“You are way more powerful than you think you are. The world is dying for people like you to wake up.”
— Angus Nelson, Audacity, Leadership, and the Courage to Rise
Ever feel like you’ve hit a ceiling—even when everything on the outside says you’ve made it?
That’s exactly where my friend Angus Nelson steps in.
We met recently in the vibrant city of Lisbon, Portugal—a place where historic charm blends seamlessly with modern startup energy. Angus isn’t your average leadership coach, he helps high performers break through the walls they didn’t even know were holding them back.
We’re featuring him because his work addresses the root of what many business owners and executives silently struggle with: the disconnect between outer success and inner fulfillment.
Angus has walked this path himself, and what he teaches comes from real-world experience, not theory.
In a world full of noise, Angus brings clarity. And that’s why this story matters.
He’s worked with leaders from Cisco, Bridgestone, FedEx, and Workday, but what matters is the journey that shaped him.
Angus Nelson Coaching other Executives
His work targets the psychological and emotional barriers that often remain unaddressed at the top levels of business.
Angus went through some dark times—burnout, addiction, and deep personal loss. But instead of letting it break him, he used it to grow.
That’s why his message hits so hard: real leadership starts on the inside. His new book, Confidence Comes Later, flips the script.
“You don’t wait to feel confident—you take action, and confidence follows”. Angus
What sets Nelson apart is his integration of lived experience with strategic thinking. His coaching focuses on mindset, resilience, and meaningful success, not just career advancement.
His decision to live in Lisbon reflects this ethos—a lifestyle emphasizing personal freedom and well-being over material metrics.
It also mirrors the changes he helps others pursue: Alignment between internal values and external choices.
His focus on already-successful leaders who feel constrained internally addresses a clear gap in the coaching industry. While many coaches emphasize tactics and business strategies, Nelson concentrates on internal barriers—self-doubt, imposter syndrome, and limiting beliefs—that often hold back high achievers from their next level of growth.
Overcoming Personal Struggles – The Crucial Experiences That Shaped Angus Nelson’s Coaching
Nelson’s professional insights are grounded in a complex personal journey. Raised in a financially stable home, he later internalized a scarcity mindset shaped by his parents’ financial decline.
His early years were marked by a deep faith transformation, which led him to pursue youth ministry in college and work in international missions in his twenties.
These experiences shaped his early desire to serve and make a difference. However, over time, this drive turned into unhealthy patterns.
After founding a nonprofit, he began tying his identity to its success, developing a relentless work ethic that masked deeper personal struggles. The pressure to perform led to burnout, the collapse of his first marriage, and the failure of his organization.
To cope, Nelson turned to destructive behaviors, including pornography, alcohol, and debt accumulation. A particularly low point came when he lost $72,000 in a single weekend—an event that forced him to confront the disconnect between his outward success and inner turmoil.
This moment marked a turning point. Realizing that his self-worth could not be tied to external achievements, he began seeking help.
He connected with a mentor who integrated faith, psychology, and emotional health. Nelson committed to a full year of healing, reading, therapy, and personal development workshops.
He even sold his house to attend a year-long immersive program. It was during this time that he met his now wife, a personal milestone that marked a shift toward compassion and authenticity.
These struggles form the foundation of his coaching philosophy. Nelson emphasizes mindset, emotional intelligence, and vulnerability because he has lived through the consequences of neglecting them.
His clients—many of whom appear successful—often carry similar unspoken burdens. His work now focuses on helping them overcome these internal obstacles.
His evolution—from youth ministry to executive coaching—shows a shift in how he defines impact. Rather than working with individuals in direct service settings, he now works with influential leaders whose decisions shape organizations and cultures.
By helping them transform internally, he aims to create wider systemic change.
Career Evolution – From Personal Transformation to Executive Coaching and Leadership Development
After his period of intense self-work, Nelson began rebuilding his professional life.
He applied his insights in new contexts—as an Innovation Consultant, Executive Coach, and later as co-founder and President of Brain+Trust Partners, a business consultancy for large brands.
He also served as President of Life of Dad Agency, where the team created the viral “Cheerio Challenge”—a fun campaign that invited dads to stack Cheerios on their sleeping babies. This campaign highlighted Nelson’s talent for blending heart-driven messaging with cultural relevance.
These roles gave Nelson a broad perspective—connecting the fast pace of startups with the structure of global enterprises. This diversity allows him to coach leaders across industries and organization sizes with credibility and insight.
Today, Nelson runs Evolve Leadership, his primary coaching practice. It supports high-level leaders through transitions and growth phases.
While Angus Nelson operates from Lisbon, there is no publicly listed physical office address for his coaching services in the city.
He primarily conducts his coaching sessions virtually, allowing him to connect with clients worldwide.
The focus is on breaking through internal limitations, building mental clarity, and integrating personal well-being with professional excellence.
His methodology blends psychology, neuroscience, and strategic frameworks, offering a whole-person approach to leadership development.
What executives are saying about Angus Nelson.
If you’re a high-achieving entrepreneur or executive who feels stuck despite external success, Angus Nelson’s coaching can help you realign your mindset, reconnect with your purpose, and reclaim your personal power.
Through Evolve Leadership, Angus has guided leaders from Fortune 500 companies and fast-growing startups to break through internal barriers and lead with authenticity and clarity.
Whether you’re seeking to improve your relationships, grow your business sustainably, or rediscover balance in your life, his approach blends psychology, emotional intelligence, and proven frameworks to create lasting transformation.
Ready to evolve into the leader you were meant to be?
Download the Evolve Leadership app, tune into the Evolve Leadership Podcast, or connect with Angus Nelson on LinkedIn to begin your journey.
Dennis Yu
Dennis Yu is a former search engine engineer who has spent a billion dollars on Google and Facebook ads for Nike, Quiznos, Ashley Furniture, Red Bull, State Farm, and other organizations that have many locations.
He has achieved 25% of his goal of creating a million digital marketing jobs because of his partnership with universities, professional organizations, and agencies. Companies like GoDaddy, Fiverr, onlinejobs.ph, 7 Figure Agency, and Vendasta partner with him to create training and certifications.
Dennis created the Dollar a Day Strategy for local service businesses to enhance their existing local reputation and make the phone ring. He's coaching young adult agency owners who serve plumbers, AC technicians, landscapers, roofers, electricians in conjunction with leaders in these industries.
Mr. Yu believes that there should be a standard in measuring local marketing efforts, much like doctors and plumbers need to be certified and licensed. His Content Factory training and dashboards are used by thousands of practitioners.