Meet Jeff Rothenberg,
Founder of A Path That Calls
Life & Career Coach helping professionals and young adults turn uncertainty into clarity and confidence.
The moment everything changed
The last time I lost my job, I sat in my car in the parking garage, staring at my phone through tears, wondering if I’d ever feel confident in my professional worth again, or if I should just give up and take whatever job would have me.
That moment changed everything.
I’ve navigated every kind of business challenge you can imagine. But my greatest expertise comes from rebuilding my own life and career multiple times after unexpected setbacks, and helping others do the same.
Most professionals spend their energy reacting to circumstances instead of designing them. The moment you stop letting your career happen to you and start intentionally shaping it around your strengths, everything shifts. Coaching helped me make that shift, and now, it’s how I help others do the same.
After 15 years of corporate success that often felt increasingly hollow, I realized my purpose was guiding people through their most meaningful transitions with clarity, confidence, and compassion.
My Story
I'm a former tech executive turned life and career coach. Over the past 15+ years, I've helped scale startups to billion-dollar valuations, hired over 1,000 professionals, and led high-performing teams across Arizona and the Bay Area—at companies like Target, Apple, Lending Club, and Upgrade.
Throughout those roles, what drove me most wasn't just hitting targets—it was helping my teammates grow into the best versions of themselves. That's what eventually led me to coaching.
But my story isn't just about success, it's about resilience. I've lost jobs, faced uncertainty, and questioned my own worth. Twice in 18 months, my career was turned upside down. It forced me to confront the truth: my identity had become tied to my title. That experience became my turning point.
Through training in Applied Positive Psychology at the University of Pennsylvania, I learned how to use evidence-based tools to transform adversity into growth. Today, I guide clients through that same process, helping them reframe failure, rediscover purpose, and build careers and lives that actually feel fulfilling.
I work with both young adults and professionals in person across the Phoenix metro — including Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Tempe, and Chandler — and virtually nationwide.
My Coaching Approach
Real growth happens when we align who you are with what you do.
Most people exhaust themselves chasing someone else’s definition of success. I help you rediscover your authentic strengths—what positive psychology calls your “signature strengths”—and apply them with clarity and direction.
I use a blend of psychology, leadership strategy, and personal accountability to create transformation that lasts long after our sessions end. Together, we’ll take consistent, focused action toward results that matter most to you.
Your Path Forward
Discover who you are.
Explore what fits.
Build what comes next.
Career fulfillment isn't about finding more opportunities.
It's about recognizing the ones that were right for you all along.
Together, these three phases move you from uncertainty to confident action—one intentional step at a time.
➤ Discover
Understand who you are before deciding what to do.
Most people try to decide what to do before they understand who they are. Together, we'll uncover your strengths, values, personality, motivations, interests, and ideal work environments using evidence-based assessments and thoughtful coaching conversations.
→ By the end of Discover, you'll stop asking, "What should I do?" and start asking, "Which path fits who I am?"
➤ Explore
Explore what fits before making a life-changing decision.
The best career decisions aren't made in your head—they're tested in the real world.
Together, we'll test promising paths through research, conversations with professionals, informational interviews, and low-risk experiments—so you can move forward with evidence instead of assumptions.
→ You'll replace uncertainty with evidence and confidence built through experience—not guesswork.
➤ Build
Turn clarity into meaningful action.
Clarity only changes your life when you act on it.
Together, we'll translate insight into action by building a strategy that fits your goals, your strengths, and your life. Then we'll execute it together, one intentional step at a time.
When obstacles inevitably arise—and they will—you won't navigate them alone. I'll help you adjust, stay accountable, and keep moving forward until your new direction becomes your new reality.
→ You'll leave with more than a plan. You'll have the confidence to build a career and life that's aligned with who you are.
Experience & Education
Business Leadership
15+ years in executive roles leading startups and scaling companies to IPOs and billion-dollar valuations
Experience with leading Arizona organizations like Upgrade, Grand Canyon University, and Saint Vincent de Paul
Hired and managed over 1,000 professionals across tech, finance, and retail
Certifications & Credentials
Certification in Applied Positive Psychology, University of Pennsylvania
Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) Certified Trainer
Strong Career Assessment Certified Trainer
Professional Certified Coach (PCC) Certification with the International Coaching Federation - In Progress
Coursework in AI Strategy for Executives, Arizona State University
Education
B.A. in Communication, Santa Clara University
My Core Values
Encouragement— I celebrate your progress, not perfection. Small wins lead to lasting transformation.
Compassion — Change is hard. I meet you exactly where you are—with empathy and zero judgment.
Accountability — Honest feedback, clear focus, and real progress—without the fluff.
Results — Success isn’t about comparison. It’s about alignment and authenticity.
Who I Work With
You’re successful, but something feels off. Maybe you’re burnt out, rebuilding after a major change, or just ready to rediscover what truly motivates you. You’re ambitious, self-aware, and ready to do the real work of transformation.
I also work with young adults who feel stuck, uncertain, or lacking direction. Not because they’re unmotivated, but because they haven’t yet been given a clear path forward. With the right structure, guidance, and accountability, they build confidence quickly and start gaining real momentum.
Whether you’re navigating a career pivot or just getting started, the work is the same. Clarity leads to confidence. Confidence leads to action. And action changes everything.
If you’re ready to stop spinning your wheels and start creating a life that actually fits you, we’ll be a great fit.
Beyond Coaching
Outside of coaching, I'm deeply involved in my Phoenix community. I serve on the Board of Advisors for both Saint Vincent de Paul and Grand Canyon University's Honors Program, teach financial literacy courses to foster youth through Foster Arizona, and speak about leadership and career growth at local organizations.
When I'm not coaching, you'll find me exploring Arizona's hiking trails with my wife and our two labradoodles (Hudson and Oso), hunting down the best local restaurants (I know where to find the best tacos and coffee in town), or planning our next international adventure—we've visited 38 countries and counting. I'm also an avid reader, constantly diving into personal development books and leadership research to stay sharp and bring fresh insights to my clients.
And when the day winds down? I'm a husband, new father (Jaxson), and the kind of dog dad who talks to his labradoodles like they understand complex problems (they're excellent listeners).
