder and CEO of The Delta-v LLC, Goodwin now channels her extensive military and corporate experience into transformative leadership development, executive coaching and team-building programs that serve clients internationally.
Her journey from cockpit to boardroom offers a masterclass in adaptability and strategic thinking. With over 3,100 flying hours as an instructor and evaluator pilot, Goodwin literally rose above challenges throughout her 30-year career. Today, she applies that elevated perspective to help leaders across diverse industries navigate their own professional turbulence.
“Success is not just about reaching a destination, it is about the disciplined pursuit of excellence along the way,” Goodwin says, summarizing a leadership philosophy refined through decades of high-stakes decision-making.
Leadership Forged Through Breaking Barriers
The path Kristin Goodwin has traveled wasn’t always smooth. As a pioneer in military aviation, she encountered and dismantled barriers throughout her career, creating opportunities for those who would follow.
Goodwin’s credentials speak to her commitment to continuous growth and development. Beyond her military profile, she holds a Master of Arts in Business and Organizational Management from George Washington University and a bachelor of science in Mechanical Engineering from the United States Air Force Academy. Her professional certifications include ACC credentialed International Coaching Federation (ICF) coach, Certified Executive Coach, Certified Positive Intelligence Coach, Certified Trainer in the 5 Behaviors of an Effective Team and Certified DISC Trainer and Consultant.
These qualifications underpin her work as a leadership strategist but it’s her lived experience that adds the most value to her coaching practice. Goodwin understands firsthand the challenges of leading in environments resistant to change.
“When someone comes at you with resistance or hostility, do not take it personally,” she says. “Everyone you encounter is on their own journey, carrying their own struggles and perspectives that you may never fully understand.”
This insight has proven invaluable throughout Goodwin’s career, allowing her to maintain composure in challenging situations and respond with empathy and a forward-thinking approach rather than defensiveness.
Kristin Goodwin Balances Strategic Excellence With Authentic Connection
For Kristin Goodwin, leadership isn’t about perfection, it’s about authenticity, continuous improvement and creating environments where people and organizations can thrive together.
“Leadership is not about title or position, it’s about serving others and creating stability amidst chaos” Goodwin says. This perspective informs the way she coaches, which balances strategic thinking with genuine human connection.
Her daily routine reflects this balanced philosophy. Rising at 5 a.m. for exercise before helping her two daughters start their day, Goodwin maintains a disciplined schedule that allows her to fulfill her responsibilities as COO of TechWise while dedicating time to executive coaching through The Delta-v.
“Keeping a schedule is imperative to staying productive,” Goodwin says. “Having an 11 and 13-year-old in addition to working demands organization.”
Rather than using the term “work-life balance,” Goodwin prefers “life harmony”; learning to live in the moment, clarifying priorities and maintaining perspective. Physical activity also plays a crucial role in her well-being strategy. “I am an athlete and I will attest to the power of exercise in my life,” she says. “It keeps me even-keeled, focused and overall feeling energized and alive.”
This integrated and balanced approach to life exemplifies Brig. Gen. Kristin Goodwin’s core values: consciousness, excellence, innovation and respect. These principles guide not only her personal conduct but also her coaching methodology.
Kristin Goodwin Transforms Leaders Through Conscious Coaching
Through The Delta-v LLC, Goodwin channels her extensive experience into helping leaders navigate significant professional transitions and achieve breakthrough results.
“Navigate complexity, Inspire clarity and Spark transformation” serves as Goodwin’s tagline, encapsulating her mission to help leaders accelerate their development and impact.
Her coaching practice encompasses three main areas: private one-on-one coaching, executive team building and leadership development masterclasses. Each offering draws on Goodwin’s extensive experience leading diverse teams through complex challenges.
In one-on-one coaching, Goodwin creates a focused space for transformation where clients clarify their vision, confront challenges and develop strategies to bridge the gap between their current state and desired future. Her executive team building goes beyond conventional approaches to unlock collective genius and transform organizational dynamics.
“We create experiences that challenge, inspire and sometimes even surprise,” Goodwin says. “Whether it’s solving puzzles, navigating challenges or diving into thought-provoking scenarios, your executive team will emerge stronger, more cohesive and ready to conquer your industry’s Mt. Everest.”
Her leadership development masterclasses address critical topics such as inspiring leadership, disruptive innovation and effective strategy implementation. Goodwin’s method emphasizes practical application. Participants walk in with questions and walk out with a game plan.
Throughout all her work, Brig. Gen. Kristin Goodwin maintains a focus on authenticity and consciousness, values that have defined her journey.
Inspiring Through Personal Experience
The impact of Kristin Goodwin’s leadership extends beyond her clients and into the broader community, where she serves as a board member for Home Front Military Network, a non-profit organization that connects active duty service members and veterans with vital resources.
“HFMN helps active duty service members and veterans find resources in times of need,” Goodwin says. “We assist with everything from financial assistance to mental health resources.”
This dedication to service reflects Goodwin’s belief that transformational leadership can emerge anywhere when someone chooses to step up and serve others with integrity and purpose.
She points to two leadership examples that have inspired her own approach: President Barack Obama, whose courage to champion change, even in the face of significant opposition, demonstrated how authentic leadership can break down barriers and a young refugee camp leader she met while working at the Thai Embassy, who managed the camp with extraordinary dignity and compassion.
Goodwin sees parallels between these seemingly different leaders in their authenticity, genuine care for others and courage to serve their communities regardless of challenges.
Her own leadership impact is perhaps best illustrated by a letter she keeps framed on her desk from a staff sergeant from Ghana who served under her command at Barksdale Air Force Base. Recognizing his potential, Goodwin nominated him for Officer Training School through the Senior Leadership Enlisted Commissioning Program.
The letter reads, in part: “You served as a motivator and challenged me to give my best, especially when I served as your PRP monitor. Unbeknownst to you, you inspired me to be a better person. You have made this journey worth continuing for as long as my country needs me.”
For Kristin Goodwin, this encapsulates her leadership philosophy. “Helping others write their next great chapter, opening doors that may otherwise remain closed, that is the type of leadership I work to always embody,” she says.
Kristin Goodwin Champions Innovation and Conscious Leadership
As Brig. Gen. Kristin Goodwin looks to the future, she remains focused on helping leaders navigate increasing complexity with clarity and purpose.
“We live in an incredibly fast-paced time,” Goodwin says. “Change happens daily and staying on top of it is essential to staying relevant and on the cutting edge.” She maintains her own edge by researching global events daily, gathering information from multiple sources to develop well-rounded, unbiased views and staying connected with industry colleagues.
This commitment to continuous learning reflects Goodwin’s value of radical curiosity, what she describes as “an insatiable thirst for knowledge, a relentless drive to explore, question and understand the world deeply and from multiple perspectives.”
Combined with her values of innovation, zest and excellence, this curiosity drives Goodwin to continually expand her impact as a leadership consultant and coach.
Through The Delta-v, Kristin Goodwin continues to transform lives and organizations, one leader at a time. Her journey from pioneering military aviator to sought-after executive coach demonstrates the power of authentic leadership to create lasting change.
“Real success,” as Goodwin defines it, “is not simply measured in personal achievements but how we empower our teams to aim high, learn continuously and inspire the next generation to dream bigger and reach higher together.”
By: Chris Bates
