22 JUNE 2023 P ete Walsh is an eternal optimist, and he feels so strongly that people should fulfill their destinies that he has made it his life’s work to help them get there. “You have to make the most of every day, and though that may sound trite, it really is up to you,” Walsh said. The executive business coach has been preaching his gospel of contentment and success for many years. In 2010, he wrote a book entitled Coach to Win the Leadership Game , which draws many parallels to sports and team play. If he were one of those coaches that scream their message, it would have everything to do with A-C-C- O-U-N-T-A-B-I-L-I-T-Y. Both for the business leaders and those they are attempting to lead. “Accountability in business, and life for that matter, is a two-way street,” Walsh said. “Teams are built on trust, which happens when mutual understandings and respect exist.” He’s been coaching businessmen and women for 24 years, and his ultimate objective is to turn them into what he calls a “coaching leader.” In 2013, he created the Family Business Performance Center and has since worked with companies worldwide. “Since the pandemic, the workplace has been turned upside down, making good leadership even more important. But it’s more difficult than ever, as workforces have become siloed,” he said. Growing up, Walsh had a front-row seat at his grandfather’s business, Walsh Bros., where he learned by observing others. Founded in 1919, the company sold office equipment of all kinds. “I could have stayed in the family business until I retired, but I felt a calling to do something different, and my new role was an answer to prayer,” Walsh said. In 1999, he set out on his own and has never looked back. First, he took night classes, learning the application of leadership principles in the burgeoning new field of executive coaching. “Leadership is more important than ever in today’s ever-changing workplace. It is important to have a trusted relationship with your people,” Walsh said. He met his wife, Karen, at his grandfather’s business, and they have been married for 36 years. They moved to Arcadia in 1961 and raised two children, William and Laura. “Pete lived across the street from me for many years and was known and respected by everyone on the block,” former neighbor Mark Hughes said. “Whether he was sharing good advice with the adults or tossing baseballs with the kids, he was a model Arcadian.” When Walsh isn’t on the go, he and his wife enjoy retreating to a second home in Munds Park and taking UTV rides in the forest. A lifelong learner, Walsh is a prolific reader, and one of his favorite books is Zen Mind Beginners Mind , which teaches the benefits of meditation and mindfulness. “I tell people that they should try to get better at whatever they are doing; be a better husband, a better father and a better employer, and fall in love with your roles,” Walsh said, adding, “It’s important to be a good listener and a reflective practitioner.” Though Walsh’s advice is often about “quieting the mind,” his personal pace belies such counsel. Almost as if an apology, he offers, “I was called to coaching by the guy upstairs.” Pete Walsh It is so important to have a trusted relationship with your people. PROFESSIONAL LANDSCAPING FOR EXCEPTIONAL PROPERTIES A to Z Tree & Turf provides homeowners with an exceptional outdoor living experience. We design and build some of the most prestigious landscapes in the Valley. Our unparalleled attention to detail and excellent customer service ensures your outdoor living space is exquisite year-round. WE CAN CREATE THE PERFECT SPACE FOR YOU! CALL 480-549-0590 FOR A COMPLIMENTARY CONSULTATION! Serving Arcadia and surrounding areas for over 10 years. ¥ Design - Build - Install ¥ Planting & Hardscapes ¥ Irrigation & Lighting ¥ Artificial Turf ¥ Plant Health Care ¥ Beautification & Enhancements ROC #313230 Licensed I Bonded I Insured Member of AZ Landscape Contractors Association Your Personal Landscape Experts atoztreeandturf.com

3901 E. Stanford Drive Paradise Valley, AZ PCDS.ORG • 602.955.8200 An independent school with grades pre-kindergarten through twelve, since 1961. #1 RANKED PRIVATE SCHOOL IN ARIZONA by Niche.com 73 GRADUATES, 47 DIFFERENT COLLEGE DESTINATIONS, 6 NCAA STUDENT-ATHLETES OFFERED OVER $6M IN MERIT SCHOLARSHIPS FROM 95 COLLEGES Arizona State University (6) ASU, Barrett Honors (5) Babson College Boston University Bucknell University Carnegie Mellon University Case Western Reserve University (3) Chapman University Claremont McKenna College Cornell University (2) Dartmouth College (2) Franklin & Marshall College Grinnell College (2) Harvard University Loyola Marymount University Middlebury College Oregon State University Pepperdine University Rhode Island School of Design San Diego State University (2) Savannah College of Art and Design Scripps College Smith College Southern Methodist University Stanford University (2) Texas Christian University The University of Texas at Austin Tufts University Tulane University of Louisiana University of California, Los Angeles University of California, San Diego University of Colorado Boulder (3) University of Denver University of Georgia University of Michigan (2) University of Oklahoma University of Pennsylvania (2) University of Redlands University of San Diego University of Southern California (4) University of St. Andrews University of Washington University of Wisconsin Vanderbilt University (2) Wake Forest University Washington University in St. Louis Yale University (2) BEST OF LUCK AT THE FOLLOWING DESTINATIONS: CONGRATULATIONS PCDS CLASS OF 2023 PHOENIX COUNTRY DAY