About Adaptive Leaders

We help people become capable of more change than they thought possible.

For leaders who need to turn insight into real behavioral shift.

How Adaptive Leaders Began

How Adaptive Leaders Began

Adaptive Leaders was founded by Mike Burns in 2015 in the fast-changing Shanghai market.

From the beginning, our work was shaped by a simple reality:
Strategy, expertise, and effort are not always enough.

Again and again, we saw that the real barrier to growth was something deeper.

People needed to change how they approach change.

That insight still defines our work today.

What we believe about change

What we believe about change

We believe real change starts from the inside out.

Skills, frameworks, and insights matter, but they can only take people so far.

Lasting growth requires addressing what is really holding someone back, changing it in real work, and building the capacity to keep growing from there.

What makes us different

We don’t want you to become dependent on us.

Our goal is to help people and organizations build the kind of capacity that keeps spreading – from one leader, to a team, to the whole organization.

That is why our work often feels different from traditional leadership development. We do not just help people learn something new. We help them change in ways that last and spread.

What makes us different

Grounded in Three Qualities

Our approach

Grounded in Three Qualities

Curiosity

It helps people see themselves, others, and reality more clearly.

Courage

It helps people face hard truths and take the next step.

Care

It helps people grow in ways that strengthen people, performance, and trust.

These are not just attitudes we promote. They define who we are and how we work with our clients.

Meet Our Team

Adaptive Leaders is a global team spanning North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific.

We bring diverse perspectives, deep coaching and facilitation experience, and a shared commitment to helping people change where it matters most: in the real work already in front of them.

Originally from Canada, Ray Chow is a seasoned Executive Coach and Leadership Consultant with deep expertise in professional services. He spent more than 15 years at Ernst & Young (EY), where he held strategic roles across various regions, including Greater China and Asia-Pacific, and led global initiatives that drove innovation and growth within the firm. His leadership spanned client service, business development, and talent strategy, leaving a significant impact across the organization. Ray has a proven track record of transforming the leadership capabilities of senior executives, guiding them through complex challenges, and enabling them to lead with confidence. He has worked with leaders from firms like CBRE, Lenovo, EY, and Ford, helping them achieve significant breakthroughs in both personal and organizational performance. As Adaptive Leader's Asia Pacific Managing Partner, Ray oversees strategic accounts, delivering customized leadership solutions for global corporations. Certified as an ICF Professional Certified Coach (PCC), Developmental Sprint® Facilitator, and in Leadership Circle Profile, Ray is known for his personalized and strategic approach, helping leaders unlock their full potential.

Ray Chow

Managing Partner

- Coaches and Advisers -

What People are Saying

Hear From our Clients

To become capable of more
To become capable of more

We work best with leaders and organizations who know something needs to change and are ready to do real work to change it.

Our clients range from growing organizations to the Fortune 100, across industries and regions, united by a common need:

to become capable of more.

If that sounds like what you’re looking for, we’d be glad to talk.

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