Phil Bender, a St. Louis native and proud 1982 Mehlville High School graduate, is an award-winning industry leader with more than 30 years of experience in the financial services sector.  With extensive experience in high-performance environments, he collaborates with top sales performers, executive leadership teams, and with ​​university leaders to drive measurable success and sustainable growth. Over the course of his career, Phil has transformed his leadership insights and field experience into a growth-centered coaching philosophy designed to help individuals develop a true CEO mindset.

Career:
As the founder of Sea Captain Performance, Phil leads a mission-driven organization committed to impacting one million lives through his writing, coaching programs, workshops, and speaking engagements. He launched Sea Captain Performance in 2018 after serving 16 years as a Managing Partner for a Fortune 100 firm in the New York City metro area. He is a seasoned executive coach specializing in leadership development, growth, and transformative coaching.

Community Involvement:
He also sits on the board of the National Foundation for the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity and the Newport Performing Arts Center and founded Miz-Lou which is an NIL collective for the University of Missouri.

Education:
Phil holds a B.S. from the University of Missouri and is an ACT-Certified Coach through the Brown School of Professional Studies. He is a member of the Davenport Society and guest lecturer at Missouri’s Trulaske School of Business. 

Publications:
He is the author of The Sea Captain Way for Financial Advisors and The Voyage: The Adventure of Your Lifetime, both of which reflect his passion for personal leadership, intentional growth, and measurable performance.

Personal:
Phil is married to Lisa, a fellow Mehlville High School graduate and longtime partner on his journey.  Phil and Lisa, split their time between Sarasota, Florida, and Newport, Rhode Island and are proud parents of three adult sons.