Meet Jeff Rothenberg,
Founder of A Path That Calls
Life & Career Coach helping professionals 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.
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.
The 4-Pillar
Method
Everything I do follows four core principles—Discover, Stabilize, Strategize, Execute. Skip any pillar, and you stay stuck. Honor all four, and your breakthrough becomes inevitable.
➤ Discover
We'll excavate your Unique Genius and Ikigai through professional assessments and "childhood archaeology"—revisiting the signals from your early life that revealed your natural abilities before anyone told you what you "should" do. Your biggest competitive advantage isn't trying to be someone else—it's becoming more of who you already are.
→ The question shifts from "what should I do?" to "what am I uniquely positioned to do?"—and suddenly, the answer becomes obvious.
➤ Stabilize
We'll audit your life's foundation—physical health, key relationships, financial security, emotional wellness—and repair vulnerabilities BEFORE making major moves. I learned this the hard way: dreams built on weakness don't last.
→ You'll pursue your biggest goals without burning out, going broke, or losing the people who matter most.
➤ Strategize
We'll design your transformation strategy based on where you are right now and where you want to go—with specific actions you can take this week, not someday when everything's perfect.
→ Analysis paralysis ends. You'll know exactly what to do next, and why it matters.
➤ Execute
Together, we'll turn insights into tangible progress through structured sessions focused on your specific challenges, consistent accountability, and me saying what you need to hear—not just what you want to hear.
→ In 6 months, you won't be "getting ready" to transform. You'll already be transformed.
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
Associate Certified Coach (ACC) 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.
If you’re ready to stop spinning your wheels and start creating the life you know you’re capable of living, 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, soon-to-be father, and the kind of dog dad who talks to his labradoodles like they understand complex problems (they're excellent listeners).
