Jason Smith is an experienced manager, facilitator, instructor, and leadership coach. He currently is the Leadership Development Manager for a market-leading medical device company, Cochlear, which develops a variety of innovative hearing loss solutions. In this role, he is focused on standing up an internal leadership coaching program for senior leaders, creating a leadership development strategy for the organization, and driving  positive change by embedding existing leadership development offering's into the organization's culture. Jason's leadership development philosophy is grounded in the emerging field of humanistic leadership, emotional intelligence, and adult development theory. 
 

Before joining Cochlear in 2019, Jason worked for 17 years in the US Government in both policy and intelligence positions, focused on analyzing complex information to help senior US officials stay ahead of a broad array of critical US  national security challenges.  He also has extensive experience working with the US military and law enforcement at all levels.  An experienced first and second-line manager, the units Jason leads are known for high morale, trust, and good team dynamics, which he believes lead naturally and sustainably to efficient processes, exceptional results, and excellent talent retention. Jason is a seasoned hiring advisor and talent evaluator who has nearly a decade of experience interviewing applicants and helping people with career development and transition. Jason's passion for helping others develop brought him full time into leadership development instruction, coaching, and management for the Federal Government in 2016 and led to his transition to the private sector and his current role.

Jason grew up in Loudoun County, Virginia and currently lives outside Denver, Colorado with his wife Mary and two children Olivia and Parker.  Jason has a BA in Government and international Relations from George Mason University and a MA in Organizational Leadership and Learning from The George Washington University. Jason also is an Associate Credentialed Coach through the International Coach Federation and a graduate of Georgetown University's rigorous leadership coaching certification program. Jason enjoys, running, hiking, and getting outside as much as possible. He also loves mopey, introspective music, creative horror and sci-fi movies, and boring documentaries about pretty much anything.