Nancy J. Capistran delivers practical, future-ready insights that strengthen governance and drive sustainable performance for Boards of medium-to-large privately held companies, balancing risk and resilience with growth and innovation. Trusted as “9-1-1 for Executives,” she enables Boards to navigate complexity while safeguarding stakeholder confidence.

Nancy empowers high-performing leaders to transcend limitations and achieve extraordinary results, inspiring confidence and resilience through her positive outlook and unwavering spirit. Her entrepreneurial mindset and multifaceted perspective, coupled with deep wisdom gleaned from adversity and honed emotional intelligence, enable her to provide stress-smart, agile guidance. She helps leaders and Boards make value-based decisions, manage volatility, and uphold governance effectiveness.

As Founder of Capistran Leadership, Nancy partners with Boards and C-suite executives to manage risk, ensure operational continuity, and sustain performance under pressure. She excels in stakeholder management and communication strategies that preserve trust and protect brand equity. Her expertise in governance, compliance, and risk oversight positions her as a strong contributor to committees focused on strategic planning, governance, risk, and ethics.

Nancy also designs executive coaching programs that sharpen decision-making and align strategy with scalable execution. Her combination of macro foresight and operational precision helps leaders identify blind spots, improve governance effectiveness, and accelerate growth. She also serves as a Vistage Worldwide Chair for CEOs, facilitating confidential peer advisory forums that deliver measurable ROI for executives and their organizations.

Her credentials include a B.S. in Business Administration from Northeastern University, a Master Certification in Project Management from George Washington University, multiple international Professional Certified Coaching credentials, and the International Board Director Competency Designation (IBDC.D). She is also a graduate of the FBI Citizens Academy and active with its Alumni Association.

Nancy created the Capistran Personalized Competency Calculator (CPCC)—a proprietary tool that evaluates leadership effectiveness and Board dynamics in areas such as governance, stress response, and change management. More than an assessment, the CPCC equips Boards with actionable insights to strengthen executive effectiveness, reinforce resilience under stress, and enhance overall Board functionality. By surfacing critical blind spots and aligning leadership behaviors with organizational goals, the CPCC helps Boards improve decision-making, adaptability, and long-term performance.

An award-winning, internationally published author, her book Open Your Eyes and LEAD; Hardship and Wisdom Shape the Best Leaders in Life provides actionable strategies for leading with clarity, resilience, and balance.

Nancy maintains a strong intellectual curiosity with a focus on areas most critical to Boards today, including Risk and Resilience, Technology and Innovation, and Leadership & Succession. She continuously deepens her knowledge to provide relevant, evolving insights that keep Boards future-focused.

Her passion is Expanding Human Excellence®—a commitment she demonstrates through her work with CEOs and executive committees across diverse industries. With her proven ability to strengthen leadership, governance, and organizational resilience, Nancy is a high-impact Board contributor, positioned to deliver lasting value and strategic clarity in today’s dynamic environment.