Hi, I’m Phil D’Adamo, Co-Founder of The Change Lounge, an executive coaching practice based in Melbourne. I work as an Executive Coach and Change Consultant specialising in change leadership. Our mission is to prepare and build future ready leaders and elevate their performance in complex, changing environments.
With over 30 years of executive leadership and large-scale change experience, I’ve learned a clear truth: modern leadership is fundamentally about leading change. Strategy, structure and systems matter, but the most demanding work of leadership is supporting people and organisations to transform in order to survive and thrive. That’s where most change efforts succeed or fail, and it’s where I focus my work.
I support leaders to strengthen their leadership capability, sharpen strategic thinking and build teams that can adapt continuously, not just respond when disruption hits. My approach is pragmatic, solution-focused and grounded in real executive experience rather than just abstract theory alone.
My clients are executives, senior leaders or high-potential managers stepping into larger, more complex roles. They’re not looking for quick fixes or generic advice. They’re looking for a trusted strategic partner who understands the pressure, ambiguity and accountability of executive life.
Someone who will challenge assumptions, hone judgement and help them lead change with confidence. Let’s shape what’s next.
Executive Coaching for a Leadership Edge
We provide our clients with the clarity, skills and tools to:
1.
Assess what matters right now.
2.
Lead themselves with intent and purpose.
3.
Navigate complexity and uncertainty.
4.
Lead people through change, not just manage it.
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Strengthen change leadership capability and culture.
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Turn strategy into action.
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Achieve results and sustain performance over time.
Why The Change Lounge?
In today’s fast-moving world, organisations and their leaders are under increasing pressure to perform while navigating constant change, uncertainty and disruption.
Technological acceleration, global volatility, workforce shifts and rising expectations of leaders are increasing both the pace of change and the consequences of getting it wrong.
Change is no longer a one-off initiative. It’s a constant and a core leadership capability. It requires disciplined thinking, sound judgement and the ability to lead people through uncertainty.
Without this capability, organisations and leaders are left reacting rather than preparing for the future.
That’s where The Change Lounge comes in.
We work with leaders and organisations to bring clarity when things feel confused, focus when priorities compete and confidence when decisions matter.
Our executive coaching helps leaders move from hesitation or overload to deliberate, well-executed action.
We support leaders and organisations to lead change by helping teams align around a shared vision and build change ready cultures that can adapt without losing momentum.
We provide structured guidance, practical change management tools and a creative space to explore new directions.
How can we work together?
The Change Lounge tailors services to work with clients to support leaders, prepare and build future leadership skills and elevate performance. If you are interested in working with us, please peruse our services below that can be adapted to meet the specific needs of organisations or individuals. I’m interested in working with The Change Lounge in relation to:
Testimonials
"I worked with Phil during a challenging post-pandemic period in an educational institution, where his calm, emotionally intelligent leadership brought clarity and stability. As Interim COO, he focused on people and culture, empowered his team to be experts and strengthened internal and external collaboration.
Phil shifted how we approached change, building confidence and resilience across the organisation. I highly recommend him as an executive coach who knows how to build adaptive leadership and understands how to lead through uncertainty".
Tom, Facilities and Scheduling Services Manager
“Thank you so much Phil for facilitating a great discussion with the Electrify Boorondara Executives. You really did help us all to think much bigger in terms of our future direction and next steps. You also helped us to see what a very powerful negotiating position we have as trusted leaders in community electrification. It really does pay to have an external facilitator point out what just isn’t obvious from the inside”.
Executive Team, Electrify Boorondara
"Working with Phil has been one of the most transformative experiences of my creative and business life. When I first came to him, I was overwhelmed, torn between my passion for music and my established career as a designer. I was talented but stuck, unable to clearly see my next steps. Phil changed that.
Through his coaching, he helped me unpack years of creative tension, self-doubt, and internal conflict. He didn’t just offer support, he challenged me to see myself clearly, and to articulate my vision with conviction. His unique gift is in holding a mirror up and helping you connect the dots across all areas of your life. He made me look deeply at my beliefs, my fears, and the stories I was telling myself. And from that place, he helped me rebuild.
Phil has helped me find clarity in both my music and design work. He made me realise that I am a visionary, and that’s not a vague label, it’s a grounded truth. I’ve taken action I would have never dreamed possible just a few months ago: reaching out to major music contacts, stepping into bolder design work, and embracing the idea that I can craft a career that integrates all my talents.
He saw potential in me before I could fully see it in myself, and now that I do, there's no going back. Phil is more than a coach, he’s a guide, a strategist, a challenger, and a deeply intuitive supporter. If you’re ready to uncover who you really are and step into the life you know you’re meant for, work with him. He has a way of changing everything".
Marina, Designer / Music Producer
What Holds Leaders Back?
Loss of Control and Order
A shift in direction introduces risk and ambiguity. Even when a reset is needed, leaders default to familiar ways of working because they feel safer despite clear signs they no longer work.
Erosion of Confidence
Disruption, chaos and uncertainty trigger hesitation in decision making. Leaders second guess their judgement or delay action when the consequences of getting it wrong feel high.
Lack of Direction
Change can stall when the effort and actions do not lead to anything substantial. Change requires a clear view of what success looks like. Without it, effort fragments under false starts.
Pursuit of Perfection and Certainty
The desire to eliminate the risk of change can lead to overthinking and delayed decisions. Waiting for perfect information stalls progress and creates change fatigue.
Capacity Constraints
Implementing change on top of business as usual gives rise to increased pressure, competing priorities and constant disruption. When teams are stretched too thin, change efforts can struggle to gain traction.
What Helps Leaders Move Forward?
Clear Strategic Intent
Change starts with clarity. Leaders who can articulate where they are heading and why it matters, bring people and strategy together. This gives focus and turns activity into purposeful action.
Deliberate, Consistent Communication
Change only moves at the speed of understanding. Leaders who communicate clearly, consistently and honestly help people make sense of what’s changing, what’s expected and what stays the same.
A Learning Orientation
To survive and thrive demands adaptability and an openness to change. Leaders who build a culture of change are better able to adjust, learn and move forward in complex environments and when things go awry. Change is accepted as a discipline of thinking.
Visible Progress
Change is disruptive by nature and this makes it difficult to implement. That's why calling out progress matters including decisions made and milestones reached. This reinforces confidence in leaders and in the strategy.
Strong Support and Accountability
No leader is an island when it comes to change. Change involves moving everyone in the new direction. Support in the form of trusted peers, coaches and mentors, provide perspective, challenge assumptions and help leaders stay accountable when pressure is high.