About

About Upstream Coaching

At Upstream Coaching, our focus is helping coaches, leaders, and teams develop the clarity and perspective needed to move forward with confidence.

A significant part of this work focuses on mentor coaching for professional coaches pursuing their ICF credential, while also supporting leaders and teams who want to strengthen how they think, lead, and work together.

When people grow upstream, through clearer thinking, stronger relationships, and more intentional leadership, the downstream impact spreads throughout the entire organization.

About Dr. Dave Horecny

I’m Dave Horecny, founder of Upstream Coaching.

My work sits at the intersection of professional coaching, leadership development, and organizational effectiveness. I partner with professional coaches, executives, and leadership teams who want to deepen their effectiveness and create meaningful impact in the systems they serve.

Before becoming a full-time coach, I spent years working in leadership roles with organizations including Microsoft, MSNBC, PetSmart, and Wells Fargo. Earlier in my career, I also served in pastoral leadership, guiding individuals and communities through seasons of change and growth.

These experiences shaped the way I approach coaching today, bringing together practical leadership insight with a deep respect for people, relationships, and thoughtful reflection.

I hold advanced degrees in Group Dynamics and Transformational Leadership, along with professional certifications in coaching, mentoring, leadership development, and facilitation.

Coaching Philosophy

Meaningful growth rarely comes from quick answers.

It usually begins with better questions.

Coaching creates a structured space where leaders and coaches can step back from the urgency of daily work and reflect on:

• What is really happening
• What matters most
• What choices will move things forward

I help clients examine assumptions, expand awareness, and take purposeful action.

Over time, this work strengthens leadership capacity, improves relationships, and helps coaches deepen mastery of their craft.

A Special Focus on Mentor Coaching

While Upstream Coaching supports leaders and teams, mentor coaching for professional coaches is a central focus of the practice.

Many talented coaches complete their training and begin working with clients, yet still wonder:

• Am I truly demonstrating the ICF Core Competencies in my coaching?
• How can I deepen my presence and listening in real conversations?
• What do the ICF assessors actually look for in credential evaluations?

Mentor coaching provides a space to explore questions like these.

Together we examine real coaching conversations and reflect on:

• How the ICF Core Competencies show up in practice
• Where a coach’s natural strengths are emerging
• Where deeper listening or awareness may strengthen the work
• How to prepare thoughtfully for ACC, PCC, or ACTC credentialing

The goal is not simply passing an exam. It is becoming the kind of coach whose conversations consistently create insight and meaningful change for clients.

Areas of Coaching Support

Mentor Coaching for Professional Coaches

Supporting coaches who want to deepen their coaching mastery while preparing for ICF credentialing. Engagements include group mentor coaching, individual mentor coaching, and credential preparation support.

Executive Coaching

Partnering with leaders who want to strengthen their leadership presence, improve decision-making, and guide their organizations through complexity and change.

Team Coaching

Helping leadership teams build trust, align around shared priorities, and function as a cohesive leadership team rather than a collection of individual leaders.

Across each area of work, the aim is the same: helping people think more clearly and act more intentionally.

Why Upstream?

Many challenges inside organizations appear downstream—misalignment, stalled initiatives, strained relationships, or difficult conversations.

But the causes are often upstream.

They begin with unclear expectations, competing priorities, or conversations that never happened.

When leaders and coaches invest upstream—clarifying thinking, strengthening relationships, and improving how conversations unfold—the downstream impact becomes visible across the entire system.

Better conversations lead to better decisions.
Better decisions lead to better outcomes.

Start the Conversation

Every coaching engagement begins with a conversation.

If you are exploring mentor coaching, executive coaching, or team coaching, I would be glad to connect and learn more about how I can help.