Tony D. Thelen

The highlights:

Tony is Founder and Principal Executive Coach at The River Coaching and Consulting, LLC. Tony helps executives become successful at work and at home by removing pain, anxiety, and stress to make room for developing into their ultimate potential. Success is defined as A's at home and A's at work. Tony is an accomplished author with a best selling book "Am I Doing This Right - Foundations for a Successful Careeer and a Fulfilling Life" (Business Expert Press, 2022). He also writes a weekly column, The River, that is widely syndicated in newspapers and online. Tony resides with his wife of over 30 years in his home in West Okoboji, Iowa.

More info below:

Tony Thelen is the founder and principal executive coach of The River Coaching and Consulting, LLC, where he partners with leaders to navigate the complexities of business and personal growth. With over 35 years of executive leadership experience across engineering, manufacturing, marketing, finance, and customer support, Tony brings practical insight to helping leaders achieve clarity, confidence, and purpose in their careers and lives.

He is a certified executive coach with credentials in NeuroLeadership, Hogan Assessments, and CoachSource, equipping him with tools to unlock potential and guide leaders through meaningful transformation. Tony has coached more than 500 professionals across six continents, supporting executives through high-stakes transitions, C-suite responsibilities, and the pursuit of greater fulfillment. His coaching philosophy blends neuroscience, leadership science, and hard-earned corporate wisdom.

In addition to his coaching work, Tony is the author of the forthcoming book Things We Desire – The Desiderata Turns 100 (launching November 2025), which expands the timeless wisdom of Max Ehrmann’s classic poem into a modern guide for living well. He also writes a widely read weekly column, The River, syndicated widely, where he shares practical insights on leadership, fulfillment, and personal growth.

Tony holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Iowa State University, an MBA from the University of Northern Iowa, and a Post-Graduate Diploma from Oxford University. He resides in West Okoboji, Iowa, with his wife of over 30 years, where they have raised three adult daughters.