Expert Profile

Executive Coach | Leadership Advisor

Zaina Orbai

Zaina partners with business executives navigating critical inflection points, whether leading through uncharted conditions, building ventures, or stepping into high-stakes roles. She supports accomplished leaders close the gap between ambition and their ability to achieve their next goals. With over 20 years of executive leadership experience, including scaling two companies through IPOs, Zaina has become a trusted advisor sought by CEOs, founders, and senior executives for her leadership insight and executive coaching.
Zaina-Orbai

Areas of Expertise

• CEO, Founder and Executive Coach:
Trusted Partner to entrepreneurial leaders who want to scale up their leadership, rise to the level of their ambition, and grow their business impact.

• Board Advisor:
Strategic Advisor to CEOs & Boards to enable company growth, navigate the ever-changing business environment, drive board effectiveness and team performance.

• Intentional Systems Thinker:
Strategic Advisor to CEOs, COOs, CHROs, CFOs in rapidly changing organizations that are building the People & Talent systems to meet future business needs.

• IPO Readiness:
Strategic Consultant to CHROs and Senior Executives at late-stage growth companies on the path to an IPO.

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More About the Expert:

With over 20 years of executive leadership experience, Zaina has played a pivotal role in scaling two hyper-growth companies through successful IPOs (NYSE: YELP, NASDAQ: REAL). Her strategic insight and operational expertise have made her a sought-after advisor, coach, and investor. Over the years, she has collaborated with hundreds of founders, entrepreneurs, and executives across stages—from Seed and Series A through IPO—supporting them through the highs and lows of building and scaling businesses.

Zaina now works as a certified coach, advisor, and fractional executive, partnering with leaders in fast-moving organizations to help unblock challenges, accelerate growth, and reach their goals. She is known as a trusted partner during pivotal moments of change, drawing on her firsthand experience as a seasoned C-suite growth executive and boardroom leader. Her passion lies in empowering women and diverse founders and executives to rise and bring their visions to life.

Her approach blends personal and business growth, with a focus on mindset and leadership development. As a trained Energy Leadership Coach, Zaina works closely with C-suite leaders to expand their awareness, shift perspective, and unlock their full potential—because when leaders grow, their organizations thrive.

Beyond her professional work, Zaina is a strong advocate for women and diversity in leadership and entrepreneurship. She is a founding member of Chief, the executive network for women, and an active angel investor focused on diverse teams building tech-enabled, human-centric solutions.

A global thinker at heart, Zaina was born in Mumbai, raised in Los Angeles, and has traveled to over 30 countries. She now calls the San Francisco Bay Area home, where she enjoys deepening her meditation practice, trekking new peaks, and perfecting her masala chai.

“If people are doubting how far you can go, go so far that you can’t hear them anymore.”
Zaina Orbai
Executive Coach | Leadership Advisor