Daniel H. | Leland

Daniel H.

Win Funding with your Pitches and Writing

Studied at Colorado State University

Works at American Systems

Available today at 9:30 PM UTC

Protected by the Leland Experience Guarantee

Available today at 9:30 PM UTC

Questions? Start chatting with this coach before you get started.

Daniel's Coaching Offerings

Sell Your Ideas: Become an Expert Technical Writer

Starting at $1,0004h+ of coaching

Advance Your Publishing & Writing Career

Expert coaching to elevate your skills and achieve your publishing & writing goals.

Starting at $1,57510h+ of coaching

Custom hourly · $175/hr

Get help with Skill Building, Publishing Strategy, and .

Daniel also coaches for Science & Research, Transitioning from the Military, and PhD Programs. View all.

Daniel’s Publishing & Writing Qualifications

Coaches professionally

Experience level: Executive

20+ people coached for Publishing & Writing

I've spent my career doing technical writing where ideas have to be precise and clear to expert readers who are deciding whether the work moves forward. To this end, I'm a subject matter expert in crafting research abstracts, concept papers, and technical narratives that persuade expert reviewers at agencies like the Department of Energy and other entities. The challenge here is communicating that idea is both interesting, and worth funding. That work requies the same skills used in strong academic and business writing: framing a research problem clearly, situating it in existing work, stating a contribution without overselling, and anticipating skeptical questions from people who know the field. Alongside that, I've guided engineers, scientists, and early researchers through proposals, white papers, and publishable drafts where the challenge tends to be clarity and structure. I know how it feels to stare at a blank page with a good idea and no clean way to organize it, because I've been there myself!

Daniel can help with:

Skill Building

Publishing Strategy

Writing Techniques

Manuscript Submission

Daniel also coaches for Science & Research, Transitioning from the Military, and PhD Programs. View all.

About Daniel

I'm a military veteran who followed a conventional path after service: technical roles, then an MBA to move into leadership and strategy. The MBA did its job: It put me in rooms where decisions were made and taught me how organizations evaluate risk, cost, and credibility. What it did not do was satisfy the part of me that wanted to build original knowledge and be the person others rely on for technical judgment. That realization is what pushed me toward a STEM PhD and a career as a principal researcher and subject matter expert. What I offer comes directly from that path. I help people, especially transitioning military veterans, decide if a PhD is right for them. I also help technical teams compel decision makers to fund their product or idea, having won millions in funding for clients. When I work with people, I help them decide whether a PhD makes sense, what kind of program fits their background, and how to explain their story. I care about helping people make choices they will not regret and show up prepared for what a career as a technical expert looks like (hint: it's not just boring, number crunching in a lab!).

Why do I coach?

I coach because I saw a valid, but narrow version of success repeatedly presented to veterans and technical professionals, and I followed it myself. After the Navy, the MBA path was clearly marked and widely encouraged. I pursued it because it made sense, it was legible to employers, and it translated service into business language. What was less visible was the path toward deep technical authority and long-term intellectual ownership. That gap is what led me toward a technical Ph.D. and toward coaching. More importantly, my experience in the Navy shaped how I think about work and identity. I learned to take responsibility early and to explain complex situations clearly. Leaving that environment, I saw many veterans and engineers feel pressured to simplify themselves to fit familiar corporate paths, even when their strengths pointed elsewhere. I coach because I want people to see more options, especially those whose background gives them the curiosity to do serious technical work. Sometimes the right next step is a role change, sometimes it's clearer positioning, and sometimes it's choosing a path like a PhD, that is less advertised for veterans, but highly lucrative and rewarding, when done strategically!