Garry Watanabe

Garry Watanabe is an expert in coaching and performance psychology who helps leaders and teams perform at their best under pressure. Drawing on years of experience in both elite sport and business, he teaches practical strategies that build stronger coaches, more resilient leaders and higher-performing teams.

Garry began his career as a litigation lawyer before following his passion for coaching. He went on to spend eight years leading elite swimming programs in Canada and Southern California – one of the most competitive high-performance swimming environments in North America. His experience coaching athletes in demanding, results-driven settings continues to shape his approach to leadership development.

As Senior Principal at Third Factor, Garry has helped thousands of leaders develop the coaching, collaboration and resilience skills needed to succeed in high-pressure environments. He has worked with organizations including Deloitte, Microsoft, Toyota, RBC, and the USGA.

As Head of Third Factor's Sport Practice, Garry leads the firm’s partnerships with elite sport organizations across Canada. He has worked with athletes and coaches from numerous Canadian Olympic and Paralympic programs, including Women’s Hockey, Women’s Soccer, Nordic skiing, Alpine skiing, Ski Cross and Wheelchair Basketball, and has consulted extensively with the Canadian Olympic Committee.

In addition to his corporate work, Garry is an affiliate faculty member at the Kenan-Flagler Business School at the University of North Carolina and teaches in the Full-time MBA and Executive Leadership programs at the Smith School of Business at Queen’s University.

Garry holds a Juris Doctor from Queen’s University and a master’s degree in sport psychology, specializing in expert talent development, from the University of Ottawa.