Lead from Within. Become Who You’re Meant to Be.
What shifts when you lead from authenticity rather than expectation? Everything.
With goodness, transformation starts at the core.
Whether your goal is to be a better boss, a better partner, or simply a better human, we help you align who you are with how you lead—so your impact is as real as your intention.
Empower you to reach within, to reach goodness.
Your goodness aligns with your true self without pretense or the need for external validation.
We guide clarity to recognize what energizes you and what holds you back in work and life.
To improve presence and presentation.
To navigate significant life and career changes.
To unstick shoulda-coulda-woulda limiting beliefs.
Transform Your Life
We work with leaders, entrepreneurs, and people who serve others and shape the world.
People like you—searching for a better way.
People ready to step into change with personal accountability.
If you're ready to do the work. Reach Goodness.
Who We Are
Gordon Paddison
Hi, I’m Gordon, founder of goodness. I focus on influencing tomorrow’s leaders and making a difference for those who make a difference.
Clients describe me as having an insatiable curiosity and a sense of joy that is inspiring.
I am passionate about people who live to make an impact. I coach leaders, mission-based companies, and individuals who improve the world. I empower clients to find fulfillment in their personal and professional lives.
My career has been committed to innovation. As a studio executive, I created Hollywood's first Internet marketing division and worked with Peter Jackson on The Lord Of The Rings Trilogy.
As the founder and CEO of a creative agency, I worked with the late Professor Stephen Hawking and entertainment media partners Netflix, Amazon, Lucasfilm, and Disney.
In my earlier career, I was an actor on Broadway and in regional theaters. I am a member of the Motion Picture Academy and the Television Academy.
Training
International Coaching Federation, Professional Certified Coach
Hudson Institute of Coaching Certification
Gallup Clifton Strengths Certification
The Leadership Circle Certification
I am bound by the ICF Code of Ethics and participate in coach supervision.
Futuristic | Strategic | Positivity | Includer | Maximizer
Facilitating goodness
Blaine Vess
Hi, I'm Blaine. I'm an entrepreneur with over two decades of experience building, scaling, and transforming businesses without traditional external funding. I have a track record of creating sustainable, purpose-driven ventures with significant economic and social impact.
I was the founder, CEO, and chairman of Student Brands, an edtech holding company that he co-founded as a college freshman in 1999. My co-founders and I built the company without an office or employees for the first twelve years of the company's existence, and used its profits to acquire about fifteen competitors. We bootstrapped Student Brands for eighteen years while generating over $100 million in highly profitable revenue. The company was acquired by Barnes and Noble Education (NYSE: BNED) in August 2017 for $58.5 million.
I was also the CEO and co-founder of Solve, a service that helped people quickly get through immigration and customs when traveling overseas. Solve was in Y Combinator's summer 2017 batch and it was acquired by Blacklane later that year.
In addition to coaching, I'm passionate about human rights, and I serve on the board of Liberty in North Korea (LiNK), a nonprofit that helps rescue and resettle North Korean refugees.
What People Are Saying
“Gordon's compassion and keen insight make him standout. He is deeply committed to his clients’ growth. He asks the right questions and provides honest feedback, helping you make real progress. He has repeatedly helped me get “unstuck”—gently prodding me to see things more positively, take action, and direct some of the care I naturally bestow upon others onto myself.
He shows up to every session with an insatiable curiosity and a sense of joy that is inspiring. And he is FUN! He has made a world of difference for me as I navigate leadership challenges (leading and being led), intergenerational challenges, and balancing my work ethic with the modern workforce. I am a more compassionate and insightful leader because of Gordon.”
Heather | Non-Profit Leader | Washington, DC
“Gordon is a delightful person to work with! I started getting insights into myself and my work on Day 1 of our work, a pattern that has continued for the past year we've met. Our sessions together helped me get my nonprofit off the ground, grow my team to more than twenty people, and commit to a regular writing habit (which led to my publishing by the end of the year). His questions and reflections inevitably lead to new learning and ideas, and his joy is contagious. I'm so thankful for the intention, intelligence, and creativity that Gordon brings to our every interaction, and my life and work are better because of our time together.”
Steven | Connect For Animals: Founder | Arlington, Virginia
“I admire Gordon’s generosity—he brings a lifetime of experience into his coaching, not just theory. His gift lies in asking the right questions and giving space for deep reflection. His coaching isn’t just about achievement; it’s about becoming. And I’m still becoming.”
Roza | Entrepreneur | Los Angeles
“Reflecting on the goals I set at the beginning of my experience, I can see that I have grown as a leader in my self-awareness, confidence, and overall ability to execute. Gordon encouraged me to tap into my key strengths but did not hesitate to challenge me to do more when performing below my potential. I appreciated that he was not prescriptive on how I should solve my problems. Instead, he helped me clarify my thoughts and explore solutions.”
Monicah | Sr Product Mgr | Nairobi County, Kenya